We would like to acknowledge two award recipients from our Club today! First we have Lorne Calder, Assistant District Governor, presenting an End Polio Now Rotary Foundation Award to Past-President Carol Hansson for raising nearly $2000 in donations towards the cause. Secondly we have Lorne presenting Club Member, Toni Stedeford, her Paul Harris, level 4, award pin for her dedication and commitment to the Rotary Foundation. Congratulations to you both! (Picture taken November 4, 2025)
We would like to acknowledge two award recipients from our Club today! First we have Lorne Calder, Assistant District Governor, presenting an End Polio Now Rotary Foundation Award to Past-President Carol Hansson for raising nearly $2000 in donations towards the cause. Secondly we have Lorne presenting Club Member, Toni Stedeford, her Paul Harris, level 4, award pin for her dedication and commitment to the Rotary Foundation. Congratulations to you both! (Picture taken November 4, 2025)
Rotary has contributed more than $2.6 billion to fight polio, including matching funds from the Gates Foundation, and countless volunteer hours since launching its polio eradication program, PolioPlus, in 1985. When the initiative launched, there were 350,000 cases of polio every year. Today the incidence of polio has plummeted by more than 99.9 percent.
Anyone can be a part of the fight to end polioand have their donation to Rotary matched 2-to-1 by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Visit endpolio.org to learn more and donate.
What is the program?
The Long Term Exchange Program is open to non-graduated students between the ages of 15 and 18 at the time of departure (Summer 2026 would be when you would begin your exchange). Applicants should be above average students who have demonstrated leadership in their school or community. They must be flexible, open to new experiences and have an interest in learning a new language.
How the process works:
The applicant completes an Initial Application Form and is interviewed by a panel of local Rotarians to determine suitability. If selected the successful student completes a Long Term Application and provides a list of three countries of interest for the exchange. Rotary then looks for a placement and once that is secured in one of the three countries, the student will do an online language training program in the language of their exchange country. While in the host country the student stays with host families (2-3 families).
What’s included?
The student would be supported by both a Youth Exchange Officer and a Counsellor. A monthly allowance is provided to cover small items like toiletries, movie tickets, etc. All large expenditures (travel in your host country) would be paid for by the parents, unless it is a Rotary mandated event. The selected applicant are required to attend school, however marks from the exchange country likely will not transfer back to the school system here in Canada. The cost for the 10-month program currently is $3,500.00 which covers the application fee, a blazer, business cards, etc. Parents are required to purchase medical/dental insurance while the student is away and must purchase a return airline ticket for them.
This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to provide a student a culturally immersive experience on the world stage.
Deadline to apply:
October 31, 2025
Contact:
Toni Stedeford, Youth Program Chair at tstedeford@gmail.com
The Rotary Club of Prince George wants to give a warm welcome to Heidi Booth of GOTT Energy. Heidi brings her passion of getting involved and making a difference in the community through Rotary! (Picture taken Oct 7, 2025 // left, Mindy Stroet, Club President // right, Heidi Booth)
The Rotary Clubs of Prince George would like to thank GOTT ENERGY for being the Title Sponsor for our upcoming Golf Tournament. Not only does GOTT help "Putting control of your power into your hands", they help putting the power back into the community by supporting Rotary! Check them out: https://www.gottenergy.com
Our Club would like to give a warm welcome to Davi, our exchange student from Brazil. Every year a student is chosen and sponsored by our Club to be apart of a world-wide exchange program for 10 months. The inbound and outbound students get to list their top three destination countries of choice, then paired up for the exchange. The program has been sponsored by Rotary here in PG for decades, giving youth a once in a lifetime experience to explore other cultures, develop a second language, become more independant, grow leadership skills, become educated on a world stage, and build life-long friendships. (Photo taken Sept 2, 2025)
