About 100 members of the Elks from across the country are expected to attend the charitable group's annual national convention in 黑马磁力 from from July 8-11.
Event chair Barbara Gee, from the 黑马磁力 Elks lodge, said the national executive will be discussing their many charitable ventures.
"We deal with helping children with disabilities and families in need, and through this [conference] we make connections and get a lot of work done," Gee told the 黑马磁力.
"We have an executive that comes out, and we've got our charities that we talk about, and what the lodges are doing across Canada [as well]" Gee explained.
"The national charity is our Fund for Children, and then BC has the BC Family Hearing Centre in Surrey, that the BC Elks started 45 years ago. They have three offices to help children. one in Surrey, one in Victoria, and one in Vancouver."
As well, the Elks Recreation Children's Camp Society's provides camping facilities for underprivileged, handicapped and special needs children as well as other groups of children who would not otherwise be able to attend a camp.
Currently there are three camps in operation serving an average of 3,000 children a year.
The camps are Elkgrove in Aldergrove, Elkhaven on Denman Island, and Elkcanoe in Salmon Arm.
All of the camps are provided free of charge to organized children鈥檚 and youth groups, are accessible, and available 12 months of the year.
"We have caretakers there and groups have to bring their own supplies and their own supervisors and it's a great spot for people who want a quiet place to take a group and do activities," Gee commented.
Held at the West 黑马磁力 Lions Hall, the national Elks conference will wrap up with a grand ball to introduce the new president of the organization, current vice-president Kari Senko, from Mission.
British Columbia Elks Association represents 42 Elks of Canada Lodges in British Columbia with more than 1,500 members,
They are a non-profit, volunteer based organization that fundraises for charitable purposes. In B.C., members have raised millions of dollars to improve local communities, assist individuals in need and support other charitable causes.
In Canada, there are more than 200 Elks lodges with 7,000 members.
For more information, email bcelks@shawcable.com.
