January 2026

Happy new year! Hope you all had a wonderful holiday season and a happy new year!

In this issue, updates on the Green Capes Challenge – how will you make a difference, the Green Capes $75,000 donation matching program and the Green Capes Super Hero litter, highlights from recent events and much more!

The Green Capes Challenge:

How Will You Make A Difference?

photo description: a silly and playful yellow lab puppy wearing colourful glasses and holding a rubber ducky in her mouth, lays down on a pink background next to the 2026 Green Capes Dog Guide Puppy calendar. Text reads: Join the Green Capes Challenge, in support of Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides.

The total continues to grow! We set a goal of $10,000 to be raised by the Green Capes Superpup Team on the Dog Guides Peer-to-peer fund raiser platform, and to date your generosity has brought in over $14,500! Despite having reached our initial goal, the challenge is still on! There’s still time left to donate, and with your support, we can get the total even higher!

We’re challenging YOU to step up and help Dog Guides provide Canadians with disabilities the independence, safety and companionship a Dog Guide brings.

Join the Green Capes Team on the Dog Guides peer-to-peer platform by clicking the following link and selecting ‘Join Us’:

https://events.dogguides.com/fundraisers/greencapessuperpups

Green Capes matches $75,000 in new donor donations

As an incentive to get new donors to donate to Dog Guides, Green Capes offered to match donations of $10,000 or more from new donors to a maximum of $75,000. We are pleased to announce that the full $75,000 goal has been reached!

“Thank you!” to everyone who donated. Your support will help bring the benefits of dog guides to Canadians with disabilities all across Canada!

An update on the Green Capes Canadian Super Hero Litter

In March of 2024, the Green Capes Lions Club sponsored a litter of absolutely adorable puppies, which with approval from the Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides, became the Green Capes Canadian Super Hero litter. The following is a brief history on how the puppies received their names, and an update on how the litter is doing.

Green Capes decided to base the selected names on the “Super Hero” theme, and as an incentive to get new Lions Clubs to participate in the Green Capes Lions Sales Program, the LFC district chairs were given the opportunity to provide one name for each new club that ordered 50 or more calendars in their district. From the list of names provided, the following names were selected:

Tango, based on the synchronicity between the dance partners

Maud, a well-known Nova Scotian artist who overcame physical challenges to create paintings which are collected worldwide

Daurene, the first Black female mayor in Canada

Rocket, a small titan with a courageous demeanor from Guardians of the Galaxy

Tupper, in memory of a former Lions Club member

Banting, in honor of Sir Frederick Banting who co-discovered insulin

Hansen, in recognition of Rick Hansen

Ranger, the caretaker of his domain, his home, his people

Royden, in memory of a former Lions Club member

On March 19th, 2024, the Green Capes LC was notified that the sponsored litter had been born, and on March 20th the new puppies received their new names, officially becoming known as the Green Capes Canadian Super Hero Litter!

Green Capes recently received the following update from the Lions Foundation Of Canada Dog Guides:

Maud is currently training in the Service program, and is doing well!
Daurene is in the early training unit, brushing up on some foundational skills before being selected for a program.
Ranger has graduated as the first-ever Ontario Provincial Police Wellness Service Dog! His job will include: member and detachment wellness visits, critical incident debriefs, support for the OPP Healthy Workplace Team and social workers, visits to the Provincial Communications Centre, Police funerals and memorial services, and be in any setting where his presence can benefit member wellness. We couldn’t be prouder of him!
Tango recently graduated in the Service program with her client. Some of Tango’s favorite skills are “push” and “fetch”. The team is settling in well together!
Hansen and Royden are both enjoying their new roles as pets and spending their days with their families: Hansen was adopted by his foster Mom, and Royden was adopted by one of the Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides staff members.

Also in the Service program are Tupper, Rocket and Banting , who graduated in early December with their respective clients.

