Rotary Club Burlington Central 7 February 2019
Lawrence Leung presiding.
Our guests were introduced: Richelle Papin - sister of Rene Papin; Helen and Rupert Papin; Sean Tomkins; Cathy Bell and David Tomkins. Mana and Manel - our Rotary foreign exchange students.
Manel told us of her birding experience with Peter Thoem promoting the Owl Foundation. She's just started a new class and has many friends and has also taken up the flute.
Mana "survived" Camp Wanakita. She also had the Owl experience. She went to Niagara Falls, quite a sight in winter. She is determined to go to as many Rotary clubs as possible and attended the Guelph Rotary Club with Mae Radford where they have 120 members, and they were given a wonderful reception.
It's just been her last day with her host family and she was treated to her favourite Canadian dish, waffles, before she left. She also went to Mississauga Rotary club by GO train, on her own. Owen McElhinney took her to Streetsville Rotary club.
Sean Tomkins told of his four days at Wanakita. He noted that on arrival "they took our phones away!” On reflection he determined this was a "good thing”, it allowed for interaction with the others and the opportunity to make friends and to learn about each other, both in and outbound students. He described the amazing winter camping experience in a dugout snow cave called the Quincy. He was lucky enough to be loaned a an electric sweater. Having a sleeping bag that was good for -30°C was a positive though the outside temperature was "only -10° C at night”.
Manel tried cross-country skiing at which, back home in Estonia she does not do very well but here in Canada is able to look like "an expert”. they all agreed that Wanakita was the highlight of their trip which is often said by the exchange students. Mana was quite afraid to sleep outside thinking "I will be dead!" But actually was really quite warm, huddled in with three other girls.
Gerry Willard reminded the club about the upcoming Career Coach day saying there is still an opportunity to sign up for the men’s or women’s group.
Rod Collard was present at the "unveiling" of the brand-new dishwasher at Next Door Social Space which only takes 90 seconds to clean a load! He is still working on Lakeside À La Carte and they have brought in a couple of new restaurants including Island Cuisine Lakeside À La Carte tickets are now on sale online.
We were given a quiz on Black History, quite an eye-opener on the amazing contribution of many black Canadians over the last couple of centuries.
René Papin and was introduced as the Rotarian of the Week and briefly told us of his interest in Rotary primarily to follow the motto of ‘Service Above Self. He reminisced that his father had been made president of the Lions Club and remembered how his brother had cried when he heard that his dad was becoming president in 1968 because "didn't the president just get shot?” Rene’s mother always insisted that Hate was an emotion that should be avoided at all cost and Love would always trump Hate. He was taught sensitivity and the desire and need to give back to the community.
Karmel Sakran introduced Richelle Papin as our Speaker.
Richelle promised to give us a comet-like speech, dazzling, eye-opening, and over before you know it, and she kept her promise on all three points. For 25 years Richelle wanted to be a school trustee and finally, in her 50s, was able to fulfil her dream. After one unsuccessful but close run at the position, was awarded the biggest honour of her life in becoming a trustee for Burlington Ward 4 between 2014 and 2018. She was also proud to be the first black person on the boards of the city and of the region.
She came to Burlington with her family her father being taken on as a French teacher in Aldershot high school. In 1966 Richelle showed us a class photo at her Centennial school in 1967 where she was the only back child in the photo. The family has no regrets coming to Burlington where they have all lived ever since.
Richelle recalled a number of celebrated black Canadians going back over the past 150 years, back to Elijah McCoy the inventor of the "real McCoy" steam engine oiling device, from 1872; forward to entrepreneurs like Michael Lee Chin, sportsmen like Don Donovan Bailey, and legislators like Rosemary Brown were among the many that she remembered. The importance of black people being celebrated on a given day goes back to 1926 where accomplished African-Americans were celebrated, and soon this came to Canada. Finally in1976 Black History Week became Black History Month. The motion before parliament was put by Jean Augustine in and seconded by our own Paddy Torsney. We were shown how to fight for justice and that character, not colour, is what built this country. It's not long since black people were legally excluded from many aspects of Canadian life. We don't have to go back as far as slavery to find problems of institutionalised racism. Although the human rights code promised equality and freedom from discrimination the struggle is definitely not over for black people in our country. It's easy to look back to see who is on the right side of history. I forget the quotation but clearly “if you are neutral on the subject you are on the side of the oppressor.” The key remains to speak up against injustice, to listen, to engage, to show kindness, not anger, and respect will ultimately find a way to a solution. Remember that Darkness cannot drive out Darkness, only light; Hate cannot drive out Hate only Love. Change does not come if we wait for another to effect it, we are the change we seek.
After Richelle was thanked, her speech her father, Rupert, stood up to give some reminiscences of his own life before and after coming to Burlington. His warmth and his sense of humour are infectious and it was a delight to hear some of his story. We are honoured to have this family as part of our Rotarian family.
Anthony Ford-Jones
