By Eric Bourque
THE VANGUARD
NovaNewsNow.com
Yarmouth will play host this weekend to a gathering of Shriner potentates from the eastern part of Canada and the northeastern United States.
Various activities are planned.
“Potentates are like a president, I guess, of the area they represent,” said Ken Wheelans, a member of the Sou’West Shrine Club.
Weekend activities include a parade of Shriners from the Colony Harbour Inn – the main activity site for the gathering – to the town hall. This is scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday.
The Shriners are invited to take part in Saturday afternoon activities at the Grand Hotel and Rudder’s restaurant. Lobster pound tours also are part of Saturday’s lineup.
A lobster dinner and Halloween dance are planned for later in the day.
Asked what kind of turnout is expected for the gathering, Wheelans said “probably 80 to 90 altogether” would take part.
Shriners are known for the work they do for children, notably their network of children’s hospitals.
The Shriners help young people (up to 18 years of age) with orthopedic problems, burns, spinal cord injuries and cleft lip and palate.
“The main focus and the main purpose of the Shriners is to help the kids,” said Wheelans.
There are 22 Shriners Hospitals for Children and there are plans for a new facility in Canada.
“We’ve just had the go-ahead for a new hospital in Montreal, part of McGill University,” said Wheelans.
As for this weekend’s get-together of Shriner potentates in Yarmouth, he said it should be a good time for the participants and a welcome event for the local economy.
“Our potentate in Halifax is arranging this meeting,” he said. “He looked at us and said ‘you know, Yarmouth has been hit pretty bad (economically) so if we can bring something down to support the area, we’re going to do that.’”
Wheelans is the membership chair for the local Shriners club, which belongs to the Philae Temple, which covers Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.
