Stories

Speaker - Fr. John from St Moses and St Katherine (SMSK) Orthodox church

Fr John Boutros is the priest of a young downtown church in Toronto, Canada, St Moses & St Katherine Coptic Orthodox Church. Fr John met the girl of his dreams, Mary, and was married in 2011, and is now daddy to Anastasia, Zoë and Élise.

Ordained in July 2012, he was previously a Paediatric Surgeon. Now, Fr John serves a wide-variety of urban dwellers, students, and young professionals. Fr John is equally passionate for the marginalized, the poor, and those who have no one. Being in a community of disciples of Jesus, steeped in ancient faith and Orthodoxy, rooted in Coptic heritage, we live to incarnate God’s love in a metropolitan setting.

Visit of Honourable Pauline Browes from the Rouge National Urban Park

Today we enjoyed the presence of The Honourable Pauline Browes and Sheryle Santos from the Rouge National Urban Park pictured with President Nevine Yassa and Skip Sears. A very informative presentation about the history of the Rouge park

Celebrating Sinhalese New Year with our Rotarian Friends

Our Club President Nevine had the pleasure of attending the celebrations of the Sinhalese New Year with Rotarian Chaminda and in the presence of the Consul General Mr. Thushara Rodrigo, Consul General of Sri Lanka in Toronto who addressed the gathering inviting all Sri Lankan to celebrate the Sinhalese New Year 2024. It was celebrated with drummings, and fabulous dancing.

Thank You Letter - From St. Moses and St. Katherine Coptic Orthodox Church

Thank You Letter - From William G. Miller Junior Public School

Ribfest Planning Committee 2024 at Work

Our Ribfest Committee headed by Chair Bruce Pettit at one of their planning sessions.

Thank You Letter - From St. Margaret's Public School

The Toronto Hela Maha Avurudu Ulela 2024,

The Rotary Club of Scarborough working with our fellow Rotarian Chaminda invites you to attend the Toronto Hela Maha Avurudu Ulela 2024, celebrating the traditional New Year of the Sinhalese and Tamil populations of Sri Lanka.

Date: Saturday, April 13th

Time: 1:00 p.m.

Location: Korean Cultural Centre, 1133 Leslie Street, North York

This vibrant cultural celebration promises an enriching experience filled with delicious food, captivating dances, and the joyous spirit of the Avurudu festival. To attend, please register and confirm your attendance by emailing Chaminda at sinhaleseassociationofcanada@gmail.com.

Please note that there is a $10.00 entrance fee to cover event expenses.

Looking forward to seeing you there to celebrate this cultural richness.

Club Service Social

Regarding Club Service, Audrey expressed thanks to all who purchased cakes and hams before Christmas; and our proceeds were $1,000 to assist community members in need. Audrey also reminded about the several upcoming Social and Learning events; and, for members to RSVP whether they can or cannot attend. See The Bluffer for details on each event and to whom to reply.

Centennial College A Building (LEED certified) tour immediately following our Tuesday, April 30 weekly lunch,
GECO Facility (Scarborough’s Bomb Girls) tour, possible mid morning dates (May 6, 9 or 10) to be advised based on interested members’ replies,
Dinner (Remezzo Italian Bistro) 6pm and / or Fairview Library Theatre (Mark Twain comedy – Is He Dead?) 8pm, Friday, May 24,
Woodbine Racetrack dinner and watch / cheer / bet on races - potential dates will be after track opens late April.

Great Lakes Watershed Clean Up 2024

Join us for this year's Great Lakes Watershed Clean up which will take place on April 27, 2024 at 10am at South Marine Drive Park - Guildwood.

Establishing the Scarborough Business Association TO

Today's event was a demo of the role Rotary played in establishing the Scarborough Business Association SBA TO revive Scarborough.. It was an opportunity to meet and see first hand the impact of what Rotary had on this community by partnering with SHN, Store Front, Malvern Community Centre, Centennial College and others.

Environment

March 26, 2024

Skip Sears - Director, Environment

Skip updated us on the Environmental plans coming up for the Club.

Great Lakes Watershed Clean Up, April 27 will be in Southwest Marine Park, starting at 10AM. We will bring our own tools for this exercise.
A Clean Up event is planned for the Rouge National Urban Park, with details to follow.
We have been asked to Adopt-a-Road in our area and will receive details later.
A project is being considered with the Malvern Resource Centre, combining Environment and Community Service. Details to follow.

Nevine thanked Skip for doing such good work.

Speaker Biography - Michel Zaffran

Michel Zaffran is Regional Vice-Chair for south Europe of Rotary International « Countdown to History campaign Committee ».

He was the End Polio Now Coordinator for Region 14 (France, French speaking Belgium, Andorra, and Monaco) for the period 2021-2023.

He is currently the chair of the PolioPlus commission for District 1710 (Lyon Region) and the past President of his Rotary Club (Gex-Divonne)

During the period 2016-2021, Michel Zaffran was the Director of the Polio Eradication programme at the World Health Organization. During that time, he was also the chair of the Strategy Committee of the Global Polio Eradication initiative (GPEI).

He retired from WHO In March of 2021 after 33 years of service during which he has held several positions:

Director of the Expanded Programme on Immunization.
Director of project Optimize, a WHO-PATH collaboration aimed at catalyzing a shared vision of the future of immunization logistics and supply chain systems.
Coordinator in charge of Vaccine Prequalification, Vaccine Supply Chain Management, and Financing of immunization programmes.
WHO representative on the Working Group which designed and Launched Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance
Deputy Executive Secretary of Gavi 2006-2007.

Michel Zaffran is a French National born in Algeria. He holds a master’s degree in engineering from Ecole Centrale (France) and a certificate in Tropical Epidemiology

Student Awards Night at Centennial college

Message from our club President Nevine Yassa

I'm thrilled to share some moments captured from the Student Awards Night with some members of the Rotary Club of Scarborough as well the Centennial College President & CEO, Dr. Craig Stephenson. It was an evening etched in my memory as I watched the students gracefully walk down the aisle. Knowing that our collective efforts, as members of the Rotary Club of Scarborough, have provided these students with the chance to chase their dreams filled me with an overwhelming sense of joy. I couldn't help but be overcome with emotion, feeling goosebumps rise on my skin. Being a part of this journey as the proud President of the Rotary Club of Scarborough has been incredibly fulfilling, and witnessing the impact we've had on these students' lives is a feeling beyond words.

Speaker Biography Continued - Chrissy Sykes

Creator of the
My Body is My Body Programme CEO of the MBIMB Foundation
ISPCAN Distinguished Advisory Council President of Global Goodwill Ambassadors Child Welfare
Co-Editor Ambassador Magazine Rotarian

ABOUT
CHRISSY SYKES
However, this number underestimates the program's true reach, as Chrissy provides offline access to
many schools, NGOs, and Foundations in areas with limited internet access.

What sets "My Body is My Body" apart is its commitment to accessibility and inclusivity. Chrissy
and her team of dedicated volunteers have ensured that the programme remains free for everyone, and
they have passionately contributed their time and efforts to translate and record the language
voices.

Beyond the animations, the programme also offers two free courses on Preventing Child Maltreatment,
available on the MBIMB website. The website also offers a Safeguarding Fundamentals Course, A
Course for New Mothers and a Digital Explorers Course introducing young children to the internet.
Working closely with volunteers in over 60 countries worldwide, Chrissy continues to create
awareness about the importance of educating communities on preventing child abuse.

Notably, Chrissy holds significant roles in the humanitarian sphere. She serves as the President of
Child Welfare for the Global Goodwill Ambassadors Foundation and holds the position of Co-Editor of
the Ambassador Magazine, furthering her impact in safeguarding children's welfare.

As Chrissy's incredible 34-year journey with the "My Body Is My Body" programme continues, she
remains grateful to everyone involved for their dedication to creating a safer world for children.
With an amazing worldwide team of volunteers by her side, she looks forward to making an enduring
difference in the lives of countless children across the globe.

www.mbimb.org
MY Body is MY Body Foundation Charity Number 1199901

Speaker Biography - Chrissy Sykes

ABOUT CHRISSY SYKES
Chrissy, an accomplished and award-winning singer/songwriter and recording artist, has left an
indelible mark on the music scenes in both South Africa and Nashville, USA. However, her passion
for making a positive impact on the world led her to channel her songwriting skills into a
groundbreaking programme called "My Body is My Body" 34 years ago. This innovative programme was
developed in collaboration with the Departments of Education and Human Services in the United
States of America.

For five years, Chrissy travelled extensively across the USA, visiting states such as Texas,
Tennessee, Florida, Virginia, and Atlanta, where she presented the "My Body is My Body" programme
in schools to over 350,000 children. It became clear to her that while the live shows were
impactful, they could only reach a limited number of children. With a vision to reach a wider
audience and make a difference on a global scale, Chrissy decided to transform the program into an
animated format that could be shared on the internet and distributed to schools, teachers, and
parents worldwide.

Determined to bring her vision to life, Chrissy spent four years mastering the art of animation,
setting up her music studio, and creating the animations in English. In 2017, she released the
first set of animations, and they were met with an overwhelmingly positive response. Numerous
requests poured in from various regions to have the program translated into different languages. As
a result, "My Body is My Body" has now been translated into 27 languages, and the animations have
been viewed over 1.5 million times on YouTube.

www.mbimb.org
MY Body is MY Body Foundation Charity Number 1199901

Community Services

March 12, 2024

Cathy Carson - Director Community Services

In Cathy’s absence, Audrey advised that CVS reported as follows:

Food bank deliveries are made to three or four families every Wednesday ( Dave and Suzanne)
CNOY Walk was successful we raised over $1000 and had over 100 participants, including family, Rotarians. Special thanks to Toni for registering our team and John for setting up the donation system.
We are sponsoring the Polar Plunge coming up this month for 43 Division Police in partnership with the zoo.
Two candidates have been approved to attend RYLA in April, including Rahim’s son and Therese from our Rotaract Club.

International Service

March 19, 2024

Bette Ross - Director, International Service

Bette updated the members on the status of our Global Grant for the Koch Koo School in Uganda.

We are committed to $15,000 US from our Club. We would also appreciate help from those with knowledge of creating presentations, both by email attachment and in person, as well as fund raising experience.

The Coldest Night of the Year Walk 2024

On Saturday February 24, 19 members of the Rotary Club of Scarborough and friends of Rotary connected to help a fellow humanitarian group. The Coldest Night of the Year is a winterrific family-friendly walk in support of local charities serving people experiencing hurt, hunger, and homelessness. Specifically here in Scarborough Hosted by Fernie Youth Services.

Certificate of Appreciation from the Rotary Foundation

Our club received a certificate of appreciation from the Rotary Foundation with respect to our ongoing financial support to the “End Polio Now – Countdown to History” Campaign.

Chris Musselman handed over this certificate to President Nevine Yassa during our weekly club meeting.

Fellow Rotarian Malaravan, recently featured in the Talking Rotary Podcast

Link to podcast: https://talkingrotary.buzzsprout.com/1215122/14525364-growing-rotary-with-malaravan-balachandran

One of our young Rotarians, Malaravan Balachandran, from our Rotary Club of Scarborough, was featured on the Talking Rotary podcast. He spoke about growing Rotary. The conversation covers many membership-building initiatives - alternative club formats and strengthening our connection to Rotaract and Interact members. It can be viewed here at this link.

