The Rotary Club of Vancouver will not hold a weekly lunch meeting on Tuesday, July 1st to observe Canada Day.
This is a time for proud Canadians to reflect on their identity, and celebrate our diverse culture.
We hope everyone enjoys the day celebrating our Country with their loved ones!
THE RIDE FOR HEARING 2025
ALL YOU NEED T0 KNOW
Dear fellow Rotarians,
Our 40th annual Ride for Hearing is fast approaching (June 29th!) and we need your help!! This years event starts from Spanish Banks West and heads to Stanley Park where we have closed roads from 6:30-8:00! The riders then head back the same way to Spanish Banks for a post ride festival.
The Event Rider Packages can be picked up on Saturday, June 28, 10-12pm at Terminal City Club
Event information including the various routes and event day activities click here.
Please register to ride, create or join a team here.
If you aren't riding and can volunteer click here.
As always your donations are welcome, to make a donation click here.
Please share this with your friends, family and fellow cyclists!
Graham Fox, Committee Member
Upcoming Events
CONTACT COMMITTEE CHAIRS FOR UPCOMING DATES
please click on the titles for more info for specific events
* come in person to celebrate your birthday with Purdy's chocolates!!
Let us know what you think about our last meeting. Scan the QR code below and fill out the short survey.
Induction of the 2025/26 Board of Directors - July 8, 2025
Mark Your Calendars!
On July 8, our first Q1 meeting
Introducing the 2025-2026 Board of Directors Rotary Club of Vancouver begins a new chapter on July 8
As the Rotary Club of Vancouver ushers in a new Rotary year beginning July 8, we are proud to introduce our incoming Board of Directors — a dynamic team of dedicated Rotarians committed to service, leadership, and innovation.
Joan Posivy, President Franco Gallo/Paul Martin, Past Presidents
Navid Morawej Nathan Hesketh Malcolm Hunter Richard Higgins Stephanie Lawton Sean Chan
Together, this diverse team reflects a blend of continuity, fresh perspectives, and deep commitment to Rotary’s values. We look forward to an inspiring and impactful year under their leadership!
Who do you know who is remarkable - someone whose story or expertise would captivate a room full of experienced business and community leaders?
We're looking to build a short list of headliner speakers to invite to our upcoming Rotary Club of Vancouver meetings. Think thought leaders, change makers, or trailblazers in business, sports, innovation, public service, or philanthropy.
Take a quick scroll through your LinkedIn connections. You might spot someone you haven’t thought about in a while who would be perfect.
If someone comes to mind, please connect with Bill Davidson at billd@davidson-co.com.
Annual Past President's Dinner
....has been canceled....
Unfortunately, the Past President's Dinner planned for July 10th was canceled due to lack of participation.
Thank you all for your RSVP. We hope to see you all in the near future, at a different Rotary Event.
Please email the office or Wilf, if you have any questions.
Admin@rotaryvancouver.org &
Wilfw@s-pintl.com
Celebration of Life - Verona Edelstein
Verona’s Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, July 26 at 11:00 AM at Kearney Funeral Home.
For planning purposes, Verona's Niece Suzanne Green is kindly requesting RSVP's.
This week, Rotarians came together in the spirit of Service Above Self to assemble rider packages for the upcoming Rotary Ride for Hearing on June 29.
With great fellowship and teamwork, the bags were filled thanks to the generous support of Parisa Adrangi, from RE/MAX, who sponsored the bags, and our long-standing partner Purdy's Chocolates, who sweetened the cause with delicious chocolate bar donations.
Have you registered for the ride yet? It is not too late!
The Ride for Hearing has grown from a modest fundraiser into a pillar event in Vancouver's philanthropy calendar. Over four decades, it’s raised millions, funded groundbreaking hearing treatments, and fostered a compassionate community around the cause of restoring hearing and hope.
Also - Did you know?
The Rotary Club of Vancouver Ride for Hearing (originally called the Bike‑a‑thon) began in 1985 as a grassroots fundraiser to support hearing research and care in BC. That first ride covered about 120 km from Burnaby to Harrison Hot Springs and raised around $5,000 with only a handful of riders
Key milestones in its history
1982: Prior to the ride, the Rotary Hearing Foundation funded Canada’s first cochlear implant surgery at St. Paul’s Hospital
1985: Launch of the annual Bike-a-thon. Early years featured the Harrison Hot Springs route, roughly 75 miles (120 km)
Mid-1980s–1990s: Steady growth—by the mid‑1990s it was established as a signature event, with expanding community impact
2000s: Transition of format—from point-to-point to circuit loops around Vancouver, enhancing logistics and safety
2019: Rotary Hearing Foundation pledged $6 million (matched by St. Paul’s) to build the new BC Rotary Hearing & Balance Centre, celebrating 35 years of this work
2023: The 38th annual ride hosted ~175 riders raising nearly $152,000, bringing cumulative funds to over $3.7 million
2024: 39th ride saw 149 riders + 25 family cyclists raise $152,317, marking a 31% increase year-over-year
2025: The event celebrates its 40th anniversary, with a refreshed route focusing on laps of Stanley Park and Spanish Banks start/finish
How it works today
Multiple routes: 100 km main ride, a 50 km option, and a 7.5 km family ride
Fundraising goal: Riders are encouraged to raise at least $300 each (average was ~$1,000 in 2024)
Community impact: Funds support cochlear implants (over 770 completed), new facilities, audiology outreach, pediatric services, and virtual hearing platforms
Support network: Includes aid stations, bike repair, medical assistance, light lunch, beer garden, and post-ride celebrations
Impact highlights
Funds raised: Over $3.9 million since inception
Cochlear implants: First in 1982, now more than 770 funded
New facility pledge: $6 million contributed toward a state‑of‑the‑art centre at St. Paul’s
Annual funds: Typical yearly haul around $150–$165 k (e.g., 2024: ~$152k; record of $165k in an earlier year) .
Grassroots growth: From a small bike‑a‑thon to a major fundraising event with diverse routes
Visible outcomes: Results in real-world impact via surgeries, clinics, hearing research, and equipment
Strong community: Supported by Rotary members, corporate teams, volunteers, and generous sponsors
Fairly new members, Graham Fox & William Law, both dedicated volunteers on the committee- Thank you for your dedication, passion and time to make this all happen!
This week's meeting was adjourned with a toast by Past President Nick Blom:
"To all Rotarians and to a very successful former Bike-A-Thon -
now "Ride for Hearing"
his years event starts from Spanish Banks West and heads to Stanley Park where we have closed roads from 6:30-8:00! The riders then head back the same way to Spanish Banks for a post ride festival.
