1.Chair – President George Carson opened the meeting by acknowledging that we are all Treaty 4 people. The Indigenous Peoples of the lands that we are on today were here first and we are now all here together..

2.Today’s program: Nora Yeates, CEO, Cancer Foundation of Saskatchewan

Nora Yeates brought an update on the Cancer Foundation of Saskatchewan. Founded in 2019, the Foundation raises funds in support of the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency and their work, including the Allan Blair Cancer Centre, Saskatoon Cancer Centre, Regina and Saskatoon Cancer Patient Lodges, research, and screening programs including breast, cervical, and colorectal.

The Foundation has recently completed a fundraising campaign for the Regina Cancer Patient Lodge, raising $1.8 million to upgrade infrastructure plus guest rooms and spaces inside. The second floor is done and once the main floor is complete, a grand re-opening will be held this summer. Cancer patients living outside the city of Regina, can stay here for $40 per night with their own room and private bathroom, plus three meals a day and snacks.

The Foundation is currently finishing a fundraising campaign for the Saskatchewan Breast Screening Program. In 2023 they raised $2 million for the replacement of the breast screening bus. This is a bus that travels to 42 rural and remote communities across the province, bringing screening mammograms to women aged 50 to 74. The new vehicle is currently in production and will be on the road by the end of 2025.

Early 2024 the government announced a drop in the eligibility age from 50 to 40. This adds a potential 76,000 more women to the screening program. The Foundation once again jumped on board to support women in our province, agreeing to raise another $3.2 million for a second breast screening vehicle plus an SUV to transport staff and supplies, and two additional mammography machines.

The two machines are installed and functioning. The second vehicle is currently being built alongside the first one and is also slated to be on the road by the end of 2025.

The next greatest need for cancer patients in Saskatchewan is a new Cancer Patient Lodge in Saskatoon. The old one on College Avenue became structurally unsound and was closed in 2020. Since then, patients have had to make do across the river at Parkville Manor.

The approved plans now show the construction of a brand-new building on College Avenue with 30 patient rooms and 3 independent suites for cancer patients and stem cell transplant patients. This will be a $22 million project with $10 million coming from our donors. The Foundation is so grateful for the support across our province.

3.Birthday and Anniversary Announcements

Birthdays in April – Mitch Zaba, Wale Adeyemo, Tim Fraser, Alison Green, Charles Keple and Rollie Hardy

Anniversaries – Moses Nkachukwu 6 years; Allen Goudie 35 years

4.Reports and Announcements

President George announced that the District Annual Meeting will be a Virtual Conference Friday May 9 starting at noon and all day Saturday May 10. We will have a Watch Party at Access Communications. A group registration has been made and paid so members are encouraged to come. We will have lunch con Saturday catered by Munch Catering and snacks. The cost is $25 per person, payable to our Rotary club of Regina. George needs to know who is attending by May 1, 2025.

Social Events: Eastview is having a pot luck at Pat Dell’s office on April 24

George asked by show of hands who would be interested in mini-golf; in wine tasting.

President George distributed a sheet asking members to vote for further community services, such as Regina Food Bank, Highway Cleanup, Habitat for Humanity, Rotary Park Cleanup.

The Board has established a Public Image Committee and appointed Wale Adeyemo as chair. Those who want to be members of the committee please speak to Wale or George.

Regina and Eastview clubs are continuing to serve supper at Souls Harbour on the third Thursday of each month from 4pm to 6pm. Sign up sheets are on the registration table. 8 to 10 volunteers are needed. Volunteer workers often go after serving to resuscitate themselves with beer or wine and nibbles, likely to The Keg on Dewdney. Those who cannot make it to serve are welcome to join the social.

Gilda Treleaven-Graham commented that the tour of the Vault at the MacKenzie Gallery was fabulous, amazing. We had a super guide and enjoyed good fellowship over a meal at the Gallery Café afterwards.

The 50/50 pot of $72 was not won.

5.Attendance: 12 members, 9 Eastview Rotarians and our speaker Nora Yeates were in attendance.

6. Meeting Participants:

Chair – George Carson; Greeter – Mark Stefan; Attendance – Ian Toms; 50/50 – Art Wakabayashi; Grace – Joanna Alexander; Sound System – Russ Hart/Ian Yeates; 4 Way Test – Mark Stefan; Scribe – Al Goudie. Thanks to Carole Bryant for organizing.

7.Upcoming Meetings and Speakers

April 17 – joint meeting with Eastview Club hosting at the Delta

May 5 – joint meeting with Regina Club hosting at the Delta