About the Elks
Foreword
Elkdom is Canada wide. Elks, everywhere are men of broad mind and wide vision, men of sympathy and understanding. Ekldom was founded in 1912 for the purpose of inculcating the principles of Charity, Justice, Brotherly Love and Fidelity. The purpose of Elkdom is to promote the welfare and enhance the happiness of its members toward a pure and noble citizenship and to cultivate good fellowship. Ekldom is non sectarian because its creed contains nothing derogatory to any faith. Its membership is open to all upright and honorable men who believe in Law and Order and Constitutional government. It is extremely devoted to Community service with the accent on those who are under nineteen years of age. The Elks motto is to make life sweeter, men better and the world happier.
History
To our predecessors we owe a debt of gratitude for the cornerstone of Elkdom, so nobly and solidly laid in Red Deer.
Grand Lodge of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of Canada granted a charter to one hundred and twenty one men of Red Deer, Alberta, to be known as subordinate Lodge No. 85 on May 14, 1924. The charter is signed by Grand Exalted Ruler, Brother Gerald Lewis and Grand Secretary S.S. Savage.
There are no charter members left. The last to pass away was Brother Jack Laidler on June 7, 1980.
The Charter slate of officers was as follows:
| Past Exalted Ruler | Brother G. Ely |
| Exalted Ruler | Brother R. McCrostie |
| Loyal Knight | Brother S. Kangiesser |
| Lecturing Knight | Brother G. Orme |
| Esquire | Brother S. Wilson |
| Inner Guard | Brother J. Brazier |
| Tyler | Brother F. A. Parker |
| Secretary | Brother R.S. Gillespie |
| Treasurer | Brother F.A. Stewart |
| Chaplain | Brother J. Townsend |
| Trustee | Brother R. A. Van Slyke |
| Trustee | Brother A. Mitchell |
| Trustee | Brother Dr. Long |
This was probably the biggest event in Fraternal organization. Grand organizer, Jack McCoubrey worked long and hard recruiting members from the surrounding small towns to fill out the Lodge. The initiating and installing officers came from Calgary. There were 25 – 30 of them and a CPR sleeping car was provided for their accommodation. Exalted Ruler E.R. McLean and six members attended from Edmonton and their three piece stringed instrument orchestra was a big feature at the concert which followed the event, and to which the local talent also contributed. The new Lodge starts out with a good list of officers and will hold meetings twice a month, probably on Mondays. The Elks devote special attention to benevolent work and aim to cultivate the fraternal and community spirit.
The last part of this was taken from the Red Deer Museum archives. The first meetings were held upstairs in a building, now torn down, which once housed the Red Deer Post Office on the corner of 48th Street and Gaetz Avenue.
By dint of hard work and good business practices, they eventually acquired their first building on 51st Street about where the Provincial building now stands.
After the war, this building was sold and another purchased on 49th Street. This was located where the Millennium Place (previously the Hudson Bay) building now stands. Although this building proved to be quite adequate at the time of purchase, the sleepy City began to expand along with Elkdom. Yet another building tow stories with a basement was bought on the corner of Gaetz Avenue and 55 Street. This building was the former St. Luke’s Parish Hall. This building was sold to the Royal Canadian Legion in 1950 and a converted army hut was bought. It was located on 51st Avenue and 47th Street where Parkland Transmission now stands. In 1960, land was purchased and the present building was erected and opened for use. It was dedicated Sunday, May 14, 1961. Unable to wait, a New Years dance was held in 1960 with dancing on plywood floors with sheets of plywood to protect the windows to the music of Gerry Winger and friends.
The Exalted Ruler at that time, was Howard Biles and the District Deputy Grand Exalted Ruler was Roy Abel. Other making up the slate of officers at that time were: Brothers George Logelin, Don Woodword, Joe Hodgson, Gerry Winger, Harry Spelman, Mark Barker, Dan McKay, Keith Blore, Bill Cooper, Andy Jones, A. Scott, Arnold Sherbino and Jim Wocks.
The cornerstone was laid by Howard Biles, Roy Abel and acting Mayor Don Barton. The first sod was turned by Don Barton, also present was Honoured Royal Lady of the Royal Purple, Stella McParland. The Elks are a Benevolent and Fraternal Order. Elks Lodges are now formed into Districts. Red Deer Lodge is in District #7 and includes Olds, Gwendale, Caroline, SUndre, Leslieville, Bentley, Benalto and Ponoka. These Lodges hold semiannual District meetings and make inter Lodge visits.
Any male, 18 years of age, regardless of race, creed or colour, are eligible members. They must be sponsored by an Elk in good standing.
The Elks have a sister organization, the Ladies of the Royal Purple. Both groups work in harmony.
Canadian Elks have no affiliation with United States Elks other Fraternal. They welcome Canadian Elks to their Clubs and we welcome them.
The Elks are a community oriented and make many annual donations to worthy causes such as minor sports, community projects and all National causes. The Elks across Canada have a Purple Cross Fund which is administered by Grand Lodge. This Fund is financed by contributions from Lodges across Canada and by the Royal Purple. Any child to the age of nineteen, regardless of whether their parent is an Elk member or not is eligible for financial assistance for any health problem not covered by Medicare providing they are not in a financial position to pay. The Elks specialty cause is in the field of speech pathology and audiology.
Since the purchase of the present location, many altercations and improvements have been made. Mare adjacent land was widely bought by the Lodge Trustees for parking. The Lodge has had its up and downs in the last twenty years. It has also found that a Lodge with Club has many problems. The Lodge has had many Club managers. They are governed by what used to be called a House Committee but which is now known as a Board of Management. Two managers, in my opinion, stand out. Jollie McKinley came along when the Lodge was facing disaster. His promotional skills brought the Lodge to its highest membership and put the Lodge on a firm financial position. He sought greener pastures and was followed by Tony Connelly, who was very popular and kept things moving smoothly from 1978 to 1987. At the present time the Lodge is feeling the results of a slow and changing economy and an apathetic membership.
Circumstances have changed greatly in the last fifteen or twenty years. In the booming late seventies and early eighties the oil patch was busy. People had money to spend and they spent it in places like the Elks Club. Now that taxes on commodities have increased, people can no longer afford to drink in a public place and fear of stringent liquor laws has discouraged them. People still have money but it is being spent in a different way and food and beverage places are feeling the pinch. Taxes and insurance and utilities have increased. But the Elks have been through this before and have burned the mortgage several times and we hope that we will do it again.
Ken Spenser
A History of Red Deer Lodge No. 85 From 1924 – 1992
Updates…
The Red Deer Elks building is currently located at 6315 Horn Street Red Deer, Alberta.