Elks of Canada is a fraternal organization that was founded in 1912 as a separate but affiliated entity of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. Although the Elks of Canada became a separate entity in 1970, the two "share a common history and enjoy a friendly relationship."

History

On June 12, 1912, three men from Seattle, Washington - N. D. Woodworth, A. M. Sommers, and Irvin Baruch - received articles of incorporation from the Dominion of Canada to promote and begin a Canadian lodge of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks (B.P.O.E.). However, only Woodworth had previously been a member of the B.P.O.E. and did not receive authorization from the B.P.O.E. to establish a Canadian lodge. Charles Edward Redeker, a Canadian seeking to establish the B.P.O.E. in Canada, received permission from the Grand Exalted Ruler of the American B.P.O.E. to start a lodge in Vancouver, British Columbia. On September 26, 1912, Redeker and other interested parties met in Vancouver to officially form the B.P.O.E. During the meeting Redeker was appointed as the first Grand Exalted Ruler of the Grand Lodge of Canada, the body overseeing the organization of future lodges.

Despite financial problems, the B.P.O.E. rapidly expanded throughout Canada. In November, 1913, it relocated its headquarters to Toronto to better serve the rapidly growing number of lodges in eastern Canada. By 1914, there were 37 B.P.O.E. lodges across Canada.

In November 1913, the B.P.O.E started its first magazine, The Dominion Elk, the same month. The Dominion Elk ceased publication in November 1914 and was republished beginning in 1917. Due to financial difficulties, the magazine was discontinued in 1933, with two brief issues appearing in 1939. The magazine was reintroduced in 1947. The paper was eventually replaced by the Canadian Elk which continues to be published today.

In 1970, the Elks of Canada became a separate entity from the American B.O.P.E. The organization continues to grow, with lodges across the country.

Membership As of 2024, membership requires one to be a person of good reputation, be an adherent of lawful governance and ordinance, and be at least sixteen years of age. Until 1998, women were excluded from the Elks of Canada.

In 1979 it had 300,000 members.Schmidt, Alvin J. Fraternal Organizations Westport, CT; Greenwood Press p.106 In 2024, it has more than 200 lodges and more than 7,000 active members. Its headquarters are located at 402-2631 28th Avenue in Regina, Saskatchewan.

Past Grand Exalted Rulers This is a list of the past Grand Exalted Rulers, the national organization's president.

1912: Charles E. Redeker 1913: Ernest W. Hachmuth 1913: John Stillwell Clute 1914: Alexander Cameron Rutherford 1915: Alexander Cameron Rutherford 1916: Alexander Cameron Rutherford 1917: William T. Perkins 1918: William T. Perkins 1919: Joseph F. Morris 1920: Joseph F. Morris 1921: Royal T. Pendray 1922: W. A. Cantelon 1923: W. Frank Murphy 1924: Colonel Royal Burritt 1925: Colonel Royal Burritt 1926: Colonel Royal Burritt 1927: Gerald Sims 1928: Gerald Sims 1929: Ernest E. Hand 1930: Ernest E. Hand 1931: Ernest E. Hand 1932: Ernest E. Hand 1933: Dr. William Spankie 1934: Dr. William Spankie 1935: Alexander McIntyre 1936: Alexander McIntyre 1937: P.W. Pound   1938: John Vaselenak 1939: L.F. McDonald   1940: W. G. King   1941: C.A. Vaughan   1942: J.F. Ferguson 1943: A.E. Eamer 1944: H.H. Greaves 1945: F.N. Haney 1946: Harrison Peile 1947: A.G. Smellie 1948: J.W. Willey 1949: C.K. French 1950: G.N. Roberts 1951: C.W. Pooles 1952: K.L. Lawson 1953: J.N.S. Dixon 1954: C.C. Howard 1955: J.D. (Bert) Jackson 1956: J.F. Bate 1957: W. J. Alton 1958: H. E. Ryan 1959: E.G. Freeman 1960: S.F. Otto 1961: E.J. Idler 1962: Henri Delorme 1963: J.E. Greco 1964: Sam Dare 1965: Adam Deminick 1966: R.K. Coulling 1967: R. E. Robert 1968: D.C. Carlson 1969: Ken Gooding 1970: G. Art Van 1972: Chas. A. Quail 1973: P.A. Lafontaine 1974: R. H. Jackman 1975: Dr. N. J. Kuzyk 1976: Henry J. Chung 1977: Andy Kapp 1978: Charles F. Clarke 1979: A. J. (Al) Malakoe 1980: Gordon Brewer 1981: Cliff Blackmur 1982: Ron Witherell 1983: Don MacMillan 1984: Joe Dumontel 1985: Vic Dyck 1986: Tom Cuming 1987: Vern Hoff 1988: Charlie McMechan 1989: Dick Hollier 1990: Jack Blinston 1991: Clem Frechette 1992: Joe Calder 1993: Eugene Wood 1994: Don Kidd 1995: Nick Kowtaluk 1996: Dennis Stewart 1998: Don Fowler 1999: Paul Clendenning 2000: Bob Manning 2001: Leonard Kolb 2002: Roland Gagnon 2003: Wayne Herod 2004: Al Busby 2005: Mark Montgomery 2006: Bill Ward 2007: Alistair (Scotty) Edwards 2008: D. Clark Killburn 2009: Duane Romuld 2010: Dave Hurley 2011: R. Jerry Wernickle 2012: Robert Larsen 2013: Jim McLeod 2014: Duane Felt 2015: Dominic Leach 2016: Denis Ellingboe 2017: Deborah Sallenbacl 2018: Ron Potter 2019: Derek Barkley 2020: Derek Barkley 2021: Derek Barkley / Maurice W. Koszman 2022: Leonard Shain 2023: Don Gillis 2024: Milles Read 2025: Kari Senko

Activity The Elks of Canada's national charity is the Elks & Royal Purple Fund for Children. Founded in 1956, the charity provides financial assistance for the medical needs of children with hearing and speech disorders under the age of 19.

In popular culture Winnipeg-based indie rock group The Weakerthans have a song entitled "Psalm for the Elks Lodge Last Call".

See also Order of Royal Purple, the Elks of Canada former auxiliary group Improved Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of the World

References

External links Elks of Canada