Our History

Cosmopolitan International began its long and storied history in Kansas City, Missouri in 1918 where the club was formally chartered and incorporated as the International Federation of Cosmopolitan Clubs. Our founder, attorney Patrick J. Hodgins, had for several years experimented with and started service and civic clubs in the Oklahoma City and Tulsa area. An attorney by trade, Hodgins moved his law practice to Kansas City and shortly founded the first Cosmopolitan Club. Hodgins wanted a civic organization that fully adopted the ideals of Unity of purpose, Service to the community and Action on the part of all members. The name Cosmopolitan was selected because of the meaning of “citizen of the world.”

Cosmopolitan was established for the principal purpose of bettering our communities by providing service and support to worthwhile projects. As with many of the service clubs in existence then and today, Cosmopolitan clubs and members saw needs in their respective communities and sought to fulfill those needs. That same practice is central to the Cosmopolitan role today in our commitment to our communities, our clubs and the fight against diabetes.

Cosmopolitan quickly grew with clubs springing up in St. Joseph and Independence, Missouri and followed closely by Kansas City, Kansas and Wichita. The clubs went international with the chartering of our first Canadian Club in Winnipeg in 1927. Mexico was added with the founding of a club in Mexico City in 1948. In 1933 our organization was reborn as Cosmopolitan International, the name we still hold today.

Cosmopolitans have been involved in a variety of local projects in the communities we serve. But our true legacy is in the area of our fight against diabetes. The membership took on diabetes as our International Project in 1977. Since that time, Cosmopolitan has established itself as a leader in the fight with internationally renowned centers working to identify, treat and research this horrible disease.


Our Governors

1937 to 1952

  • 1937 - Lovel Smith (Saskatoon)

  • 1938 - A. McArthur

  • 1939 - Walter Kurth (Winnipeg)

  • 1940 - J. Van Slyk

  • 1941 - Bill Bridgeman

  • 1942 - Charlie Musk (Prince Albert)

  • 1943 - Fred Kinny

  • 1944 - Clare Olsen

  • 1945 - Harry Barton

  • 1946 - Frank Paul

  • 1947 - Max Horning (Winnipeg)

  • 1948 - Reg Woolston

  • 1949 - Jack Thorogood

  • 1950 - Ian Gray (Prince Albert)

  • 1951 - Larry Straigh

  • 1938 - A. McArthur

  • 1939 - Walter Kurth

  • 1940 - J. Van Slyk

  • 1941 - Bill Bridgeman

  • 1942 - Charlie Musk

  • 1943 - Fred Kinny

  • 1944 - Clare Olsen

  • 1945 - Harry Barton

  • 1946 - Frank Paul

  • 1947 - Max Horning

  • 1948 - Reg Woolston

  • 1949 - Jack Thorogood

  • 1950 - Ian Gray (Prince Albert)

  • 1951 - Larry Straigh

  • 1952 - Eric Cranston

1953 to 1982

  • 1953 - Bill Powell

  • 1954 - Frank Dojack (Winnipeg)

  • 1955 - Bill Miller

  • 1956 - Ernie Lawby

  • 1957 - Alex Fernet (Saskatoon)

  • 1958 - Vern Pickersgill (Winnipeg)

  • 1959 - Myron Dean

  • 1960 - Jack Bremnr

  • 1961 - Charlie Hewitt

  • 1962 - Ronald Smith (Saskatoon)

  • 1963 - Bill Turnbull (Prince Albert)

  • 1964 - Bob Bordon

  • 1965 -Archie Lamarsh (Saskatoon)

  • 1966 - Glen Wilfong

  • 1967 - Stan Franklin

  • 1968 - Harry Klassen

  • 1969 - Gordon Baker

  • 1970 - Al Segal (Winnipeg)

  • 1971 - Frank Buckan (Saskatoon)

  • 1972 - Bob Johnston

  • 1973 - Chuck Boskill (Saskatoon Bridge City)

  • 1974 - Fred Hughes (Regina)

  • 1975 - Thorny Gross (Edmonton)

  • 1976 - Danny Law

  • 1977 - Len Howsam (Saskatoon)

