P.O. Box 48358, Bentall Centre
Vancouver, BC V7X 1A1
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www.rotaryvancouver.org
Vol. 103 No. 42
Gerry Glazier, President
Gabby Dickert, Secretary
UPCOMING MEETING MAY 11, 2021
Dr. Peter Bobrowsky, Engineering Geologist, Adjunct Professor, SFU & UVic, Emeritus Scientist Geological Survey of Canada, Sidney, BC Hunting for Great Earthquakes and Paleo-Tsunamis
In the past few decades, local geologists have managed to discover exciting evidence that helps explain and confirm the occurrence, process and frequency of Great Earthquakes (M>8) and the resultant tsunamis affecting British Columbia. The convincing evidence was discovered widely across BC's extensive coastline in a number of unique locations located under water (in fjords and lakes) and on land (peat bogs). Geological data ranges over many thousands of years in age and proves useful in predicting the future frequency of pending events. Comparable geological investigations around the globe have helped provide information to many other coastal regions subject to such large earthquakes and damaging tsunamis. Such work has collectively contributed to improving community safety locally and emergency response extra-locally.
Dr. Peter Bobrowsky is an award winning engineering geologist with over 40 years of experience working in BC and many locations around the world. Peter has authored almost 500 publications, including some 20 books such as the Encyclopedia of Engineering Geology and Encyclopedia of Natural Hazards. His popular and free publication "The Landslide Handbook" was written specifically for a public audience and was translated into several languages (Japanese, Mandarin, Spanish and Portuguese) to help those most affected in many countries. He is currently semi-retired and remains an Adjunct Professor at Simon Fraser University and Emeritus Research Scientist at the Geological Survey of Canada. In the past 20+ years he has delivered hundreds of lectures globally to many thousands of public participants on a variety of geologically related topics. He resides in Sidney by the Sea with his wife and yellow Labrador Toba.
UPCOMING MEETING MAY 18, 2021
Dr. Daniel Kalla, author, ER Physician St. Paul's Hospital "Lost Immunity" -- the risks of vaccine hesitancy
Daniel’s novel, Lost Immunity, is a cautionary tale about vaccine hesitancy! No other medical advance has ever engendered such myth, hysteria and passion. Emotion often supplants reason. But could the divide between the pro and anti-vax camps lead to murder?”
Born, raised, and still residing in Vancouver, Daniel has been worked as an ER Physician at St. Paul’s Hospital for the past twenty years. He is also the author of twelve published novels, which have been translated into thirteen languages. Two of his novels have been optioned for film, and his Shanghai trilogy is being developed for a TV series. In his twelfth novel, LOST IMMUNITY, Daniel tackles the issue of vaccine hesitancy and the potential impact on a global outbreak, applying his real-life experience working on the frontlines through the COVID pandemic.
Daniel received his B.Sc. and MD from the University of British Columbia, where he is now a clinical associate professor. He is the proud father of two girls and a poorly behaved but lovable mutt, Milo.
UPCOMING MEETING MAY 25, 2021 Bala Naidoo, Past District 5040 Governor Do's & Dont's of Rotary Central - How to work it to your advantage
Volunteers work to keep the community of Kingston, Ontario, healthy and safe
by Arnold R. Grahl, Rotary Magazine, May 2021
Local Rotary members were making plans to celebrate 100 years of Rotary in Kingston when the pandemic hit in March 2020. Paul Elsley, a member of the Rotary Club of Kingston, said members quickly shifted focus from planning centennial celebrations to filling a huge service gap they saw emerging as other service groups and government agencies went into emergency mode.
“It became clear to us that Kingston was in great need,” says Elsley. “If ever there was a time for Rotary to step up and take initiative, this was certainly it.”
Elsley runs a local chapter of the nonprofit Blessings in a Backpack, which provides food to schoolchildren who otherwise might go hungry on weekends. During the week, the kids received food at school. But when the schools closed, Elsley and his team partnered with the in-school meal program run by the Food Sharing Project to deliver large boxes of food directly to the families’ homes.