Fundraising

February 20, 2024

Bruce Pettit - Director, Fundraising

Michael Murton on behalf of Committee Director Bruce noted that plans are well underway to establish that our major fundraiser Ribfest (Friday, August 2 thru to Monday, August 5) can again be held successfully. The Ribfest Committee and colleague Rotarians are aggressively and creatively pursuing measures to maintain or reduce costs as well as increase revenues.

The support and participation of each and every club member will be expected in this event including:

Promotional and advertising support such as distributing posters and mentioning Ribfest at other clubs and groups that members participate in
Bringing along family, friends, and neighbours to attend Ribfest.
Attending the Ribfest each day to volunteer hands-on in the many ways needed.

Rotary D7070 Peace Conference February 2024

Hello everyone,
Thanks for being here at our Peace Forum today, coming together from all corners of the world. It may sound a bit illogical and even paradoxical that we are here talking about peace when there are 2 major wars happening in 2 different parts of the world. That should not dismay us but in fact it should be more of a motive and inspiration to work harder towards a world where conflicts are resolved by peaceful means since in wars especially modern wars there
is no winner…everybody is a loser. It's inspiring to see such a diverse group gathered here, all with a shared interest in making our world a more peaceful place.

Back in 2013, RI President Sakuji Tanaka talked about how serving others, even in small ways, can lead us towards peace. Today, we are lucky to have our 2024 Rotary International President, Gordon Macinally, here to talk about this years theme: creating hope in the world. Let's hear what he has to say. So, let's keep it real, open our minds, and listen up. Together, let's figure out how we can make a difference and bring more peace into our lives and the lives of others.

Thanks for being part of this journey towards peace. Let's get started

Rotary International Letter on the Peace Forum

Exchanging Trading Banners

Hasiya Adamu-Biu, Rotary Club of Abuja Moutama, Nigeria exchanges trading banners with President Nevine Yassa, Rotary Club of Scarborough

Public Image

February 13, 2024

Flavia Kibuuka Naluyima - Director, Public Image

Flavia unveiled the team’s ambitious 2024 initiatives to overhaul our website. She went on to say that; we have created dedicated sections and highlighted: President Nevine’s new rotary year plan and her Rotary journey, the impact minutes from our Directors and the core essence behind these and a selection of our local projects, underlining our commitment to community engagement and the tangible impact. In regard to social media, we have established, rebranded, and revamped a new X or Twitter account, “The Rotary Club of Scarborough, ON Canada”.

We encourage you to continue visiting our club website and social media platforms for updates. Additionally, we invite you to share our work with your networks to inspire them to join our mission of positive impact.

Peace Forum "Hearts and Hands for Peace"

Join us for the Rotary District 7070 Peace Conference https://rotary7070.org/.../peace-forum--quot-hearts-and.../ that will take place via Zoom https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83877380589 on February 22nd at 6:00 pm.

Membership

January 23 , 2024

Joan Barrett - Director, Membership

Joan advised that our District membership is growing, and so is our Club membership. We have new members Eugenie Henry and Prince Ogochukwu to be inducted shortly, and other prospects as well.

Joan reminded us that new members need to be engaged in our Rotary projects as soon as possible, and that projects can be suggested by Club members at any time.

Peace Forum "Hearts and Hands for Peace"

Join us for the Rotary District 7070 peace conference https://rotary7070.org/event/peace-forum--quot-hearts-and-hands-for-peace/ that will take place via Zoom https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83877380589 on February 22nd at 6:00 pm.

Community Services

January 09, 2024

Cathy Carson - Director, Community Services

Cathy expressed gratitude to Dave Muir for his unwavering commitment to delivering food from the Boots to the Ground Food bank every Wednesday to families unable to reach St. Stephen's or 4100 Lawrence.

Donna, providing an update, celebrated the Christmas Elves' support for seven Christmas families and five seniors. The project's success was attributed to their dedicated efforts. In total, the initiative brought holiday cheer to five mothers, one grandmother, one grandfather, six fathers, 24 children, five senior women, and one senior man, all identified by 43 Division. The Elves, including Karen H, Skip, Kim, Debbie, Malaravan, and Interactors, along with Spencer Worden, Nathan Johnson, Bruce, Suzanne, Donna, Joan, and Sydney, played crucial roles.

Committee Impact Minutes

January 09, 2024

Cathy Carson - Director, Community Services

Our Impact Minute

IN THE FALL OF 2023, OUR ENVIRONMENT MINUTE TRANSITIONED INTO THE IMPACT MINUTE, MARKING A SHIFT IN FOCUS.

NOW, VARIOUS CLUB COMMITTEE DIRECTORS TAKE TURNS PRESENTING THEIR ONGOING INITIATIVES, EVENTS AND OBJECTIVES DURING WEEKLY MEETINGS.

THIS TRANSFORMATION REFLECTS A CONCERTED EFFORT TO HIGHLIGHT AND EMPHASIZE THE TANGIBLE IMPACT OF THEIR COLLECTIVE ACTIONS, ENCAPSULATED IN THE NEWLY COINED TERM, THE “IMPACT MINUTE”.

President Nevine Yassa - Plans for the Rotary Year Ahead.

I am humbled to begin my term as President of the Rotary Club of Scarborough for the year 2023-2024. This is both an honor and privilege, and I am committed to leading with the utmost dedication to our mission, values, and the 4 Way Test.

As I embark on this exciting journey, I envision an awe-inspiring year ahead, working alongside the board and an exceptional group of Rotarians. Together, we are poised to accomplish remarkable feats and leave an incredible mark on the world. I would like to encourage each member to actively contribute, holding the “steering wheel” alongside the Board in events, projects, and community support.

Embracing Humanity: A Journey of Service with Dr. Tom Catena

Join us on January 9th as we have the privilege to welcome Dr. Tom Catena, an extraordinary American surgeon whose unwavering commitment has been a beacon of hope for the people of Nuba. His selfless dedication to providing medical care serves as a testament to the very essence of Rotary service.

Dr. Catena's remarkable journey mirrors the values we hold dear as Rotarians—the dedication to serve, the willingness to give our time and energy, and the generosity to extend our support not just to our immediate community but to the broader world. His story resonates with our own endeavors, reflecting the very core of what it means to make a difference.

To catch a glimpse of Dr. Catena's dedication and the impactful work he accomplishes, I encourage you to visit this link: https://theheartofnuba.com/meet-tom-catena/ It offers a preview of the incredible journey that awaits us during our gathering.

This event is more than an opportunity to listen; it's a chance to connect with a living embodiment of service and to draw from his experiences, gleaning insights that could further enrich our own endeavors. It's a moment for us to celebrate our shared commitment and the impact we strive to create every day.

So, I urge you to mark your calendars and join us on January 9th. Let us gather, learn, and be inspired by Dr. Tom Catena's incredible work—a reminder that our service, no matter how small, contributes to a larger narrative of change and hope.

Thank you for embodying the spirit of Rotary in your unwavering dedication. Let's come together and continue to be the catalysts for positive change in our world.

See you there!

Nevine Yassa
President RC Scarborough 2023-24, D 7070

Nevine Yassa
President RC Scarborough 2023-24, D 7070

Rotary District 7070 Peace Forum 2024

Message from President Nevine Yassa

Dear Rotarians,

I am absolutely thrilled to extend to you a warm and heartfelt invitation to join us at the upcoming Rotary Peace Forum, themed "Harmonizing Hearts and Hands for Peace," taking place on February 22, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. (Please register on the District 7070 website at https://rotary7070.org/event/peace-forum--quot-hearts-and-hands-for-peace/ ) and join the meeting at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83877380589. Meeting ID: 838 7738 0589

Imagine being part of a gathering where distinguished humanitarians and industry leaders from across the globe unite under the inspiring theme of "Harmonizing Hearts and Hands for Peace." This theme encapsulates our belief that creating lasting peace is a harmonious effort that requires the unity of compassionate hearts and capable hands.

At the heart of Rotary International's mission lies our commitment to peace building, and we believe your presence would add an invaluable dimension to our vision for a more peaceful world. The forum promises enlightening discussions led by esteemed speakers and facilitators who will not only share their invaluable insights but also draw upon the collective wisdom of all those who join us.

Our Peace Forum is not your typical event. We are breaking barriers and forging new pathways in peacebuilding. The program is designed to be interactive, featuring forward-looking discussions on vital topics such as Social Responsibility for Peacebuilding and the transformative role of Positive Peace principles. Instead of simply discussing peace, we aim to set clear goals and timelines, combining humanitarian passion, business expertise, and strategic partnerships to achieve lasting prosperity in the communities we serve.

"Harmonizing Hearts and Hands for Peace" signifies our belief that peace isn't just a goal; it's a symphony, a coming together of diverse voices and talents to create harmony in the world. We invite you to be a part of this harmonious movement, where we blend compassion with action to create a more peaceful and prosperous future.

Your participation is not just welcomed; it is eagerly anticipated. Your unique perspective and dedication to Rotary's values can help shape the future of peacebuilding and prosperity worldwide. Together, we can create a vision that inspires and drives meaningful change.

Paul Harris Award to Kate Uchendu

The Rotary Club of Scarborough recognized Kate Uchendu of Cobs Bread with a Paul Harris Fellow for her continued community involvement presented by PDG Michael Cooksey.

Our Christmas Dinner 2023

Our Spectacular annual Christmas dining extravaganza, hosted on the evening of December 8, 2023 was a resounding success. The event featured delightful sit-down festivities commenced at 5:30pm within the elegant setting of the Centennial College Event Centre.

A highlight of the evening was the captivating Salt-n-Pepper Santa blind auction, adding an element of excitement and goodwill to the festivities. The proceeds from this charitable auction will be divided between the Orton Park Food Bank and a yet-to-be selected women’s shelter.

In a departure from the previous year’s ugly sweater contest, this time around, guests had the opportunity to showcase their best Christmas outfits, whether charmingly pretty or amusingly ugly. Three winners were determined by the guests themselves, adding a touch of fun and camaraderie to the celebration.

The event not only brought our community together for a joyous occasion but also contributed to the support of local charitable causes. It was an evening of warmth, good food, and shared holiday spirit, marking yet another successful chapter in out annual Christmas tradition.

Paul Harris Fellow - Susan Tom and John Neilson

The Rotary Club of Scarborough recognized Susan Tom and John Neilson with Paul Harris Fellows for their volunteer work at the Ribfest and many other community events - presented by Director Bruce Pettit.

Paul Harris Fellow - Marina Tandec

The Rotary Club of Scarborough recognized Marina Tandec with a Paul Harris Fellow for outstanding community involvement with the Cliffcrest Scarborough SW Residents Assn. - presented by Rotarian Bette Ross.

Paul Harris Fellows - Superintendent David Rydzik and Inspector Roger Caracciolo

The Rotary Club of Scarborough recognized Superintendent David Rydzik and Inspector Roger Caracciolo of 43 Division with Paul Harris Fellows for their outstanding community involvement - presented by Rotarian Donna Worden.

Paul Harris Fellow - Community

RCoS Interact Club Annual Open House 2023

The Rotary Club of Scarborough Interact Club hosted its Annual Open House on Saturday November 19, 2023 at the Scarborough Village Recreation Centre.

