Several thousand visitors from across the planet are about to descend upon Montréal for one of the city’s biggest gatherings of the year. From June 24 to 28, the 104th Lions Clubs International Convention — also known as LCICon 2022 — will take place at various venues across the city, as more than 10,000 delegates connect with each other (in person!) for the first time in three years. This is a big event in terms of numbers. But it’s also a big event in terms of social values.
What is the Lions Club?
The Lions Clubs International (LCI) is an international, non-political service organization established originally in 1917 in Chicago, Illinois. Around the world, it has over 48,000 local clubs and more than 1.4 million members in more than 200 countries. In fact, it’s easier to list the countries where the Lions Club does not have members. If you look closely, you’ll find Lions everywhere.
One destination, plenty of shared values
Notably, LCI is the largest service club organization in the world. They are value-driven, with hashtags such as #WeServe and #KindnessMatters used across their various social feeds. Their organizational motto is "We Serve" and they express this motto through countless community-based initiatives. From helping refugees to promoting healthy lifestyles to implementing sustainability programs, the Lions Clubs International continue to improve the lives of countless individuals around the globe. With the challenges that we collectively face, this mission of service is more relevant than ever.
Here in Montréal, our mission as a host destination is to ensure the spaces where delegates have ideal opportunities to build new relationships and birth new projects, the type of projects that will ripple out and foster a better world for all.
We’re thrilled to emphasize the shared values shared between LCI and Montréal: strong community spirit, the idea of rising together (inclusion and diversity), and the importance of service.
Why did they choose Montréal?
This will not be LCI’s first meeting in Montréal. They’ve selected the city as their location for two other events: their 62nd annual meeting in 1979 and their 76th annual meeting in 1996. Incidentally, Montréal had won the event for 2020, then but then the pandemic put a damper on things. Their decision to return to Montréal — for their 104th gathering — is the result of significant collaboration behind the scenes by Tourisme Montréal and its partners.
For more information about the decision to host the 2022 convention, read this statement from the Lions Club…
Cheat Sheet
Event: 2022 Lions International Convention
Venue: Le Centre Sheraton, Palais des congrès de Montréal, Bell Centre, and more
Dates: June 24 to 28, 2022
Website: lcicon.lionsclubs.org
Twitter: @lionsclubs
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