"Together we see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change - across the globe, in our communities and in ourselves!"
The Rotary Club of Calgary comprises professional and community leaders brought together in fellowship to make a better future.
Birthdays
Eva Friesen April 6
Ian Diaz April 6
Al Corbett April 8
Robert Woodward April 8
Anniversaries
No signature Anniversaries this month
President Joe’s Inspirational Quote
“Live so that when your children think of fairness, caring, and integrity, they think of you.”
- H. Jackson Brown Jr.
Club Meeting March 25 in the Crystal Ballroom of the Fairmont Palliser Hotel
Approximately 75 members and guests were welcomed by President Joe Fras prior to O Canada with music by Michael Pierson and an Invocation by Maxine Morrison. Joe reminded all who had not yet registered for the Rotary convention to do so as soon as possible.
Mayor Jyoti Gondek was introduced (and later thanked) by Franco Savoia to give her "State of the City" address. "Holy Eagle Woman" is the Blackfoot name given to our Mayor who emphasized the importance of family, language and tradition among her family and others around her. She encouraged all to ask themselves "Did you do your best?" and "Did you take care of other people?"
Highlights of her presentation and later questions included:
-The need to help position for long term strength Calgary's structure and economy to help adjust to current tariff threats. This includes an effective long term supply chain for goods and services.
-Development of infrastructure including an industrial hub in SE Calgary (an inland port associated with a future 30,000 jobs) and the Green line to improve Calgary transportation.
-Downtown redevelopment of 1.5 million square feet of office space into homes.
Addressing the water emergency and public safety (which also correlates with mental health).
-With approximately 250 new residents in Calgary each day, Calgary is currently considered the 5th best North American city for the future.
-Thanks to Rotary for their contributions and effective partnerships in Calgary development helping to illustrate that volunteering is the backbone of community development.
Rick Billington was introduced as a "new" member returning after a long membership hiatus from Rotary (see also separate COG article)
Dee Adekugbe brought thanks from Ruth House for the vital financial support given generously by our Club.
Lindsay Marczak introduced Rotaractors Alison Stanley and Neeharika Juyal who invited all to the Spring Fling Rotaract Youth Got Talent Gala April 4, 2025.
(Details later in COG).
Lorelei Higgins indicated her enjoyment of the opportunity to visit Rotary headquarters in Chicago and presented special pins for the Club President Joe Fras, President Elect Bill Hamilton, and President Nominee Doug Webb.
In closing President Joe reminded us of our next meeting April 8, 2025 which will feature Professor Duane Bratt speaking on current Alberta affairs. He highlighted his quote for the meeting:
“Live so that when your children think of fairness, caring, and integrity, they think of you.” - H. Jackson Brown Jr.
Doug McMillan
Calgary Herald headline: Gondek addresses need to tariff-proof Calgary at Rotary Club's annual luncheon
'Just the threat of tariffs struck directly at the heart of Calgary's key industries,' Gondek said Author of the article: By Scott Strasser Published Mar 25, 2025 Calgary Herald
Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek does a walkabout in Calgary on Tuesday, March 25, 2025. Darren Makowichuk/Postmedia
Talk about tariffs took centre stage on Tuesday as Mayor Jyoti Gondek gave her yearly state of the city address to the Rotary Club of Calgary Downtown.
Meet our newest New Member,
Rick Billington
Actually, Rick isn’t a brand new member as he was previously a member of our Club in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Family and career responsibilities drew him away, but we’re so pleased that he has chosen to re-join our group and carry on with his dedication to the community. Rick is a lawyer, operating his own corporate and commercial litigation firm with a focus on pre-trial civil remedies to fight fraud and corporate oppression. He has extensive experience teaching young people debate and speech skills, is active in his community and politically. He enjoys travel, cross-country skiing, golf and gardening. Welcome back, Rick!
