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Ladner resident, Michael Edgson, who is partially blind, is Canada’s most decorated Paralympian. He competed internationally as a swimmer in able bodied as well as para events. Having won 18 Gold and 3 Silver medals, and set 9 World Records during his career as a Paralympic Swimmer, he carried the Canadian flag during the closing ceremonies at the 1988 Paralympics in Seoul, South Korea.
Labour Day is the second of three occasions in the year when Ladner and area residents and businesses Raise A Flag in support of community service projects. The Rotary Club of Ladner has been signing up people in our community who pay $60 per season for a flag of Canada on a 10-foot pole to be installed for a week on their front lawn or nearby. The other two occasions in the season are Canada Day and Remembrance Day. The Rotary Club of Tsawwassen has been providing this service to residents of that community. Thank you to all our subscribers and to our work party volunteers who install and remove the flags. photos by Chris Offer
About 40 special needs adults and their family or guardians, in the Family and Peer Support Group, came to Rotary Park, next to Delta City Hall, on August 15, 2021, to participate in the annual summer picnic which the Rotary Club of Ladner sponsors every year for the group. Members of the group as always were grateful for the chance to enjoy the outdoor event, with tasty food and games, which, they say, makes a difference in their lives. Ladner Rotary also sponsors a Christmas dinner for the group. Thank you to Mike and Kathy Storey and to Arthur and Geraldine Birk for organizing this event, along with 12 other Ladner Rotary volunteers. -- photos Chris Offer
Speaking to the Rotary Club of Ladner on August 10th, Conservative party candidate for Delta in the next federal election, Garry Shearer, talked about what he had learned about the community over the past three years.
The StoryWalk reading and activity trail for children and families in Ladner gets a new story for August in the monthly exchange of stories. -- photos by Chris Offer
Guest of Ladner Rotary in February, Gordon McInally, a member of the Rotary Club of South Queensferry, Lothian, Scotland, is nominated to become President of Rotary International for 2023-24. Gordon spoke to our club about Scotland. He lauded Rotary’s ability to adapt technologically during the COVID-19 pandemic -- an example being his speaking to our club from afar via Zoom -- saying the approach should continue and be combined with the best of our past practices as Rotary seeks to grow and increase engagement.
He says, “We have learned there is a willingness within communities to care for one another, and we must ensure that we encourage people who have recently embraced the concept of volunteering to join us to allow them to continue giving service.”
The death of an off duty corrections officer, who was recently shot in a North Delta shopping mall, has led to protocols developed by Delta Police with local retailers about what to do in the event of a similar incident to protect themselves and their customers. Ladner Rotarian, Acting Sergeant Ken Kirk, provided this update at our club meeting on August 3rd. The theft of catalytic converters, especially from larger vehicles, has been increasing, now even in daylight from the middle of shopping malls, he reported. A driver can have their catalytic converter etched with their identification, through Delta Police Department, and a bike rider, their bike registered, in case of theft. Stolen property has been returned through that kind of system. Delta Police continues to serve, and work with, Tsawwassen First Nation, as well as all of Delta. Volunteers' contributing to community policing had dropped off during the past year or so of pandemic restrictions, but will be picking up again this Fall. Once again, Delta residents are encouraged to keep an eye out for any threats to security and safety and report them to police: "No call too small."
Excerpts from a presentation about the past 18 months in Canada and federal policies planned or enacted, which Hon. Carla Qualtrough, MP, Delta, and Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion gave to the Rotary Club of Ladner on July 27, 2021, are reported below.
Paul Harris Fellow honourees are individuals who meet high professional and personal standards set forth by Paul Harris, the founder of Rotary International. Honourees may have contributed more than US $1000 to The Rotary Foundation or may be recognized with this award by their club for extraordinary service above self. After many months, Shirvan Bakhtiyari, of Millenium Pacific Greenhouses in Delta, received his Paul Harris Award on July 27, 2021.
After many months of active participation in Ladner Rotary projects, Pania Lincoln was finally sworn in as a new member, in person, on July 27, 2021. Welcome Pania.
