Official status for midtown Probus club

The Probus Club of Toronto, based in midtown, was officially recognized as a club by Probus International Wednesday morning.

Graham Christopher, president of the Probus Club of Newmarket, presented Toronto president John Agnew with a certificate, making the Toronto club official.

Probus — a shortened form of “professional businesspeople” — is a social club for retired professionals, with various activities coordinated by club members.

The Probus Club of Toronto, now officially Club #244, is the only club of its kind in Toronto. It meets from 10 a.m. to noon on the second Wednesday of each month in the parish hall of Holy Rosary Church at St. Clair Avenue West and Bathurst Street.

The formation of the club began with efforts by Agnew, who started circulating information last summer. By the end of the year the club was nearing officialdom, having exceeded its goal of 40 members.

The club now has 65 members, and is growing, according to Agnew who chuckled at the idea the club, mainly made up of seniors, was technically 65-plus.

Agnew thanked the members for coming and announced there was to be a celebration with cake — plus a little more.

“And the coffee is free!” he said to cheers and laughs.