Events

A cocktail reception by the Rotary Club of Vancouver × GCBA

What happens when you bring two Vancouver communities together over drinks, food and a little Oktoberfest spirit? Come find out. 🍻

On October 15, the Rotary Club of Vancouver and the German Canadian Business Association are taking over Tap & Barrel for an evening that's less about formal networking and more about actually meeting new people.

This isn't a regular Rotary meeting, and you don't need to be a member of either organization to join us. We're bringing together professionals, entrepreneurs, community leaders, friends and guests from across both networks for a relaxed cocktail reception overlooking the Vancouver waterfront.

Come with colleagues. Bring a friend. Or come on your own and leave knowing a few more people in Vancouver than you did when you arrived.

What your ticket includes

• Drinks to get the evening started

• Canapés served throughout the reception

• A little Oktoberfest spirit

• A room full of people worth meeting

There are no assigned tables and no formal networking agenda. Grab a drink, move around the room and see who you meet.

Who should come?

If you're interested in meeting people beyond your usual circle, you're exactly who we're hoping to see.

Thursday, October 15 | 5:00–8:30 PM
Tap & Barrel Convention Centre
1055 Canada Place, Vancouver

Space is limited.

Come for Oktoberfest. Stay for the people you meet. Prost!

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Peter Volpé, Xavier Hamel-Lapointe, and Lisa Chen come together for a timely educational discussion on market risk, diversification, quantitative technology, and disciplined decision-making in today’s markets.

Bringing perspectives from financial planning, portfolio management, and quantitative technology, the panel will explore how investors can think about risk during periods of market strength - and why diversification, discipline, and risk management remain important as market conditions change.

Many traditional portfolios have historically relied heavily on long-only exposure to stocks and bonds, while periods such as the 2008 financial crisis demonstrated how quickly correlations and market conditions can shift. The discussion will explore where quantitative systems and data-driven processes can add discipline to the investment process - and where experienced human judgment, governance, and oversight remain essential.

This is a great opportunity to bring a friend, colleague, or prospective member who might enjoy the conversation and experience one of our Tuesday lunches.

The panel will be followed by audience Q&A.

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Everyone is talking about AI. But how many of us are actually using it to make our lives easier?

Between the headlines, the endless new tools and the fear of being left behind, AI can feel like something we all need to understand immediately. But where do you start? And more importantly, what is actually worth your time?

On Tuesday, October 27, the Rotary Club of Vancouver welcomes Owen Lu, Founder & CEO of Metrized Consulting Inc., for a fireside chat about what AI can realistically do for professionals, business owners and the rest of us.

No technical background required. No complicated explanations. Just a practical conversation about using technology to work smarter, save time and maybe even get a little more of our lives back.

What we'll explore

• AI in everyday work: What can you actually use it for today, beyond writing emails and asking ChatGPT questions?

• Saving time: Where can AI take repetitive tasks off your plate and make your workday more productive?

• AI for business owners: How can small businesses benefit without investing in expensive systems or complicated technology?

• Knowing when NOT to use AI: Just because something can be automated, does that mean it should be?

• Getting started: How can someone with little or no experience begin using AI confidently?

• The bigger picture: Can technology help us build better businesses while creating more balance in our personal lives?

We'll also leave time for audience questions, so bring your curiosity and anything you've been wondering about AI but haven't had the chance to ask.

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On the eve of Remembrance Day, we gather as a club to pause, remember, and look forward. We'll open with a moment of remembrance for those who served, and for the Rotarians who built this club before us.

Then Per our bylaws, the Chair of the Nominating Committee (Joan Posivy) will present the slate of officers and directors for 2027/28 at this meeting, ahead of the AGM on December 8. We'll also share club updates, committee news, and a look at what's coming this season.

No guest speaker this week. This one is ours!

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We have a very special guest joining us on Tuesday, November 17, and this is one you'll want to have on your calendar!

Shahrzad Rafati, Founder & CEO of Rhei (formerly BBTV), will join us for a fireside chat with our President, Navid Morawej.

Shahrzad founded BBTV right here in Vancouver and grew it into a global media and technology company reaching billions of monthly views. She's one of Canada's most influential entrepreneurs, a Member of the Order of British Columbia, and a leading voice on innovation, the creator economy and women in leadership.

She rarely makes appearances like this in Vancouver, so we're particularly excited to welcome her to our Club.

The conversation will go beyond her success story to explore what it takes to build a global business from Vancouver, the challenges and decisions behind that growth, and where she sees the future of media and technology heading.

We'd also love your help bringing new faces into the room. If you know an entrepreneur, business leader or someone interested in media, technology or leadership, this is a wonderful opportunity to introduce them to the Club.

We look forward to seeing you there!

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