Diane Macdonald
Rotaract Spring Fling
We are excited to invite you to the University of Calgary Rotaract Spring Fling 2025 on Friday, April 4th, from 6:00pm to 9:30pm at the Cardel Theatre! This event will be a fantastic evening featuring a talent show, guest speakers, a silent auction, hors d’oeuvres, raffle prizes, and a 50/50- all in support of the Trellis Society.
Purchase a Ticket:
We are offering a Rotarian/Rotaract Buddy Deal for $58, which is designed to encourage mentorship and networking between Rotarians and Rotaract students. This ticket provides admission for a Rotarian and a student, fostering connections and shared experiences.
Do you have a special talent? We are looking for volunteers to perform at the event! Whether it’s music, comedy, magic, or another skill, we’d love to see you on stage.
If you or someone you know is interested, please reach out!
Thank you for your ongoing support, and we hope to see you at Spring Fling!
Lindsay Marczak
SIGN UP NOW for CONVENTION !
As President Joe so eloquently said:
Heads up everybody …
RCCD, as the leading club is our District, needs to lead by example .
Let’s promote the value of attending the Convention with all our MIGHT !
Rotary’s April Focus: Environmental Month – RCCD’s Commitment to Sustainability
April is Environmental Month in Rotary, a time for us to focus on the environmental challenges facing our world and take action to preserve the planet for future generations. As climate change, pollution, and resource depletion intensify, Rotary clubs across the globe are stepping up, and the Rotary Club of Calgary Downtown (RCCD) is no exception.
RCCD’s Local Environmental Initiatives.
At RCCD, we understand the importance of local action in building a sustainable future. One of our key projects is the Rotary/Mattamy Greenway, a 138-kilometer pathway that spans Calgary, promoting environmental sustainability and encouraging outdoor recreation. The Greenway connects communities and green spaces, fostering environmental stewardship and raising awareness about the need for accessible natural spaces in urban areas.
Global Contributions to Environmental Sustainability
On a global scale, Rotary International’s commitment to environmental sustainability is unwavering. Rotary clubs worldwide are tackling issues like plastic pollution, climate change, and biodiversity conservation. RCCD is proud to be part of these efforts through partnerships with organizations focused on clean water, sanitation, and renewable energy. RCCD members have been involved in global environmental initiatives, supporting efforts to reduce plastic waste and promote recycling. By advocating for policies that prioritize environmental protection, RCCD plays a critical role in fostering sustainable practices and promoting climate action at both the local and global levels.
Get Involved: Take Action This April
This April, as we observe Environmental Month, RCCD encourages everyone to take action to protect the planet. Whether you’re volunteering for a local cleanup or supporting sustainability projects, every contribution counts.
Here are a few ways to get involved:
• Support RCCD’s local environmental projects, like the Greenway, by volunteering or raising awareness. • Adopt sustainable practices in your daily life—reduce, reuse, and recycle. • Advocate for climate-friendly policies in your community and beyond.
Conclusion: RCCD’s Ongoing Commitment
RCCD remains deeply committed to environmental sustainability, both locally and globally. Through projects like the Greenway and participation in Rotary International’s environmental initiatives, we are actively working to protect our planet and promote sustainable living. As we celebrate Environmental Month this April, let’s take pride in the work we’ve done and continue to push for meaningful change that will create a healthier, more sustainable future for all.
Ebenezer Mensa
Our Club and CAWST Produce Great Results Again
The following are quotations from CAWST’s report on their recent Africa Regional learning Exchange.
“The Africa Regional Learning Exchange, made possible through Rotary’s generous funding, brought together a network of WASH practitioners from across Africa. This event provided a dynamic platform for sharing knowledge, fostering collaboration, and enhancing the capacity of local organizations to implement effective and sustainable Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) solutions in their communities.”
