In the April 27, 1961 issue of the Journal, a front page article headlined “Ashcroft O.O.R.P.” noted that “Institution of Ashcroft Lodge No. 263 of the Order of the Royal Purple, the auxiliary to the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, was held in the Community Hall on April 9.”
Officers were elected and a buffet supper was held. The Kamloops Drill Team assisted in all the ceremonies, and a wire [telegram] was read from “the Supreme Honoured Royal Lady Jeanne Mathieu, Sherbrooke, Quebec, welcoming the new lodge and wishing them success.”
One of the charter members of the newly-formed Lodge back in April 1961 was Lil Munro, and the success of Ashcroft-Cache Creek Royal Purple Lodge No. 263 (as it is now known) can be judged by the fact that on the weekend of May 23 it played host to the B.C. Royal Purple AGM, conference, and education weekend. Munro — still a member of the Lodge — was there, along with nearly three dozen other Royal Purple members from around B.C. and as far afield as Ontario.
Since 2014 the organization has stood independently from the Elks, and its main focus is fundraising for children and for community organizations. Every year the Ashcroft-Cache Creek lodge gives two $500 bursaries to graduating students at Desert Sands Community School, and they regularly donate funds to the Ashcroft and Cache Creek fire departments.
It also holds an annual Purple Thursday event during the third week of October, along with Lodges across the country. Throughout the year members raise funds to put together care bags, which contain small items — such as shampoo, soap, socks, and sometimes gift cards — that a woman fleeing with her children from an abusive household would need.
“They’re things you wouldn’t take the time to pack if you were running from abuse,” explains Marvene Layte of Cache Creek. One of the organizers of the AGM and conference, Layte has been involved with Royal Purple for 10 years, has been part of the B.C. executive for eight years, and for the past two years has served as president of B.C. Royal Purple. During the weekend she was honoured for her time as president and presented with gifts, including a “memory book” about her time on the executive.
The care bags are usually donated to women’s shelters, but since there is no shelter in Ashcroft-Cache Creek the bags are given to the South Cariboo Elizabeth Fry Society and to Victims’ Services at the Ashcroft RCMP detachment.
“A major thing in the bag is a resource card telling women what they need to do and where to go for assistance, which comes from [Royal Purple] national,” adds Layte. “We hope to have a brochure where localized information can be collected, and we’re looking for funding for this. It would include contact information for people to call about finding things like a safe house, because it’s about that whole connection piece.”
Funds raised by the Lodge also go to the BC Brain Injury Association, in support of another cause embraced by Royal Purple and by Layte herself, who is on the National Purple Thursday committee.
“The biggest piece for me is being on that committee and getting a letter of understanding with the BC Brain Injury Association in Victoria. There is no federal government financial support for people with brain injury, and we’re working to get that support. We have some provincial help already, but we need more to assist people on the street with brain injuries.
“People don’t necessarily recognize they have a brain injury. It’s a silent disease, so no one can necessarily see you have that injury, and the silence of it makes it that much harder for communities to support.”
A large part of Layte’s work as part of the National Purple Thursday committee is assisting with finding grants and sponsors. Each year she gives a $1,000 donation on behalf of her two girls, and says that the money raised helps get information out in communities and provide resources.
“We buy the care bags. We bought 3,000 last year and hope to buy 5,000 this year, and hope to support shelters at the ground level to help more people get through abusive situations.”
Layte says that the members who attended the Cache Creek conference went all over the area, enjoying visits to Desert Hills Ranch and touring the communities. “They really enjoyed all the mosaics in Ashcroft. We got the walking tour brochure and sent an email challenge to everyone coming to go see them, and had a small prize.”
In fact, the attendees enjoyed their time here so much that Layte says they might have their fall meeting in Cache Creek as well. “Or possibly next spring. Everyone quite liked it. Many thanks to the villages of Cache Creek and Ashcroft for supporting the conference, and to the Blue Sky Clothing Company.”
Membership of Royal Purple is open to men and women over 16 years of age, and Lodge No. 263 meets on the second Tuesday of each month for lunch, then on the fourth Tuesday in the evening, alternating between Ashcroft and Cache Creek. Anyone who is interested in learning more, or joining, can contact Layte at (250) 612-2031 or at never2layte@telus.net.
