The Smoky Lake Kinettes are passionate about their community

Meet the Smoky Lake Kinettes, a group of women passionate about serving their community. Kinettes are all volunteers donating their precious spare time to the community’s well-being. They are not a separate entity; the larger association they belong to is KIN Canada.

KIN Canada was founded in 1920 and has a history of fostering lifelong friendships while “serving the community’s greatest need.” There are many clubs across Canada, all to enhance the well-being of Canadians and improve the environment. Clubs independently determine what projects they would like to do in their community, and they often partner with other non-profits or local municipalities.

The club in Smoky Lake has a younger history, though no less impressive; the previous Kinette club was dissolved. In 2013, several women under the inspiring leadership of Ashley Losier decided to restart the Kinette club, and with great success.

Knowing their community well, they got involved in current activities; two members joined the spray park committee and contributed to creating the Smoky Lake Spray Park. They raised more than $250,000 in local fundraising and grant applications.

The group members live in the community, know the people, and know the needs to identify goals. The club meets on the third Tuesday of every month to discuss needs and activities. Once the group has decided to address an identified need, they raise money in the community or tap into their existing funds. One of the great features is that every dollar raised goes back into the community.

Sometimes the group gets in-kind donations in the form of labour for a project such as the Town of Smoky Lake, which has donated labour services to Kinette projects.

Fundraising is a continuum with annual activities such as Toy Drive and the Christmas hampers. Also, during December is the Angel Tree gifts project. Other yearly activities are a Ladies’Night and a golf tournament. In between these regular activities, some projects reflect a need in the community. This is an active group of women who are entirely focused on getting the job done because they all want to see their community flourish.

The Smoky Lake Kinettes currently has 15 volunteers of which seven are executive members. Whereas their current membership is all-female, men are welcome to join the group, and new members are always welcome.

For those interested in the Smoky Lake Kinettes, don’t hesitate to contact Ashley Losier at 780-656-1066.