The official birthdate for the local UCT is October 21. According to Wendy Clyne of the UCT, it got its start when members from Brandon Council approached a few people from Boissevain about getting started.
“These community members in turn suggested friends and family who might be interested in joining,” Clyne explained. “Something new for our community. We started with 34 members. Some were already members of the Brandon organization and transferred in. Many of the original members continue to belong today.”
The first few years Boissevain received direction from the Brandon Council via Myrtle Hudson who gave advice and guidance.
“We have always been a community focused group wanting to make it a ‘better place for having been there.’”
Like the Masons, United Commercial Travellers began from a group who pursued the same career. In 1888, the Order was established by six men who met in Columbus, Ohio. The original idea was to aid salesmen and commercial travellers and their families through financial services and insurance as well as raise the morals of its members. In 1899, the UCT spread to Canada, forming its first Council in Winnipeg. Over the years, membership expanded beyond salesmen to the general public and the focus moved more towards community service.
“UCT started off originally as a way of offering low cost insurance products to travelling salesmen and their families who travelled town to town selling their products, hence the name United Commercial Travellers,” Clyne stated. “It continues to offer products such as life insurance, travel health, sickness and accident, critical illness, hospital/health insurance but it is not a requirement to belong. In fact, many of our members are fraternal members with no additional insurance coverage.”
Clyne said that she became involved for the community aspect.
“We joined because we thought it was a good opportunity to help out the community we lived in. Also, there was a good group of members that have become our good friends and getting together is a social outing.”
Boissevain is part of the Manitoba-Saskatchewan UCT Councils, which is part of the Canadian and International organizations.
The community welfare part of Boissevain UCT is certainly well established. Clyne said they have many core interests that they support, like cancer, youth drug and alcohol awareness, intellectual disabilities and safety, but their efforts are not limited to these. She added she felt the youth in the community have benefitted the most from their efforts. Sports such as minor hockey and high school basketball and camp, baseball and volleyball have been recipients of assistance. They assisted in bringing the Rocks and Rings curling program to the school, and the hockey teams bear the UCT symbol on their jerseys. They purchased soccer jerseys and nets. They have also given out graduation bursaries for 20 years. Local students have participated in their safety poster program, often doing very well at higher levels of competition. They have helped with farm safety days as well as Addiction Awareness Week and the Student Assistance Program.
They have sold daffodils for the Cancer Society and in the past supported the Relay for Life and now Golf for the Cure. The UCT hosts holiday parties at the Sawmill and have financially supported the building of a new residence for what is now Prairie Partners and have helped with Special Olympics.
The UCT has donated funds to a myriad of local projects, including the rescue van, fireman’s suits, handivan, power lift stretcher and AED’s for the curling rink and golf course. They donated to the library building fund, theatre project, tourist booth, Tiny Turtle and Turtle Mountain Bible Camp. They provide a light-tree every Christmas for the front of the health centre. They provide mobility equipment for individuals asking only for donations to help with upkeep. They helped people with life altering illnesses, and co-hosted the Westman Regional Winter and Summer Games that brought many people to the community. They decide on funding requests at meetings.
“We have turned down very few requests over the years.”
To raise funds, the UCT provides lunches at auction sales and work the concessions at the fair and demo derby. They also sell raffle and hat pool tickets.
As with many organizations, their membership is getting older and they struggle to keep up with their impressive work. They are always looking for new people to join in the effort.
“Of concern is that all these projects may cease to be supported when or if we can no longer sustain them because of a lack of members,” Clyne said.
She added the greatest accomplishment of the organization is that it has been able to serve the community so well with its small core of members.
“Much of the work we do does not get recognized, behind the scenes. If our contributions were to be added up I think it would be significant and many people have benefitted. We are proud of the community we live in and want it to thrive and prosper, be a good community to raise families.”
“We can only hope that Boissevain UCT will still be here in 20 more years.”
A 20th anniversary celebration is planned for Saturday, October 21 at the Boissevain Curling Club. Past and current members and guests are invited to celebrate 20 years of giving back to the community. Anyone who is interested in getting involved with UCT are also invited to join by contacting Wendy Clyne at 204-534-2594.
UCT BOISSEVAIN CHARTER EXECUTIVE
October 1997
Senior Counsellor (President) – Ken Clyne
Junior Counsellor (Vice-President) - Don Voodre
Secretary-Treasurer - Marjorie Coupland
Conductor (Second Vice) - Tom Challner
Page (Third Vice)- Doug Coupland
Sentinel (Fourth Vice) - Wendy Clyne
Chaplain - Ken Dixon
Executive Board - Ernie Crowe
Joan Wright
Howard Dalrymple
Willie DeYaegher
By PAUL RAYNER, Recorder staff