Carseland Public Benefit Club celebrates 100 years

Times Reporter

 

The hardworking ladies of the Carseland Public Benefit Club celebrated 100 years at an event held last weekend.

Alberta Lieutenant Governor Colonel (Ret’d) Donald Ethell, and local MP Kevin Sorenson were among the dignitaries who attended the event at the Carseland Community Hall on April 14 to recognize the efforts of the longtime service club.

Formed in 1912 by 32 women, the Carseland Public Benefit Club has acted as a service group in various capacities focused on Carseland and area.

The club began with many efforts related to WWI, such as collecting money to send supplies to prisoners of war and knitting socks, slings and bandages for the Canadian Red Cross.

In the 1920’s the club fundraised for the first playground at the local school and lobbied for the school grounds to be supervised at lunch hour. The playground cost $123.45 and was installed in 1924.

They continued wartime support efforts during WWII, such as writing letters to soldiers overseas and sending care packages. They also cancelled lunch at meetings and donated the tea and sugar, which was rationed at the time.

“This is what Alberta is all about,” said Lt. Gov. Ethell, who spoke at the event. “There’s nothing more special or heartwarming than getting a package from home.”

The club was approached by various service groups over the years, such as the Red Cross and the Women’s Institute, asking if the club would become a local branch for their activities.

The Public Benefit Club always chose to remain independent and keep a focus on Carseland and area, said Teri McKinnon, an organizer for the event, noting that the club has always been “fiercely independent” of large service organizations but still aided important causes.

“They were not bound by any other authority than themselves,” she said.

The club also lobbied government and the rail service to ensure safer practices, such as more road signage and safer railway crossings.

Meanwhile, the club actively fundraised for local projects over the years, such as numerous renovations for the Carseland Community Hall. The club catered many events and held bingos to raise funds.

Much of the history of the organization can be found in Trails to the Bow and More Trails to the Bow, two Carseland-area history books published by the Public Benefit Club.

The planning for the centennial celebration began a year ago, according to McKinnon. The club chose a military theme to recognize the early efforts of the club toward WWI and WWII.

Though men were allowed to join after a vote to open membership to anyone in 1998, no man has joined the club to date.

The Public Benefit Club is made up of 21 ladies from Carseland and area and continues to donate thousands of dollars to local causes, such as $8,000 toward a new fire truck in 2002 and $40,000 toward new playground equipment at the Carseland School in 2008.