“We’ve been doing it every single week since April 2020,” says Elsley. “We’re at just under 3,000 families that we are feeding.”
In addition, the Kingston club made protective masks for recipient families. They also contacted isolated senior residents, calling them on the phone, delivering groceries, and taking them to appointments.
All of these activities put Rotary in the public eye and positioned Rotary members as an obvious resource for health officials when mass vaccinations began.
“I think it’s about being visible,” Elsley said. “Once we were engaged in supporting the community and the community recognized Rotary is coming to the table, a lot of other discussions happened. Mike reached out to KFL&A and got everything organized.”
Moore says the reactions from members and those they are serving have all been positive.
“It’s not complicated work, and all the people are happy we are there,” says Moore. “People have such a sense of relief when they receive their vaccine.”
"If ever there was a time for Rotary to step up and take initiative,
this was certainly it."
Gabby Dickert, Secretary, hosted the meeting via ZOOM & introduced guests.
Miya Otake played O Canada on the harp via video.
President’s Announcements:
Welcome to our guests, new and returning, as well as our own members who have taken the time out of their busy lives to be with us today. Thank you for joining us.
Reminder that the next and final District Year Ahead session is the Youth Programs and Rotaract on May 5th at 7:00.m.
This is an opportunity to learn about RYLA, Interact, Youth Exchange programs and much, much more. Our future is our youth - the District will be continuing its efforts to elevate Rotaract.
Thank you to Verona Edelstein who has arranged for a couple of our newer members to join the Rotary World Help (RWH) Board. Michael Woolnough will be stepping down after a long stint on the Board. Thank you Michael for all of your support through the years.
An example of how Rotary works together supporting one another and providing opportunities, RWH received a donation of good quality furniture. They turned around and asked our club if we knew of an organization who would appreciate the donation. Of course we did, Journey Home who will happily and thankfully use the furniture for one of their houses supporting new refugees and immigrants.
All should have received an email with a link to watch the hoop-a-thon video. It seems their fundraising has been a wonderful success again this year.
Secretary's announcements:
reminders of upcoming events/meetings (see above)
birthdays, member club anniversaries, wedding anniversaries (see above)
Special announcements & Members' Moments:
Wayne Fraser re the club's strategy planning: The sessions are starting this week. They are compiling the survey responses, all of which will be considered during planning. Thank you to all who filled out the survey.
Nathan Hesketh, our club's liaison with the RC Van Sunrise Hoop-a-thon organizing committee: even with COVID-19 restrictions they have managed to raise more than the target amount of $35K. So far they have over $40K. This is only because of you, who have donated and of course Gary Chomyn and Ron Suzuki of RC Van Sunrise who have put in a so much time and effort to keep this event going year-to-year despite the challenges they faced.
A special thank you to Nathan for the work he has done on behalf of our club with the hoop-a-thon.
Rotaract hoodies available, $35. Great for camping, relaxing, gift giving. Contact Gabby if interested.
Rotarian face masks still available, $10 each. Contact Gabby or Carolyn to order.
Program:
Nick Blom introduced our speakers, Dr. Adriana Zylmans & Mr. Erik Van der Ven from the Dutch Liberation Canadian Society.
Today, May 4th, 2021, marks the 75+1 Commemoration of the liberation of the Netherlands in the 2nd world war. When thinking about two world wars, in Holland there was only one, the 2nd. For the 1st the country remained neutral.
76 years ago, the war officially ended. The Netherlands was left a worn torn country. Their Queen was in exile in Canada. Food and household goods were extremely limited. The people were suffering. The winter of 1944-45 is known as “the hunger winter”. In retaliation for a railway strike in the German-occupied western Netherlands, the people were starved by having their food, electricity, and gas supplies blocked. People were forced to eat sugar beets and tulip bulbs, something Nick Blom experienced firsthand. More than 22K people starved to death during this terrible time.
In April of 1945 the allies made an agreement with the Nazi authorities and were able to deliver food and medical supplies.