On the left last week, past-president Carol Hansson awarded the 2024-2025 Rotarian of the Year award to Nolan Nicholson. Nolan had gone over and above what Rotary sets as an example of by helping support our causes and the community at large. Way to go Nolan! Then on the right we have current president Mindy Stroet inducting Luis Gonzalez back into the Club. He looks forward to contributing and giving back to the community that is his home. (Pictures taken Aug 19, 2025). Why are we growing so fast? It's our history. It's our legacy. It's why we do it. Come check us out! https://portal.clubrunner.ca/758
"Congratulations! Your club has earned the Club Excellence Award, the most significant award a Rotary club can achieve, for 2024-25. This past year, your Club demonstrated a commitment to achieve its goals, which ultimately helps strengthen Rotary and shape our future around the world." ~ Stephanie Urchick, RI President. "On behalf our Club here in Prince George, we are honoured to receive this prestigious award." ~ Carol Hansson, past-present (2024-2025)
We would like to welcome Chilliwack Rotarian, Paul Blessen to our Prince George Club. Did you know, our members are made up of business owners, local professionals, retirees, and passionate community citizens? Paul brings his talents to Prince George working with the BC First Nations Justice Council, supporting children, families and future generations by "transforming the status quo today" through a trusted and representative justice system. Simply saying, making a positive difference in our community. (Picture July 29, 2025, Mindy Stroet, Club President, Paul Blessen, Martin Meyer, Club Secretary)
Wyatt Nicolson from Prince George returns from Ottawa after attending the Rotary-sponsored Adventures in Citizenship trip to give his presentation on his experience to a packed room of Rotarians. (Pictures taken July 22, 2025 -- In the top left picture, Wyatt Nicholson is shown with his dad Nolan Nicholson)Each year outstanding high school students are chosen from across Canada will spend four days in the Ottawa in a program designed to develop Canadian senior high students potential as leaders in their communities and in Canadian society. The program is an exceptional opportunity for the Adventurers to explore our identity, shared values, the implications of the freedoms we all enjoy, and our history of tolerance and the search for compromises to bridge our differences. The students are sponsored by Rotary Clubs in all ten provinces and three territories, and their travel costs are borne by the sponsoring clubs. The program was instituted by the Rotary Club of Ottawa in 1951. To date, over 10,000 students have participated in the program including past Governor General Adrienne Clarkson, the Right Honourable Joe Clark and the Honourable Edward Broadbent.
Announced by the Shell-Glenn Fire Rescue today, the beloved and iconic firetruck in the Rotary Playground at Lheidi T'enneh Memorial Park has been restored and moved to Shell-Glen Community Park, 10640 Glenmary Road. The original playground and spray park was built by 50 Rotarians, their families and friends back in 2000, lead by our Club President Brent Morgan. The concept and materials chosen were to represent the city's wood industry and heritage. The current playground is being rebuilt by the city to bring it up to current safety standards and bring a fresh look to an old vision. (July 24, 2025)
Every year, our Club gets together to celebrate the passing of the baton from one President to the next. In 83 years -- yes 83 years -- our Club has never had the same president twice. Part of being with Rotary is to deepen leadership skills, and we not only do this as tradition, but as legacy. Many of us got together at the Northern Lights Winery on this beautiful day to enjoy some nice mediterranean food and friendship. In the lower photo taken on July 13, 2025 from left to right shows Carol Hansson, immediate Past President, Gary Wilson, Past-President, and Mindy Stroet, our newest President for the 2025-2016 term. We all wish Mindy a fantastic year!
We'd like to proudly announce that our next outbound exchange student is, Nathanial Thomson, who will be off to Brazil for the upcoming 2025-2026 school year. Rotary believes in developing the next generation of leaders. Our exchange programs help students build leadership skills, expand their education and learn the value of service, all on a worldwide stage. (Youth program co-ordinator and Past-President Toni Stedeford, Nathanial Thomson, Father and Past-President Matt Thomson)
Our Club would like to do a big shout out to Kopar Administration Ltd! They help train youth interested in the construction trade through their Bladerunners program. The completed gazebo in the Rotary Community Garden, which makes up a part of the David Douglas Botanical Gardens up at UNBC, is absolutely stunning. (Picture taken July 9, 2025)
In a joint initiative with the PG Community Foundation, we donated $100,000 to the SuperTrak BMX track to resurface it which has provided professional training grounds to the BMX community as well as sparked competitions to come to PG. Signage is now up shouting out our proud contribution - yet another example how Rotary makes a difference!