Dozens of families, among the more than 1,000 people suddenly forced to flee their homes in Lytton, BC when fire swept through most of the town on June 30th, so far have received from many Rotary members in this region $10,000 in gift cards plus $4,000 in fuel cards and supplies, as requested by leaders of the destroyed community. These funds are half of the total $28,000 in funds Rotary has raised to date for the BC Wild Fire Relief fund through the club in Steveston community of Richmond.
The StoryWalk, with a two-page spread of a story book at each of 21 stations along a 1 km section of the Millenium Trail in Ladner, is now open for children and families. The stories will be changed every month throughout the year, promoting reading literacy and physical literacy. The project is outlined in the following CBC Radio interview with project leader, Tammy Hansen, on July 13, 2021. photos by Chris Offer
Video review of the challenging, yet productive, 2020-21 year of Ladner Rotary during the pandemic, from community and international service projects to guest speakers from near and far.
Team Ladner Rotary foursome played in the June 24th Delta Chamber of Commerce annual golf tournament at Tsawwassen Golf Club: Ulf Ottho; Richard Shantz; Brian Smith; John Thomas. Ulf won the award for coming closest to the "tooth", an award undoubtedly sponsored by a dentist or dental supply company.
Rotary's Raise A Flag program in South Delta has coincided with a period of national mourning with the discovery of remains of children from the Tk’emlùps te Secwèpemc First Nation in unmarked graves at the residential school in Kamloops, and more recently in Saskatchewan.
Planning and development of the Raise A Flag program, by the Rotary Clubs of Ladner and Tsawwassen, began months ago to provide a means for local residents and businesses to demonstrate national pride on special occasions, and raise funds for projects which contribute to our communities where there is need.
Denis Denischuk became the 64th President of the Rotary Club of Ladner at the Installation ceremony on June 29, 2021 as Rotary 5040 District Governor Elect Lorne Calder swore him in as well as the board of directors for 2021-22, effective July 1, 2021.
Rotarian of the Year
The Rotary Club of Ladner's Rotarian of the Year 2020-21 is Richard Shantz. Congratulations and thanks to Richard, who received a Paul Harris Fellow +7 Award pin, for:
• member Satisfaction for Fundraising was rated in a recent survey at 77% (up from 59% in 2020);
• Pumpkins for Polio fundraiser in October achieved, with matching grant, a total of US$2,580 which will save 857 children from the lifetime crippling disease of polio, even death;
• Shred-A-Thon fundraisers in Fall and Spring raised $8,000 for 50 needy Delta families at Christmas, StoryWalk for thousands of children and families, and a food pantry for needy high school students;
• flagpole rentals can lead to $12,000 to fund future community projects.
• member Satisfaction for Fundraising was rated in a recent survey at 77% (up from 59% in 2020);
• Pumpkins for Polio fundraiser in October achieved, with matching grant, a total of US$2,580 which will save 857 children from the lifetime crippling disease of polio, even death;
• Shred-A-Thon fundraisers in Fall and Spring raised $8,000 for 50 needy Delta families at Christmas, StoryWalk for thousands of children and families, and a food pantry for needy high school students;
• flagpole rentals can lead to $12,000 to fund future community projects.
Almost 300,000 members of Rotary, out of the total 1.2 million worldwide, in almost 9,000 clubs throughout 114 countries, are served by the Europe Africa Rotary office in Zürich, Switzerland. The office was been operating there since 1925, the earliest office after the headquarters in the Chicago area's Evanston, Illinois, which opened in 1911.
The President of the 40-member Interact Club at Delta Secondary School in Ladner, which is sponsored by the Rotary Club of Ladner, and her fellow club member, presented a summary of their highly productive year despite pandemic restrictions.
Flag stands needed metal cutting and power grinding as the final phase of prep before distribution of the first round of Canadian flags on poles, out of three rounds this year, to those renting them in the Ladner area as a demonstration of national pride. Flagpoles at residences and businesses can be rented for one week around Canada Day, Labour Day and Remembrance Day for $60 each flag, on all three occasions, to support local community projects in the coming months. For more information. -- photos by Mike Storey
Covid-19 has presented numerous challenges to Delta Schools. These include closed schools, online learning, mask policies, loss of international students, and ensuring the health of students and staff during the pandemic. Delta School District Trustee Laura Dixon and District Superintendent of Schools Doug Sheppard speak about the impact in Delta and what to expect in September.
