Local Events & Projects
Annual Lobster Dinner-May 9, 2025 THE BEST PARTY IN TOWN!
The Rotary Club of Sudbury’s Annual Lobster Dinner is our premiere fundraising event. This event has a "Reputation" within our community as the BEST Party in Town!
The event includes a Lobster Dinner with great sides, all-you-can-drink cocktails, dancing to a world-class live band, prizes, superb networking, and other fun!
Historically, this event has been our club's most significant fundraiser, raising from $15,000 to $30,000. Funds raised are the main support for our annual "major donation", which is chosen by the club President with feedback from the board and club members. Recent recipients of the major donation include the YWCA Genevra House, YMCA John Island, The Sudbury Foodbank, and the Maison McCulloch Hospice, to name but a few.
Rotary Park – Giving Back to the Community
Rotary Park is a three-way partnership between the Rotary Club of Sudbury, the Rotary Club of Sudbury Sunrisers, and the City of Greater Sudbury, and is built on land owned by the Nickel District Conservation Association. The idea of building a park was conceived in 1998 as a way for Rotary to celebrate the change of the millennium and to give back to the community which has supported Rotary so generously. Construction on trails began in 2000 and currently approximately 4 km of trail connects New Sudbury to downtown Sudbury, following both Junction Creek and the ridge between the Kingsway and the Ponderosa floodplain.
In the twenty years since Rotary Park began, our clubs have been fortunate to have the support of members, local businesses, Rainbow Routes, the Junction Creek Stewardship Committee, Sudburnia Soccer, City staff and Council, and many many more. The two Sudbury Rotary Clubs regularly plant trees in the Park and are committed to maintaining a park that celebrates the natural features of the area and gives citizens a great place to walk, play, ride bikes, play soccer, and sit and think. In addition to the Park, Rotarians were very involved in getting the Adanac Ski Hill up and running again so that the Park had a great winter anchor.
Easter Seals – Helping Children and Youth with Physical Disabilities
The Rotary Club of Sudbury has been the lead service club in support of Easter Seals since its inception 100 years ago. Two major long-standing events are the annual Telethon and the Children’s Christmas Party. The Rotary Club of Sudbury has been the lead service club in organizing, hosting, and supporting the local Telethon. The Christmas Party includes Easter Seals kids and their families, as well as other related Children’s agencies. Money raised from these events is used to support Easter Seals kids with their physical disabilities.
YMCA John Island Work Weekend
Every year the Rotary Club of Sudbury participates in a volunteer work weekend to help the YMCA with the upkeep of John Island Camp. The Club has been involved with the camp since it was built in the 1950s. Back then, the Club built the Eagle Talon cabin, which is still being used by campers today.
Our work weekend starts on Saturday morning when we meet at the dock near Spanish for our boat ride to John Island. Once there, we meet with the camp director to confirm what tasks they have for the weekend. Our work includes camp repairs, painting, building decks, building docks etc.
The YMCA provides meals for the volunteers. The Club provides a glorious BBQ on Saturday evening and invites the camp director and staff. This is followed by a fire pit, sing along, and fun evening. On Sunday morning, we are back to work until just after lunch when we pack up and head for home. This is a great weekend of camaraderie and getting to know your fellow Rotarians.
Dine with the Author - Raising Funds for Literacy
On Wednesday, March 10, 2021, the Rotary Club of Sudbury hosted its eighth gala event, all in the name of Literacy, a special show fundraiser entitled, “Dine with the Author” presents Smoke Signals from the Big Bear, with Gerry “Big Bear” Barrett.
Covid did not deter the Rotary Club of Sudbury from pursuing its goal of raising funds for literacy as it took its “live” event to a virtual dinner and comedy show with Gerry Barrett, an Indigenous award-winning Broadcaster, Stand-Up Comedian and Elvis Tribute Artist. The event was held on Zoom, where participants picked up their dinner at Science North.
Proceeds from this event went towards supporting literacy initiatives locally and globally.
Some facts about literacy in Canada:
• 42% of Canadian adults between the ages of 6 and 65 have low literacy skills
• 55% of working age adults in Canada are estimated to have less than adequate literacy
Skills. Impoverished adults often do not have the literacy skills required to get into job training
programs
• Less than 20% of people with the lowest literacy skills are employed
• Literacy creates engaged citizens and is key to a healthier and less violent society.
The statistics surrounding literacy are indeed staggering and pose a serious impediment to some members of our society. The Rotary Club of Sudbury continues to work hard to address this issue in Sudbury. Through these past eight “Dine with the Author” events, we have raised awareness of literacy needs and, equally important, raised over $240,000 towards this worthy cause. The majority of our efforts have directly assisted local initiatives, as well as a global initiative. Recipients of our literacy funds have included:
- St. David’s School Library Expansion;
- Sudbury Action Centre for Youth;
- Sudbury Manitoulin Children’s Foundation;
- Children’s Aid Society;
- Greater Sudbury Police Chief’s Youth Literacy Initiative;
- Canadian National Institute for the Blind;
- St. James Separate School in Lively;
- The Guatemala Literacy Project in Guatemala.
While we have made progress through our first eight events, we can do much more. The Literacy Committee of the Rotary Club of Sudbury is planning another “Dine With the Author” event, date and time to be announced and we ask for your support in helping us bring attention to the importance of literacy in our community and to take positive steps in helping those who are lacking these much needed life skills.
Polio Plus
Polio is a paralyzing and potentially deadly disease that most commonly affects children under the age of 5. For more than 30 years Rotary has been working to eradicate this disease. We, along with Rotarians from around the world, and collaborations with organizations such as The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and various government bodies, have been providing funds, running fundraisers, and putting boots on the ground to vaccinate as many children as possible to rid the world of this plight.
ShelterBoxes
Dedicated to ensuring that no family goes without shelter after a natural disaster or conflict, this Rotary founded organization has been operating within Canada since 2000. Full shelterboxes come packed with tents, cooking equipment, tools and equipment (specialized depending on the area and climate), lights, clothing, and much more depending on the need.
Other Projects/Organizations We Support
NEO Kids
Sudbury Food Bank
N'Swakamok Friendship Centre
Blue Door Soup Kitchen
McEwen School of Architecture
Sudbury Action Centre for Youth
Maison Sudbury Hospice
Rainbow Routes
The Rotary Foundation
Regional Science Fair
Greater Sudbury Library
Twin Forks Splash Pad
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