Yellowknife (Feb 11/05) - While often overshadowed by the larger Elks Lodge in Yellowknife, the women's division - the Royal Purple - is quietly working behind the scenes in a big way, says its national president.

"Our primary purpose is to assist children, seniors and womens issues," Bev Bourque said of the mandate of the organization.

While serving her one-year term, Bourque said she has never travelled more and met so many people united to promote the cause of the organization.

"I've developed a network of friends from across Canada and you always have something in common with them," Bourque said of her experiences.

The Yellowknife chapter has been in existence since October 1951, with the Royal Purple of Canada just celebrating its 90th anniversary in 2004.

Bourque said the group, a womens-only organization, first formed as a way for the wives of Elks members to help the community in their own way.

"We have 52 current members with a core group of about 12 to 15 active members, but have no charter members left," she said.

The last-remaining charter member was Smitty Muyres, who died in 1998, said Bourque.

"We had 100 members at one time," she said of the dwindling popularity of the organization.

"Like every volunteer membership, people don't want to commit. But it has a lot to offer," she said.

From assisting the Yellowknife Womens Centre, to providing funding for the purchase of a new mammogram machine at the hospital, to donating money to various charities and the pediatric ward at Stanton Hospital, the list of causes helped by the Royal Purple shows no sign of slowing down, she said.

When Bourque became involved in the Royal Purple of Canada in 1980, she did so on a limited basis while raising her family.

As her children grew, she was able to become more active and in 1994, she became honoured royal lady for two years.

She also held the position of district deputy.

In 2000, she became the supreme conductress while in Edmonton.

"I love it. I've had a wonderful experience," Bourque said.

"You get out of a volunteer organization what you put into it. And when you get to see the results of raising money, it's wonderful."