Our Mission

Kiwanis helps kids around the world. Local clubs look out for our communities and the international organization takes on large-scale challenges, such as fighting disease and poverty. We are generous with our time. We are creative with our ideas. We are passionate about making a difference. And we have fun along the way.

For more than a century, Kiwanis has created opportunities for children to be curious, safe and healthy regardless of the community in which they live. When you give a child the chance to learn, experience, dream, grow, succeed and thrive, great things can happen.

Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to improving the world one child and one community at a time.

Kiwanis will be a positive influence in communities worldwide — so that one day, all children will wake up in communities that believe in them, nurture them and provide the support they need to thrive.

Service is at the heart of every Kiwanis club, no matter where in the world it’s located. Members stage approximately 150,000 service projects and raise nearly US$100 million every year for communities, families and projects. By working together, members achieve what one person cannot accomplish alone.

Kiwanis clubs focus on changing the world by serving children, one child and one community at a time. To reach more people and have a greater service impact on their communities, many clubs sponsor a Kiwanis family club — K-Kids for primary school children; Builders Clubs for adolescents; Key Clubs for teens; Circle Kclubs for university students and Aktion Clubs for adults living with disabilities.

Are you ready to help create communities that let all children thrive, prosper and grow? Join a club near you or make a donation to support the Kiwanis mission. The kids are counting on you.

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Club History

The Kiwanis Club of Oliver came into existence in 1962. The first Club executive was installed September 28, 1962, by Field Representative Ray Rohrer and Walter Toeves of the sponsoring Summerland club. The executive consisted of President Bruce Echlin, Vice President Ron Amos, Secretary Bill Kreller and Treasurer Bob Potter. Directors were Chas Walker, Grant Wheeler, George Ronald, Henry Horkoff, Jim Sowerby, Ed Ruck and Eric Shannon. The charter was received in November 1962.

The Kiwanis Club of Oliver has been involved in and sponsored many of our young people over the past 50 years. The Girl Guides, Brownies, Boy Scouts, Cubs, Air Cadets and an Oliver Youth Ambassador have all been sponsored. The Aktion Club was formed on September 1, 1993 for the handicapped members of the community. The Aktion Club has been a huge success. They run their meetings with a President and executive. The Oliver Kiwanis Pee Wee Invitational Hockey Tournament was sponsored for many years as well as a boys football club.

The Search and Rescue group as well as the South Okanagan General Hospital have received assistance for new equipment over the years.

Fund raising events have included the sale of Christmas trees, a “Duck” race, a “Golf Ball” race, chicken barbeque during Oliver Day celebrations, sale of tickets for a large children’s playhouse and many other raffles.

In 1981 the TV channel “The Knowledge Network” was sponsored. Donations have been made to the figure skating club, ladies minor hockey and the World Health Organization.

The Kiwanis Housing Society for seniors was formed in 1969 with 8 units. The next complex of 17 units was built in 1974 with the help of the Legion. It was built on land donated by the Board of Directors of Sunnybank. In 1979 the Kiwanis Manor opened with 27 units. The sale of Christmas trees was started to help finance these projects. In 1997 18 more units in Arbor Lane were leased from BC Housing and are administered by Kiwanis Housing.

The Kiwanis Club financed the building of Kiwanis Park and supplied the seats and walkway. Tables have also been placed in the Kinsman Park and benches on the Hike and Bike Trail.

On September 27, 2002 the 40th Anniversary celebration was held. Five charter members; President Bruce Echlin, Treasurer Bob Potter, Arpad Palley, Fred Fritz and Ken Potter attended the celebration. Bruce and Bob were continuous members for the entire 40 years.

Since that time charter member Bob Potter has passed away, in addition to long-time member Harold Dawson. In September 2012, the Club celebrated its 50th anniversary.

The Kiwanis People’s Market was started in April 1999 and is now instrumental in raising funds for more than 50 different organizations in the community.