The Rotary Club of Grimsby has been a vital, local service club for 45 years. One of its most well-known recognitions is the Paul Harris Fellow. The honour is bestowed on Rotarians and non-Rotarians who exemplify Rotary’s motto – Service Above Self.
Each year, the Rotary Club of Grimsby has recognized at least one Rotarian and one community members who meet the high professional and personal standards set by Rotary’s founder Paul Harris. The Rotary Club of Grimsby traditionally honors the recipients at a gala dinner, and they receive a special certificate, a gold pin, and a gold medallion on a blue-and-gold ribbon. See Paul Harris Fellow history video.
This year, the Rotary Club of Grimsby pivoted to an on-line virtual recognition event honouring three community members and one Rotarian. Over one hundred individuals, locally and from around the country, attended the event via Zoom.
The Paul Harris Fellow recognition event was a combination of pre-taped presentations and live testimonials and acknowledgments. Due to the lockdown, presentations were filmed separately and outside, ahead of the event. A video compilation of the recipients’ backgrounds and the community service they were being honoured for was edited by Grimsby Secondary School communication students. Both videos were played for each recipient and then the recipients had the opportunity to share their comments and thanks live on Zoom.
This year’s community recipients are Ken Boichuk, for his leadership with The Grimsby Author’s Series supporting the Grimsby Public Library; Tony Joosse, for his leadership in supporting the redevelopment of the West Lincoln Memorial Hospital; Bruce Mackenzie for his leadership in developing the former Biggar Sewage lagoons into the community-accessible Grimsby Biggar Lagoon Wetlands. Rotarian and Assistant District Governor for Area 5, Jeanette Murphy was honoured for her service in that role and her years of support to Rotary’s Youth Exchange program.
Rotary Club of Grimsby President Liz Fisk was the MC for the event and acknowledged the group effort necessary to produce such an event. The student videographers and editors, local volunteer video team members as well as the presenter, recipients and the Paul Harris Selection committee contributed to the event’s success. Liz said “These four individuals in their special ways have contributed to the high quality of life in Grimsby and the surrounding community and it is an honour for all Rotarians to recognize their accomplishments. They have put community service above themselves and we all thank them.”