Highlights from our recent fundraiser events

On December 12^th/13^th, and December 20^th, the last two B.C. fundraisers for 2025 were held, and once again, a huge “Thank you!” goes to the residents of Mackenzie for their overwhelming support! A total of just over $1,200 in merchandise sales and donations was raised.

In Ontario, on December 6^th/7^th, 13^th/14^th and 20^th/21^st, ,Green Capes was present at the Rens store in the Durham Region where a combined total of 161 calendars were sold and over $150 in donations was raised.

Also in Ontario, at Oakville Place on the December 12^th/14^th and 20^th/21^st weekends, Green Capes sold an absolutely outstanding total of 444 calendars and, along with other Green Capes merchandise sales and donations, raised over $13,800!

A photo collage showing pictures from recent fundraiser events in Ontario.

1. Top Left A light-coloured Labrador in green vest lays calmly on a light wood-grain floor. Behind the dog is a table covered with a black tablecloth displaying 2026 Green Capes Calendars.

2. Bottom Left Two dogs are lying down. On the left is a Golden Retriever wearing a festive holiday bandana, and on the right is a black Labrador wearing a red patterned bandana.

3. Top Center A group of four people and three pups in training. Two men are on the left holding calendars, and two women are on the right handling service dog puppies, including 2 black and 1 white Standard Poodles.

4. Middle Center Two yellow Labradors are sitting side-by-side in front of a table covered with a bright blue tablecloth. The table displays calendars.

5. Bottom Center A group photo taken outdoors. Five people stand in a row holding copies of the calendar. There are four dogs with them, including a white poodle and a golden-coloured dog.

6. Top Right Two black Standard Poodles are sitting tall in a store aisle.

7. Bottom Right A high-angle shot showing Lynn Yamasaki with her foster Walsh.

All images submitted by Green Capes Members and used with permission

Upcoming events

The 2025 fundraising season is now complete, and Green Capes will be taking a short break to prepare and plan for the 2026 fundraising events this Fall. Stay tuned for updates on upcoming events to come!

Try a free two-month trial, and join the GCLC Team!

Are you interested in helping Canadians with disabilities receive the gift of independence, safety and happiness a dog guide brings? Then how about becoming a member of the Green Capes Lions Club, and helping us raise funds in support of the Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides! Not sure if becoming a member is right for you? No problem – you can join the club for free as a trial member for two months, and see what we are all about!

Did you know that there are fewer than 25 full-time members at Green Capes? Anyone is welcome to join, from anywhere in Canada! Most members are past or present puppy raisers, graduates and supporters, and we all work together to help make today’s puppies tomorrow’s Super Heroes!

Green Capes meets monthly via Zoom and currently conducts events in southern Ontario and northeast British Columbia. Not only do we help raise funds in support of Dog Guides, we also work to spread knowledge and awareness about dog guides, and the benefits they bring to Canadians.

For a small annual fee of $97 (pro-rated, if applicable), plus a one-time Lion’s International setup fee of $50 for new memberships, full members are able to host and participate in fundraisers, lead or participate in various club committees and enjoy various fun and exciting members-only Club activities. Full members also have a voice at our monthly and annual member’s meetings, and can vote on various motions that will help guide our future! Members can even run for a position on the Club Executive, and help be a guiding light for the club and our future goals!

There is no better time to join, and a great opportunity to change the life of a person with a disability. Join the Green Capes Lions Club today, and help make today’s puppies tomorrow’s Super Heroes!

If you are interested in joining, just reply to this message and our membership coordinator will get back to you as soon as possible.

Send us your requests

We want to make our newsletter as informative as possible, and we would love to hear your comments or requests. Simply reply to this newsletter with your comments or requests, and we will update the newsletter accordingly.

Got a little newsperson buried deep down inside, just howling to be let off-leash? Got a few minutes to show off your writing talents? Join the newsletter team and help us spread the news.

Have a great 2026!

– The GCLC Team