Knights look for members

Knights of Columbus also focus on supporting vocations, pro-life groups

Peter Wong

By RAMON GONZALEZ
WCR Staff Writer
Edmonton

Calgary's Peter Wong will continue leading the Knights of Columbus of Alberta/Northwest Territories for another year. As expected, Wong and the whole executive of the fraternity were re-elected for another term at the Knights' 96th annual convention at the Delta Inn South April 28-30.

Convention

About 500 people, including 190 voting delegates, their wives and various guests, attended the convention. Supreme Secretary Robert Lane was a special guest at the convention.

Wong was first elected state deputy at the Knights' state convention in Calgary last year.

The father of three is a member of the Matteo Ricci (Chinese) Council 10119 and works as patient care information systems analyst with the Calgary Health Region.

"I'm happy that I continue to have the support of the membership," Wong said May 1.

Re-elected along with Wong to the state board were Wally Streit, state secretary; William Smith, state treasurer; Neil Gannon, state advocate; and Gary Johnson, state warden.

Among Wong's goals for his second term are to step up the recruitment of new members and to continue supporting the pro-life movement and the priests and bishops of Alberta and the Northwest Territories.

During Wong's first term, the fraternity delivered in these and other areas. At convention time, the Knights' total membership was 15,515 members, a net gain of 238 new members.

Wong's challenge

"New member recruitment this year has not been ideal," he said, challenging convention delegates to bring in one or two new members before the end of May.

Throughout the 2005-06 year, the Knights also gave financial support to the pro-life movement and other charities as well as a substantial donation to support religious vocations.

"Vocations are everybody's business and certainly a high priority to the Knights of Columbus," Wong said. "Through the Pennies for Heaven program, under the leadership of Barnie Markowski, our jurisdiction raised $27,300 in the past year to assist with the promotion of vocations."

An active and united fraternity such as the Knights of Columbus "can move mountains," Wong reminded delegates in his annual report.

"I have faith that with God's help, we as Alberta/Northwest Territories Knights of Columbus will move forward to action guided by a spirit of togetherness, a spirit of unity and a spirit of trust," he said.

The Knights also presented several awards at the convention. The family of the year award went to the family of Guy and Debbie Charrois of Legal Council 3223. The knight of the year award went to Clyde Flynn of St. Albert's Brother Anthony Council 10014. The fraternal council of the year award went to Edmonton's Nazareno Council 12904.

John Paul II Council 11334 of Edmonton was awarded the council of the year award at the convention.

The district deputy of the year award went to Vince Reyes of Edmonton and the grand knight of the year award was given to Liam Connelly of Msgr. Joseph Malone Council 13312, also of Edmonton.

Derek Remus, a 16-year-old student from Coaldale, won the Respect for Life oratorical contest and was awarded the top prize of $500 at the convention.

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