Shriners gather in the Sault to welcome new members
Nearly 500 Shriners and their partners from across Ontario gathered in the Sault for the philanthropic organization's annual Fall Ceremonial.
It's at this event that all new members are sworn in.
Randy McNevin, Board Chair for Shriners Ontario West, says that 11 new members, aged 28 to 66.
“They are Masons in good standings and they have petitioned to become Shriners. So we do a ceremony to initiate them and welcome them into the fraternity.”
In addition to the Ceremonial, the more than 300 members held a parade in downtown Sault Ste. Marie, for the young ones and the kids at heart.
“The parade is critical. It gives us a chance, because we brag about the Shriners being fun; well we want to be out there for the community, to show the community that we are fun. So it’s our way of saying thank you to the city and especially to the kids,” Harry Thomas, organizer of the event and Shriner from the Sault to CTV News.In addition to the Ceremonial, the more than 300 members held a parade in downtown Sault Ste. Marie, for the young ones and the kids at heart. (Cory Nordstrom/CTV News Northern Ontario)This is the first Ceremonial in 3 years because of the pandemic. Thomas noted how excited members were to see one another again.
“Having this is really important, not only to bring the new members in, but so we can reacquaint ourselves with our friends and Nobles from around the country, and people from the states that have been up,” Thomas added.
The main goal of the Shriners is to raise funds for the Shriners Hospital for Children in Montreal.
As part of the Ceremonial, visiting clubs donated over $215,000 to the main Shriner organization, with the majority of that going to the hospital.
Rene St-Arnaud is a Shriner himself and the Director of Research at the Shriner's Children's Hospital.
He says these funds are critical.
“We’re able to extend specialty care programs because of the donations. The research program, for example, is not supported by the government,” St-Arnaud explained.
It had been over 50 years since the event was last in the Sault.
To mark the occasion, the Mocha Shriners held their first ever concert series, featuring Burton Cummings, Marianas Trench and the Trews.
Funds from those shows will also go towards the Children's Hospital.
Though the exact figures haven't been calculated yet, organizers say the event was a huge success.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
They were from different countries and barely spoke each other's languages. More than 20 years later, they're still happily in love
He decided to spend Christmas somewhere that wouldn't involve snowstorm disasters. She was spending the holidays with family, travelling for the first time outside of her native country of Venezuela. 23 years later, they're still in love.
Man who set himself on fire outside Trump trial dies of injuries, police say
A man who doused himself in an accelerant and set himself on fire outside the courthouse where former U.S. President Donald Trump is on trial has died, police said.
Verdun Airbnb listing taken down amid complaints, fines and frustration from neighbours
An Airbnb in Montreal's Verdun borough was the source of much frustration from neighbours who say there were constant parties at the location. It has been taken down from the app, but housing advocates remain upset about short-term rentals.
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
Fire in Labrador town under control, officials tells residents to stay away
RCMP say the fire that prompted a state of emergency in a Labrador town is now under control.
12 students and teacher killed in Columbine school shooting remembered at 25th anniversary vigil
Thirteen victims of the Columbine High School shooting were remembered during a vigil Friday on the eve of the 25th anniversary of the shooting that was the worst the nation had seen at the time.
Israeli airstrike in southern Gaza city of Rafah kills at least 9 Palestinians, including 6 children
An Israeli airstrike on a house in Gaza's southernmost city killed at least nine people, six of them children, hospital authorities said Saturday, as Israel pursued its nearly seven-month offensive in the besieged Palestinian territory.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
Iraq investigates a blast at a base of Iran-allied militias that killed 1. U.S. denies involvement
Iraqi authorities said Saturday that they were investigating an explosion that struck a base belonging to the Popular Mobilization Forces, a coalition of Iran-allied militias, killing one person and injuring eight.