A city 50-year Loyal Order of Moose member has received the organization’s highest honour.
Les Peters of Red Deer Lodge No. 1369 was awarded the Pilgrim Degree of Merit at a ceremony earlier this year at the fraternal organization’s headquarters in Mooseheart, Ill.
The order bestows the award for exceptional community and lodge service above the call of duty.
Peters, the fifth Red Deerian to be so recognized, has held all of his lodge’s positions of responsibility, many numerous times. He’s also served often at the district and provincial level.
He was instrumental in setting up Moose Cottage, a kitchen-like tea room at Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre that has provided respite for patients and families for almost 20 years.
Other projects he’s had a hand in include the lodge’s support of a girls soccer team and oldtimer hockey club, its three-times monthly bingos and its fundraising casinos.
“I’m really humbled by this,” said the 80-year-old, who’ll receive the Pilgrim’s coveted gold blazer at a local ceremony on Oct. 27 at the group’s Gasoline Alley East building.
The Loyal Order of Moose is a service organization founded in 1888 with nearly 800,000 men in about 1,800 lodges in four Canadian provinces, all American states plus Great Britain and Bermuda.
Members are dedicated to caring for seniors and children.