Unfortunately, it’s not very often our officers have had the privilege of performing the degrees of the Fraternity. It was indeed an honour to confer the EA Degree on our newly initiated brethren. It was more of an honour to present the Junior Warden’s Lecture for them.

Being new to the Canadian Lodges I was unsure of adding a bit of theatrics to the presentation, however judging from the warm reception and response I received after, it seems to have been accepted and I look forward to our next presentation.

Looking ahead to the summer, we have a very busy schedule to support.

Tickets are now available for the Donkey Races, the Charity Draw and the Charity Draw Dinner.

Tickets will be available soon for the Steak, Suds & Spuds night.

Don’t forget to include Annual Pig Roast & Family Picnic in June on your Calendar.

I would like to present this for you to ponder: What is the value of Masonry to you? It was mentioned recently that the costs of Masonry are too high, but personally I believe it depends what you get out of it. What the value that you seek equals.

If you are like me and buy that cup of coffee every morning, or bottle of pop in the afternoon, then you’re spending an extra couple of dollars per day in order to have some caffeine or a flavoured drink. Currently, our dues are not even half that amount. … and yet there are complaints.

The activities planned this year are to help charities, but they are also to help ourselves. Help keep the dues to a minimum, but mostly to help us develop those special and valuable bonds of friendship and brotherhood that provide a true value to our membership, and keep us coming back for more.

Alex Ethier, Junior Warden