Posted by Joan Peggs
The Rotary Club of Edmonton Strathcona introduced the Canada Flag program to the The Rotary Club of Oak Bay after one of their members encouraged the use of this fund raiser. In an extremely generous move and to further encourage the Oak Bay Club, Edmonton Strathcona even donated 100 flag sets to get the fundraiser off the ground in Victoria!
A flag set consists of a Canada flag, an 8' pole, a durable metal stake and a maple leaf ball topper.
 
Flags are placed at subscribers’ properties for a period of 5 to 7 days.  There are three flag installations throughout the year, including one in May on the Victoria Day weekend, one in July to coincide with Canada Day and, one in September for the Labour Day weekend.  The subscription fee for the full year is $50.
 
Oak Bay initiated the program in 2013 with 131 subscribers. In 2017, for our sesquicentennial, we met 95% of our goal of 500 subscribers. Encouraged and assisted by the Oak Bay Club, Qualicum Beach Sunrise expressed an interest and will have a Canada Flag program as of May 2018. Oak Bay donated 50 flag sets to Qualicum Beach Sunrise to help them start their program and pay the kindness of the Edmonton Strathcona Club forward.
 
On Saturday, April 7th three members of the Qualicum Beach Sunrise Club (Bill Duckenfield, Wendy Klyne and Deanna Brenneman) travelled to Victoria for a lesson in 'flag assembly'. With the competent assistance of John Jordan, Jim Laing and Tav Macpherson (Oak Bay club members), 50 flag sets were assembled in 2 hours.
 
To round out the morning instruction, all six Rotarians, joined by ADG, Joan Peggs, sojourned to The Penny Farthing for lunch and a brew to further discuss the program. Some valuable tips on flag loss prevention were provided.
 
We wish the Qualicum Beach Sunrise Club all the best with their new fundraiser.