Our Club
The Mississauga Central Lions Club serves Greater Mississauga and is part of Lions Club International, dedicated to improving life quality globally. Our membership mirrors our community’s diversity.
We collaborate with individuals, organizations, and fellow Lions Clubs to focus on five main areas: combating diabetes, addressing children’s cancers, promoting vision care, alleviating hunger, and enhancing the environment. We welcome anyone willing to volunteer for our initiatives.
Since 1974, our club has actively served Mississauga, raising and distributing over $6 million for local and global causes. For more on our impact, see our “Supported Organizations” page and other sections on this website.
In the face of challenges, our commitment to service is unwavering. Our volunteer projects unite local Lions and foster global collaboration. We assist wherever, whenever, and however possible.
We invite you to propose new projects or volunteer for our ongoing initiatives. Your suggestions for areas needing extra support in our community are highly valued. Review our website for more about our work, connect with us on social media, and contact us to discuss potential service opportunities.
Our City and Culture
The Mississauga Central Lions Club is located in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. Mississauga is the 6th largest City in Canada with a population in 2019 of 777,000. Over fifty languages are spoken by our culturally diverse population.
Our club is a small mirror of our city being made up of members who’s roots are from all over the world.
The Melvin Jones Fellowship (MJF) is a recognition by Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF) for dedicated humanitarian services. Each MJF recipient named below represents a donation of US$1,000 has been made on their behalf to LCIF.
In 2021 our club chose three individuals from our community who have made a significant impact in our community for recognition with a Melvin Jones Fellowship:
Bonnie Crombie
Bonnie Crombie has done a great deal as Mayor of our City of Mississauga to maintain its prominence as the sixth largest City in Canada. We have a well run city providing needed services to the community we both serve.
Santé Esposito
Santé Esposito was a long-time customer of our Farmers Market. When Oxford Property Management required us to move from the Collosium theatre parking lot, our market manager, Manny Castellino, searched extensively for alternative sites with the city and local property owners.
A member of Oxford’s staff introduced Lion Manny to Santé, beginning a long partnership. Santé facilitated the use of a parking lot at the Mississauga Executive Centre and helped us quickly secure a zoning exception with the city. He also assisted with growth challenges at our new Sunday Market location. Without his help, our club was weeks away from losing our primary fundraising project. For these and other contributions, the club awarded Santé the Melvyn Jones Fellowship.
Dianne Rende
At the club’s 45th Anniversary event on October 19th 2019, Dianne Rende Executive Director St. John Ambulance, Peel Dufferin Branch was presented a Melvin Jones Fellowship. Dianne and St. John Ambulance have been long time partners in delivering support to our community and in particular helping out at out Lions Farmers Market and other service activities. We recognize Dianne as another distinguished member of our community in Service.
Frank Dale
On Tuesday October 16, 2018 members of our Lions Club presented outgoing Peel Region Chair Frank Dale with a Melvyn Jones Fellowship in thanks for the many ways he has helped serve our club our community. Principal amongst his aid was his assistance in securing our Lions Farmers Market locations in the city. He was there to assist as our market moved at least six times in his time in office. Frank’s term as Peel Region Chairperson will end shortly, prior to that role he served as city and regional councilor for Ward 4 in Mississauga for more than 26 years. Frank Dale was a regional employee in the region’s property department before he entered politics.
We wish Frank well in his future endeavors.
At the club’s 40th Anniversary Celebration on Saturday March 14, 2015 the club recognized three members of our community with Melvin Jones Fellowships. Pictured above are those three recipients; from left to right they are: Russ Pooley, Lynn Culham and Jake Dheer.
Lynne Culham
Lynne Culham has been a founder and manager of The Open Door, a small organization making a significant impact on the needy and less privileged in our community. Since 1974, The Open Door at Square One has been a front-line ministry outreach of the churches of Mississauga, serving people from every background and walk of life. They strive to address practical, spiritual, and emotional needs, helping those facing unemployment, critical illness, homelessness, marriage breakdown, abuse, bereavement, loneliness, single parenting, and other crises.
The Open Door is a volunteer-based organization, operating with a core staff of three, coordinated by Lynne, and supported by over 100 part-time volunteers. We recognize Lynne with this fellowship for her perseverance and commitment to her ministry. The impact of her work is evident: in 2014, The Open Door had over 21,000 visits, with more than 6,000 visits to their food cupboard. Additionally, over 250 people attended their free Christmas dinner, and approximately 170 families received turkeys and gifts in their homes.
Russell Pooley
Russell Pooley served the City of Mississauga as Community Development Coordinator for many years. He has been a tireless and visionary community worker and leader, passionately advocating for the inclusion of all citizens and community engagement. Many non-profit community organizations and centers in the city have benefited from his wisdom and guidance.
Russell successfully nurtured numerous community initiatives, including the Square One Older Adult Centre, Mississauga Carassauga Festival of Cultures, Melton Festival, Sash Begat Festival, Can-Sikh Festival, and various community centers like Burnham Thorpe and Mississauga Valley Community Centers. He worked closely with the late Lion Lewis Lawrence, Nance Macdonald of Square One Management, and other community leaders to establish the Square One Older Adult Centre, which opened on October 2, 1992.
Russ has also assisted our Lions Club with our Farmers Market, including its extension to Mississauga Celebration Square. Lion Manny Castellino, the current General Manager of our Farmers Markets, greatly appreciates his help. Russ is thoughtful, mindful, infinitely practical, and a stalwart friend of the community, local cultural organizations, and the Lions of Mississauga.
Jake Dheer
Jake Dheer is a graduate of film and television production at Humber College and currently the Station Manager for Rogers TV in the Dufferin-Peel Region. He is a Past Chairman of the Mississauga Board of Trade and a community activist, holding leadership roles with various organizations, including the United Way of Peel, Mississauga Mayors Gala committee, Interim Place, Peel Children’s Aid Foundation, Community Living Mississauga, and the Credit Valley Hospital Foundation. Jake was a founding member of the Carassauga Festival, which has thrived for approximately 25 years. A former member of our Mississauga Central Lions Club, Jake has received numerous awards and recognitions, such as Mississauga’s Citizen of the Year, the Paul Harris Fellowship from Rotary International, and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal. He frequently serves as a keynote speaker at events around the Greater Toronto Area, including convocations and ceremonies for new Canadians.
The Mississauga Central Lions Club has made significant contributions to LCIF including a single donation of $US25,000. made to Campaign SightFirst II. This allows us to recognize deserving members of the public as well as club member.
Support LCIF through our individual giving and recognition programs:
Other Members Honored With Melvyn Jones Fellowships
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- Her Worship Mayor Hazel Mcallion
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- Nance MacDonald, Previously General manager Square One Shopping Centre, Now Vice President Erin Mills Town Centre
Club Members Honored With Melvyn Jones Fellowships
Past District Governors
The Mississauga Central Lions Club is privileged to have the following Past District Governors of Lions Clubs International as members of our Club: