President David Soper opened the meeting with our land acknowledgement, and the singing of O Canada.

Chair Announcements

DGN Cathy and President David attended the Presidents Council meeting on Saturday. Ramesh Ferris will be a presenter at District Conference in May and needs a ride back to Winnipeg on Saturday evening. If anyone can help please let David know.

President David volunteered Winnipeg-Charleswood to host the 2nd annual Paul Harris city dinner in the fall of 2026.

If you haven’t done so already, get registered for District Conference.

Winnipeg - Charleswood will contribute $500 to the Westminster Housing Society. President David noted that he and Glenn have a list from the Volunteer Manitoba volunteer fair with potential volunteers (who may be interested in WHS.)

President David has volunteered to take on organizing our Pride Parade participation, subject to Peter Tonge agreeing to help him. This is open to all Rotary clubs.

The Polio Plus Collaborative concert will take place on October 24, 2026. Volunteers will be needed. Contributions of auction prizes are welcome. And, of course, we encourage you to buy tickets and come out. For questions or offers contact DGN Cathy.

Transcona Rotary Club will be holding its Cabin Fever event on April 17th. Sounds like a good time. Tickets are available online: Home - Transcona Rotary

Winnipeg West Rotary Clubs celebrates 75 years of Chickenfest this year. You are invited to join this year’s Chickenfest Launch On March 26th at SSCY, 1155 Notre Dame Ave. Tickets are available online here.

Jack Wilson reported on the progress in the Forest.

• They had a zoom call with the manufacturer of the proposed washroom, and the city agreed to the purchase. The cost will be $170,000 and $115,000 has already been raised.
• There are plans to upgrade two more trails to make them accessible.
• Awaiting an update on the wayfinding signs.
• Need an extra effort to sell Lobsterfest tickets to support these projects.
• The city has agreed that access to the future east parking lot will be at Shaftesbury & Taylor.
• The city councillor has committed $30,000 to the washroom project.

Ed Thompson introduced this evening’s speaker, Liz Coffman. Ed described how Liz had made an eTransfer donation to support the Forest washroom project, and he then googled her to find her contact information for a tax receipt. After discovering that Liz is a retired professor, with interests in Forests and Poetry, as well as schools and the WAG, he invited her to speak to our club.

Liz opened by reading us a poem she wrote about having ‘to go’ in the Forest.

When we walk the trails
It's hard to know
Behind which tree it's safe to go

A possible place is behind the shed
To squat back there...
Enough said!

In winter, it's worse, so much harder
To do
It's very cold, when there is no
Lou

That rickety thing set up in summer
Was stinky and loathsome
A real awful bummer

When we saw the sign
You can imagine our delight
They've finally done it
The future is bright

We're glad that you see
The need is great
As the saying goes
It's never too late

Liz went on to say that too many people think of forests as a commodity; they need to think of them as a healing entity. Forests connect us.

Liz then recited a few lines from “Whose woods are these?” and asked “Whose words are these?” We knew. The words reflect how Frost wanted to linger in the forest; not just pass through. Emily Carr also got deeper into landscape.

Go to the forest because it’s a place of peace. Trees communicate with us in a very healing way. Liz finished by reading some of her poetry to us.

Sarge Mike introduced our guests. Liz Coffman (this evening’s speaker and her friend Patricia; also Jean and Dawn.

Happy Bucks

• Bernard’s friend took dental services to about 500 kids in Nigeria. She will be back on Wednesday and says she will join our club then.
• Glenn was happy that Dawn, from his running club, joined us this evening.
• President David was happy to have been successful in court today.
• Jack D. was happy that Matt Dunstone won, and happy that he and Joyce survived 21 hours in an airplane designed for pygmies.
• Jack W. was happy that his daughter asked him to pick up a birthday present for a nephew. And let Jack buy lunch for them.

50/50

Lloyd had the lucky ticket but no blue marble.

LeeAnn reminded us that the International Day of Forests will be on March 21st. Rotarians will be in the Forest from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Board meeting will be on March 17th.