Representatives from Collingwood's Probus Clubs helped raise their club flag up the community flag pole at the Collingwood Public Library this afternoon to mark Probus month.
Presidents and past-presidents were joined by fellow Probus Club members as well as the mayor, deputy-mayor, and three councillors for the flag-raising on Oct. 16.
There are 10 Probus Clubs in Collingwood, with a total membership around 2,300 people. The clubs are "strictly social" and intentionally non-political and non-partisan. Past-president and long-time local Probus member Bob MacNair said Collingwood is "Probus central" having more clubs than any other town or city in Ontario.
Probus is for retired or semi-retired people with meetings taking place about once a month. Most meetings include a guest speaker, fellowship and planning for social activities between club members. Probus began in England in 1966 and the name is a hybrid of the words professional and business. It’s also related to the word probity, referring to the quality of being honest, behaving correctly, and having strong moral principles.
Probus club memberships can be women-only, men-only, and combined. There is a low annual fee for the year, and from the club, small specific-interest groups will break off for regular gatherings, such as the women’s mahjong group. There are book, bridge and crib groups too. Sometimes clubs will organize bus trips for their membership to events like a Blue Jays Game or a performance of Come From Away at the King’s Wharf theatre, and there are more physical activities like a weekly snowshoe trek, cross-country skiing, downhill skiing, and cycling. Some clubs have computer or investment groups for their membership.
You can learn more about the local Probus clubs here. Learn more about Probus Canada here.
