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

Introduction of guests: Ron Thiessen (speaker), Jessica & Dave, Dawn Hanson, Jean Olibrice.

Chair Announcements

President David received congratulations from another district on the anniversary of receiving our club charter.

Lobsterfest tickets are available from Dory.

The application to put a float in the Pride Parade has been submitted. Approval is pending.

Jack Wilson: Sign-up sheets are on the tables to volunteer as trail monitors at this Saturday’s HIP Y2Y fundraising walk in the Assiniboine Forest. Time is from 10 - 2:30. Bring a chair, water bottle and waterproof boots.

LeeAnn pointed out that copies of the new club brochure were on the tables and would be going to the printer soon.

Membership chair Cathy inducted two new members: Dawn Hanson (sponsored by Glenn Campbell), and Jean Olibrice (sponsored by David Soper).

They received their Rotary pins and certificates.

Ron Thiessen, Executive Director of CPAWS (Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society), was our guest speaker. Before CPAWS, Ron worked for Greenpeace. He says he has mellowed since then. He was recruited by CPAWS to be its executive director 20 years ago.

Ron opened by thanking Charleswood Rotary for being the stewards of the Assiniboine Forest. He suggested that we partner on a hike in the forest. It’s a great way to meet people, and to promote both of our organizations.

A few years ago Ron engaged in a discussion of advocating for the Assiniboine Forest to become a national park, and acknowledged that that is not likely to happen. But potential is there to be a provincial park. The Forest is not permanently protected from development, nor does it have a management plan or a budget. To be kept safe, the Forest needs permanent protection, stable funding and a higher profile. And access to the Forest needs to be free. Ron asked how. How can this be achieved? Raising interest and pitching the need to the Manitoba government were suggested.

This was followed by a lively discussion about the importance of the forest, and how it can best be protected.

Happy Bucks

• Lyle is back from Germany and happy to be back in Canada.
• Lloyd enjoyed an event which had Rick Hansen as the speaker.
• Chuck threw in $5 because the Philly’s looked really good in their last game against the Jets. Also very pleased with the outdoor classroom at Westgrove School. He brought pictures.
• President David was pleased to report that he’s gone on his second bike ride of the year, and this time did it without breaking any bones.
• Glenn told us that our exchange student, Adele, is doing well in northern France. Email Glenn if you would like to see some pictures.
• Ed Toews got his truck out of the garage and started it up.
• Guest Dave just got back from Cancun where he and Jessica celebrated their first anniversary.
• Zeke fined himself for being late, even though he wasn’t really late. We started early.
• Lyle shared that his birthday was the next day and asked us to sing for him.

50/50

Ed Toews had the lucky ticket, but not the lucky blue marble.

Next week: On April 20th Rotarian Anshu Chandra, Doctor of Optometry, Niskayuna Rotary will speak to us via zoom.