Posted by Peter Roaf on May 09, 2017
Because of its leadership in initiating, and co-developing a new kids’ splash park in Ladner, giving to the community through calendar sales fund-raising, attracting funding for Ladner community projects from Rotary International, hands on help for remote villages of Laos, initiating shipment of used medical equipment to needy communities overseas, and steady growth in membership and communications, the Rotary Club of Ladner has received the “Outstanding Club of the Year Award” among 48 clubs in Rotary District 5040.
 
Dressed in the conference theme of Mardi Gras, Ladner Rotary receives the Outstanding Club of the Year Award from District Governor Lyn Stroshin (far right) and the representative of last year's award holder Prince George Nechako Neil Godbout (third from right) 
 
Celebrating with club members the Rotary Club of Ladner's Outstanding Club of the Year Award are (l to r) President Elect Ulf Ottho, President Walt Hayward and Past President Peter Roaf
The award was presented in Whistler, BC by the District Governor Lyn Stroshin at the May 4-7 conference of District 5040 which includes many of the clubs in the Lower Mainland, Sea-to-Sky, Sunshine Coast and north to Kitimat.
 
The Rotary Club of Ladner was recognized for its initiation of a new $600,000 Memorial Park splash park, in partnership with the Corporation of Delta, and the club’s significant contribution to support that project. That support for this project in the centre of Ladner includes fund-raising by selling calendars, attracting funding from the international Rotary Foundation and District 5040, which has given funds back to the splash park project.
 
Some club members have travelled to Laos for the past three years to deliver water filters over rough roads into hills and jungles to remote villages to improve the lives of children and enable their education, and that of their families. Others have organized through the BC Lower Mainland’s Rotary World Help shipment of used medical equipment to communities in the Philippines and Ghana where there has been no medical facilities.
 
President Walt Hayward says, “There’s no question that our club members have worked hard on our major projects and minor ones for our community here in Ladner and around the world. They have also demonstrated their generosity in giving to The Rotary Foundation, now celebrating its 100th Anniversary, and to various projects for our community.”
 
But, he said, this award is also recognition of this community of Ladner and Delta for all the relationships the club enjoys with other groups.
 
“Our valuable partners in developing the splash park, such as the Corporation of Delta and various sponsors, including the Delta Agricultural Society and Westshore Terminals,” Hayward says, “plus the people of South Delta and beyond who have purchased our fund-raising calendars and other organizations and non-members, share in this recognition. Ladner and Delta deserve this recognition.”