Thank you Calgary Rotarians, U of C Rotaractors & friends
Jennifer Lavier Jankovic
Chair RCCD Indigenous Relations Committee
Member Rotary District 5360 IRC
Circle of Wisdom Elders and Seniors Centre held their holiday Christmas Party at the Marlborough Community Centre on December 21, 2023 and the Rotary Club of Calgary Downtown and Rotarians in our District were proud to be a part of it. The Circle was established following Covid-19 lockdowns in partnership with the Canadian Red Cross and Alberta Northern Spirit Foundation-Community Development to decrease isolation of Calgary’s Indigenous Seniors, encourage community through traditional teachings, workshops, grandmothers’ circles and provide basic needs support.
The Seniors’ holiday event included a holiday turkey lunch with all the fixings, door prizes, performances by violin duet cover band, Palladio Music: Steve Klevsky and our very own Rotary District 5360 Governor Nominee, Manon Mitchell, dancing, and holiday shopping for the grandchildren. Rotary provided 100 unwrapped gifts and the Little Red Reading House (supported by the University of Calgary and proceeds from the Big Book Sale) provided 100 children’s books by Indigenous authors. Rotarian volunteer elves & friends included Rotaractors from the University of Calgary who wrapped gifts, set up and cleaned up for the event. A shout out to all the volunteers who came out to spread holiday cheer, and to District 5360 Indigenous Relations and Urban Society for Aboriginal Youth (USAY) who co-hosted the Honoring Indigenous Peoples Event last December to build community between Rotarians and Indigenous Services Providers. It was through the 2022 event that Rotary became Friends of the Circle.
