The Kiwanis Club of Lakeshore was sponsored by the  Kiwanis Club of Sault Ste. Marie. Lakeshore Kiwanis' anniversary date is August 23, 1961, and we received our official charter from Kiwanis International on October 18, 1961, The first meeting place was the Caswell Motor Inn, the club beginning with 39 charter  members.

   While the Kiwanis Club of Lakeshore has been involved in many kinds of services  to the community since 1961, its outstanding projects have  been Soogoma Industries - 1965, Lakeshore White Cross  Center - 1970, Camp Wakonda - 1975, and Breakaway -  1988.

   Soogoma Industries, a sheltered workshop and training center for mentally challenged adults, officially opened in June 1965.  In addition to sponsoring funds, club members renovated and remodeled a 3000 square foot garage chosen  for the center.

   Around 1970, the club sponsored the Lakeshore  White Cross Center, a halfway house for adults who had been psychiatric patients.  The center provided a place for the  patients to adjust back into the community.

      In 1975, the club purchased Camp Wakonda to operate it  as a community facility, with emphasis on summer programs  for the mentally challenged, less fortunate, and handicapped. The first visitors were the Big Brothers Association. Camp Wakonda  was the former United Church camp at McCarroll Lake. 

    In October 1988, the Kiwanis Club of Lakeshore began  sponsoring the Breakaway Sault Ste. Marie drug abuse  society, a drop-in center for substance abused young adults and teenagers.

   Over the years we have been involved in a number of  fundraising projects, including the Cadillac Club, Pancake Breakfast (held every year during Bon Soo) and  Cash Lotteries.

     In 1967, 1979 and 1992, our club, along with other clubs in Sault Ste. Marie, hosted the Kiwanis Eastern Canada and Caribbean conventions, bringing many Kiwanians to our community. 
 

    Telphone numbers

• Marconi Club (705) 943-5556
• Lakeshore Kiwanis Hot Line at (705) 946-7915.(leave a message and one of members will get back to you)