Council 5726 became a member of the Southem Alberta Bingo Association in 1984 and after about a year in operation decided to start a building fund. Approximately four years later, at the request of the Council, it was decided to form a Society. Thus, the Santa Maria Fraternal Recreational Society of Lethbridge came into being on October 3, 1988.
The first executive was as follows:
President M.J. "Jack" Kinahan
Vice-President Ovide "Vic" Bourret
Treasurer William "Bill" Young
Secretary Maurice "Moe" Lefebvre
Director John Bosch
The main objective of the Society was to acquire lands, erect or otherwise provide a building or buildings for social and community purposes. Over the course of time, many properties were explored, and in the end, we came back to the four houses located adjacent to Assumption Hall, which our Council has called home since our beginning in 1965. We have renovated the fourth property which was purchased in May, 1993, and thus, at last, have our own “HOME”.
Current executive is as follows:
President: Brayden Bilinski
Vice-President: Leo Coolen
Secretary/Treasurer: John Henderson
Directors: Robert Niven, Ben Rainault, Wendlin Wandler, Al LaRonde, John Murray Henry Holst
Our objective is to provide low cost residential rentals to people in need.
