CALEB NICKERSON
BRYSON Nov. 21, 2018
On Nov. 21, the Bryson Lions Club celebrated 67 years of putting in work for their community with a supper and awards ceremony. Lions, Lionettes and local residents all crowded around the tables in the Lions Hall for the evening.
After the guests ate their fill from the huge potluck buffet, Lion Ed Gutoskie greeted the crowd and listed off the numerous community projects the club has supported over the years. Back in the 1950s when the club had just formed, they were quite popular with the local youngsters on Halloween, giving out as many as 750 bags in one evening. Over the years, they funded countless community upgrades, from the beach to lights and bleachers for the ball park.

“Those are just some of the highlights,” Gutoskie said. “We’d be here all night if I went through all of them.’
He passed off the microphone to past president Marielle LaSalle, who recognized a long list of community members who support the club.
“We appreciate all the people from town [that help out], even if they’re not Lions members,” she said.
The Lion of the Year award was presented to Guy Racine, a decision that LaSalle said was very tough to make.
“He’s a jack of all trades, that guy,” said Rose Gutoskie, of Racine.
To close out the evening, Club President Paul Lacroix presented a check for $450 to Bryson Recreation Association President Julie Ryan, who said the money would go towards their outdoor rink.
Community members recognized were as follows:
Alain Gagnon (absent), Irène and Richard Gratton, Helen and Eric Hodgins (absent), Patrick LaSalle, Robert Leach, Lucie St-Jacques, Matthew Lépine, the Bryson Lionettes, John Maheral (absent), Thomas McGuire, Adrienne McKinnon (absent), Angela Lance (absent), Lloyd Newberry, Barbara Pigeon, Larry Pigeon, Jeannette Romain, Karen Saunders (absent), Cécile Sicard, Gerald Stewart, Heather Stewart, Lucie Stokes (absent) and Brent Smith (absent).