Representatives from Collingwood's 10 Probus clubs were joined by members of town council to celebrate Probus Month with a flag raising at the library on Oct. 7.
Collingwood has more Probus clubs than any other town or city in Ontario with a total membership around 2,300 people.
Probus is a social club for retired or semi-retired people who meet about once a month for fellowship and to plan social activities among club members. Often the meeting includes a guest speaker as well.
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.
