June 04, 2024 -REGULAR SPEAKER MEETING Tanniar Leba, CEO & Founder, Capacity Building Group; Co-Founder & Managing Director, Canadian African Business Chamber
Topic: Connecting Canada and Africa: Learning and Giving Back
In October 2024, Tanniar will be celebrating 20 years in Canada, a welcoming and lovely country that, as he says, enriches his life daily. Serving those affected by homelessness, mental health challenges, and supporting newcomers has been both a profound learning experience and a rewarding professional journey for him. Now, he is dedicated to bridging the gap between the two continents that have given him everything he cherishes today: his work, family, identity, and joy.
Tannier is an expert in building capacity and creating training programs for corporations and entrepreneurs equipped with multi-lingual talent and effective problem-solving techniques. He is an effective contributor in creating policies for Canada and British Columbia and implementing strategies of service delivery Model for Francophones in Mental Health, Immigration, and homelessness.
Tannier was featured in the 2020 list of ‘Top 500 Most Powerful Personalities’ of Africa published by Tropics Magazine in South Africa, honored as an African doer. With a commitment to serve the non-profit, private, and public sector, he is an International Speaker at African Leadership University (Mauritius), Ministry of Heritage Canada, Service Canada, Canada School of Public Service, Immigration Canada, and Simon Fraser University.
He was awarded “Le Prix Gérald et Henriette Moreau“ in 2016 for the best Executive Director in British Columbia among all 40 Francophone and bilingual organizations as well as the recipient of the ‘Immigrant Services Society Prize’ who positively impacted new immigrants’ life in British Columbia during the last 50 years.
We look forward to seeing you at this meeting, together with a guest or two. Please note that the deadline to RSVP is no later than Sunday June 2nd as our numbers need to be guaranteed to TCC on Monday morning.
This year the IRL Group (Donnellans) is hosting a Celtic Picnic, a one day, family-friendly music and dance festival located at 80 Pacific Blvd. We would love for you to join the team and be a part of something exciting! If you are interested in getting involved, please fill out our volunteer form. By volunteering, you will receive a free ticket to enjoy some unreal acts when not on shift and you will be working with an amazing team!
We would also like to invite you to our launch party on Wednesday, May 29th at Donnellan’s Irish Pub from 7pm, where you can meet your fellow volunteers, hear some great music and be in with the chance to win some great prizes! It’ll be a great evening so definitely come along if you can.
We hope to see you at the launch party and look forward to working with you at Celtic Picnic!
* come in person to celebrate your birthday with Purdy's chocolates!!
Last Meeting May 28, 2024
Jason Boudreau, President, chaired the meeting and gave the invocation.
Catherine Darley, Secretary, hosted ZOOM
Jim Evans, Sergeant at Arms, introduced guests
Chair’s Announcements:
Welcome to our guests, new and returning, as well as our own members who have taken time out of busy schedules to attend. We are grateful to see new faces, remember guests are ALWAYS welcome at our meetings.
It is with great sadness that we share the news that Charles Flavelle, a member of RCoV for 60 years, passed away peacefully on Monday, May 27th. There will be a celebration of life at the Vancouver Rowing Club on Thursday June 6th, 4:00-7:00 p.m. As we receive more information it will be shared.
The 2024 RI Convention has just come to a close. We’ll hear about it from Michael Woolnough when he returns home. On to the next, the 2025 RI Convention will be in Calgary, June 21-25, 2025.
We are hoping to have a large contingent from our club attend.
A 2nd early bird reg fee is in effect until Dec. 31st, US$525 (for over 30-year-olds), going up to US$626 in January, so if you want to save a bit, you need to act now.
This will be the largest convention in Calgary’s history. Accommodations are filling up fast, so again, need to act soon to secure a place to stay.
CLICK HERE for more info and the links to register & to find accommodation
Secretary's announcements:
reminders of upcoming events/meetings (see above)
birthdays, member club anniversaries, wedding anniversaries (see above)
Members' moments and special presentations:
Mary Anne Velayo, ADG, remembered that as a new, very nervous, ADG, she sat beside Charles Flavelle at one of our luncheons. She had no idea who he was and what his accomplishments were. He struck her as being such a humble, kind man who gave her encouragement in her new role. Something she has never forgotten.
Mary Anne carried on expressing how RCoV feels like a home club for her, being so warmly welcomed. Times through her term as ADG were not without some challenges, challenges everyone helped work through. From the bottom of her heart, she thanked our club and its members for the learning opportunities as she settled into her role as ADG that is now coming to an end.
It was with great pleasure that she was able to present two important awards to our members:
The Don Evans People of Action Award to Franco Gallo. This award is given to someone who is nominated by other Rotarians. This year our DG Shirley-Pat nominated Franco. Well deserved Franco! We look forward to you leading our club in 2024-25.
The DG Award was presented to Peter Clarke. DG Shirley-Pat recognized Peter's countless hours contributed to the District and to the support he gave her personally through her year as DG.
Congratulations to both Franco & Peter. Two more deserving individuals would be hard to find.
Paul & John Hayto expressed that the 2024 President’s ‘Back to Black’ Dinner Gala was a great evening, well-received by all. They were excited that it worked out so well. The buy in from the club’s members and guests was amazing and sincerely appreciated. So many dancing!! Already making plans and looking forward to next year. CLICK HEREto view the photobooth pictures.
Joan Posivy another appeal for volunteers to help our members IRL Group’s Celtic Picnic Festival. It is a family friendly event so have everyone come out to enjoy. Aaron Lacey expanded the event is on June 8th, 80 Pacific Blvd. They are flying in a lot of big acts from Ireland, it is a ticketed event, supporting Austin Burns, Paralympian Dressage rider hoping to qualify for the 2024 Olympics in Paris. There will be a kids zone, 2 stages, 3 bars. See above for all the info and the link to register as a volunteer. Remember all volunteers get a ticket to enjoy the whole event.
Phil Webber promotion of the Ride for Hearing. PLEASE register asap to ride, or if you are unable to ride then to volunteer and/or as a fundraiser. Remember there is a 7.5 km family ride as an option along the beach front (protected bike paths). See above for the link to register as a volunteer.
Program - CLUB DAY
Time was spent ensuring members signed up to help at the Ride for Hearing and to discuss who and when promotional materials could be disseminated out in our communities.
Meeting adjourned with a toast to Ride for Hearing
In October 2024, Tanniar will be celebrating 20 years in Canada, a welcoming and lovely country that, as he says, enriches his life daily. Serving those affected by homelessness, mental health challenges, and supporting newcomers has been both a profound learning experience and a rewarding professional journey for him. Now, he is dedicated to bridging the gap between the two continents that have given him everything he cherishes today: his work, family, identity, and joy. 
