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a brief history |
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The Meraloma Club is an amateur athletic organization founded in 1923 by Bill Edwards and 11 other swimmers from the local Kitsilano area of Vancouver, Canada.
The Meraloma Club initially called their club the Mermaids. Canadian Football, Rugby Football and various sports soon followed and as the club grew to include sports other than swimming, the members developed a new name, suggested by Douglas Hand. He took "Mer" from the original Mermaids, added "al" from alpha, "om" from omega (the first and last letters of the the Greek alphabet) and "a" from "always" that was interpreted to mean "Mermaids, first, last and always". Later, the permanent Club motto found favour: "Once a Meraloma Always a Meraloma". Thus, the Mermaid Athletic Club became the Meraloma Club. The Meraloma Club members are now referred to as the Loma's, and the club motto is often stated as "Once a Loma Always a Loma".
The Meraloma Club is housed in a 1923 Parks & Recreation vintage structure, on Connaught Park which it continues to renovate and maintain. A Heritage Award from the City of Vancouver was earned in 1979 for preserving architectural integrity during renovations. The "Clubhouse" is used by all sports sections and is a main attraction for members of the club.
LOMA Bike Club began in 2015 as a trial section of the Meraloma Club. In 2016, LOMA Bike became the first road cycling section of the Meraloma Club. In the first year the bike section had 42 members, and now in its second year the bike section has over 75 members with 10 racers and is continuing to grow. Being a member of LOMA Bike means you are a part of Vancouver's history. No other bike club in the city can offer such a diverse athletic organization and a clubhouse in the heart of Kitsilano.
THE CLUBHOUSE
In the 1930’s, we were granted the use of Connaught Park, the current home of the Meraloma Club. The Club was utilizing the Connaught Park field house, along with the general public, into the 1970’s. With the growth of the Club at this time, the Executive Committee approached the Parks Board and secured an exclusive lease of the field house. In 1979, the club members then set about renovating and refurbishing the clubhouse as it is today.
On June 6, 1981, the Heritage Committee of the City of Vancouver honoured the Meraloma Club with a Heritage Award ‘for an outstanding contribution to the Heritage quality and character of the City through restoration work undertaken at The Connaught Park Fieldhouse.’ Dave ‘Goose’ Frid decorated the interior with the collection of trophies, plaques, badges, team photographs and other historically significant paraphernalia the interior of the Clubhouse.
On June 6, 1981, the Heritage Committee of the City of Vancouver honoured the Meraloma Club with a Heritage Award ‘for an outstanding contribution to the Heritage quality and character of the City through restoration work undertaken at The Connaught Park Fieldhouse.’ Dave ‘Goose’ Frid decorated the interior with the collection of trophies, plaques, badges, team photographs and other historically significant paraphernalia the interior of the Clubhouse.