A Ladner Rotary work party attached 200 flags of Canada to 10-foot aluminum poles and prepared them for delivery to homes and businesses of people throughout Ladner subscribing to the Raise a Flag program for $60 to have them erected and removed for a week around Canada Day, Labour Day and Remembrance Day in displays of national pride. Proceeds from the program will support community service projects, along with the Rotary Club of Tsawwassen. -- photos by Chris and Penny Offer
Services to make our community of Ladner and Delta and better place to live will benefit when local residents and businesses celebrate with national pride in their neighbourhoods and on their street fronts with a flag of Canada planted on their front lawn for a week around each of three holidays in 2021.
With a donation towards community service projects, the Rotary Clubs of Ladner and Tsawwassen will plant a Canadian flag, on a 10-foot pole, on your lawn or in your garden around Canada Day, Remembrance Day, and Labour Day as a display of community and national pride for a donation of $60 for the season. Then they will remove the flags.
Delta's recently appointed Deputy Chief Constable Michelle Davey spoke to Ladner Rotary about the challenges and opportunities for policing in Delta. Deputy Chief Davey came from Vancouver Police Department where she served for 24 years. Latterly she was responsible for support services in the department’s investigations division. She is a recognized expert in mental health issues and has built innovative partnerships to help ensure those experiencing mental health challenges are not criminalized.
To celebrate the 125th Anniversary of Ladner Pioneer May Days on May 29, 2021, Ladner Rotary entered the virtual parade then gathered for a virtual barbeque social to view the virtual parade and have some fun with a quiz about the Ladner and Delta community.
Rotary Peace Centers on five continents, where Rotary sponsors 100 and more Master's Degree and Certificate program fellowship candidates every year, can look to their roots when Rotary first decided, after its founding in 1905, to broaden its focus on international in 1921. Then in 1990s Rotary started its initiative to build a global program of learning in the field of peacebuilding and conflict resolution. Today there are seven universities providing post-graduate programs for Rotary-sponsored peace fellows.
FortisBC is the owner and operator of the only two Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) facilities in British Columbia. One is at Tilbury industrial park in Delta, where the company has run part of its operations since 1971. These facilities have a variety of special features designed for the safe handling of LNG—including sophisticated monitoring, control and alarm systems. Regular maintenance and upgrading of equipment, operator training, safety equipment and continuous process monitoring ensure safe operation.
Freddie Marsh became a living kidney donor to his friend, Anna Maria, in 2015. Freddie is now an advocate for organ donation. He volunteers his time at BC Transplant to share his story. He spoke to the club with Tina from BC Transplant.
Rotary is committed in many ways to not only developing, but learning from, our next generation of leaders. We help younger leaders build leadership skills, expand education and learn the value of service. In serving our youth, Rotarians of all ages learn so much from them.
Rotary Club of Ladner sponsors the Interact Club – stands for “International + Action” -- at Delta Secondary School, in Ladner, for young people ages 12-18. From a small group of members at the start of the school year, the club grew quickly to upwards of 30 or more, despite the pandemic restrictions.
Traffic congestion has been an ongoing challenge for businesses and residents in Delta over many years. Businesses are struggling with the realities of unreliable travel times and are reluctant to develop to meet full potential. The best case scenario for replacement of the George Massey Tunnel is 7 to 8 years, but only once the provincial government finally has made a decision. The Delta Chamber of Commerce sees the need to engage with industry, government, and other stakeholders, particularly Translink and BC Transit, to help develop a comprehensive public transit service plan for Industrial Lands and Business Parks. The Chamber has developed a new Transportation Policy, which Chair of the Delta Chamber of Commerce, Rotarian Yvonne Anderson, presented to Ladner Rotary on April 27, 2021.
Service Above Self
Delta, BC V4L 2B2
Canada