Thank you to everyone who joined us and helped out with Lunch with a Bunch on April 12 at the Baker Centre!
Rotary Club of Yellowknife
President
Treasurer
Secretary
Past President
Director - Club Administration
So what does Rotary do?
Here are some examples of the YK Club's work now and through the years:
> The Rotary Range Lake Trail, completed in 1993, with the City now budgeting for upgrades to the popular amenity.
> Healthy School Snack Program for students. Our thanks to the Union of Northern Workers for generous long-term funding.
> The YK Club has played a part in Rotary International’s Polio Plus Program. Worldwide, Rotary have reduced polio cases by 99.9 percent and won't stop until the disease is eradicated for good.
> The Rotary Canada Day Parade is a welcomed Yellowknife tradition, with community groups and organizations designing floats or non-motorized processions all travelling along Franklin Avenue.
> The YK Club is a major sponsor of the Rotary Mike Haener Bike Park. A project of the Yellowknife Mountain Bike Club.
> For years, the Rotary Bike Auction recycled bicycles donated by the public or recovered by police. The event has been transitioned appropriately to our partners, the Yellowknife Mountain Bike Club who has worked with Makerspace to help re-condition the cycles before auction.
> The YK Club has continually supported Edmonton Gateway Club’s Steven’s Hope mission to build schools in Mozambique.
> The Rotary Don Cardinal Scholarship provides annual support to a select local high-school graduate intent on post-secondary studies in the arts.
> The Rotary Wreaths campaign each December is a major fundraiser. Balsam fir wreaths from a sustainable Nova Scotia tree farm are shipped here and delivered by Rotarians helped by appreciated volunteers.
> The Rotary Centennial Park and Boardwalk on Yellowknife Bay is a project in partnership with the City that resulted in a destination for residents and tourists alike. Club members (as seen in photo above) help keep the boardwalk repaired and clear of overgrowth from vegetation.
District Governor Brent Colingwood and his spouse, Adele, joined us from Edmonton for their first ever visit to Yellowknife.
Photo by Amrik Kanwal
Thanks to Thola and Amrik for supplying hot chocolate at the 90's music skate at City Hall's Somba K'e park.
Our Club has been fortunate to have a number of excellent speakers make presentations at our regular Thursday meetings at our summertime location of Rotary Waterfront Park. Most recently, Makerspace YK president Cat McGurk recently spoke about the development of the non-profit skills centre. The born-and-raised Yellowknifer is a Red Seal certified carpenter and a strong advocate for innovative trades training in the North.
Anyone interested in being part of the Rotary Community Parade on Canada Day should contact the Club at: rotary.yellowknife@gmail.com to indicate your interest or just for more information.
To answer a couple of frequent questions: There is no entry fee; we go ahead rain or shine; and you can pretty much do what you want, just keep it safe and family friendly. The Club already has heard from more than half of the traditional number of entrants less than one month out, so it promises to be a great event.
To give you some idea of how grassroots and fun the parade has been, longtime Rotarian Brian George provided some images from 2006 and 2012.
Gayla Thunstrom, UNW president, presents a cheque for $15,000 to Robert Couch, YK Club president-elect. To watch a video of the event, part of the Rotary Speaker Series, please click here.
The Union of Northern Workers (UNW) and the Rotary Club of Yellowknife have enjoyed a strong relationship for some two decades.
At a recent Thursday lunch meeting of the YK Club, Gayla Thunstrom — elected president of the UNW in 2021 — celebrated the union’s partnership with Rotary.
The Rotary Club of Yellowknife acknowledges that we are located in Chief Drygeese territory. From time immemorial, it has been the traditional land of the Yellowknives Dene First Nation, and more recently, the homeland of the North Slave Métis. We respect the histories, languages, and cultures of First Nations, Métis, Inuit, and all First Peoples of Canada.
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Photo Album
You can see from the Club's photo album that for more than 50 years, members have worked hard on projects for the betterment of the community, but also have had a rewarding and fun time doing it.
Social Media
Vision and Mission
Our Vision
The Rotary Club of Yellowknife is a service club of community members who work within the local and world community to make a difference.Our Mission
The Rotary Club of Yellowknife adheres to the principle of Service Above Self in our work in the community and provides humanitarian service by building on the strengths of our members.
The Four-Way Test
Rotary's historical Four-Way Test acts as a moral compass to guide: "The things we think, say or do".
Is it the TRUTH?
Is it FAIR to all concerned?
Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?”
You'll hear it referenced during executive meetings when Club directors are faced with a tough decision and sometimes at regular meetings when 'fines' are levied.
'Service Above Self'
Yellowknife, NT X1A2R3
Canada