The Rotary Club of Prince George is proud to induct our newest members, former Club President Travis Morgan and Randi Zurowski. The Club is excited to have their commitment and excitement to support our community through programs and projects that Rotary offers. (Photo taken June 24)
As the Rotary Community Garden gets underway for its second season, the gazebo is taking shape and will provide gardeners some shade in the sun! We’d like to thank everyone who has volunteered their time, made private donations, and to the district Rotary grant team to help make this happen for our community. (Pictures taken June 10, 2025)
Congratulations to the 2025 PGSS grad class! Each year the Rotary Club of Prince George provides over $15,000 in bursaries to local graduates, some directly through our Club and others, such as the Karl Anderson Foundation, established by past Rotarians. (Pictures as of June 6, 2025 - Top left Carol Hansson, the President of the Rotary Club, Top right, Jon Hansson, Director)
We want to thank all of our nearly 300 guests, sponsors, volunteers and Rotarians for making the East Coast Kitchen Party such a great success. With a night filled with delicious lobster, prime rib, games, irish music, dancing and auctions we raised over $17,500 towards local youth programs. Check out the photo gallery of the evening, courtesy of Giles Palmer Photography, and mark your calendars for 2026: https://609428306c1ac.sproutstudio.com/gallery/east-coast-kitchen-party
We are honoured to receive $24,000 over 3 years at the PGCF giving event on Thursday May 8th to help support our breakfast programs in local schools. Every week, Rotarians volunteer to make and serve hot breakfasts to those students who are in need when financial means are difficult. Every full belly helps give the energy needed to maximize learning throughout the day. Again, we are overjoyed and are grateful for their support to such an important program of ours and to the community!
Every Tuesday, a Rotarian from our Club, volunteers to help with the Westwood Elementary Breakfast Program. This act of kindness provides kids that don't have the financial means at home, get a hot breakfast so they have the energy to learn and get the most out of their school day. Picture from April 22, 2025 by Cristina Mihis, Downtown Club Rotarian.
With efforts and organization made by Rotarians in both the Downtown Club and Yellowhead Club, we are proud to add this to our numerous programs for youth. Presenters shown: Matt Colley (left) and Steve Findlay (right). Special thanks to Rod Holmes, Toni Stedeford, and Ron Davis for helping create and launch this in our community.
We would like to thank all of our sponsors and participants for making the 2nd Annual Hoop-a-Thon a wonderful success. This team-up among the four Rotary Clubs in Prince George and the UNBC Timberwolves had encouraged 67 shooters to attend and play and wow did they ever. The shooting this year was exceptional. A huge applause to Alena who was this year’s winner making 29 baskets in a minute!
This event has been going on in the lower mainland for over 20 years (Strathcona Community Centre and partnered with Chris Gailus of GlobalBC who made 24 baskets last year and 16 this year) and Global TV) and believe that we here in Prince George have set a new record for baskets being made in a minute (25 being the record in the lower mainland). We had 9 shooters make over 22 or more baskets in a minute. Despite the busy week for the UNBC students and Alumni we did get 17 UNBC basketball players and alumni and 4 City All Stars as well and believe that each of them had fun making a difference for their community.
Here are the stats for bragging rights this year:
UNBC Women's Basketball : Amrit (26), Lorenn (25) and Mya (23)
UNBC Men's Basketball: Milan (27), Marcus (22), Justin (22)
UNBC Alumni: Alena (29), Rho (28), Madison (25)
City All Stars: Carson (20), Colby (17)
Upon conclusion of the event, we raised $11,000 towards local scholarships, bursaries, community projects, youth sports, at-risk youth programs. Again THANK YOU to all of you who participated, contributed and spectated at the event and we look forward to it again in 2026.
CKPG Interview with Lorne Calder, Event Chair: https://ckpgtoday.ca/2025/04/04/rotary-hoopathon-set-for-return/
The downtown Prince George Rotary Club would like to provide its warm welcome to Kathleen. She has worked with charities, nonprofits and municipal governments in the past and has a passion for making our community a supportive place to live for all. As the Development and Marketing Manager for the Prince George Community Foundation, she continues her positive impact in Prince George, paving the way towards an even stronger future. [Picture of Kathleen Angelski (right) being inducted into Rotary on March 18, 2025 by Carol Hansson, Club President (left).]
Noon on Tuesdays at the Coast Hotel
(770 Brunswick St)
We would like to acknowledge that we hold our meetings on the ancestral and unceded lands of the Lheidli T'enneh
1. Friendship - A basic human need: One of the two reasons Paul Harris began Rotary in 1905. Rotarians believe while it is nice to be important, it is more important to be nice.
2. Business Development - The second original reason for Rotary's beginning. Everyone needs to network. Rotary develops confidence and skill in public communication, and the opportunity to use it.
3. Personal Growth - Membership in Rotary continues one's growth and education in human relations and personal development. Serving in Rotary positions is like a college education in Leadership.
4. Fun - Rotary is fun. The club projects are fun. Social activities are fun. And the service is fun. Every Rotary club and district has parties and activities that provide social fun and camaraderie.
5. Youth Programs - Rotary provides one of the world's largest youth exchange programs; high school and college clubs for future Rotarians, and youth leadership programs.