Integrity Awards Gala registrations now open. Book your tickets for Tuesday May 17th at the Chateau Lacombe. Hear some fascinating stories of those non-Rotarians who made a difference in the Edmonton area. Twelve Rotary Clubs have each selected a deserving recipient.
A few years ago, prior to COVID, I attended the annual celebration of the creation of the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park in East Glacier, Montana. Fun fact, the creation of this park, the first international peace park, in 1932 was orchestrated by Rotarians in Montana and Alberta. It is a great example of Rotary’s international perspective and peaceful international cooperation. A highlight was a presentation by Canadian Parks Service on the fire that had torn through Waterton Park the year earlier. I bought a t-shirt with the Rotary logo and the words “The new peace symbol”. The Montana Rotarian that sold it to me warned me that it might not be compliant with the Rotary International brand policy. Oh well, that doesn’t mean it is wrong.
Reflecting on recent events in Ukraine, it seems that slogan is right. Our own Rotary Club is an example. Peace is not just the absence of war. Two years ago we helped build a playground for children in Kyiv. Now we provide support for refugees from an unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. Our club is not alone. Rotary is a peace building movement with over 1 million members in pretty much every country in the world. To succeed in its mission, Rotary needs everyone of those members support, for international projects, for local initiatives and to keep clubs vibrant. Thank you to our generous members for your ongoing support!
Jim Saunderson
Indigenous Speaker Series
Back by popular demand, check out upcoming speakers on a variety of topics concerning Indigenous issues starting April 25th and leading up to Indigenous Peoples Day on Tuesday June 21st. Registration already open!
Donations are welcome. If you would like to contribute to help our club support Ukrainian Refugees log into ATB Cares atbcares.benevity.org/community/cause/124-888824448RR0001 Donations go to our Community Service Trust Fund. Tax receipt provided by ATB Cares. Please include a comment like "Support for Ukraine" by clicking on Share my name and comments before entering your donation details.
The Rotaract Club of Edmonton is coming out of online hibernation! We are going to start meeting outside again this summer and are really looking forward to seeing each other in person. We have continued our monthly volunteering with the Edmonton Food Bank and hope to begin volunteering with the Green and Gold Gardens again this summer. We also are holding monthly socials and hope to participate in regular community support events in the coming months. In March, we had a very successful Bottle Drive in support of Ukraine, where we raised over $2,200 for the Red Cross Ukraine Humanitarian Crisis Appeal. Thank you so much to the members of the Rotary Club of Edmonton for your support of our Bottle Drive and your ongoing assistance!
Kathe and Adrianna,
Rotaract Club of Edmonton
Check out the Rotary International Action Plan to support the four strategic priorities until 2024:
Join the building project for our Rotary Club Community Services to help build beds for kids is scheduled for Saturday June 4th 2022. Save the date! No experience required.
Proceeds in support of theLurana Shelter! This facility offers a 24/7 Emergency Line: 780-424-5875
Lurana Shelter is a first-stage, emergency shelter providing safe, secure refuge and emergency services such as meals, clothing, personal care items, transportation, and child support, as well as services related to advocacy, and staffing 24/7 for support and security. One-on-one counselling is provided in partnership with a community agency.
We are seeking sponsors for this event. Please help out Don McFarlane by contacting him 780-337-4027 donmcfarlane42@gmail.com
A carousel of photos from last year's event is now on our home page!
Please welcome two former club members who are returning to our club:
Markus Muhs
Kathy Hawkesworth
Our playgrounds in Ukraine....
As announced at our International Services club meeting April 4th, our playgrounds we sponsored for Boyarka and Tarasivka, near
Kyiv. was still standing. Pray it will stay that way. The above picture taken in Sept 2020 after the playground was built. Of course hoping for the peoples of Kyiv to be safe.