WHY THE RCVS
Why Join the Rotary Club of Victoria-Saanich
Our Recent Accomplishments
By coming to this page you are showing an interest in becoming Rotarians and, in particular, by joining or re-joining the Rotary Club of Victoria-Saanich. Read through the list of our recent accomplishments. As you identify the wide variety of places where we impact the community you can see where your efforts will have an impact. The Rotary Club of Victoria-Saanich also has a history of contributing to international programs and this could be where you would like to direct your energy.
We embarked on the Rotary 2023-24 with renewed enthusiasm and vigour with the announcement that the Rotary Club of Victoria and the Saanich Rotary Clubs would join forces to continue as the Rotary Club of Victoria-Saanich on July 1, 2023. The Victoria Rotary Club was established in 1913 and sponsored the Saanich club in 1958. A major goal will be to add new members.
Both clubs have been active in the community in 2022-23. The Rotary Club of Victoria has distributed nearly $47,000 (plus another $10,000 recently) and the Saanich club about $10,000 to Victoria charities, youth programs and international projects.
Summarizing the awards in 2022-23:
- The Threshold Housing Society received $10,000 grants in December 2022 and May 2023 to support the Rotary Educational Pursuits Program. The program helps youth complete their education and become productive participants in the workforce. We partner with the Oak Bay and Harbourside Clubs in this project.
- A $15,000 grant was given to Esquimalt High School to support their Science and Arts programs. Among other items, their FIRST Robotics team, the AtomSmashers, was able to purchase a much-needed new portable computer.
- The Human Nature Counselling Society received $2100 for the New Roots program to address the mental health and well-being of individuals and families.
- The Saanich club donated $4100 to local charities.
- The two clubs donated about $3500 to the Ukraine Global Project to provide Medical Vans in Ukraine.
- “1000 x 5”, a program to foster reading to children under 5 years, received $2000.
- $3000 goes to the annual Festival of Trees to raise funds for the BC Children’s Hospital.
- With the Esquimalt High School INTERACT club our two clubs collected items and raised funds for Anawim House at Christmas.
- Total value of $11,000 in scholarships was awarded to Victoria students for post-secondary education
Grants awards in 2023-24:
- Our regular annual contributions to 1000 x 5 ($2000), the Festival of Trees ($3000), the Vancouver Island Regional Science Fair ($2500 + $2000 scholarship), Esquimalt High School and Victoria-wide scholarships ($9000) have a total value of $18,500
- Community schools received $8,500 – Esquimalt High School ($5500), Craigflower School ($3000)
- Local charities received $29,800 in September: Our Place for paramedic kits ($6800), PISE ($5000), Take-a-Hike Foundation ($2000), Extreme Outreach Society for the Save a Soul and Superkids programs ($10,000), Science Fair ($1000), Sustainability Superstars ($5000)
- Other local charities received $19,500 in February: Seniors Serving Seniors ($5000), Soap for Hope ($5000), Therapeutic Riding Association ($4500), Women's Transition House ($5000)
- Contributions of $5000 were also made to our Camosun Bursary Fund which provides several annual scholarships.
Rotary members are active in the community in other ways where our energy helps others:
- The Club continues the weekly distribution of food at Craigflower School.
- Saanich members provided breakfasts at Craigflower School.
- Victoria Rotarians have helped raise funds for the INTERACT club at Esquimalt High School to create a new Community Garden and support school club activities.
- We organized a team for the Coldest Night of the Year walk. With Oak Bay Rotary the team raised over $12,000 for Our Place in the past three years.
- Each year Victoria club members have solicited funds and prizes for the Vancouver Island Regional Science Fair. We also give the largest community donation to support the Science Fair.
- Saanich, Victoria, INTERACT and Rotaract members helped disabled participants in the upcoming Operation TrackShoes on June 11.
The Victoria and Saanich Clubs have a history of support for a broad spectrum of Victoria organizations:
- Aboriginal Coalition against Homelessness,
- the Craigflower School breakfast program and food distribution,
- the Victoria Therapeutic Riding Association,
- the Women’s Transition House,
- Broadmead Veterans Memorial Lodge,
- Mount St. Mary,
- Sandy Merriman House,
- the Cridge Centre
- Anawim House,
- Our Place,
- Cool Aid Society,
- Disaster Aid Canada
- Soap for Hope.
- Mustard Seed Street Church
- Rainbow Kitchen
This is not a complete list. We have been involved with many other organizations.
Both clubs have been heavily involved in reduction of food insecurity through the Mustard Seed Food Bank and more recently the creation of the Food Distribution Centre.
Rotary has a strong focus on youth from ages 11 to 30. Rotary International promotes involvement with young adults locally and internationally through sponsorship of several programs:
- INTERACT (high school students) at Esquimalt High School and Oak Bay High School
- ROTARACT (University students)
- RYLA Northwest - Rotary Youth Leadership Award - (grades 11-12)
- RYLA Vancouver Island - Rotary Youth Leadership Award - (grades 8-10)
- Long Term Rotary Youth Exchange Scholarship - (ages 16 - 18). We send out 1-2 students each year and welcome one in-bound student.
- Short Term Rotary Youth Exchange - (ages 16 - 18). These are few week to a month exchanges arranged mutual by the parents involved.
- Adventures in Citizenship - (ages 16 - 18). Travel to Ottawa
The Rotary Club of Victoria-Saanich has other continuing involvement with youth. Each year we have distributed $11,000 – a total of six Scholarships – for post-secondary education. The awards are open to all graduating students in the Victoria region.
- Three awards are Victoria-wide,
- Two or more awards are at Esquimalt High School,
- The top Senior project winner in the Vancouver Island Regional Science Fair receives a $2000 Scholarship
- Bursaries in Nursing and Metal Fabrication awarded annually at Camosun College from a fund established by the Saanich Rotary Club.
We just received notice that the Rotary Club of Victoria will receive a BC Gaming Grant of $16,000 to be applied to our Youth Programs. This is great news for the 2023-24 year as it will allow us to expand the scholarship/bursary program and gives us much more flexibility in how we can support local charities.
Events on the horizon where new members can help:
- Scholarship applications are due by June 30. The Scholarship Committee will be busy.
- August 30 is the deadline for requests for funds. Applications need review.
- We are about to start a Raffle (Apple equipment prizes) and 50/50. Proceeds are for charity. Fundraising needs more member participation in planning & promotion.
The merger of the Victoria and Saanich Rotary Clubs has brought an enhanced energy to the work of Rotary in Greater Victoria. We will have a larger number of members to focus on and perpetuate the established work of the individual clubs. In welcoming new members to join the Rotary Club of Victoria-Saanich we aim to create a diverse, equitable, and inclusive culture that is essential to realizing our vision of a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change.
Rotary International is one of the world’s most trusted organizations represented in 200 countries with 1.4 million members in 33,000 clubs.
More information may be found at www.rotaryvictoria.ca.
Rotary Club of Victoria
7 May 2024
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