Summer is in full swing, and August brings with it the warmth, energy, and community spirit that make this season so special. Whether you're enjoying time with family, attending local events, or taking in the beautiful weather, I hope you are finding opportunities to relax, recharge, and appreciate all that our wonderful community has to offer.
As a Rotary Club, this season also reminds us of the power of connection and service. Thanks to the dedication of our members, volunteers, and supporters, we continue to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those around us. THANK YOU!
July Recap July was a busy and rewarding month for the Rotary Club of Shelburne.
One of the highlights was the opportunity to give back to several deserving organizations within our community. We were proud to present $10,000 to Headwaters Health Care Foundation, $9,400 to the Shelburne Community Kitchen, $2,500 to the Shelburne Minor Soccer Club, and $5,000 to the Honeywood Arena Revitalization Project. These contributions are only possible because of the incredible support we receive through our fundraising events and community partnerships.
July also marked the end of an unforgettable year for our Youth Exchange student, Natalie Worst, as we said farewell and wished her safe travels home to Switzerland. A special thank you goes to Brian and Jeanette French and family for generously hosting her farewell and adding to her Canadian memorable experience. Our club and community have seen firsthand the many benefits of the Rotary Youth Exchange Program, and we are grateful to everyone who contributed to its success. If you know a student who might be interested in participating in this life-changing program, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. Our outbound exchange student, Mike Niedzwiecki, is also willing to share his experiences with prospective students and their families.
Another July highlight was our annual Smoked Pork Chop BBQ Dinner held in conjunction with Pickin' in the Park. The event was a tremendous success. A heartfelt thank you to Sandra Gallaugher for her outstanding organization and leadership, as well as all the volunteers who contributed their time and energy.
Looking Ahead to August As we move into August, our focus turns once again to fundraising and community support initiatives. Preparations are underway for packing backpacks for local students to help ensure they have the supplies they need for a successful start to the school year.
Planning also continues for our ever-growing PumpkinFest event. Our dedicated committee is working hard behind the scenes to make this year's celebration bigger and better than ever, and we look forward to sharing more details in the weeks ahead.
In Closing Thank you to our members, volunteers, sponsors, and community supporters. Your generosity, commitment, and willingness to serve are the foundation of everything we accomplish. Together, we continue to strengthen our community and create positive change.
Enjoy the remainder of the summer, and we look forward to seeing you at our upcoming events.
Yours in Rotary, Karen Webster President, Rotary Club of Shelburne
backpack project
Shelburne Rotary is again supporting the Backpack Program, an initiative to provide children with a backpack that includes a lunch kit, water bottle, and school supplies in time for back to school in September.
The much-loved Shelburne PumpkinFest is making its grand return the weekend before Thanksgiving, promising a day filled with autumn festivities, family-friendly activities, and community celebration at Natasha Paterson Memorial Park on Saturday, October 3, 2026, 12-4 pm.
Vendor spots are available for just $25 early bird, $35 after September 1 (non-profit organizations are free), and community members or businesses looking to get involved are encouraged to reach out.
The Rotary Club of Shelburne is proud to host the Nutcracker Gala in support of the Shelburne Food Bank for the third year!
This event sold out in the first two years and was instrumental in fulfilling Rotary’s commitment of $20,000 towards the food bank van in the Gala’s first year. Last year $20,000 was raised to directly support the purchase of food for local families facing food insecurity.
This gala is a perfect time to kick off the season with a bit of “Glitz and Glamour” by donning your best attire and joining your friends and neighbours for a gourmet meal, live and silent auctions, fundraising games and incredible entertainment.
There are still some seats remaining for this coveted event so let us know if you would like to join us!
Another successful Rotary Club Fundraiser - we raised over $2,500 🎉 at the pork chop BBQ in association with Pickin in the Park.
Thank-you to all the Rotarians and friends who made dessert and helped the day of and all the people who attended to make this event a success. Special thanks to: Greg and Heather Holmes, Shelburne Agricultural Society, Tupling Farms and Dufferin Mutual Insurance for your support.
Our Youth Exchange program came to an end in July, with the return of Mike from France and the departure of Natalie home to Switzerland.
The program was a greater success than we could have hoped, with both students stating how much they have gained from their experiences.
The year ended with a suprise Farewell Party for Natalie, planned by her last host family Jeannette and Brian.
It was a time to celebrate our time with Natalie and thank all those involved in the success of the program.
That success starts with Natalie (and Mike) being open to new experiences, meeting new people and creating lasting friendships.
It is also very much due to the amazing host families who took on the time and expense of hosting Natalie. For providing her such amazing opportunities to see and participate in Canadian life.
From cottage life, her first fishing experience, school bus ride (no school buses in Switzerland), March break in Florida, to farming life. And a quick trip to Halifax during her last week.
Thank you again to our host families; Karen and Terry, Melissa and Steve, and Jeannette and Brian. And your entire families.
A thank you as well to Shelburne and Orangeville Rotarians, the Upper Grand District School Board and Centre Dufferin District High School in Shelburne, and all those students who welcomed and made friends with Natalie.
On behalf of the Shelburne and Orangeville Rotary Clubs, Natalie and the three host families were presented with a picture book of Natalie's time in Canada.
As for their immediate futures, Mike is planning on travelling in the fall with friends he met in France.
Natalie will be returning to high school and has hopes of further travel. (I know she will always be welcome to visit us here.)
what we supported - headwaters health care foundation
Recently, KC Carruthers, CEO of the Headwaters Health Care (Orangeville Hospital) Foundation attended a meeting of Shelburne Rotary to give the club an update on the coming renovation/expansion to the Headwaters Emergency Department. The Department will be undergoing its first major renovation since the hospital opened at its current location in 1997.
Shelburne Rotary presented KC with a $10,000 cheque in support of the renovation project and challenged all other local service clubs to make a contribution to the campaign.
The Shelburne Rotary Club was proud to donate $9,400 to the Shelburne Community Kitchen to help purchase a commercial dishwasher. The donation was from the proceeds of the 2026 Rotary/Economic Development Committee Golf Tournament.
The kitchen, which is located at Fiddle Park, is intended to provide an affordable, fully equipped kitchen for food businesses to launch or expand. The kitchen’s operation will be sustained through rental revenue – a number of bookings have already been made.
Gary McCreadie (President) and Tara McCreadie (Head Coach) from Shelburne Minor Soccer attended a recent meeting of Shelburne Rotary to update the Club on progress and receive a donation toward the completion of the Snack Shack at Greenwood Park. Soccer in Canada is already growing and is expected to grow another 24% as a result of the World Cup.