  • 1978 - Jack Mack

  • 1979 - Maun McNeil

  • 1980 - Blake McKay

  • 1981 - Conrad Abel (Saskatoon Bridge City)

  • 1982 - Lyle Broadfoot (Saskatoon)

1983 to 2012

  • 1983 - Aubrey Reimer

  • (Prince Albert)

  • 1984 - Ned Dudley (Regina)

  • 1985 - Rick Stevenson (Saskatoon)

  • 1986 - Larry Adams

  • 1987 - Warren Klassen (Saskatoon Bridge City)

  • 1988 - Bob Stoyand (St. Albert)

  • 1989 - Reg Rawling (Saskatoon)

  • 1990 - Bob Johnson (Prince Albert)

  • 1991 - Bob Dojack (Winnipeg)

  • 1992 - Brian Mitchell (Regina)

  • 1993 - Jim Smith (Saskatoon)

  • 1994 - Brian Liepert (Regina)

  • 1995 - Richard Schindelka (Saskatoon Bridge City/Couples Club)

  • 1996 - Roger Pilon (Saskatoon Hub City)

  • 1997 - Neil Gow (Calgary)

  • 1998 - Lorne Wirth (Regina)

  • 1999 - Chris Clinton

  • 2000 - Lyle Hardy (Sturgeon)

  • 2001 - Vic Gotch (Regina)

  • 2002 - George Lukovszaki

  • 2003 - Myrna Pollon (Wascana)

  • 2004 - Gary Wensel (Winnipeg)

  • 2005 - Richard Greer (Saskatoon)

  • 2006 - Norman Hill (Prince Albert)

  • 2007 - Rod Randolph (Edmonton)

  • 2008 - Brian Duckett (Wascana)

  • 2009 - Jack Ostoforoff (Saskatoon)

  • 2010 - Gerald Grywacheski (Regina)

  • 2011 - Shawn Larson (Sturgeon)

  • 2012 - Darwin Baker (Saskatoon)

2013 to Present

  • 2013 - Kathy Krysak (Wascana)

  • 2014 - Keith Shepherd (Regina)

  • 2015 - Sandra Abello (Wascana)

  • 2016 - Arthur Brassard (Prince Albert)

  • 2017 - Angela McFalls (Edmonton)

  • 2018 - Debra Down (Saskatoon)

  • 2019 - Christine Shepherd (Wascana)

  • 2020 - Tammy Allen (Edmonton)

  • 2021 - Tammy Allen (Edmonton)

  • 2022 - John Krysak (Wascana)

  • 2023 - Karen Shepherd (Wascana)

  • 2024 - Karen Shepherd (Wascana)

 
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Western Canada Federation Recognition

WCF International Recognition

 

COSMO of the Year

  • 2018 - Debra & Terry Down (Saskatoon)

  • 2003 - Gary Jurke (Sturgeon Valley)

  • 1994 - Roger Pilon (Saskatoon Hub City/Saskatoon Couples Club)

  • 1986 - Rev. Don McNeil (Regina)

  • 1973 - Maun McNeil (Calgary)

 

Club President of the Year

Earlier Records were not available

  • 2020-21: Angela McFalls (Edmonton)

  • 2013-14: Keith Shepherd (Wascana)

Patrick J. Hodgins Award Recipients

This award is given to an outstanding Cosmopolitan for exemplary Cosmopolitan service over a period of not less than ten (10) full calendar years prior to the date of the International convention at which the award is to be presented.

  • 2018 - John Krysak (Wascana)

  • 2012 - Jim Smith (Saskatoon)

  • 2004 - Brian W. Mitchell (Regina/Wascana)

  • 2002 - Brian Liepert (Regina/Wascana)

 

Rookie of the Year

Earlier Records were not available

  • 2013-14: Rick Lockyer

Community Service Award

This award is given to an outstanding Cosmopolitan for exemplary achievements in family life, church life, business standing in the community, civic service, community affairs and Cosmopolitan club activities over a period of not less than five (5) full continuous calendar years prior to the date of the International Convention at which the award is to be presented.

  • 2015 - John Krysak (Wascana)

  • 1994 - Wayne Eger (Regina)

 
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