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Welcome to our Club!
Rotary generally meets on Wednesday nights at 6:30 pm at Julie's Airport Cafe on Duncan Street.
Occasionally we hold meetings at other locations.Please contact us if you are planning to attend a meeting and we'll let you know where our next meeting is if there is a change.
We look forward to welcoming you. Thanks!
DEAN ROHRS INSTALL PRESIDENT MATT WATE & 2025-26 DIRECTORS
NEW ROTARY YEAR AND NEW DECADE FOR OUR CLUB
Rotary entered its eighth decade in this community with a celebration of 70 years of Service Above Self on June 14.
In addition to the anniversary of receiving its charter from Rotary International in June 1955, the event included the installation of Jan Gisborne as the District 5040 Governor and the club’s installation of Matt Wate, president, and his board of directors for 2025-26.
Honoured guests were Dr. Virendra Varma, who was club president in 1972-73 and his wife Shalta. Their son and 1990-91 Rotary president Ash was emcee for the evening.
As the oldest member, Don Logan, 1988-89 president and in 1993-94, was invited to make the first cut of the anniversary cake.
Dean Rohrs, who conducted both installations, is a former Rotary International vice-president, Rotary Foundation trustee and current chair of the Rotary Action Group for Family Health and AIDS Prevention.
“It has been my privilege to call Jan a friend for many years, and I look forward to seeing her take on this district leadership role,” Rohrs told a gathering of Rotarians and guests at Cranberry Seniors Centre. They included other past district governors and chairs as well as incoming presidents from out of town. District 5040 includes Rotary, Rotaract and Interact clubs from Prince Rupert to Richmond.
“Jan joins those who make a different, who care what happens in this world and meet challenges face on,” Rohrs added. “With her district team members, they will work to Unite for Good, the theme for the coming Rotary year.”
In pledging to accept the role, Gisborne, the first Powell River Rotarian selected district governor, said, “We live in challenging times, but Rotary has always faced challenges. We adapt, we adjust, and we move forward.”
She added, “we get creative in order to overcome obstacles, new leaders emerge, and new ideas take shape,”
During his acceptance speech, Wate said he wants to focus on membership, professional development and youth. “This is going to be a year to remember, not only because of what we’re celebrating but because of what we’ll build together.”
He added that his board has directors with years of service and deep expertise as well as new ones with fresh ideas and energy. “This mix of experience and innovation is exactly what will move us forward with strength and purpose.”
Outgoing president Kelly Keil was given a Paul Harris Fellow by foundation director Katya Gustafson to recognize her year.
Issac Mack, Brooks Secondary School Grade 10 student and Interact president, attended the gathering along with teacher sponsor Collen Balzer and Rotary/Interact liaison Lisa Gunn.
He joined Interact in Grade 8, and last year was treasurer.
“Our club as always been focused on giving back to our community and the world. Last year we raised and donated over $1,750 for local and international causes. They include SPCA, UN World Food Program and UNICEF children’s food program, therapeutic riding, and BC Children’s Hospital.”
Both Gisborne and Wate will officially take on their new positions on July 1, the start of a new Rotary year that will run to June 30, 2026.
Rotary entered its eighth decade in this community with a celebration of 70 years of Service Above Self on June 14.
In addition to the anniversary of receiving its charter from Rotary International in June 1955, the event included the installation of Jan Gisborne as the District 5040 Governor and the club’s installation of Matt Wate, president, and his board of directors for 2025-26.
Honoured guests were Dr. Virendra Varma, who was club president in 1972-73 and his wife Shalta. Their son and 1990-91 Rotary president Ash was emcee for the evening.
As the oldest member, Don Logan, 1988-89 president and in 1993-94, was invited to make the first cut of the anniversary cake.
Dean Rohrs, who conducted both installations, is a former Rotary International vice-president, Rotary Foundation trustee and current chair of the Rotary Action Group for Family Health and AIDS Prevention.
“It has been my privilege to call Jan a friend for many years, and I look forward to seeing her take on this district leadership role,” Rohrs told a gathering of Rotarians and guests at Cranberry Seniors Centre. They included other past district governors and chairs as well as incoming presidents from out of town. District 5040 includes Rotary, Rotaract and Interact clubs from Prince Rupert to Richmond.