“A heartfelt thank you to Rotary for their essential support in making this exchange a success. Your continued commitment to WASH solutions and capacity development is invaluable. The relationships formed and the knowledge shared will ensure that this initiative leads to sustainable, long term improvements in WASH practices across Africa and beyond. Together, we can scale up sustainable WASH solutions to communities worldwide.”
About 2007 our club committed approximately $250,000, which was matched by Encana, and then was used to obtain a grant of $1.5 million from the Canadian government. This two million dollars was the start of CAWST’s WET Centres overseas. One of those Partner Centres began as a Rotary club. For more than 20 years we have assisted each other on numerous projects.
Our club has led many projects in Cambodia over the years. In the last 7 years, we have focused on Early Childhood Education projects in collaboration with the Rotary Club of Pursat. Cambodia is currently rebuilding its education system, especially in early childhood education, which was severely impacted by the 1970s civil war. Key challenges include a lack of Khmer-language teaching resources, teachers' limited computer skills for resource creation, and insufficient experience in effective teaching techniques and online research. Additionally, expensive Khmer resources often don't align with the curriculum, posing affordability issues for rural schools with minimal budgets for preschool teachers.
Our latest project, CLIP 3, with the support of 5Calgary Rotary clubs (Chinook, Centennial, East, Stampede Park, West and ourselves) has a widespread impact due to the sharing of resources on the internet. CLIP 3 won the Basic Education & Literacy Rotary Action Group (BELRAG) award for 2024! The project includes 15 partner schools with 26 ECL classes across five regions. This initiative aims to empower teachers, parents, and communities over a two-year period, facilitated by collaboration with local education departments and the Rotary Club of Pursat (RCP).
Winners of the Rotary Calgary Concerto Competition for 2025.
Our club has sponsored the Rotary Calgary Concerto Competition for the last six (6) years and what an amazing opportunity for young musicians to receive professional adjudication. Winners also have the unique opportunity to perform with an orchestra on the best stage in Calgary, the Jack Singer Concert Hall. This sponsorship is a feather in Rotary’s cap as it demonstrates the support for youth in the performing arts and provides the unique opportunity and support young performers need if they are to aspire to a career as the soloist or even orchestra member. Winners in the past included Jan Lisiecki (world renowned pianist), Arnold Choi (Calgary Phil Cello lead), Estelle Choi (cellist in the renowned Calidore String Quartet).
The winners, in alphabetical order by last name are: • Charlotte Giraudeau, age 16 - Rachmaninoff, (Piano) Concerto No. 4 in G minor, Op 40 • Aaron Janse-Deng, age 15 - Elgar, (Cello) Concerto in E minor, Op. 85 • Coco Zhang, age 17 - Chopin, (Piano) Andante Spianato et Grande Polonaise Brillante, Op. 22 • Oscar (Hanqi) Zhang, age 14 - Beethoven, (Piano) Concerto No. 2 in B flat major, Op 19
Runner's up (in order) are: • 1st runner up: Avery Krahn, age 18 - Prokofiev, (Violin) Concerto No. 1 in D major, Op 19 • 2nd runner up: Aidan Lu, age 12 - Saint Saens, (Piano) Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op 22 • 3rd runner up: Jinqi Hu, age 14 - Lalo, (Violin) Symphonie Espagnole, Op 21 • 4th runner up: Ian Quon, age 11 - Ravel, (Piano) Concerto in G major, M. 83
Don’t let the age of these young performers mislead you. The quality of their performances is nothing shy of professional. You can check out all competition performances by visiting the Rotary C3 website.
If you'd like to have us publish an article or have an idea about what we should be publishing, please forward your ideas to Madeleine by the FRIDAY before the Tuesday publication date.
You are also welcome to contact either Madeleine, Doug or Diane to discuss any idea you may have.
Here are the remaining publication dates for the first half on 2025:
Apr 1, 15, 29
May 6, 20
June 3, 17
If you enjoy reading the COG, let us know because your comments are the only way we know we are hitting the mark and it is our reward!
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