ELORA – The Elora Lions Club handed out the Melvin Jones Award on Feb. 26 to two members: Richard Burt and James Keating.
The Melvin Jones Award is the highest honour Lions Club International gives in recognition of outstanding service and leadership.
Richard Burt
Burt was born in England and attended St. Alban’s School, one of the oldest schools in England.
He obtained a Bachelor of Science degree from the Royal School of Mines.
His first posting was in 1964 in Uganda, and he was there for 18 months. It was in Uganda that Richard first saw the Lions Club serving people.
When he returned to England, he worked in the tin mines in Cornwall and in 1976 joined the Lions Club in Cornwall.
A year later, in 1977, he was enticed to come to Canada by Tantalum Mining Corporation in Lac Du Bonnet, Manitoba – about 115 kilometers northeast of Winnipeg – where he immediately joined the Lac Du Bonnet Lions Club.
Within a year he was club secretary and over eight years, rose through the ranks to become regional chairman.
In 1997, Burt moved to Elora, joined the Elora Lions and became the club’s long-time secretary.
Burt was a dependable supporter of the club’s fireworks display in May and the Santa Claus Parade in November, officials say.
Although there are no mines near Elora, Burt continued to work in the mining field, travelling worldwide as a consultant specializing in the production and processing of rare metals.
For many years, he was also the Elora Lions Club spokesperson for fundraising events in support of the Groves Hospital Foundation, where through the combined efforts of Elora, Fergus, Belwood and Marsville Lions raised $256,600 for the Groves Hospital Foundation.
“It is thanks for that great leadership that we honour Richard with the Melvin Jones Award,” officials state.
From left: award presenter John Morris, Erika Keating, Fran Keating, Joanne Brohman, award recipient James Keating, Tom Keating and Kevin Brohman. Submitted photo
James Keating
James Keating was given the Melvin Jones Award for his work with the Elora Lions and for his dedication to building homes in Elora.
Keating was born in Elora, attended St. Mary’s School, and is a lifelong member of St. Mary Immaculate Church in Elora.
Keating learned carpentry skills from his dad and other contractors and started his own company, James Keating Construction Limited in 1957.
He started with small projects, before moving on to building houses. Over the years Keating purchased land in Elora and began developing subdivisions, building and selling homes in these new areas in Elora.
He first joined the Elora Lions Club in 1964, and took a sabbatical from the club while the children were growing up.
However, Keating continued his service to the community advising on the layout and features to be put into the Elora Community Centre, as well as being involved in fundraising for the building which was completed in 1978.
Keating was very athletic and played goal through the Elora Minor Hockey and Elora Rocks, the Elmira Intermediate, Elora Rocks, Elora Tuesday Night League and the Elora Rockers.
Keating overcame his fear of public speaking by taking a Dale Carnegie Public Speaking course. As a consequence he could confidently appear before planning committees and municipal councils to outline the vision for his projects.
He credits the success of his business to having many lifetime career employees and retaining the same subcontractors.
Keating returned to the Elora Lions Club in 1997 and led construction of the Lions Pavilion in Bissell Park and later the boardwalk in Bissell Park, adjacent to the Grand River.
Keating was also active with the fireworks display and Santa Claus parade.
He personally made the heavy wood benches in Bissell Park and the park near Station Square in memory of Lion Vince Zettel.
Keating’s life’s work “has definitely helped make Elora one of the most beautiful and enviable places to live in Ontario,” officials state.