“Jan joins those who make a different, who care what happens in this world and meet challenges face on,” Rohrs added. “With her district team members, they will work to Unite for Good, the theme for the coming Rotary year.”
In pledging to accept the role, Gisborne, the first Powell River Rotarian selected district governor, said, “We live in challenging times, but Rotary has always faced challenges. We adapt, we adjust, and we move forward.”
She added, “we get creative in order to overcome obstacles, new leaders emerge, and new ideas take shape,”
During his acceptance speech, Wate said he wants to focus on membership, professional development and youth. “This is going to be a year to remember, not only because of what we’re celebrating but because of what we’ll build together.”
He added that his board has directors with years of service and deep expertise as well as new ones with fresh ideas and energy. “This mix of experience and innovation is exactly what will move us forward with strength and purpose.”
Outgoing president Kelly Keil was given a Paul Harris Fellow by foundation director Katya Gustafson to recognize her year.
Issac Mack, Brooks Secondary School Grade 10 student and Interact president, attended the gathering along with teacher sponsor Collen Balzer and Rotary/Interact liaison Lisa Gunn.
He joined Interact in Grade 8, and last year was treasurer.
“Our club as always been focused on giving back to our community and the world. Last year we raised and donated over $1,750 for local and international causes. They include SPCA, UN World Food Program and UNICEF children’s food program, therapeutic riding, and BC Children’s Hospital.”
Both Gisborne and Wate will officially take on their new positions on July 1, the start of a new Rotary year that will run to June 30, 2026.
JAN GISBORNE, SECOND RIGHT, CLIPPING ADIPOSE FINS
ROTARIANS ANSWER CALL TO CLIP
Two members of our club, president Kelly Keil and Jan Gisborne, helped clip coho salmon adipose fins after Powell River Salmon Society member Terry Peters spoke to our club recently.
The salmon society is undertaking the largest volunteer clipping campaign in its history with a goal of approximately 300,000 fins being removed.
Tools or equipment are not needed as they are provided along with the training by the Department of Fisheries staff just before the clipping starts.
The clipping site is located at the hatchery on the old mill grounds just below the security office across from the Rodmay Hotel.
All that is needed is a steady hand and a good pair of glasses if required as the adipose fin is tiny on the 1.75- gram fish.
Time slots of 3 hours (09:00- 12:00) & (12:30 - 15-30) are available spots are on April 21, 22, 23 and 24 in the afternoon at 12:30 pm and April 28 to May 02 both for the morning and afternoon.
Other Rotarians or a crew of them who wish to participate can contact Terry at clippingprsalmon@gmail.com.
PETER, DON AND JASPREET JOIN FESTIVAL COMMITTEE'S ADJUDICATOR COORDINATOR CATHY TO HELP OUT
ROTARIANS SUPPORT PERFORMING ARTS FESTIVAL
First held in May 1945, qathet Festival of the Performing Arts recently concluded yet another iteration of the event, making it the longest, continuous cultural experience in the region. The 2025 festival was the 81st annual event that was held even during COVID.
Its aim is to provide an opportunity for amateur performers, from kindergarten to seniors, to display their talents.
A packed Evergreen Theatre on March 8 was treated to a variety of acts from the six disciplines of the nine-day event, the oldest cultural presentation in qathet region in the Grand Concert.
Once again Rotarians volunteered for the concert as they did throughout the festival sessions. Julian Alphibert emceed the evening and was a hit with the audience. New chair Mel Munroe assisted in handing out the recommendations to Performing Arts BC provincial festival.
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NEW AND FORMER CONCERT EMCEES JULIAN AND JOYCE
TWO MEMBERS OF QATHET STRINGS ENSEMBLE
PERFORMERS KATHERINE AND HOWARD
READERS THEATRE: KELLY CREEK FIVE
MS MAXWELL, ANNA, MALLORY AND LILY
STUDENTS ADVOCATE FOR MENTAL HEALTH
Three outstanding Brooks Secondary School Students shared their work with the school’s Mental Health Advocacy Group at our February 12 meeting.
Lily Carlos, Mallory Brooks and Anna Carlson spoke about their efforts to reduce the stigma of asking for help. The group created a survey and received 500 responses; 84 percent of which indicated they felt stressed at school. Reasons included schoolwork, social pressure and family issues.