Standing beside the banner, from left to right represent the roles of Vice President, President, and Social Media Director.

City of Toronto Certificate to The Rotary Club of Scarborough

President Nevine Yassa and Director Joan Barrett display the City of Toronto Certificate that acknowledges the contribution of The Rotary Club of Scarborough for their important contributions to events and festivals in the city.

Heartbreak and Hope: Partnering for Change for Children - President and CEO WORLD VISION

Our esteemed club President Nevine Yassa along side CEO Michael Messenger.

As part of our ongoing efforts to create a positive impact, we recently hosted a special event on Tuesday, November 7. The event featured an engaging presentation by Michael Messenger, the CEO of World Vision, titled “Heart Break and Hope”: Partnering for change for Children.” Michael, who has dedicated his life to supporting vulnerable children worldwide, shared his profound experiences from the most fragile regions on the planet, including South Sudan, Central African Republic, and Afghanistan. Through his firsthand encounters with children and families living on the margins, Michael’s insights undoubtedly left a lasting impression, inspiring us all to contribute to positive change.

We were honored to have Michael Messenger, the CEO of World Vision, as a speaker for our recent event. His dedication to improving the lives of the most vulnerable children, coupled with his extensive experiences in challenging regions, made his presentation both heartwarming and thought-provoking. We believe that Michael’s words left our audience with the renewed sense of purpose and a deeper understanding of the impactful work undertaken by organization like world vision.

Interact Club of Scarborough - 2023 Open House

District 7070 Conference

The District 7070 conference held this weekend was an incredibly exciting event.

It featured impressive speakers discussing a variety of projects, and our President Nevine had the honor of highlighting our remarkable club achievements.

World Polio Day 2023 – Updating Rotary’s Efforts to Eradicate Polio Worldwide

On October 19, 2023, esteemed senior leaders from Rotary assembled at Durham College’s Rotary Global Classroom, situated within the Center for Collaborative Education. This gathering marked a special occasion in anticipation of world Polio Day, globally acknowledged on October 24. During this event, we commemorated the 35^th anniversary of the establishment of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, highlighting several recent endeavors by Rotary in the ongoing mission to eliminate polio from the world.

District Governor 7070's visit to Scarborough

It was a wonderful opportunity to all the Scarborough Clubs coming together in person on Wednesday September 20 to attend a special dinner event at Floga Restaurant with our District Governor, John Burns.

The evening was filled with fellowship, support for DG John Burns, and the true essence of Rotary values. The Presidents of the different clubs showcased the projects that their clubs are engaged in.

At this event we achieved one of our goals of strengthening our connections and building stronger bonds with fellow Rotarians within our District. .

We thank Rotarians and Friends of Rotary those who gathered for this memorable event.

linktr.ee/scarboroughrotary

Our Annual Golf Tournament 2023

Our Annual Golf Tournament yesterday was nothing short of fabulous, with an incredible turnout. A heartfelt shout-out goes to our remarkable sponsors whose generous support played a pivotal role in making this event possible. Equally deserving of praise is the dedicated Rotary Team that worked tirelessly behind the scenes to bring this event to life. Their unwavering commitment and hard work truly made all the difference.

The sight of our cherished members, their spouses, and even family members coming together to partake in this event and champion out noble causes warmed our hearts. It was a heartwarming display of unity and support for our shared mission. Notably, our President herself took a shot at the putting competition, embodying the spirit of active participation and leadership that defines our Rotary community. Her presence and enthusiasm added an extra layer of excitement to the event, making is a memorable day for all.

linktr.ee/scarboroughrotary

Join Us for the Third Annual Golf Tournament at Four Seasons Country Club

#Ribfest2023AwardWinners

To our wonderful Nine Ribbers, your mouthwatering ribs brought joy and flavor to our event, making it a true feast for all who attended. We want to extend our heartfelt gratitude for your hard work, dedication, and finger-licking-good creations that made this year’s Ribfest an unforgettable experience.

A round of applause is in order as we celebrate the winners of our Ribfest competition! Congratulations to the victor who captured the taste buds and hearts of our attendees. We hope you take pride in your well-deserved victory.
Once again thank you being the heart and soul of Ribfest.

https://linktr.ee/scarboroughrotary

#Ribfest2023: A Bittersweet Farewell: Reflections on the Grand Finale. By Pres. Nevine.

As the sun went down on the last day of our yearly Ribfest, lots of feelings rushed through me. The four days were a big mix of fun – we laughed, hung out, and had yummy ribs. Now, as we got ready for the big finish, I felt both a bit sad to say bye and super proud of what our super – hero team did.

When the day slowed down, a note from a volunteer really touched me. It was for me, but it showed how well we worked together as team Scarborough. The note talked about how we stick together and help each other. It was a lovely reminder that even though I got the note, it was meant for all of us who made this event happen.

So, my awesome Rotarian friends, as we get ready to clean up and relax, I’m thinking about the amazing team that made this Ribfest awesome. Each of us did special things and we made a cool group of friends with the same goal.

As the curtains close on this year’s Ribfest, I’m thankful for what we did together. The end of this fun time is just the start of the stories we’ll make next year. Let’s celebrate what we did today, take a break to enjoy it, and soon, get ready for another year of doing good things.

https://linktr.ee/scarboroughrotary

#Ribfest City Councillor Paul Ainslie's Congratulations Letter. By Pres. Nevine

I am excited to read a letter from City Councillor Paul Ainslie who has congratulated the Rotary Club of Scarborough on its 22nd Ribfest. The club is grateful for Paul's support in all our work.

https://linktr.ee/scarboroughrotary

Thankful to our Ribfest Suppliers and Vendors

We want to extend a massive shoutout and heartfelt gratitude to all our exceptional Ribfest suppliers and vendors who made this year’s Ribfest an unparallel success! Your unwavering dedication and top-notch products played a pivotal role in creating an unforgettable experience for all our attendees.

A special nod to our remarkable vendors who showcased an array of mouthwatering delicacies and captivating goods, adding an extra layer of excitement to the festivities. Your innovation and passion were evident in every bite and every display, leaving patrons raving about the diverse offerings. Together, we have redefined the Ribfest experience, raising the bar for future celebrations.

https://linktr.ee/scarboroughrotary

#Ribfest2023FinalDay: Join Us for the Grand Finale! By Pres. Nevine

Come join us for the big ending at Scarborough Ribfest! It’s time to be pat of something really special. Today Monday, August 07, 2023 is going to be a day full of happiness, friendship, and delicious food. So, please be here with us for this amazing final day.

Let’s turn this final day into a big party of community spirit and happiness. Let us enjoy the laughter, the yummy treats, the music, the kids' amusement park and celebrate our community.

Let us get to know the ribber results from the food tasting and feel the magic of being together.

https://linktr.ee/scarboroughrotary

Grateful to the Scarborough Community

To the Scarborough community and beyond, the Ribfest was more than just indulgence; it was a celebration of our love, and unity.

A big thank you for coming! We had a great time seeing all of you enjoying the food and music. Your support means a lot to us. With the donations we received, we’re excited to bring some cool projects to our community.

These projects will make our neighborhood even better, and we can’t wait to share them with you. Thanks again for being a part of this special event!

https://linktr.ee/scarboroughrotary

To our Esteemed Sponsors

To our esteemed sponsors, we want to take a moment to express our heartfelt gratitude for your invaluable support and unwavering commitment to making this year’s Ribfest a resounding success. Your generous contributions have not only fueled the flames of our passion but have also helped us create a trull remarkable experience for all attendees.

Your belief in our vision and dedication to Scarborough community is truly inspiring. As we savor the memories and reflect on the joyous moments of Ribfest, please know that your partnership has played an integral role in making it all possible. We look forward to continued collaboration and the opportunity to create even greater magic together in the future.

https://linktr.ee/scarboroughrotary

Grateful for the tremendous work of our Volunteers at the Ribfest

A heartful thank you to all the wonderful volunteers who made this year’s Ribfest event truly special. Your dedication and hard work, especially the high school students from our local community and the students from Centennial College, have played a vital role in bringing this event to life. Your enthusiasm and efforts have made a significant impact, and we are truly grateful for your contributions in making RibFest a grand success.

Thankful to Rtn. Richard for the amazing leadership of the volunteers a job he did with a lot of excitement and got them all motivated to do their best.

https://linktr.ee/scarboroughrotary

Ribs, Rides and other Delicacies

The real special thing for this festival is the food area. It is a magical place for our taste buds, giving us a big variety of yummy food. The ribs are supper tasty, and their amazing flavours have brought us all closer as we enjoy this really cool time together.

The rib-tasting contest made the day extra fun and exciting. Our local helpers came together with big smiles, enjoying the tasty ribs and joking around. It was really nice to see how working together and being friendly could make such happy times.

#RibfestDayTwo: Ribs, Rides and Gratitude - A Magical Day at the Ribfest. By Pres. Nevine

As RibFest gates swung opened on the second day, the exciting scent of smoky ribs beckoned. My taste buds tingled in anticipation, bracing for the delightful flavors ahead. Laughter and cheers swirled around the amusement park area, evoking a whirlwind of excitement. I was ready to embrace the trill of childhood rides.

Strolling through the festival, I was enchanted by the exquisite crafts and treasures adorning the entrance. Each piece narrated a unique story, showcasing our community’s talent and creativity.

However, true enchantment blossomed at the festival’s heart – the food court. A sensory wonderland awaited, tantalizing all senses. The ribs were a true treat, uniting us as we indulged in this extraordinary experience.

Beyond the indulgence and fun, Ribfest was a celebration of community spirit and gratitude. Together, we came together to express heartfelt thanks to the generous donors who made this enchanting event possible. Appreciation infused the atmosphere as we honoured each other’s contributions.

The rib-tasting contest added a delectably completive twist to the day. Our community volunteers gathered with enthusiasm, savoring the succulent ribs which trading playful banter. Witnessing collaboration and camaraderie in action was a delightful sight.

As the sun descended, the grand finale awaited – the VIP party. Here we acknowledged our incredible supporter, Roadsport Honda, for their pivotal role in Ribfest’s success.

I eagerly anticipate another day of excitement tomorrow.

#RibfestRoadsportHondaPartnership: A magical Day of Gratitude. By Pres. Nevine

As the sun went down on Day 2 of Ribfest, an exciting event was about to happen: the VIP party, which was the exciting end to our day. President Nevine gave big thanks to Roadsport Honda, who played a really important role in making the RibFest a big success. Honda was represented by the Sales Manager – Jonathan T Kam and his team. During the evening, there was happiness in the air, and everyone felt thankful and hopeful.

https://linktr.ee/scarboroughrotary

#RibfestUnleashed: Triumphs, Turmoil, and Rotary Magic! By President Nevine

Anticipation buzzed in the air as I ventured toward the Ribfest grounds at daybreak. The inaugural day of RibFest had finally arrived, and my heart brimmed with excitement. My mission: to capture the essence of this remarkable event by immortalizing a snapshot of the esteemed Board members. Little did I suspect that the day held a trove of surprises in its wings.

Upon my approach, a whirlwind of activity met my eyes. Instead of the united pose I envisioned, the Board members stood scattered, each engrossed in wrestling with unforeseen challenges that had cropped up overnight. Power outages, tent collapses. Financial hiccups – it appeared they were grapping with the entire spectrum of unexpected hurdles.

Rather than succumbing to disheartenment, I embraced the moment, shadowing the Board members in their whirlwind. Her, amidst the commotion, was a golden opportunity to forge closer connections and witness their unwavering commitment and industrious =ness as they confronted these obstacles head-on.

While I observed their dedicated efforts, I also indulged in sampling diverse food booths and mingling with the ribbers. The culinary delights from Manhattan Kitchen’s chicken creations to J&B’s enchanting ASmazing sugar cane elixir dazzled my taste buds. And then, there was the impactful 5N2 Kitchen, championed by The Rotary Club of Scarborough, leaving an indelible mark on the community fabric.

Pondering the day’s whirlwind of events, I found myself urging other to join the embrace of the Rotary family. As the sun dipped below the horizon. Eagerly anticipated tomorrow, ready to rejoin this cherished family and fetch further exquisite memories into our shared tapestry.

https://linktr.ee/scarboroughrotary

#RibfestBehindTheScenes: Nevine, our President, Unveils Day of Dedication & Buzzing Enthusiasm!

As we ready to unveil RibFest’s doors on Friday, August 04, 2023, I teamed up with fellow members for those last-minute flourishes. Walking in the footsteps of Gary, the electrifying buzz around was undeniably infectious. I found myself fully absorbed in a realm on vendors, delectable food, and drinks. The sheer dedication of the RibFest Group, Rotarians, volunteers, and students left me awe-inspired.

Akin to exploring the opera’s hidden treasures, this day revealed true heroes in action. Gerard’s meticulous sign placements, Gary’s SOS coordination, and Bruce, Chris, and Adam’s symphonic guidance painted a harmonious tableau. Malaravan’s energy, Joan’s coordination, and Donna’s mastermind prowess set the stage. John’s tender assistance, Audrey and Chris’s financial finesse, and Lebbi’s Rotarian spirit completed the ensemble.

With electric energy and unwavering commitment, a united community orchestrated a spectacular Ribfest. As the sun set, anticipation peaked for the grand event ahead.

Tomorrow promises a vibrant, joy-filled tapestry-the magic of RibFest comes to life!

Join us at the Thomson Memorial Park, Brimley & Lawrence.

https://linktr.ee/scarboroughrotary

Rotary Extending Friendship to All Rotarians

It was a wonderful get together this weekend, as Rotarians extended warm friendships to their peers showcasing the true essence of Rotary camaraderie. Notable in attendance included our esteemed DG Susan Rooper, Sarah from Toronto Eglinton, Prince, the Past President of Rotary Club of Toronto, and Renata, a former President of Woodbridge Club.

This event exemplifies the spirit of collaboration between clubs, all united under the common goal of the Rotary 4-way test, fostering lasting friendships in the process.

#RotaryGetTogether #Freindships @Collaboration #Rotary4WayTest #RotaryClubofScarborough

RCoS Annual 26th Paul Harris Scholarship Award Dinner

Rotary in Scarborough hosted its 26th Paul Harris Scholarship Awards dinner, accompanied by adjudicators and students, creating a memorable event.

Congratulations to all the winners!

https://linktr.ee/scarboroughrotary

The 22nd Annual Scarborough Ribfest!

Mark your calendars for the much-awaited 22^nd Annual Scarborough Ribfest! Starting from August 04 through August 08, 2023, this event promises five days of finger-licking goodness, delicious ribs, and a whole lot of fun! Don’t miss out on this incredible experience! See you there!

President Nevine Yassa's Opening Meeting

President Nevine Yassa commenced her first meeting by acknowledging the Rotary Club of Scarborough’s significant milestones, highlighting its 73-year history since its establishment in 1952 and the 118-year legacy of Rotary itself. Expressing gratitude for her role as club President for the 2023-2024 year, Nevine emphasized responsible resource management and adherence to Rotary’s mission, values, and 4 Way Test. She introduced the club board members and their positions for the year, encouraging active member participation and outlining her objectives and scorecard.

During the meeting, Nevine presented a prize to a lucky attendee as a token of appreciation, which she had received at the Rotary Clubs of Scarborough’s “Zoo Walk” event, supporting the Scarborough Health Network. Nevine then reminded everyone of Rotary’s core purpose: creating hope in the world. She shared that the theme for the 2023-2024 Rotary year, as announced by Rotary International President Gordon Mclnally, was “Create Hope in the World.”

Rotarian Gary expressed gratitude to President Nevine for her dedication to the club and commended her on sharing her objectives. He assured her of the members’ support in working towards the goals set by the board.

Past President Marcy Tomassini Welcoming Incoming President Nevine Yassa 2023/24

Past President Marcy Tomassini warmly welcomed President Nevine Yassa as the incoming President 2023 - 2024, embracing the transition of leadership within the Rotary Club.

Marcy expresses his heartfelt hope that all Rotarians will continue to enjoy their time together, fostering a sense of camaraderie and fulfillment in their shared commitment to service.

The Unprecedented split Presidency for 2022/23

In an unprecedented move, the rotary Club of Scarborough witnessed a split presidential year in 2022 – 2023, with Past President Mike Murton leading the club in the first half, followed by Past President Marcy Tomassini in the latter half. This unique arrangement allowed for a seamless transition of leading, with Mike passing the torch to Marcy in January.

Remarkably, Mike also achieved the distinction of serving as a three-time club president having held the position in 1988/1989 and 2009/2020. The experience reinforced his belief in the diversity and strength of the club membership, as well as the abundant opportunities that lie ahead.

With the arrival of incoming President Nevine Yassa, Past President Marcy extended a warm welcome and expressed his hope that all Rotarians will continue to enjoy their time together, fostering the spirit of camaraderie and service within the club.

The RCoScarborough Annual Presidents' Dinner 2023

We had an incredible time at the Annual RCoScarborough Presidents’ Dinner last night! The atmosphere at the Centennial College Event Centre was electric as we gathered to celebrate our esteemed members.

It was an evening filled with recognition and applause as deserving Rotarians were honored with the prestigious titles of Paul Harris Fellow and Rotarian of the Year.

We are proud to have such dedicated individuals in our Rotary community who continuously embody the values of leadership and service. Congratulations to all the deserving award recipients.

Recognitions at The RCoScarborough Annual Presidents’s Dinner 2023

The Annual RCoScarborough Presidents’ Dinner 2023 took on June 20, 2023. Our esteemed members gathered at Centennial College Event Centre for an event filled with joy, recognition, and camaraderie.

It was an occasion brimming with honor as several exceptional Rotarians were bestowed with the esteemed titles of Paul Harris Fellow and Rotarian of the Year.

We take immense pride in acknowledging their outstanding contributions to our community and their unwavering dedication to the principles of Rotary.

Meet Nevine Yassa, the Incoming President of the Rotary Club of Scarborough

Meet Nevine Yassa, the dynamic Incoming President of the Rotary Club of Scarborough 2023-2024. Nevine is passionate about serving the community both locally and internationally.

Her journey began as a dedicated Rotaractor, where she showcased her commitment by translating the constitution from English to Egyptian. This translated version was widely distributed throughout Cairo, enabling more individuals to understand and embrace the principles of Rotary.

Nevine’s involvement with Rotary International Service further expanded her horizons, providing her with opportunities to forge friendships with Rotarians from around the world. Through these connections, she eagerly learned about different cultures with her proudly sharing her own.

Having actively participated in various international projects and community initiatives, Nevine has left a lasting impact. From supporting hospitals, to lending a helping hand to those in need, she consistently showed her unwavering dedication to making a difference.

With great enthusiasm, Nevine eagerly looks forward to collaborating with her fellow Rotarians to create a profound impact in the community. She encourages everyone to seize the opportunity to bring positive change to the places they call home and the world at large.

As she embarks on this exciting journey, Nevine anticipates an awe-inspiring year ahead, working alongside an exceptional group of Rotarians. Together, they will undoubtedly accomplish remarkable feats and leave an indelible mark on the world.

Service Above Self Awards 2023 by the Rotary Club of Scarborough

President Marcy presented the esteemed Service Above Self Awards to our community's dedicated officers during a splendid award ceremony.

#ServiceAboveSelfAwards #RotaryClubScarborough #AwardCeremony

Delivering Food to Orton Park Foodbank

Rotarians and Division 43 police collaborate in delivering food to the Orton Park Foodbank, a cause they steadfastly support.

Rotary in Scarborough Zoo Walk

Snapshots from the recent #zoo walk organized by the Rotary in Scarborough. This event was a delightful gathering, bringing together various Rotary clubs in Scarborough. In the pictures, were Dhanni from the Scarborough North Club and President Elect Nevine Yassa from The Rotary Club of Scarborough along with Jennifer from the Rotary Passport club, her adorable daughter Olivia, and a joyful group of family and friends affiliated with Rotary,

It was a fantastic time! A heartfelt thank you to everyone who generously contributed to the event.

#Gratitude #givingbacktothecommunity

Celebrating Sri Lanka New Year

Our Club members, under the leadership of President Marcy, joined in the vibrant celebration of Sri Lanka's New Year.

As part of the festivities, the opening ceremony featured an enchanting parade, where we had the privilege of being among the VIP guests, alongside the esteemed priests.

It was an absolutely fabulous evening, filled with an abundance of festivities and a remarkable turnout that added to the joyous atmosphere.

The Tibetan Charter Night Event

The Rotary Club of Scarborough led by President Marcy Tomassini participated in the Tibetan Charter Night event, extending a warm welcome to the newly established Tibetan Club in Etobicoke within Rotary District 7070.

As part of our dedication to fostering fellowship and collaboration, our members actively contributed to the event's success and proudly presented the Tibetan Club in Etobicoke with a special banner, symbolizing the unity and shared values between our clubs.

Our Club strives to promote cultural exchange, goodwill, and community service and we look forward to building strong relationships with the Tibetan Club and working together to make a positive impact in our local and global communities.

Members' Friendly Chat to start the Weekend

On a pleasant Saturday morning, members of the club gathered together for a friendly chat in the company of President Marcy. It was a delightful way to start the weekend and catch up with fellow members.

RCoS and ROOTA support construction of Agricultural Greenhouses in Egypt

The Rotary Club of Scarborough and ROOTA joined forces to assist the Zabbaleen community in their effort to construct agricultural greenhouses.

The land allocated for this project was previously used as a dumping site for waste from Cairo’s neighborhoods, comprising of construction waste, plastic debris, and neglected vegetation.

As we embarked on the process of preparing the land, we faced various challenges, including the discovery of severe water leakage from the ground and subsidence.

Despite these obstacles, we remain committed to making progress.

Completion of Six Toilets at Nambak Secondary School Dormitory, Laos

The Rotary Club of Scarborough is delighted to have been a part of this initiative and to have made a positive impact in the lives of students at Nambak Secondary School dormitory in Loas.

We look forward to continuing our work in Laos and beyond to create a brighter future for all.

Handover of the Houay Hid Water Project in Laos

The Rotary Club of Scarborough is thankful to Steve Rutledge for having spearheaded the Houay Hid Water Project and the construction of six toilets at Nambak Secondary School dormitory in northern Laos.

The completion of the two projects was announced after a three-year hiatus and were completed within their expected timeframes.

In the above picture is the highlight of the handover of the inaugural pipe wrench to the village, marking the end of our efforts.

Our club is thrilled to have been part of these two initiatives and is thankful to the hundreds of Rotarians and friends who contributed to the success of this project.

Successful completion of the Houay Hid Water Project, Laos

The Rotary Club of Scarborough is delighted to have been a part of this initiative and to have made a positive impact on the lives of the villagers. This project delivered a sustainable water supply to the community.

We look forward to continuing our work in Laos and beyond to create a brighter future for all.

RCoS Members and Friends Participate in D7070 Great Lake Watershed Cleanup

On Saturday, April 15th, members and friends of The Rotary Club of Scarborough participated in the District 7070 Great Lake Watershed Cleanup held at Colonel Danforth Park.

It was an opportunity for the community to come together and take action to preserve and protect the health of our local waterways.

A Thank You Note from Mental Wellness Peer-to-Peer Group

A thank you letter from Jason Balgopal, founder of the Mental Wellness Peer-to-Peer Group. Jason spoke at our club lunch a few months before the Covid Pandemic on the topic of mental health.

Our Community & Vocational Service Committee has been an active supporter of this Mental Wellness Peer-to-Peer over the last 3 years. The demand for mental health support continues to be one of the most urgent needs in our society today. CVS is continuing to explore how to support the needs of our community.

Jason is also available to talk about his organization at a club lunch if an available slot becomes av

The Rotary Club of Scarborough Fundraising with Tru Earth

Welcome to The Rotary Club of Scarborough Fundraising with Tru Earth! We are thrilled to announce our partnership with Tru Earth, an eco-friendly company dedicated to reducing waste and creating a sustainable future for our planet.

Our fundraiser is designed to offer you an incredible opportunity to support our organization while also making a positive impact on the environment. When you order any Tru Earth product, 20% of the total sales value will be donated directly to our organization.

By choosing Tru Earth products, you can feel good about your purchase, knowing that you are not only helping us continue to serve our community but also contributing to a brighter, more sustainable future. Tru Earth products are eco-friendly and made with the highest-quality ingredients, making them a great choice for anyone looking to make a positive impact.

We are grateful for your support in helping us make a difference in our community and the world. Join us in supporting our fundraiser and choose Tru Earth products today. Together, let's create a better world for ourselves and future generations.

Join us for the Great Lakes Watershed Clean up - April 15

The Rotary Club Scarborough's Environmental Action Committee is thrilled to share the 2023 Watershed

Clean-up details.

Saturday, April 15

10:00 - 11:00

Colonel Danforth Park

73 Colonel Danforth Trail, Toronto, ON M1C 1P8

Look for the Rotary tent near the main parking lot

We will provide coffee, water, snacks, and the materials you need for the cleanup. Please bring work gloves if you have them and dress for the weather. Rain or shine, we show up.

This is a district-wide event and a fantastic opportunity for Rotary camaraderie. If possible, please try to be there - families and friends are most welcome.

Visit our Facebook and Instagram pages today to let us if you will join us.

Optional lunch at a local spot after the clean-up!

RCoS Interact Club shares Easter Treats with Children

The Scarborough Interact Club members recently packaged and delivered 124 treat bags to Birkdale Residence, a single parent family residence for families who have been displaced or are new to the country.

The residence currently houses 124 children who are 15 years old and under. The Interact Club members decided to share some Easter treats with these children, and the initiative was funded by the 5KM walk they had last fall.

This is a wonderful example of community service and giving back, and we applaud the Interact Club members for their kindness and generosity.

Let's continue to spread positivity and kindness in our community!

Brush-a-Mania launches its 23rd yearly campaign

April's theme is Oral Health. A reminder that taking care of your teeth, gums and mouth is very important to an individuals overall health.

On March 30 2023 Brush-a-Mania (a not for profit program) launched its 23rd yearly campaign. This campaign is designed to promote oral health and awareness in students from Jk to Grade 6.

Brush-a-Mania was started by the Scarborough Rotary Passport Club in 2001

Let's all work together to maintain healthy and happy smiles!

Our Club morning Chit Chat

We had a wonderful chit chat get together this morning, organized by President Marcy, with delicious bagels, coffee, muffins, and more!

It was great to spend time with good company and enjoy some yummy treats. If you couldn't make it this time, don't worry, there will be another one soon and we would love to see you there.

Keep an eye on our website for upcoming events and details. Let's have some fun and deliciousness together!

Fundraising in Support of Fighting Blindness in Canada

It was a great pleasure to meet and see the dynamic energy and enthusiasm at the fundraising event at UOT Scarborough Campus. This was in support of the organization’s Fight against Blindness in Canada where speakers outlined the company’s activities.

A big thank you to our local artisans, MW artists, Sweets on Earth, and many others for their support.

In attendance was President Marcy, Nevine, Joan and Bruce all from the Rotary Club of Scarborough.

Fundraising Walk for Fernie Youth Services

Some fun moments that kept our hearts warm on February 25^th the coldest night of the year as we walked to fundraise and speak up for struggling youth in the community.

A big thank you for all the donations that will go towards servicing at-risk youth, providing them with housing, community, employment, and above all else – hope.

We are less than $100 away from the $20K goal!!! Please answer our call one more time and put us over the CNOY finish line? Donate or ask those around you to donate one final time to Fernie’s 2023 Scarborough East CNOY at cnoy.org/location/scarborougheast

Silent Auction open to All UTSC Students and the Public

Be the light in the dark - A little goes a long way.

The Rotaract Chapter UTSC is running its first Annual Silent Auction to support "Fighting Blindness Canada", a charity that works towards finding treatments and cures for people affected by blinding retinal disease.

# Rotaract Club - UTSC

QR Code to Register for the Silent Auction

Be the light in the dark - A little goes a long way.

# Rotaract Club - UTSC

RCoS International Potluck Dinner

It was a fun Saturday evening at the Rotary Club of Scarborough's International Potluck Dinner at Guildwood Community Presbyterian Church where members explored the different ethnic foods.

At the same event Joan and John Barrett were surprised to a joint birthday cake.

Magical Entertainment at the International Potluck Evening

The club International Potluck dinner was crowned with magical entertainment by Rev. Stephen Kirkgaard. The guests and children had lots of fun filled activities.

Rotary D7070 World Understanding and Peace Day Symposium

The World Understanding and Peace Day Symposium will take place on Thursday, February 23, 2023 at 7:00p.m.

Nobel Prize Winner Ouided Bouchamaoui will be speaking all the way from Tunis, and you will learn about how Rotary International is collaborating with different entities to extend peace and understanding around the world. These entities include Mediators without Borders, The Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), Rotary Inter-Country Committees (RotaryICC).

You will also enjoy incredible music and art.

Please register here to attend: https://rotary7070.org/.../world-understanding-and-peace.../

Happy Holidays!

Happy Holidays from all of us at the Rotary Club of Scarborough.

And a big thank you to all the people we have worked with thus far. Together we have made a difference in our immediate community and the world at large.

Looking forward to a prosperous 2023.

Yonge Sheppard Centre Rotary Tree of Remembrance

We look forward to see you at Yonge Sheppard Centre to place a yellow ribbon on the tree of remembrance in memory of your loved one.

Your donation will go towards supporting Rotary Charities.

The tree is located indoors near the food court on the first level our last day is tomorrow Friday Dec 23rd.

A Fun and Successful Christmas Dinner

It was a fun and successful Christmas Dinner for the Rotary Club of Scarborough on Tuesday at Centennial College Event Centre.

We held a splendid and generous live traditional blind auction emceed by our salt and pepper. The money raised will go to support YouthLink and the Orton Park Food Bank.

Congratulations to Joan and John for winning the UGLY sweater contest which came with a prize.

#RCoS #FestiveSeason #Christmas #Scarborough

Donations can be made through the QR Code using your cellphone

Take time this busy holiday season to remember a loved one or somebody significant in your life.

This can be done by writing a dedication on a yellow ribbon and placing the ribbon on the Rotary Tree of Remembrance.

Trees of Remembrance are located at the Church of the Holy Trinity, Guildwood and The Yonge Sheppard Centre.

Please make a contribution to the Rotary Club. All contributions received will be used to the betterment of those most vulnerable in our communities.

To make a contribution online, use your cell on the QR code and you will be prompted to donate and to write your message in the box provided.

Rotarians will write out your ribbon and place it on the Tree of remembrance on your behalf.

Guildwood Rotary Tree of Remembrance

Come down to Church of the Holy Trinity, Guildwood and write a message on a yellow ribbon in remembrance of a loved one.

The ribbon will be placed on the tree of remembrance and your donation will go towards the Rotary Centennial Endowment Fund and to local charities.

Happy Holidays!

Support the Scarborough Toy Drive through

The Guildwood Rotary Tree of Remembrance

Please make a contribution in support of Rotary Centennial College Endowment Fund and local charities.

Buy a Ribbon and write a message to remember your loved ones.

The Ribbons are available at the Rotary canopy in the Plaza.

Wednesday – Dec. 7, 14, 21 11 am – 5 pm
Thursday – Dec. 22 11 am – 5 pm
Friday – Dec. 9, 16, 23 11 am – 5 pm
Saturday – Dec. 10, 17, 24 11 am – 5 pm

The Guildwood Tree of Remembrance will be ready for ribbons on December 7 - 24 at the Church of the Holy Trinity, Guildwood.

See you there!

Tons of fun at the first Rouge 5k Walk/Run

It was tons of fun, walking, running, and racing each other at the first Rouge 5K Walk/Run hosted by the Scarborough Interact Club for the 2022/2023 year.

Thanks all of those who were able to join and hope to see more of you at our future events!

If you know a young person between the age of 12-18 that would like to be a part of our Club, please email s.interactclub@gmail.com for more information!

Meet & Greet Social event for our newest Rotarians

After two plus years of not being able to see each other in person, this Sunday, November 20, 2022 the Membership Committee held its first "Meet & Greet Social" event for the newest Rotarians.

It was a FUN afternoon!

A BIG thank you to Joan and John Barrett for hosting us at their warm and wonderful home in Scarborough."

#Scarborough #Scarto #Rotarian #Strongertogether

Rotary Club of Scarborough's Free Reading Program to students in an orphanage in Ukraine

The Free Reading Program project by the Rotary Club of Scarborough is helping students in a Ukraine Orphanage to learn English as they begin a new life.

Their smiles told it all!

Students in a Ukraine Orphanage receive 16 chrome books

The Rotary Club of Scarborough shipped 16 chrome books to an orphanage in the Ukraine, along with access to the Free Reading Program.

This is a project to help these young students learn English as they begin a new life. Twice now, these students have been able to connect into the Rotary Global Classroom located in Durham College.

Interact Club of Scarborough's 5K West Rouge Walk/Run

The Interact Club of Scarborough is hosting a 5KM walk/run happening on Saturday October 29^th.

This is a fundraiser activity where half of all donations will go to the Orton Park Food Bank and the other half will be for other club projects.

The cost is $20 for a sponsor sheet but if you get more sponsors you walk for free.

The person that raises the most money will receive a prize.

Please see the flyer on how to register for this event.

Rotary District 7070 Foundation Walk

At the recent Rotary District 7070's annual Foundation Walk held on the grounds of the previous Cullen Gardens Miniature Village in Whitby on September 25^th, 2022.

Our thanks to the nine members from the RCOS, including our President Michael Murton, who participated. It was a charming and peaceful walk in the country, up to 5 km in spite of the rain.

The two mascots, Rosy and Lulu walked for those who were not able, and the two dogs brought in $1200.00.

Thank you for Supporting the Rotary Foundation Walk 2022

At the recent Rotary District 7070's annual Foundation Walk held on the grounds of the previous Cullen Gardens Miniature Village in Whitby on September 25^th, 2022.

Our thanks to the nine members from the RCOS, including our President Michael Murton, who participated. It was a charming and peaceful walk in the country, up to 5 km in spite of the rain.

The two mascots, Rosy and Lulu walked for those who were not able, and the two dogs brought in $1200.00.

Service Above Self Awards - Rotary Club of Scarborough

Troy Van Overdijk, Toronto Paramedic Services; Geoff Berenz, Toronto Fire Services; and

Leanna Gill, Toronto Police Service.

The Awards were presented to those outstanding individuals, who in the opinion of their superiors and peers, were chosen

for recognition of going above and beyond the call of duty.

Centennial College Event Centre – September 2022

Service Above Self Awards - Rotary Club of Scarborough

Troy Van Overdijk, Toronto Paramedic Services; Geoff Berenz, Toronto Fire Services; and

Leanna Gill, Toronto Police Service.

The Awards were presented to those outstanding individuals, who in the opinion of their superiors and peers, were chosen

for recognition of going above and beyond the call of duty.

Centennial College Event Centre – September 2022

Join us on September 29, 2022 at Spring Lakes Golf Club

Come and join us for a great day of golf at Spring Lakes Golf Club.

Club Support towards Mental Wellness Programs

Our club continues to support Mental Wellness, an organization that offers FREE support to those challenged by a wellness issue
Depression - Anxiety - PTSD - Hoarding - OCD - Worry - etc..

Thank you Jason Balgopal on behalf of Mental Wellness for recognizing our support.

Place your Orders for Christmas Cakes, Shortbread and Hams

Please order through Audrey (416) 282-6009 or audreyg.mccaskill@gmail.com

RCoS is donating Chrome Books and Clothes to an Orphanage in Ukraine

The Rotary Club of Scarborough will donate13 chrome books and clothes they have gathered to an orphanage in Ukraine.

Handing over the items is Joan and John Barrett to Violetta Pioro and Matthew Binkley, who will personally deliver

the items to the orphanage.

The RCoS continues to support people and communities in need.

#rotariansatwork #rotaryclubofscarborough

Join us at Spring Lakes Golf Club

Come out and join us for a great day of golf at Spring Lakes Golf Club.

Thank you to our Volunteers

A big thank you to our many volunteers who came from the Scarborough community, students from Centennial College, Interactors and Rotarians from within the club.

Special thanks to our sponsors of the Scarborough Ribfest

This year's Annual Scarborough Ribfest ended on Monday with a big turn up.

Special thanks go out to our main sponsors; Roadsport Chrysler, Mill St. Brewery, Roadsport Honda, Little Electric, Metroland, Albion Amusements

and 93.7 K Country.

A big turn up for the 21st Annual Scarborough Ribfest

The 21^st Annual Scarborough Ribfest was attended by droves of Torontonians who came to celebrate family, food, and entertainment.

The event was organized to raise funds to support local charitable organizations within the Scarborough community and beyond.

The Rotary Club of Scarborough is very proud to serve its community and help those in need.

The 21st Annual Scarborough Ribfest 2022

The 21st annual Scarborough Ribfest is fast approaching. It is Scarborough’s biggest family event and brings together members from every

age and every community.

It will be held over the Civic Holiday weekend in August at Thomson Memorial Park (Brimley & Lawrence).

We look forward to celebrating it with all of you.

Interactors volunteering at the Food Packaging Event

Interactors joined Rotarians at the food packaging event in honour of Jennifer Jones, President Rotary International on her visit to Canada.

A special thank to Helen Tomassini, Shari, Josh, interact and Humber volunteers.

Great Job!

Jennifer Jones’ visit to Canada

Rotary put on a food packaging event on the day that Jennifer Jones landed in our city.

We decided that one way to honor her and the office of the president of Rotary International is to do what we do best.

The event was held in 5 different places, across 4 districts and all this was coordinated by Ken Hurst and his group of people.

115138 meals ready for use, 70 cases were placed into a truck flown out to the Philippines.

A big thank to the good work of Rotarians and a special thanks to Interactors that helped out.

The Presidents' Dinner - Celebrating achievements of 3 Past Presidents

On June 24th, 2022, we held the Presidents’ dinner – to celebrate the work of our three past presidents:

Gerard Baribeau/John Barrett/Marcy Thomassini.

The event took place at Centennial College’s events centre. The event was graced by Rotarians and guests.

In the picture, the incoming President Michael Murton with outgoing President Marcy Thomassini.

Award Recipients at the Presidents' Dinner 2022

At the President's dinner, standing with President Marcy Thomassini, five Rotarians were recognized

for their service above self.

Rotarian of the Year Award - Was awarded to members who served in a major activity in club service,

in multiple activities, or are serving on several committees.

Julie Gircys and Chris Musselman

Paul Harris Fellow - Was awarded to members who went above and beyond in serving our community

through promoting change and understanding.

Nevine Yassa, Flavia Naluyima and Jenny Foster in absencia.

Guests at the Presidents' Dinner

Guests at the Presidents' Dinner.

Planting Pollinators on the Meadoway

An amazing event with the Toronto Region Conservation Authority on June 4. We planted over 200 pollinator plants on the Meadoway and enjoyed

a nature walk where we learned about local invasive species, and restoration efforts, and identified many birds and plants.

Our work as a group will help to support vital pollinator species in Scarborough, as well as mitigate the risk of floods and provide critical habitat to local fauna.

Guildwood Day Parade to promote Rotary and this year's Ribfest

RCoS donates Laptops to Toronto Catholic District School Board

Through our Community Services Committee, we have donated laptops to several schools under

Toronto Catholic District School Board.

These schools are St. Columba Catholic School, St. Joachim Catholic School, St. Jean de Brebeuf,

Holy Spirit Catholic School, Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, and The Divine Infant.

Thank you to all for making a difference in the lives of many in need.

Clean up at Colonel Danforth Park

On Saturday, April 23rd, 20+ Rotarians, Interactors, Rotaractors and lots of guests joined together under the Great Lakes watershed to clean up

Colonel Danforth Park.

#cleantoronto #greatlakeswatershedcleanup

Rotarians getting ready for the Clean up

Great preparation job by Jenny!

The clean up was followed by yummy food.

Rotarian Julie receiving the Paul Harris Fellowship

Rotarian Julie receiving the Paul Harris Fellowship.

This was at the Great Lakes watershed clean up at colonel Danforth park!

Easter Treat Bags by our Interact Club to Birkdale Residence

The Interact Club put together Easter treat bags for approximately 80 children at Birkdale Residence this past weekend.

Besides a few chocolate treats, each bag contained a small age-appropriate toy, toothbrush, and toothpaste.

A thank you and shout out to Raffi and Sonya for the toothpaste and brushes.

The Easter treat bags were delivered to Sunita at Birkdale in time for the long weekend.

RCos Delivering Books to Schools

The Rotary Club of Scarborough donating books to read for grades 4/5 at our local schools. As one of the seven focal points of focus for Rotary International is Basic Education and Literacy, we are making an impact on the youth by providing opportunities for literacy is

Rotary's goal.

Education opens a wealth of knowledge to the world around us and that is what we thrive for in essence, alleviating education.

Above is Nevine Yassa a member of RC Scarborough delivering literacy books to two local schools in Scarborough, East View Public School, and W.J. Miller Public School.

Great Lakes Watershed Cleanup

The Rotary Club of Scarborough will be hosting a community clean-up on

April 23 at 10:30 am in Colonel Danforth Park. In partnership with the

City of Toronto's annual Spring Clean Up, we aim to tidy up a priceless

local park, reduce the amount of plastic and litter in and around our

waterways and protect the wildlife that calls the area home.

Basic equipment will be provided.

The Rotary Club of Scarborough: Great Lakes Watershed Clean-up

is part of a larger The Great Lakes Watershed initiative, spanning

2 Provinces and 8 States.

With various events held around the great lakes for Earth Day,

there will be involvement from 18 Rotary Districts in Canada

and the USA, approximately 900 Rotary clubs and 27,000 Rotarians

and Rotaractors!

The Team at Christ Church Food Bank receiving the Cheque

The team of volunteers at Christ Church Food Bank, Markham receiving Rtn. T P Sheehan for the cheque handover on behalf of the Rotary Club of Scarborough CVS Committee.

Donation to Christ Church Food Bank Markham

Rtn. T P Sheehan delivering a cheque of $500 on behalf of the Rotary Club of Scarborough CVS committee, to Christ Church Food Bank, Markham Rd this morning. This is one of the 4 food banks we are currently supporting

with donations.

Ribbons of Remembrance

The Rotary Tree of Remembrance, a fundraiser began last year, expanded to two trees this year. All funds raised go to support our ongoing projects.

Yonge-Sheppard Tree of Remembrance

Supplying a local foodbank with turkeys from FreshCo

This year we supplied a local foodbank with 60 turkeys, stuffing and foil roasting pans to help their clients with a special holiday meal. A big thank you to FreshCo who helped us with the gathering of 60 turkeys!

Holiday Elf Project

The Holiday Elf Project has been a favourite of all for a number of years. This year we made the holidays special for 11 local families. Each year our Rotarians donate a toy or two in support of our Elf Project. Any remaining toys are given to the Police Toy Drive.

Family Support by our Interact Club

One of these families was totally funded by our Interact Club! They went shopping and then had a wonderful afternoon wrapping the gifts and getting everything ready for delivery.

RCoS Partnering to support a global Voice for Autism

An International Project our Club is supporting, through a donation to a grant, is A global Voice for Autism. We recently received a thank you letter with photos and two heartwarming success stories.

Guildwood Village Tree of Remembrance in the news

All about our Rotary Tree of Remembrance

Sale of Christmas Cakes and Hams

We had another great year for the sale of Christmas Cakes and Hams!

A popular fundraiser for the past 25/30 years. Our members outdid

themselves in getting out there despite COVID and getting those sales.

Holiday Auction Fundraiser

Once again, we had our Holiday Auction Fundraiser! Of course, it was

a Zoom event for the second year. This year the funds raised were to

support YouthLink and the Police Toy Drive representing Divisions 41,

42 and 43. Lots of fun for ALL!!

SUJ singing carols for Yellow Ribbon Fundraiser

Here's a little video of our performance today. It was loads of fun.

https://lnkd.in/e-uh9wZx

The Rotary volunteer Mike rang the bells and sang along too.

Happy Holidays.

Tree of Remembrance at Yonge Sheppard Centre

Support your community by donating at the Yonge

Sheppard Tree of Remembrance.

Day one of the Tree of Remembrance at Guildwood

Day one of the Tree of Remembrance at the Church of the

Holy Trinity, Guildwood. Listen to Rotarian Chris Musselman.

in the video link and support our community.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1MYN2Rnxyte-

EmWRcNddvPU0vND0lD2p7/view?usp=sharing

Tree of Remembrance - Yonge Sheppard Centre

Support our Community - Trees of Remembrance

This holiday season, Rotary has organized two Trees of Remembrance”,

one in Guildwood and the other in the Yonge Sheppard plaza. Rotary is

raising funds to support local charities.

Each yellow ribbon has a space where you can add a message or name of

a loved one that you wish to remember. Ribbons can be purchased on-site

by cash or credit card, or on-line at http://rotary-club-of-scarborough.square.site/

Your support is most appreciated.

Tree of Remembrance - Church of Holy Trinity, Guildwood

Donating to Community Angels by our Charitable Foundation

Eugene Burns, representing the Rotary Club of Scarborough's

Charitable Foundation, has made a donation to Community Angels.

The purpose of this non-profit group, founded by Cindy Fuller 3 years

ago is "to support people in times of need." Clients are referred from

sources such as Churches, Salvation Army, and "Angel" volunteers.

Their current priority for assistance is people with disabilities, seniors,

and single mothers. The group email is "communityangelstoronto@outlook.com."

Induction of Interact Club Office Bearers 2021 / 2022

On November 21, the Interact Club affiliated with the Rotary Club of

Scarborough inducted their officers for the 2021 / 2022 Rotary year.

Celebrating ROOTA's nomination to the World Literacy Awards 2021

The Rotary Club of Scarborough is proud to be associated with Rising Out Of

Ashes (ROOTA). ROOTA is a Canadian Registered Charity with the mandate

of helping the poor and for the onset it is helping the Zabaleen (Egyptian

slang for Garbage Collectors).

As a club, we are celebrating with ROOTA for being shortlisted for the World

Literacy Awards 2021 out of 450 participants worldwide. The awards

celebrate various literacy projects from around the world. Listen to the

attached video link at minute 18:56 as ROOTA is being mentioned.

https://worldliteracyawards.org/

Induction of New Members

A warm welcome to Antonio Purdy and Sivage Sivagumaran to the

Rotary Club of Scarborough. The two were inducted on Sunday

October 24^th 2021 at an event hosted by Cathy Carson, Co-Chair

Membership Committee at her home in Scarborough by the bluffs.

The club President was ably represented by Richard Turzanski, the

Co-Chair of the membership Committee, while Joan Barrett, the

Director of Membership and Public Relations officiated at the function.

Immediate Past President John Barrett graced the occasion.

Induction of New Members

Welcoming our newest members Dave Muir and Flavia Kibuuka

Naluyima to the Rotary Club of Scarborough. Their induction took

place on Sunday, October 17th, 2021, and was hosted by Cathy Carson,

Co-Chair Membership Committee, at her home in Scarborough Guild

by the Bluffs. Dave has been a friend of the Rotary for the past 17 years,

while Flavia, who recently moved to Canada, joined us in May 2021.

Richard Turzanski, the Co-Chair of the Membership Committee, gave

the President’s speech and Joan Barrett, the Director of Membership

and Public Relations officiated at the function. Immediate Past

President John Barrett graced the occasion.

Thank You to Our Golf Sponsors

First Annual Golf Tournament held at Remington Golf Club

Our First Annual Golf Tournament held at Remington Golf Club was a

great success, thanks to the generous contributions from our sponsors,

and prize donors. The hard work of our many volunteers and the 68 golfers

who came out to support a good cause. A great day for all participants,

especially the winners.

2021 Drive-Thru Ribfest

The 2021 Drive-Thru Ribfest fundraising event by The Rotary Club of
Scarborough was held at Centennial College Ashtonbee Campus.
Thousands of cars lined up for yummy ribs and chicken served by 4 award
winning ribbers. The 3 day long weekend was graced by Rotarians and the
Scarborough Community. Thank you to our sponsors.

Our Mailing Address

The Rotary Club of Scarborough Charitable Foundation can be contacted by mail.

Cheques can be deposited in this foundation and receive a taxable donation by mailing a cheque to:

Rotary Club of Scarborough Charitable Foundation

1427-10 Guildwood Parkway

Scarborough Ontario M1E 5B5

Canada

The Rotary Club of Scarborough can be contacted by mail:

Rotary Club of Scarborough,

P.O. BOX 386,

STATION ‘A’

TORONTO, ON M1K 5C3

Or by email to John Barrett at jgbarrett67@gmail.com

Be Reading Canada

100 Winter Gardens Trail

Scarborough, ON

M1C 3N7

or by email to jdbarrett67@gmail.com

Rotary Club of Scarborough - Ribfest

Guildwood Extendicare Garden Project

Food Banks

The Rotary Club of Scarborough is happy to support any of the food banks that we possibly can. Three of the banks are “ St. Stephens led by Karen McCarrol – Trinity United led by Donna Worden and Centennial College led by Gerard Baribeau.
We'll pick up bread at a local bakery like Port Union Bakery. We often shop local groceries to get good deals.

There is a great need to provide for.
We are proud to provide whatever we can, be it food or other product. If you know of a great deal going on, contact our Rotary Club or any of the other five clubs in Scarborough, and arrangements will be made for pickup.

Contact info:
Karen McCarrol: 416 592 0194
Donna Worden: daworden@aol.com
Marcy Tomassini: 416 567 2318

Our 70th Anniversary Zoom Celebration

70th Anniversary Celebration of Past Rotary wonderful moments.

Congratulations go out to the members in the 70th anniversary committee.
Led by Audrey (the great organizer), the 70th Anniversary Committee were responsible for a very successful day. Smiling faces all around. Quite a large number of past presidents and/or stand-ins showed up via zoom. Each of the past-presidents spoke for a few minutes about what made their time as president of The Rotary Club of Scarborough memorable to them. It truly shows what Rotary is all about, Service above Self.

It was wonderful to listen to folks reminisce about their time as the president, and hearing about some of the projects that had taken place over the many years.

Gerard (club photographer) and Gary (club historian) did some great work in setting up “The Rotary Club of Scarborough’s 70th Anniversay Bluffer”. Distribution to all members was key to the success of this day. We were able to see some of the Rotarians that got us to where we are today. This is so important in the continuity of the club, especially for newer members.

Thank you to Mark Chipman (District Governor) for his appearance and Gerd Wengler for their support in attending this occasion.

The proceedings were recorded for posterity purposes, so if you would like to view it again, just contact Gerard or John.

We Love Valentines

Spreading some love and kindness the Membership Committee along with the Holy Trinity Church reached out to the Guildwood Extendicare. Cookies, cards and plants were delivered by Cathy, Joan and Richard. Some small things to bring such great happiness to loved ones.

Interact Club of Scarborough

Here we see a member of the Interact Club of Scarborough delivering gifts to Birkdale Residence. The Club with the help of Debbie Nevils raised sufficient funds for 2 PS 4 consoles, 2 games and 2 extra controllers.
Well done, goes a long way to help with the inactivity of the pandemic.
Thanks to all.
Thank you for your service to Rotary.

KGO Adult Literacy

Literacy is a great deal in Rotary Club of Scarborough (RCoS) both young and old. A few months ago the CVS group led by T P Sheehan decided to support this organization with a much needed donation. In fact the KGO group is so well run that funds go a long way in helping adult literacy in this community.

Phylicia, who is responsible for this organization expresses her thanks to the club for all support and donations.
Thanks CVS and RCoS
Above we see Philicia in the process of doing some work.

New Rink at Simcoe PS

The Pandemic has forced many individuals in our community to think outside the box. With the restrictions imposed on all of us of distancing and staying within our personal groups, the Parent Council of the Elizabeth Simcoe School decided they had had enough of their children not being able to exercise and have some activities, so they built the iconic Canadian backyard rink.

The project was conceived and run by the Parent Council volunteers.
Our CVS committee was approached, and it was decided to approve a $500 contribution as our part in reducing some COVID stress in our area.

In these cold days of January and February this rink will be put to good use.
Yours in Rotary – well done.

$500 Donated to Food Bank

We, at the Rotary Club of Scarborough, have been serving the community since 1951. One of the alliances that was formed during the years is with the Church of the Holy Trinity in Guildwood.

Ribbons Blessed by Church of Holy Trinity

The Rotary Club of Scarborough closed its very first “Tree of Remembrance” project with a ribbon Blessing by the Church of Holy Trinity Guildwood on January 10^th.

This year, for the first time in Canada, we established “The Rotary Tree of Remembrance” project. An idea initiated by one of our newer members, from Ireland, which is where the idea originated. The Tree of Remembrance allowed people the opportunity to remember loved ones and front-line workers, while also raising funds that the Rotary Club of Scarborough will use to support our many and varied local community projects.

We are proud to share an innovative and ingenious Rotary supported project: The Ongutoi Health Centre Water Collection for Sustainability Project.

Posted by Jenny Foster on Dec 11, 2020

The Ongutoi Health Centre provides free healthcare to villages and communities in North Eastern and Central Uganda. The is a highly professional centre, treating 750-1,000 patients a month, including approximately 1 birth every day, with a mortality rate of only 1% versus a 10% rate in other areas. Ongutoi is the only regional facility where a patient can be assessed, receive a prescription and have the prescription filled at no cost to the patient. The Ongutoi Health Centre has treated over 170,000 patients since 2007.

Rotary Tree of Remembrance

To purchase a ribbon on-line: https://rotary-club-of-scarborough.square.site/?fbclid=IwAR0NfT7kmEFAfpaipl-ekOnIAYZXZE3rwtJCaSXBl62ab8rPmZmw2aEmDZw

Cakes and Hams - 2020

Please order from Audrey by November 3.

Drive-Thru Ribfest

Backpacks to Birkdale

The Rotary Club of Scarborough Supports Birkdale Residence

As members of the Rotary Club of Scarborough we are honoured to support the much-needed work done at Birkdale Residence, now and going forward.

Rotary Club of Scarborough and Covid-19

Media Release -June 2020 – Part Three:

The Rotary Club of Scarborough and the Rotary Club of Scarborough Charitable Foundation continue to be busy doing our part in this Covid-19 Pandemic. This is Part Three.

Scarborough’s YouthLink Emergency Shelter and Transition Home has, like many of us, had to cancel several of their fundraising programs, leaving them in need of funds to support their unplanned COVID-19 expenses. The Rotary Club of Scarborough Charitable Foundation has provided $1500.00 to assist them in this unprecedented time.

Rotary Club of Sarborough and COVID-19

The Rotary Club of Scarborough has been very, very, busy during this Covid-19 Pandemic. Over the next few days we will be posting many of our projects. This is Part Two.

Vulnerable Families Project – TDSB and TCDSB:

Through local Rotarian members and their local school board connections, it was brought to our attention that many families (known by principals in their respective schools) have no money for food and are struggling to pay rent. With the support of Superintendents within the TCDSB and the TDSB, our Club purchased $4000 worth of $50 Food / Gift Cards which were delivered to Principals for distribution.

This project was a special request from the TDSB. Here is one letter we recently received.

