November was a month of remembrance and meaningful service.
We supported Bethell Hospice both financially and through a beautiful evening creating bereavement butterflies, which are now on display at Headwaters Hospital.
With the support of Steve and Caroline, I had the honour of laying a wreath on behalf of Shelburne Rotary at the Cenotaph during a very impactful Remembrance Day ceremony.
We also toured Headwaters Hospital and saw firsthand how community support has helped bring MRI services to our area, enhance dialysis experiences, and provide much-needed equipment throughout the hospital. Headwaters is now moving forward with a vital expansion of the Emergency Department.
What a night we had at the Nutcracker Gala! Bobbi, Ardith, and Shelley — you outdid yourselves once again. It was an evening full of fun, entertainment, laughter, and incredible food at the Shelburne Golf and Country Club.
We literally wrapped up the month with the assembly of our annual Christmas Baskets, accompanied by Christmas music, great conversation, and delicious desserts. This fundraiser supports local businesses and enables us to give back to local causes. Special thanks to Sandra and Bobbi for their hard work, and to all the Rotarians who supported.
Giving Tuesday is December 2 — if you are able, please consider giving to the Shelburne Hamper Program or another local charity of your choice.
I hope to see many of you at the Shelburne Santa Claus parade on December 6. Keep your eye out for the Grinch collecting food for the food bank. May you and your family enjoy a safe, joyful, and peaceful holiday season.
Unite for Good,
Yours in Rotary
Karen
shelburne hamper program
Shelburne Rotary is once again participating in the Hamper Program. This program assists local families with the added financial pressures of the holiday season with food, toys, and treats. Last year the Hamper Program assisted 267 families and we are anticipating closer to 300 in 2025.
If you would like to assist us in helping local families, we could surely use your help! To make a monetary donation, you can e-transfer shelburnerotary@gmail.com, go to this page, or visit one of our Giving Trees at Enchanting Esthetics, Rise Physio, Credit Union and RLB, all located in downtown Shelburne. There are also drop off locations for toys and non-perishable food items at the RBC and Shelburne Town Hall.
dufferin county long-term waste management strategy
Dufferin County is updating our current Long-Term Waste Management Strategy, and we want to hear from residents and program users throughout the County.
As a background, in 2018, Dufferin County completed its first Long-Term Waste Management Strategy (LTWMS). Options for programs and services to help meet Dufferin’s waste reduction and diversion goals, and future planning were included.
It’s time to update the strategy, so we can plan for the next five years and beyond.
We’d like to invite you to take a few minutes to fill out our survey, to tell us about your experiences with, and ideas for, waste services, and our various programs including waste reduction and diversion. Those folks that fill out the fall survey and enter their email address will be placed in a draw for a chance to win 1 of 10 $25 gift cards to a Dufferin-area retailer or restaurant of their choice.
Please visit our Join In Dufferin website https://joinindufferin.com/ or scan the QR code at left to complete the survey, email our Waste Services Division at wastestrategy@dufferincounty.ca for an electronic copy of the survey, or visit our offices at 55 Zina St. Orangeville for a paper copy. The survey is open until Monday December 8 at 12pm (Noon).
We are also looking for interested folks to join us for a Table Talk. They can fill in the survey and indicate their interest at the end.
We are especially looking to welcome equity-deserving community members to the Table Talks, in addition to residents and program users from across the County.
A huge thank you to all of our amazing local businesses who generously contributed to this year’s Shelburne Rotary Holiday Gift Baskets! These baskets are a community favourite every year, and they simply wouldn’t be possible without your kindness and support.
An extra special thank you goes out to Sandra, Bobbi, and Karen for organizing this year’s baskets, and to every member of Rotary who helped assemble them with care.
We are so grateful for our community, and for all the local contributions that make these holiday baskets such a big hit!
All of this year’s 50 baskets are sold thanks to the generous support of our community.
In November we had an event with Rotary the French call “Soirée Exotic”, where all of the youth exchange students prepare a dish or perform a dance from their country. It raises funds for our Rotary youth exchange weekends.
I made poutine with a fellow Canadian from British Columbia.
Also, the family I’m now staying with (Carole and Yev), are sponsoring a family from the Ukraine (one lady and two men). We had lunch with them and had dish called Borscht, which is a Ukraine dish. They were very kind and spoke well in English and French.
Our inbound youth exchange student Natalie will be moving to her second host family on Dec 20.
Her new family are the parents of our outbound exchange student Mike.
Shelburne Rotary wants to thank (Rotarian) Karen and Terry and their entire family, for welcoming Natalie into their home. Thank you very much!
The experiences they showed and shared with Natalie will be a part of their and Natalie's life forever.
Disappointingly, with respect to Youth Exchange in 2026-2027, we were unable to find a student. Therefore, Shelburne Rotary will not be involved in the program next year.
Shelburne Rotary was on hand for a photo of the Headwaters Health Care Centre Friendship Garden.
Along with several other local Rotary Clubs, Shelburne was able to support the Friendship Garden.
The garden is an outside area with comfortable patio furniture and planters that can be used by patients and their families, as well as staff to gather together or relax on their own.
A much needed retreat from the realities of life.
In November, Shelburne Rotary toured the MRI and Digital Imaging Departments which we have also supported.