The group has put up information on bulletin boards outside counsellors’ offices, including Elaine Maxwell who accompanied them. It includes recommended apps and named pockets of slips of paper with suggestions for seeking help. They have created a poster and pamphlets outlining mental health resources.
Their efforts have been recognized through three grants, including from Vancouver Health Authority totally $2,250 to help offset costs of production.
Currently a contest is being held with appealing prizes to encourage more participation from students.
Three outstanding Brooks Secondary School Students shared their work with the school’s Mental Health Advocacy Group at our February 12 meeting.
Lily Carlos, Mallory Brooks and Anna Carlson spoke about their efforts to reduce the stigma of asking for help. The group created a survey and received 500 responses; 84 percent of which indicated they felt stressed at school. Reasons included schoolwork, social pressure and family issues.
The group has put up information on bulletin boards outside counsellors’ offices, including Elaine Maxwell who accompanied them. It includes recommended apps and named pockets of slips of paper with suggestions for seeking help. They have created a poster and pamphlets outlining mental health resources.
Their efforts have been recognized through three grants, including from Vancouver Health Authority totally $2,250 to help offset costs of production.
Currently a contest is being held with appealing prizes to encourage more participation from students.
MATRIARCH LEADING HER HERD
COMPARING ELEPHANTS AND HUMANS
David Powrie, a world-renowned conservation expert with over three decades of experience protecting natural resources and fostering community-led conservation initiatives spoke to our Rotary club on January 15.
With a career that spans continents and a track record of engaging governments, Indigenous communities, and international organizations, his insights promise to inspire and ignite passion for environmental stewardship.
From managing a 6.33-million-hectare conservation area in Kenya to reintroducing endangered species in South Africa, David has dedicated his life to innovative solutions for wildlife protection, human-wildlife conflict mitigation, and sustainability.
His introductory remarks included a comment that when he was living in South Africa, if you wanted to get something done, they you spoke to Rotary.
David made several comparisons between elephants and humans gleaned from his years of research into the large mammals which have an average life span of 65 years, providing examples of strategy and vision, communication, respect, legacy, trust, greater good, nurture, leading by example and conflict mitigation.
Elephants have strong body language and are very tactile. Look at their tails, which indicate danger, and not their ears which indicate posturing.
He encourages humans to be more like elephants in their family and corporate lives.
With a career that spans continents and a track record of engaging governments, Indigenous communities, and international organizations, his insights promise to inspire and ignite passion for environmental stewardship.
From managing a 6.33-million-hectare conservation area in Kenya to reintroducing endangered species in South Africa, David has dedicated his life to innovative solutions for wildlife protection, human-wildlife conflict mitigation, and sustainability.
His introductory remarks included a comment that when he was living in South Africa, if you wanted to get something done, they you spoke to Rotary.
David made several comparisons between elephants and humans gleaned from his years of research into the large mammals which have an average life span of 65 years, providing examples of strategy and vision, communication, respect, legacy, trust, greater good, nurture, leading by example and conflict mitigation.
Elephants have strong body language and are very tactile. Look at their tails, which indicate danger, and not their ears which indicate posturing.
He encourages humans to be more like elephants in their family and corporate lives.
President's Message
Matt Wate
My goal as president is to support this board and this club.
The ideas, energy and action from our board and committees have me incredibly excited. If this is how we’re beginning, I can only image what we’ll accomplish together in the month ahead.
My focus this year is on three core priorities.
Membership - Let’s continue to grow our club not just in size but in energy, diversity and engagement.
Professional Development - Our club is full of wisdom, skills and lived experiences. I want to see us create more opportunity to learn from each other, to share knowledge and to support one another in our personal and professional journeys.
Youth - The future of Rotary and our community lies in the next generation. I want us to deepen our commitment to youth leadership and mentorship, and to continue support the programs that empower young people to grow, lead and serve.
This is a team effort. Whether you’ve been here for 20 years or just joined this past spring, your ideas and your presence matter. Let’s make this a year filled with purpose connection, grown and yet, some fun along the way.
Let’s get started!
Service Above Self
Powell River, BC V8A 1W7
Canada