Huntsville Forester

BURK’S FALLS – The Lions are honouring a loyal Cub.

“I’m very humbled to even be considered by the Lions for something like this,” said Elwood Addison.

On June 18, the local Lions Club presented Addison with a prestigious award in honour of his contributions to the community, notably through his involvement in Scouts Canada, which has encompassed nearly seven decades.

Addison accepted the award with great appreciation during a meeting held at the Legion, his wife Bonnie at his side.

Named for the founder of the Lions Club, the Melvin Jones Fellowship Award is the highest form of recognition by the Lions Club being awarded to commemorate exemplary service to the community.

Addison has been involved in scouting for more than 60 years, first as a member of the Cubs and continuing on to be the local Scoutmaster beginning in 1994.

Established in Burk’s Falls in 1932, the Scouts held a camp on the shore of Lake Bernard every summer.

Addison joined the Cubs in 1941, only to have the local chapter shut down the following year as most of the Scout leaders joined the armed forces and went off to war.

It wasn’t until 1946 that the Burk’s Falls Scouts got their own camp on Lake Cecebe.

According to Addison, the Scouts and the Lions have worked hand-in-hand since the beginning.

“The Lions have been an important part of the Scouts ever since it first started,” said Addison, after receiving the award.

“Even looking around this room, I see so many guys who came up through the ranks of the Scouts,” he said.

Addison’s own family has been actively involved in Scouts, including his two daughters, who participated in the troop’s activities even before the group became co-ed.