Hall of fame
Members honored for their exceptional commitment to the organization
Gordon Stewart
Joined the Royalmount Kiwanis Club (chartered in 1955) in during the 80's Gord was always available to serve on various committees and became one of Royalmount’s outstanding presidents.
After Royalmount surrendered its charter in 1993, he joined the Lakeshore Club together with the late past Lt-Governor Claude Ducket and Jacques Dubuc.
Gord was the originator and first chairman of our Golf tournament, served as a Director and on many committees, has been most active in visiting the Blind, Bingo and the Vets, active in all our fundraisers and now for a number of years has ably carried out the duties of Sergeant at Arms.
Gord is a true Kiwanian and we are all proud to have him as a Member of our Club.
Wim Laarhoven
A true Kiwanian, and has been an invaluable member of this club since 1983. Wim led the club as President in 1997 and served as a former Treasurer and Director for many years. He provided outstanding leadership for many years in the Annual Golf Tournament and the Annual Holiday Nuts & Cakes Sales.
Wim was a relentless volunteer with the club and served as a long-time Director of the Kiwanis Lakeshore Foundation. During his tenure Wim was one of the leaders in helping to bring our club and foundation up to the level of $100,000.00 in annual donations to the community and the children we support. To this day Wim remains a dedicated contributor to the Club as well as an inspiration to us all.
Peter Bedard
Almost a charter member of the Club with over 60 years of outstanding service to the community. Past President and one member that deserves a special recognition for the ongoing success of the Club.
A fundraiser like no other. Peter was very much involved in the 2010 Club's review and reorientation.
Peter was the eldest of 13 children living in deep poverty. At the age of 12, he left home to find work and help his family. He worked back breaking jobs across the country, eventually apprenticing in sheet metal manufacturing in Montreal and worked as a fitter welder. He took night courses to finish high school and later took university level courses while working full time and extra shifts.
He married Violet De Board in 1956 and continued striving for advancement, eventually scraping together enough money to start Aluminum Welding Company Ltd. in 1961. Peter was proud to be able to help support his family and provided jobs to many of his siblings. The company grew; he bought other businesses and employed some 300 people yearly in Quebec and Ontario at the peak of his career providing a good and steady income to his hundreds of employees and security for their families.
Two things were fundamentally important to Peter: family and having a job. He never forgot the poverty he grew up in and believed that hard work could change all things. He knew how much, a helping hand at the right time, could give someone a chance against often daunting odds and change a life forever. He constantly gave back to his employees and to the local community through over 60 years of service in Kiwanis. As a Director, Officer and President of the board over the years he exemplified the Kiwanis spirit of giving and friendship.
Peter’s legacy of support and generosity in the community will live on through the Kiwanis Club of Lakeshore Montreal’s annual Peter Bedard Achievement award and through this annual charity golf tournament.