The History of the Bonfield & District Lions Club dates back to December 1977, when an attempt to form a Club failed because there were not enough men at the meeting.  On January 11, 1978, a meeting was held at the Bonfield Snowmobile Club where a Lions Club was formed with over 20 members, under the direction of District Governor Lion Gerry Albert, Guiding Lion Elgin Moynes, and Past District Governor Lion Bob Pearson.  Lion Fred Pearson was elected as our Charter President and Lion Leo Duchesne our Secretary.  The Widdifield Lions Club, under the guidance of Lion Elgin Moynes, sponsored the Club.

 Charter Night April 1, 1978 – Mr. J.JU. Blais, MP for Nipissing and Solicitor General was our Guest Speaker.  Lions District Governor, Lion Gerry Albert and Club President Lion Fred Pearson officiated at our official Charter.  A special thanks was made to our Guiding Lion, Lion Elgin Moynes.

June 21, 1978 – The Club’s first annual fundraiser was set for December 2, 1978.  First prize was a snowmobile and trailer, second prize a portable color TV and third prize was a wristwatch.  A committee was formed to study the possibility of building a Medical Centre in Bonfield.

 First Lion of the Year Award was awarded to Lion Stan Anderson

Memorable Achievements over the next 30 years.

Sponsored a Lioness Club in 1982 and a Leo Club (first in our district) a little later on.

 Meetings were moved from the Snowmobile Club to the old school (now Caisse Populaire) from 1980 to 1985, then to the Parish Hall for one year.  In 1986 we moved to the Agridome and fundraised to support the Agricultural Society.  In 1997/98 our President Lion Ben Gagne negotiated the purchase of our new Den located at 350 line 3 South for around $45,000. Renovations were completed in 2007.

Took over the maintenance and upgrading of Centennial Park for many years.

Bonfield Family Life Centre became a focus of help for the Lions Club

Minor Sports and the Hockey Team in Bonfield are sponsored by the Bonfield Lions Club.

  The Bonfield Medical Centre was built with the help of the Lions.

The Bingo in North Bay is worked to help raise money towards the CAT Scan for the North Bay Hospital.

Donation of $50,000 was given to the Township of Bonfield for the construction of a new fire hall.  When a second fire hall was built in Rutherglen, the Lions donated $5,000 for this location.

 The Bonfield and District Lions hosted the 1993 Lions Convention in North Bay.

 Donations were made to the Parish Hall for various major upgrades.

 Fundraisers were held which became important community events each year such as the Winter Carnival, New Years Dance, Halloween and Valentine Dances, Snowmobile Radar Run and Fishing Derby.

  The Millennium time Capsule and Flower Boxes were built at the Town office together with Lioness.

 In 2001 the Lioness became Lions and our club grew to over 30 members.

1^st and 2^nd ATV Runs for Easter Seals were co-chaired by the Bonfield Lions.  In 2003 the Bonfield Lions began to chair their own ATV Runs and so far have made major donations to the Hearing Society, the North Bay Hospital building fund for the Lions Ophthalmology Wing plus equipment for this wing, Cancer Society and Camp Huronia Diabetes Camp.  Local causes such as the Bonfield Family Life Centre, Food Bank, Library, Agricultural Society, Fire Department, School, Churches and Township events have also received donations from the proceeds of our ATV runs.