“I am writing to you to thank you for your most generous donation of food gift cards to ten families from our school. As I am sure you are aware, our school services students and families from a variety of backgrounds, cultures and economic realities. We are situated in a designated area of economic need and we also welcome families who have made the journey to Canada to escape war and persecution in other countries.

Your donation will ensure ten of our families will enjoy the peace of mind that comes from having a solid base of food items they can draw from when things get challenging. It will also ensure that in the midst of this global crisis, they understand their needs are important and that there are individuals and larger organizations who are actively trying to help them. I therefore thank you on behalf of myself, the families who have been touched by your generosity, our School Board and the wider community which they serve.”

Rotary Club of Scarborough and Covid-19

The Rotary Club of Scarborough has been very, very, busy during this Covid-19 Pandemic. Over the next few days we will be posting many of our projects. This is Part One.

During the Month of April, we assisted the newly formed House of Neighbours (founder Mohammed Mohyedin), working with Centennial College on Progress Avenue, in the packing and delivery of groceries to 60 families in our area.

This project was repeated in May for another 60 families, and is again in process, for another 60 families as this article is being posted.

Food for Front Line Workers 3 of 8

On Wednesday April 29th, The Rotary Club of Scarborough, picked up and delivered 50 meals for the Frontline Workers at the xxxxx(formally Grace Hospital). These folks restrict themselves to the one floor for their entire day's shift so we send the meals to them. This Rotarian Eugene Burns and Helen.

Rotary in Partnership with TDSB

No Frills Gift Cards

Through local Rotarian members and their local school board connections, it was brought to our attention that many families (known by principals in their respective schools) have no money for food and are struggling to pay rent. With the support of a Superintendent within the TDSB, our Club purchased $2000 worth of $50 No Frills Gift Cards which were delivered to TDSB Principals for distribution. This project was a special request from the TDSB.

The stories are heartbreaking. The folks are so appreciative.

RCoS COVID-19 Contribitions

Donate

The Rotary Club of Scarborough Charitable Foundation accepts donations by credit card through Canada Helps, or by cheque.

Donations of $20 or more will be sent a Taxable Receipt.

Select either "By Credit Card" or "By Cheque".

To Donate ...

The Rotary Club of Scarborough Charitable Foundation accepts donations by credit card through Canada Helps, or by cheque. If you would prefer to donate by cheque, please make out the cheque to the "Rotary Club of Scarborough Charitable Foundation" and mail it to:

Rotary Club of Scarborough Charitable Foundation,

P.O. Box 386, Station ‘A’

Toronto, ON M1K 5C3.

Thank you for your support.

RCoS meetings suspended until May 12

Doing our part to reduce personal interaction, we have cancelled all RCoS meetings until May 12 2020.
Many committee meetings will be held electronically.

Check back for updates.

Gerard

Updated - April 1, 2020

Milk Bag Mattress Event

The Interact Club of Scarborough presents their Milk Bag Mattress Event. Consider dropping around and giving them a hand. Interactors are Rotarians ages 12 - 18, and they are always on the look-out for more members. If you are interested, drop around.

Knotty Knitters

The Knotty Knitters are a wonderful, dedicated group of Guildwood women who put their heart, soul and love of knitting into action.

They provide hundreds of hand knit hats and mitts to young students in two of our local Scarborough schools through the Rotary Club of Scarborough program.


	Thank you Knotty Knitters, you are very much appreciated by all.

Rotary Club of Scarborough Proudly Supports The Guatemala Literacy Project (GLP)

The Guatemala Literacy Project (GLP) is one of the largest grassroots, multi-club, multi-district projects in Rotary. More than 600 clubs and 80 districts have been working together since 1997 to improve education for underserved students in Guatemala. The Rotary Club of Scarborough is a proud contributor to the GLP.

Archie Allison receives Paul Harris Fellow Award for continued contribution to Variety Village

Past President Joan Barrett invited guest Archie Allison to the front to present him with a Paul Harris Fellow Award. Rotarian Shirley Zinman nominated Archie, for his continued contribution to Variety Village, and his ongoing efforts to educate others to the needs of the disabled.

Congratulations to the Rotary Learning Institute (RLI) - Level 3 Graduating Class

This is the Graduating class from the Rotary Education Centre for Rotary Learning Institute (RLI) - level 3. We are proud of our members for spending the time to become better Rotarians!

Textbooks and Chairs to a school for the children of the Zabaleen

We support ROOTA (Rising Out of the Ashes) in Cairo, Egypt with a donation of textbooks and chairs to a school for the children of the Zabaleen (Garbage Collectors).

Roota is a Canadian Charity. If you wish to learn more, go to: https://roota.org/the-zabaleen.

Cakes and Hams

Rotaract Conference 2019

Posted by Abhi Shah on May 23, 2019

On May 4th we were able to attend the Rotaract Conference held at York University. It was a great day meeting fellow Rotarians, young and old, including this year's Rotary Youth Leadership Award(RYLA) participants.

Here is fellow Rotarian, Debbie Nevils, standing with Interactor, Ayman Siddiqui and RYLA participant Michael Jimenez. The Rotary Club of Scarborough sponsored Michael for the award.

The Interact Club of Scarborough is working on yet another project ...


The objects being woven in the pictures are mattresses, and the 'thread' is made of milk bags. But why go through the trouble of weaving milk bags …….

Interact's Fourth Annual Easter Egg Hunt

The Interact Club of Scarborough is holding its fourth annual Easter Egg Hunt.

The hunt takes place in the Scarborough Village Recreation Centre at 3600 Kingston Road on the corner of Markham Road and Kingston Road, from 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm, on April 20, 2019, and includes face painting, food, games, crafts, candy, music, and is designed for children from 3 - 10 years of age.

Interact Club of Scarborough is a youth group aged 12 - 18, and is a component of the Rotary Club of Scarborough.

If you have any children or grandchildren that would like to participate, come along.

Park Clean-up - June 2, 2018

The Interact Club, a member of the Rotary Club of Scarborough, organized a trash pick-up day at Thompson Memorial Park. They concentrated their efforts to the Hydro field that is not cleaned as often. It was a fun day!"

Rotary Club of Scarborough - Annual Ribfest

Ribfest 50/50 Winner

The Rotary Club of Scarborough had its 17^th annual Ribfest this past week-end, and for the first time, conducted a 50-50 draw. Sale of the tickets went on for the four days of the ribfest, and one ticket was drawn when ticket sales stopped on Monday evening. The winning ticket will take home $10,395.00 – 50% of the total tickets sold.

The winning ticket number for this year’s Scarborough Ribfest 50-50 draw was ticket number 26513405008.

Please play responsibly www.problemgamblinghelpline.ca or 1-888-230-3505.

Vimy

The Rotary Club of Scarborough, along with other clubs in the area, provided a contribution to the Vimy Ridge Wreaths for this past November 11^th.

Antoine Hirsch of the Rotary Club of Bay-Bloor was present in Vimy and laid the wreaths on behalf of several Toronto / Scarborough Clubs.

Club Committees / Groups

The Club meets every Tuesday at the Scarboro Golf and Country Club, 321 Scarborough Golf Club Road, at 12:15 p.m. The Club's project activities are managed in monthly committees, each with its own mandate:

ROOTA (Rising Out of the Ashes)

Roota is a non-profit organization founded in Canada by Nevine Yassa and friends. Their mission is to raise the social, educational, economical and health standards of marginalized groups in Egypt. Their present focus is on the Zabaleen of the Mokattam Mountain in Cairo.

They are volunteers working with an Egyptian NGO called APE (Association of the Protection of Environment) who know the needy on site, disperse the looms as they deem fit, and use Roota monies for schools. APE is looking at the increase in population and hence, are in dire need of new schools for tutoring, and pre-school.

Hands On Lunch Project

Birkdale Residence Back Packs

On August 15, 2017, we had our first of many "Hands-On" luncheons in which we will get all attending members, and any "Friends of Rotary" that may be on hand, to work for our lunch. In this case, we were packing backpacks with everything required for back to school. Included were pens, mathematic instrument sets, paper, water bottles ... everything needed to start school. These backpacks were presented to the staff for distribution to the students in the Birkdale Residence.

Welcome to Rotary Club of Scarborough - Drop In and join us for Lunch

Posted on Feb 16, 2017

Rotary Club of Scarborough Supports FACE

Posted by Nevine Yassa on Dec 03, 2016

The Rotary Club of Scarborough has been helping to support FACE. FACE's mission is to assist and protect orphans, street children, their families and communities in Egypt regardless of race, culture or religion.

Our Rotary Club contributes by helping with the needs of orphans and street children. In return we receive quarterly reports to follow up on how our monies were dispersed, and how it touched the lives of these children.

Have a look at FACE's third quarter report:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zdozx0X1B_I

Have a look at their website: ola@facechildren.org

Centennial College Acknowledgement

Posted by Michael Cooksey

In September, Past President Gene Burns received Centennial College's acknowledgement of the Rotary Club's donation of $50,000 to the College's Impact Campaign Scholarship Fund.

District 7070 Foundation Walk

On Sunday September 11th, 2016, District 7070 had its Foundation Walk in Brighton Ontario. This is the Rotary Club of Scarborough team ... including Harley (the black hairy fellow with President Gerard.). Harley, by the way, may have been the largest contributor .... Harley walks for those who cannot.

Scarborough Interact Club -- BBQ

Their year-end picnic was held this past Saturday at Colonel Danforth Park, including a BBQ, socializing, with fun times had by all. The highlight would be the scavenger hunt during which most of them ended up in the local creek.

Congratulations to their new president for the 2016/2017 season ... Malaravan Balachandran.
.

Interact’ers are 12 – 18 years of age and come from the local high schools.

Anyone interested in joining this group could go to their Facebook page (Scarborough Interact Club) .

The Rotary Club of Scarborough joins in the local Canada Day Parade

This year's Canada Day parade started at Brimley just above Progress and went down Brimley to end at Lawrence. The Rotary Club contingent was well attended and included Shirley's unique automobile, and President Gerard on the club's only vehicle. Outgoing President Eugene Burns is seen in the car in the passenger's seat.

On February 23, 2016 Rotary International celebrates 111 years of "Service above Self".

The Canadian Centre for Refugee and Immigrant Health Care

Link to CBC News Release: http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/refugee-health-care-services-limited-1.3223235

Press Release June 3, 2015

The Rotary Club of Scarborough is pleased to announce that it has provided funding of $100,000 for equipment and fixtures to The Canadian Centre for Refugee and Immigrant Health Care (The Centre) to establish its new home at 4158 Sheppard Avenue East. The Centre provides health care to those new Canadians who are not yet covered by our medical care system, and those recently insured without a physician and dental care to Canada’s many who go without. In their 15 year history, the Centre has been in borrowed premises; it is a real improvement to be able to lease their own facilities.

Welcome To The Rotary Club of Scarborough

The Rotary Club of Scarborough was chartered Wednesday February 21st, 1951, with the blessing of Rotary International, an organization that represents more than 1,400,000 Rotarians in more than 34,000 clubs in 200 countries around the world.

The Club currently has 59 members, representing some of the businesses and professions in the Scarborough area, and a great team of individuals dedicated to giving back. We meet at 12:15 p.m. most Tuesdays, and at 7:00 in the evening on the last Tuesday of each month. We are currently Zooming so if you wish to join in please contact Joan Barrett as noted below.)