2019 Community Investments

Days for Girls increases access to menstrual care and education by developing global partnerships, cultivating social enterprises, mobilizing volunteers, and innovating sustainable solutions that shatter stigmas and limitations for women and girls.

 

At our lunchtime meeting of May 16th, Heather Olsen and Rotarian Cathy Walsh told us about the DfG chapter they are establishing in Quesnel (also including  Rotarian Marg Anderson), explaining how DfG aims to create a world with dignity, health, and opportunity for all.

The movement has already reached more than one million girls and, with ongoing support, they can reach Every Girl. Everywhere. Period.

 

Given the local involvement in such a wonderfully simple yet highly effective international project, we were quick to approve their subsequent application for $1,000, presented at our lunchtime meeting of September 9th

 

  

 

  

 

 

 

When the wildfires swept through the Cariboo, Rotary was quick to respond by way of the "2017 Wildfire Recovery Fund" established by Rotary Club of Squamish Foundation.

 

Within a few months, the Fund had grown to $66,000 and, in March 2018, we received a cheque from then-District Governor Don Evans for $16,674.25 to be invested in local projects related to wildfire recovery. Immediately, we funded Two Sisters East VHF Repeater Project of Quesnel Amateur Radio. On 19th August 2019, we released the remaining $10,000 to Pet Safe Coalition towards their $63,000 Emergency Response Trailer project which will enable PSC to more quickly respond when fires, floods, and other emergencies threaten the well-being of pets and livestock.

 

 

 

 

 

Elizabeth "Lilly" Riley was awarded our 2019 Bursary and is has used it to register t the University of Victoria where she will pursue a Bachelor of Science degree, majoring in Psychology. Our 2019 Scholarship awardee, Taya Mueller, is taking the University Transfer Program at CNC.

 

We wish them both nothing but success!

 

Lilly Riley                                         Taya Mueller

 

 

Having seen a growth in membership from 6 to 24, Kersley 4H realized it needed to upgrade and replace much of the equipment used by its members for shopping their project livestock - age and rust had taken its toll.

 

Their shopping list includes clippers (for sheep and beef), a clipping chute (for beef), and two blowers (for sheep, beef, and goats), for an estimated total cost of $3,500 of which they had fundraised $1,500.

 

We were happy to chip in $1,000 at our lunchtime meeting of 27th June, our final meeting for the Rotary 2018-19 year.

 

 

 

We have been supporting Quesnel Festival of the Performing Arts since 2014 by way of scholarship awards within each discipline.

 

This year, 2018-19 President Petrie Neave and Vice-President Bev Haluschak presented the awards at the "Celebration of Stars", accompanied by City of Quesnel mayor, Bob Simpson.

 

 

 

Pictured with Bev and Petrie, our 2019 Quesnel Festival of the Performing Arts scholarship awardees, from left to right:

• Hashanah Cabug-Os - $500 – Dance
• Sarah Englund - $250 - Vocal (Musical Theatre)
• Rachelle Carter - $250 - Vocal (Classical Voice)
• Andrew Nordgren - $500 – Piano
• Nalyssa Runge - $250 - Speech Arts
• Naylene Runge - $250 - Speech Arts

The Quesnel chapter of BCHBC has undertaken a significant project to clear a 65km stretch of the Collins Overland Telegraph Trail, primarily for recreational purposes (horseback riding and hiking - nothing motorized) but also to preserve a site of historical, pioneer significance.

 

So far they have secured significant funding from sources such as Northern Development Initiative Trust and Quesnel Community Foundation, so we were delighted to be able to provide assistance towards the development of their Rawlings trailhead by way of $2,500.

 

President Petrie Neave presented our donation to Rob Lafrance during our Rotary Day at Spirit Square event on April 26th.

 

 

 

Our Hospital Auxiliary are a tremendously hard-working group so we were happy to take the opportunity to support their request for funds to help purchase a 5mm laparoscope to enhance the services available locally.

 

President Petrie Neave presented our donation of $3,000 to Jean Patchett (centre) and Auxiliary President Barbara Glover during our Rotary Day at Spirit Square event on April 26th.

 

 

 

For the 6th year, local volunteer group Girl 2 Girl is hosting a self-esteem workshop for Grade 7 girls headed to Grade 8 in September. Click here for details.

 

They begin by sending a letter to all the local schools in which they extend an invitation to participate. This year, they have 70 or so attending the workshop and, for the second year running, we had an opportunity to help them cover the expense of hosting, by way of a donation of $1,000.

 

Girl 2 Girl Kristy Bird spoke to our club at our lunchtime meeting of April 18th, and happily accepted our donation from President Petrie Neave.

 

 

 

 

Like many Legion branches, Quesnel's is looking to modernise and make the most of their location, so their project to renovate their lounge makes a great deal of sense.

 

We were pleased to contribute $2,000 towards replacing their flooring and, at our 21st March lunchtime meeting, Dave Beaumont gratefully accepted our donation from President Petrie. 

 

 

 

 

The Quesnel & District Community Arts Council (QDCAC) was incorporated on November 21st, 1973, to initiate, promote, and develop understanding, involvement and support for arts, heritage and culture. 

 

The Council currently has 15 member organizations and is more frequently finding itself out in the community promoting their events and activities, so they asked us for some funding to help purchase a tent and a banner, for shelter and identification.

 

After Cathy Heinzelman and Dina Unrau made a presentation at our meeting on 14th February, we presenting them with our donation of $1,000 to do just that.

 

We'll be trying to get a picture of the items in action this coming spring. In the meantime, here's President Petrie about to present our donation while thanking Dina and Cathy for the important work performed by QDCAC.

 

 

 

New Focus Society operating at Child Care Resource & Referral works with the community to strive for quality inclusive child care services that meet the needs of local families and promote the healthy development of children.

 

As Jenna Turner, certified Early Childhood Educator, told us at our lunchtime meeting of January 24th, they do this by offering free consultation, support and referral services to parents seeking child care. Child Care providers are supported through information, outreach, resource library networking and learning opportunities. Parents are supported through parenting information, a resource library, parenting workshops, and general community referrals regarding children and families.

 

Their lending library can always use more supplies, so we were happy to make a donation of $1,000.

 

 

 

Rotary in Quesnel has a long history with the local schools' breakfast program, beginning with Quesnel Sunrise 2000 and continued by ourselves throughout the 10 years or so the program has been running.

 

At our January 17th lunchtime meeting, Sue MacDonald from Quesnel School District 28 (and also Secretary/Treasurer for Quesnel Partnership for Student Nutrition, or QPSN for short) told us how SD28 has recently assumed responsibility for coordinating the program with QPSN transitioning to a role of advocacy and awareness.

 

The Program currently covers 8 schools and serves an astonishing 7,000 breakfasts each month. This results in multiple benefits - pupils are more energized and focused on classes, and punctuality and attendance has improved dramatically.

 

Ongoing support comes from Breakfast Clubs of Canada which covers roughly half the food cost. Local support, by way of food and cash donations, has been widespread, and numerous fundraisers (such as those organized at the checkouts by Save On Foods and WalMart, prize draws and "Open Mic Night" run by QPSN, and regular spaghetti dinners and "toonie lunches") fill in the gap.

 

We were happy to donate $1,000 from our "Happy Bucks" 

 

 

 

 

• First Nations Take New Approach To Education And Employment, August 2017; 
• Local First Nations alliance works towards sustainable natural resource management, October 2018.