Special District Governor’s visit was hosted Friday, Nov 10, at Ian and Jackie Grant’s Daniel Point home. Shirley-Pat Chamberlain resides in Salmon Arm and is a remote member of the Rotary Club of Steveston.
Rotary District 5040 Governor Shirley-Pat Chamberlain spoke enthusiastically about the meaning of membership in Rotary, and recognizing the Club and some of the members.
As November is Rotary Foundation Month, a special recognition was bestowed upon the club by Rotary International for achieving “Major Donor Level Three”, for 2022-2023. by contributing $73,835 to the foundation part of which was a generous bequeathment from the estate of the late Rotarian Wayne Jobb, an personal donations by the members.
Shirley-Pat also presented Paul Harris Awards to Lyn Charlton, Kathy Riches, and Lorraine Wareham. The Paul Harris Award recognizes a member for outstanding contribution to the community.
Shirley-Pat Chamberlain is also a woman of mixed heritage, and is an adoptee of the Toosey community. She spoke passionately of social action literacy initiatives and community development innovation in rural and remote British Columbia, in both indigenous and non-indigenous communities.
Her extraordinary service above self, has been demonstrated in what is likely this District’s largest, most impactful program throughout the province: Write 2 Read -- a joint Government House of BC and Rotary International literacy equity initiative. Write 2 Read is now preparing to set up its 27th library or learning centre in a remote First Nation community.
Shirley-Pat has been a leader of Write 2 Read program together with Past District Governor Bob Blacker. The former Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia, The Honourable Steven Point, referred to Shirley - Pat as the ‘original champion sparkplug” founder of the program.