KITIMAT COUNCIL NO. 5148, KITIMAT, B.C. Kitimat Council 5148 was formed on May 21, 1961, thanks to the efforts and dedication of its Charter Members. who are as follows: J.C. Becher G.H. Birch L.J. Collins W.L. Donald J.W. Duggan J.W. Feldhoff J.S. Flynn E.J. Gairdner L.P. Godfrey L.A. Hammerquist J.W. Hageman O. loubert D.C Mahoney O.Q. Massey K.E.J. Muller A.A. McHugh J.G. MacKenzie O.R.A. Robinson F .R. Robinson E.G. Taylor C.J. Roy L Saretsky L.J. Scott R.B. Scholz N. Sluyter T.R. Alton N.G. Bourque Rev. R.C.J. Clarke OMI H. DeBoer J. Ditomassi D.B. Dumensil R..J. Durocher C. J. Gallagher K.A. Henricksen A.M. Heslenfeld J.R. LaBlanc J.D. Mohns G.A. McEwan Rev. J.I. McMahon OMI W .P. O'Brien The first General Meeting was held on June 11, 1961. Officers were as follows: Chaplain - Rev. Father Clarke Grand Knight – E. Gairdner Deputy Grand Knight - R. Durocher Chancellor - J. Ditomassi Recorder – C.J. Gallagher Financial Secretary - John Flynn Treasurer - Len Collins Lector - Len Hammerquist Advocate - Lary Saretsky Warden. Les Godfrey In Guard - L. Scott Out Guard - N. Sluyter Trustee - I. Donald Trustee - A. Heslenfeld Trustee - Klaus Muel1er A Knight's bulletin is published and delivered to all members, informing them of the items of business to be brought up at the general meeting which is held the third Sunday of each month, beginning with a Knights of Columbus Mass and Communion at 8:30 A.M. Breakfast after Mass is prepared by two volunteer Knights each month and followed by the general meeting. DISTRICT DEPUTIES - COUNCIL 5148 One of the persons instrumental in the formation of Council 5148 was Staff Sgt. J. W. Duggan of the R.C.M.P. who was stationed in Kitimat at the time. He was also District Deputy for District No. 13. He was and still is a dedicated Knight and a tireless promoter of knighthood throughout the State. Thanks to his efforts and support, Kitimat Council was formed. Brother Jack Duggan was transferred later in 1961 to Prince Rupert and went on to become State Secretary, State Deputy, Master of the Fourth Degree and Vice / Supreme Master. Continuing on with District Deputies, Brother Ernie Gairdner was commissioned as District Deputy in 1965/66 but due to serious illness had to step down after only one month in office. Brother Joe King was commissioned to serve the remainder of the term. He was awarded a trophy after this term for the best District Deputy of the year. Brother Joe King accepted and was commissioned for a second term as District Deputy in 1966/67 and again awarded a trophy for the best District Deputy of the year. Brother Joe King went on in 1968/69 to serve as State Secretary until 1971/72 when he became State Deputy, a position which he held untillhe end of the 1972/72 term. Brother Pierre LeRoss then took over the term as District Deputy in 1970/71/72. Brother John Flynn was commissioned and served in 1974/75/76. Brother Vince Gaspar accepted and was commissioned in 1980/81/82. Brother Alex Gueguen accepted the position of District Deputy in 1985/86 term and was commissioned. Many thanks and blessings to these Brothers who have served their Council and District No. 16 so faithfully in the office of District Deputies. Father R.E.J. Clarke OMI and Father J.I. McMahon OMI contributed their support and efforts in the for- mation years of Council 5148. Both priests served as Council Chaplains. Father McMahon later assumed the duty of Council Chaplain until 1966 when Father Bernard OMI became Parish Pastor and Chaplain of our Council. He gave the reins to Father Sweeney OMI in 1969. Our next Chaplain was Father Ray Henoff OMI who filled the position until 1975 when Smithers must have offered a better deal. Father Ken Forster OMI then became Chaplain. Father Ken continued to give Council 5148 guidance in both spiritual and parish matters until Father Jules Goulet OMI replaced him in 1983. Father Jules was a very spiritual person and contributed much to the Council in his guidance and dedication to prayer. He also initiated the Acolyte Program which a number of our Council members have taken part in. Father Jules is also a mcmber of the Fourth Degree. Father Sean McAllister came to our Council in 1985 from Whitehorse. He is our present Chaplain and also a member of the Fourth Degree. Father Sean is a great fisherman and if salmon is any indication of his catches, Christ the King Parish and Council 5148 have another winner. Council 5148 has been very fortunate over the years to have a list of dedicated Chaplains who have all contributed so much to our success. GRAND KNIGHTS 1961/62 - Bro. E. Gairdner 1962/63/64-Bro..J. King 1964/65 - Bro. L. Saretsky 1965/66 - Bro. Hobbs 1966/67/68 - Bro. E. Gairdner 1968/69 - Bro. M. Brousseau 1969/70 - Bro. K. Mueller 1970/71 - Bro. A. McHugh 1971/72/73 - Bro. Hanaback 1973/74/75 - Bro. A. Gueguen 1975/76 - Bro. Howlett 1976/77 - Bro. Mackenzie 1977/78/79/80 - Bro. Vince Gaspar 1980/81- Bro. Gus Kenny 1981 /82 - Bro. Lou Martins 1982/83/84/85 - Bro. Frank Mauro 1985/ - Bro. Bcrnie Kokesch AWARDS Like many Councils at history writing time, to find reference to