Erik Van der Ven told of how his family were evacuated out of the walled area of the Netherlands to outside it. The area was bombed routinely. He lost one of his brothers during a bombardment.
The Germans moved from using V1 bombs to V2. They were huge, 14m high, and fast, 3x the speed of sound. These bombs were used to devastate London, England. Though the allies tried they were unable to stop the attacks. In their attempt, they made some terrible mistakes. One was when they attempted to bomb the launch area for the V2 in the Netherlands. The wind took their bombs off course landing them in the populated area of Bezuidenhout, destroying the area.
On May 4, 1945 the Netherlands was freed with the help of Canada. The Dutch community continues to show their gratefulness to Canada for their part in helping the country.
In 1949 that the royal family sent 100K tulip bulbs. In 1953 Ottawa started the annual tulip festival. The tradition continues to present day.
Approx. 1400 elementary schools participated in the educational program in 2020.
The Canadian Liberator tulip was developed to celebrate our relationship and to provide a visual thank you year after year. In 2019, the Dutch Network joined forces with BC Agriculture to develop an educational package for teachers about the liberation of Europe in 1945. Approximately 1,400 elementary schools across Canada participated in the program with each of them receiving a box of Canadian Liberator tulips as part of the package.
The 75th anniversary of the liberation of the Netherlands was in 2020. Many, many activities and events were planned to celebrate. Unfortunately COVID-19 hit the world and interrupted all plans.
Some noteworthy items:
In Victory Square, Vancouver, 60K bulbs were planted making up the shape of a poppy.
There was a special presentation at the Seaforth Armoury highlighting Norm Kirby, the Canada Poster Boy for VE Day 75.
A pair of combat boots, signifying those who traded in their work/everyday shoes for a pair of combat boots in the fight for freedom, made a trip across the country.
The Canadian mint produced a commemorative coin paying tribute to the Canadian Army and to the people of the Netherlands.
The Groesbeek Cementary is the largest area for Canadian fallen in the Netherlands. We will remember them through the Faces to Graves project. Families are invited to write a story and send a picture of their loved ones buried in the Netherlands. Visit www.facetograves.nl for more info.
About 5,000 bouquets were delivered to 31 care homes in BC last year. This year it will be 6,000 bouquets (30,000 tulips) to 50 care homes.
The Vancouver Maritime Museum housed a display last fall.
On May 8, 2021 there will be a rebroadcast of the “75 Years Later: The Sounds of Freedom from the Battlefields” radio show.
Debbie Mar, a teacher in Abbotsford, embraced the teaching program and brought the history to life for her grade 6-7 students to such a degree that she was awarded the Prime Minister Award for Teaching Excellence in 2020.
A film screening will be taking place on March 5th & 6th about The Forgotten Battle. To be shown at the Langley drive in theatre.
The celebrate of the anniversary of the liberation made a restart in March 2021. Dutch Heritage Day is celebrated officially in Canada on May 5th. A memorial booklet based on the Faces to Graves project is being prepared for November 11, 2021.
The friendship between our countries was developed between 1939-1945. The relationship remains deeply connected. Thank you, Canada, we will never forget!
Some further info from our members:
Nick Blom is living proof that you can survive eating tulip bulbs.
John Hayto remembered his mom saying that in London, as long as you could hear the planes you felt safe, when you could no longer hear them, you knew explosions would be imminent.
Michael Woolnough shared that with regards to the London bombings the British had a lot of German prisoners of war. Through them they were able to get some confidential information back to the Germans providing bombing coordinates that were moved further and further away to protect the populated areas. Slowly became less destructive.
John Bathurst recommends a good read: An interesting book, Dutch Girl: Audrey Hepburn and World War II by Robert Matzen. It is about Audrey Hepburn’s experiences living as a young woman in the Netherlands during the five years of Nazi occupation.
Thank you for keeping the memory above of those who gave so much.
Related links:
Dutch Liberation 2020 Canadian Society website, CLICK HERE
Royal Decoration for Dr. Adriana Zylmans, read article, CLICK HERE
