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Leader of the Elks of Canada visits Clearwater

Lodge #499 hosts Canada’s first ever female Grand Exalted Ruler
Clearwater Times Staff
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Members of Clearwater Elks Lodge #499 and others meet with Debbie Sallenback of Langley, the first ever Grand Exalted Ruler of the Elks of Canada. Pictured are (back, l-r) unknown, unknown, unknown, Debra Bailey, Lorraine Tomyn, Earl Tomyn, Gillian Tomyn, Adrienne Campbell, Bob Pierce, Dave Sallenback, (front, l-r) Mayor John Harwood, Deborah Sallenback, Phyllis Bucknell, and Garth Campbell.

Deborah Sallenback of Langley, the first ever female Grand Exalted Ruler of the Elks of Canada, visited Clearwater Elks Lodge #499 during the Lodge’s regular meeting on Nov. 5.

Sallenback began her term in July but she has been a trailblazer in the Elks before.

“I am really honoured to be the first woman to head the Elks of Canada. There have been a lot of firsts. I was the first woman in my lodge, I was the first woman district deputy, I was the first woman president in B.C. and it has just gone from there,” Sallenback said.

Since taking office, the Grand Exalted Ruler has taken part in events across the country. For example, she was in Melfort, Saskatchewan, as part of the 42nd Annual Elks Walk-a-Thon in October.

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