As well, there were external factors within the UCT world. United Commercial Travelers was originally founded to help members with financial matters, such as providing insurance. Boissevain was directly connected to the US/Canada organization. Clyne said about a year ago, the US group declared bankruptcy, due to problems with the insurance part of the business. The office in Canada closed subsequently. This left #940 with no one to talk to about issues like dues. She said some councils formed an ad hoc group, and after the 2023 convention, there were questions regarding the future. This also played a role.
Clyne said when they originally formed, there were councils in many communities around, from Wawanesa to Neepawa, to even Onanole. She feels there will not be many left outside of Brandon in the near future.
“When you went to conventions, you would see a lot of silver hair there. There didn’t seem to be a lot of young people taking over, which is too bad. The younger people are doing their own thing, doing minor hockey and minor ball.”
Clyne said when the local UCT started in October 1997, they had 34 members, and at their peak there were 52. She said she and her husband Ken, who was the first president, felt it was a good group to join at the time.
“I don’t know, I think we just felt we wanted to do things for the community, to get involved in community projects,” Clyne explained.
She said the insurance part was never big in Canada, as parts like health insurance did not apply to them. Some members took advantage of some life or travel policies, but most did not join for that, instead to help their community.
The UCT certainly did that. In a report on their 20th anniversary in 2017, they highlighted their work each year. They began their auction sale lunches in the first year, as well as providing mobility equipment, which has continued to this day.
All anyone has to do is think of major and minor parts of the community to find what UCT has contributed to. Some of the larger included $1,500 and labour for the new Tiny Turtle Playroom in 2003. The same year, they contributed $1,500 to the rescue van. A fridge was purchased for Service for Seniors at $1,100 in 2006. In 2008, there was $2,000 for firemen’s uniforms, and in 2010, $2,300 for an AED. The new theatre was granted $5,000 in 2012. Turtle Mountain Bible Camp received $2,000 in 2015, while the handivan was given $1,000 in 2016. These are only some of the larger donations, with sports team uniforms, CancerCare, youth duck hunt, a new residence for Prairie Partners, Journey for Sight and many more receiving donations. There were two bursaries for Boissevain grads, and they contributed to the school breakfast program.
Other contributions included running a safety poster contest at Boissevain School. Clyne said they were particularly proud of this, as many young artists moved on and won at higher levels of competition. There were the St. Patrick’s luncheons as a tradition, as was the Christmas party for Prairie Partners. They worked with the Lions hosting the Westman Games. They put up a Christmas tree at Boissevain Health Centre outside for patients to see.
All of their contributions fell under the initial guidelines of UCT, being youth, safety, cancer and people with intellectual disabilities. Clyne said those were first and foremost, and then it was up to them.
Clyne said they used to make pails of stew for St. Pat’s and one year made 300 dozen perogies in three days. The auction sales were every couple of months, and they always made money from them. They ran the canteen at the fair, and more recently, the lunch at the Dunrea Flea Market. She added there is money to be made from these events if there is a group willing to take over.
One of their most recent donations is a second AED, located at Cherry Creek Place.
The local UCT’s contributions were noticed by the larger organization. They reached the different criteria to make 13 gold medals in their first 20 years.
The club chose four organizations to receive the last donations. The Boissevain Curling Club, new school playground and the theatre each received $1,000. The Boissevain & Morton Foundation were given around $2,500 for the undesignated fund. Clyne said the money was made in the community and should stay here.
With the end coming, UCT was cleaning up details, like what to do with walkers and other equipment. Clyne said as well as raising money and doing service, they had fun.
“We did, we did. I got to know lots of people through UCT that I might not have had much connection with in other cases. We were a broad range of people. Lots of fun, lots of giggles. We had a lot of laughs over the years. A lot of work, but a lot of fun.”
Although they are gone, Clyne hopes they will not be forgotten.
“We’ve done our part for the community,” she said. “I hope we will be remembered. We didn’t turn down many people when they came for donations.”
by PAUL RAYNER, Recorder staff