Welcome to the Rotary Club of Oakville Trafalgar

Are you someone who wants to make positive changes in your community and the world? Our club members are dedicated people who share a passion for community service. 
           
 
Club News
Dana Atwell, Lilians Chocarro, President Lauri Asikainen, Bob Gardner, Catherine Whittaker, Ron Salem, Trish Peden, Bruce Friesen
 
 
The Paul Harris Fellow recognition acknowledges individuals who have made a significant contribution to Rotary.  This year 7 club members were recognised for there ongoing efforts at advance to Rotary ideals.
 
Dana Atwell
Dana, a long-standing Rotarian, has been a driving force for positive change since joining our club in early 2023. His work on improving our communication infrastructure has modernized operations, streamlined internal processes, and strengthened outreach. He was instrumental in the redesign of the club’s webpage and assisted in the development of new templates for the club’s newsletter. These enhancements have created a more dynamic environment and, I believe, will significantly contribute to attracting new members.
He has always been one to seek out opportunities to become involved and is willing to assist anyone that seeks his help. He is also an active member of the Communications committee. His dedication continues to leave a lasting impact on the club and its members.
This is Dana’s 4th Paul Harris award.
 
Liliana Chocarro
Liliana, since assuming responsibility for Youth Services, has breathed new life into the importance and purpose of Rotary among young people. Her dedication and innovative approach have inspired renewed engagement and enthusiasm within this vital area. Through her work with the Abbey Park Interact Club, she has fostered a stronger connection between Rotary and the younger generation, creating opportunities for leadership, service, and community involvement.
Liliana's efforts have not only strengthened the Interact Club but have also significantly increased Rotary’s visibility and positive reputation within the community. Her commitment serves as a shining example of how impactful Youth Services can be in building future leaders and ensuring the ongoing legacy of Rotary.
Prior to her efforts with the Youth Services Committee, Liliana was the guiding light for us, and others in the Rotary family, during the initial stages of Covid with her expertise in vaccines. She is also active in several club activities like Ribfest.
This will be Liliana’s 2nd Paul Harris award.
Pictured is Michelle Knoll, Executive Director, Oak Park Neighbourhood Centre, holding one of the sixty Metro/Food Basics gift cards funded by RCOT.
These gift cards of $50.00 each have been allocated to families connected to a local elementary school.
School staff have identified these families as being in need of support as the holiday season approaches.
Abbey Park Interact Club has submitted a video to the Rotary International Interact Awards 2024. The video showcases their "Jingle Joy" project, which involves bringing handmade cards, games and music to seniors in residences and first responders (firefighters and paramedics). It also highlights how they were inspired to bring joy to the community and how working together as a team and attracting the participation of students brought joy to them.
 
See their video below:
 
 
Jennifer Kay’s New Scooter
A high school friend of Rotarian Claire Conway mentioned that she was selling a scooter that her father had only used for 1 month before he died. When Claire explained that Jennifer Kay, past president of our club, was in need of a scooter her friend generously donated it to Jennifer.
 
Jen is thrilled with this gift. She is excited to attend church again as it is 3 blocks away which limits her ability to attend. She can now use the care-a-van and go to appointments on her own. This is a level of independence she hasn’t had for a long time.
 
The generosity of strangers can make the world a better place, if only for one person.
 
“The wise man does not lay up his own treasures. The more he gives to others, the more he has for his own.” – Lao Tzu.
 
 
On Thursday January 9th the club was honored to have Danielle Rosenblum from the Lions Foundation of Canada Guide Dogs as our speaker.
 
Anyone who knows Danielle knows two of her greatest passions are working with her community and animals. She loves working at Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides, because in her role as Community Partnerships Manager, it touches on both of these things. Playing a part in changing people's lives drives her work every day.
 
Danielle discussed the work of the Lions Foundation, which is a national charity providing specially trained Dog Guides for those with disabilities and organizations who assist people in traumatic situations, offering them greater independence, safety, and companionship.
 
Their mission is to empower Canadians living with disabilities to navigate their world with confidence and independence by providing Dog Guides at no cost to them and supporting each pair in their journey together.
 
Their school is located in Oakville, Ontario, with a secondary facility in Breslau.  It is the largest school of its kind in Canada and the only school in the world to train Dog Guides in 7 distinct programs
 
To download Danielle's presentation…..Click Here
 
See below for a very informative video about the Foundation
 
 
 
Abbey Park High School's Interact Rotary Club, aims to spread joy to local Senior Homes through their initiative "Jingle Joy!".  
 
During this event, students visited the Woodside Mews Senior Residence on Monday December 9th, and brought with them an event filled with festive music, bingo and trivia for the residents to enjoy!
Abbey Park Interact Club has submitted a video to the Rotary International Interact Awards 2024. The video showcases their "Jingle Joy" project, which involves bringing handmade cards, games and music to seniors in residences and first responders (firefighters and paramedics). It also highlights how they were inspired to bring joy to the community and how working together as a team and attracting the participation of students brought joy to them.
 
See their video below:
 
 
Meetings & Events 
If you would like to be a speaker at an upcoming meeting or if you are having difficulty finding something in our website please send us a message below.  
    Enter your email address and the message you want to send.
    fields are required
    Speakers
    Lisa Bilodeau at the Salvation Army
    Jan 16, 2025 12:00 PM
    Lupus Ontario
    Lauri Asikainen at Mo's Restaurant
    Jan 23, 2025 12:00 PM
    RCOT and Sustainability
    Social Meeting
    Jan 30, 2025 12:00 PM
    TBD
    Dianna Dinevski on Zoom
    Feb 06, 2025 12:00 PM
    Son playing Soccer in Italy
    About Oakville Trafalgar
    Our club members are dedicated people who share a passion for both community service and friendship. Becoming a Rotarian connects you with a diverse group of people who share your drive to give back.
    You are invited to attend an upcoming meeting; to find out more email: info@rcot.ca.
    Rotary at a Glance
    Rotary brings together a global network of volunteer leaders who dedicate their time and talent to tackle the world’s most pressing humanitarian challenges. Rotary connects 1.2 million members from more than 200 countries and geographical areas. Their work impacts lives at both the local and international levels.
    Contact Us
    The Rotary Club of Oakville Trafalgar
    PO Box 52104
    Oakville, ON L6J 5N5
    Or reach out to us from via email or our social media websites!