all awards received over the years is an impossible task. A few have been found. There are many others missing. Beginning as a new Council, Counci15148 received the Certificate of Honor and the Membership and Insurance Award in 1961/62, 1962/63, 1963/64; the Star Award in 1962/63, 1963/64; the Trophy for Most Achievement in 1967/68; and the award for Attainment of Membership Quota in 1975 and 1985. COUNCIL ACTIVITIES Activities were numerous and will be listed from the first years of the Council with a comment about those which are still being carried on. The New Year's Ball, Children's Christmas Party and party for the families were all started in 1961 and are still very much of the program today. Parish breakfasts were started early in the Council's formation years and are still being done today. Ushers at all Masses are provided by the Knights as are color guards of the Fourth Degree on special occasions when the Bishop visits - confirmations, etc. Blood Donor Clinics were supported by the Knights until the Red Cross discontinued in the north. Our Council supports Birthright Kitimat Chapter with a $100.00 donation per month. Much effort has been made to donate to funds and programs that uphold the right to life of the unborn. Council 5148 supports the Mount Elizabeth Secondary School Scholarship Fund - a program started early in the Council's years. It also sponsors a minor hockey team, curling, family bowling and basketball. Public speaking classes and contests were sponsored by Council for all school children beginning in Septembcr 1961. Through a motion by Brother Duggan this program carried on for many years into the 70s. A very worthwhile project which benefited many. A Kitimat Queen was sponsored by the Knights of Columbus Council beginning in 1962. Candidates won the contest a number of times. On April 19, 1971, this practice was dicontinued. Two barbeques a year were started in the sixties; one in the spring to thank and say fareweJl to the lay teachers for a job well done with little pay and one in the fall to thank the teachers and support staff for coming back or beginning a job with little pay. The Knights still hold these gala cookout evenings and dances. Cub and Scout programs were sponsored and supported by Council 5148 beginning in 1961 and have been carried on through the years in Kitimat by a very able Sir Knight Brother M. Brousseau and his crew. Pennies From Heaven is also a very worthwhile program which was introduced early in Council programs as was the Six Point Program which has changed somewhat through the years but is very much alive as a Council activity. First Second and Third Degree teams have been a pan of Council since 1961 and at present Council has a First Degree team and is assisting in putting together a Second Degree team with District No. 16 which will be functional in the near future. Council 5148 support with donations and prayers - the Foster Parent Program, the Kitimat Helping Hand Organization, and the Catholic Women's League and its projects. In October, 1961, the Council took over the operation of bingo which has carried on through the years and to this day every Wednesday night is bingo night in Kitimat. Thanks to Sir Knight Brother Alex Gueguen, Marie and their three Knights, Adrian Russell and Sir Knight Danny for their unselfish support and dedication. The proceeds have supported St. Anthony's School, Christ the King Parish and now, proceeds are supporting the Building Fund for our new church - Christ the King. When the new church is completed, the present church area will be turned into much needed classrooms for St. Anthony's School. Squire Programs were sponsored in the past with both effort and support from Council but for various reasons did not survive. Kitimat has a changing population which moved frequently and this may be part of the problem. Kitimat Council has not given up on this project and with the population becoming more stable Squires in Kitimat will one day be a reality. Scheduling and training Altar Servers has been taken over by Brother J. Feldhoff. This program is supported by the Council by sponsoring a party and presenting awards to the young members taking part in the program. Members of Kitimat took their Fourth Degree and joined Father Emile LeRoy Assembly starting in the early 1960s. To date, we have fourteen members and more members waiting to join in the near future. Fourth Degree members have been active and have supported the Council and Pairsh in their celebrations to promote patriotism and distinction, by performing honor guards for His Excellency the Bishop and other special events in the church and in parades. Fourth Degree has not had special projects in the Council because it has been the feeling that any project within the Council belongs as much to the First Degree members as it does to the Fourth. Another brand new project started this year, 1985, is to have a proper home in Kitimat for Council 5148. We have begun a feasibility study. Keep your eye on us. We're still on the move. Our doors are always open. God bless you and we love you all.