"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.
Rotary International's theme for the 2025-2026 year
Birthdays
David Bromwich March 4
Trevor Axworthy March 6
Howie Shikaze March 12
Anniversaries
Laurene Wilson 20 years
Peter Harrison 5 years
YOUR VOICE!
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Club Meeting - Feb 24, 2026
Heidi Lacey
President Bill Hamilton called the meeting to order and welcomed members and guests. Catherine Scheers delivered the invocation.
Bill extended thanks to the Front of House volunteers: Registration Table - Craig Henderson & Berti Kawooya, Sgt-at-Arms - Manon Mitchell, 50/50 - Bruce Fenwick.
Club Business Highlights:
District Conference Participation Drive – Manon Mitchell
Members were encouraged to attend the District 5360 Conference in Red Deer (May 1–3, 2026). This year’s conference features an outstanding lineup of speakers including:
Louisa Horne (Past District Governor, Rotary Club of Halifax Harbourside), a leadership consultant specializing in strategic thinking and organizational development
Chris Koch (“If I Can”), an inspirational speaker known for his message on resilience, perspective, and overcoming self-imposed limitations
Chandra Crawford (Olympic Gold Medalist), keynote speaker sharing powerful insights on pursuing excellence and building inclusive communities
Tareq Hadhad (Founder & CEO, Peace by Chocolate), an award-winning entrepreneur sharing his journey from Syrian refugee to Canadian business leader and advocate for peace
Conference details and registration information are available here.
Major Donations Update - Momentum
Franco Savoia introduced one of this year's Major Donations recipients, Momentum. Chelsea Detheridge and Reagan Reiter shared highlights from the Matched Savings for Youth program which supports individuals aged 16-24 in building financial literacy, savings habits, and pathways to education and employment.
The 2025 Impact Report showed strong results: 46 youth participated, many from lower-income households, with 100% applying the financial skills learned. Additionally, 98% reported increased confidence and hope for the future while 93% built supportive connections. Savings were used for tuition, textbooks, and employment tools supporting long-term financial stability and opportunity.
Flames Rotary Sport Zone Update - Joe Fras
Joe Fras provided an update on the Flames Rotary Sport Zones- a multi-site initiative creating accessible, year-round recreational spaces across Calgary to which our club has pledged to contribute $1 million over the next five years. Projects are underway in Pineridge, Sunalta (George Moss Park), and Crossroads with each site designed for multi-use programming including seasonal ice rinks that convert to sport courts. Planning continues for the fourth site in Cedarbrae.
Designs prioritize accessibility, safety, and durability with features such as lighting, seating, equipment storage, and flexible gathering areas to support both organized sport and informal community use. Development is progressing across all locations with phased construction and ongoing community engagement. Openings are anticipated over the coming year.
Second Chance Art Sale - Steve Dunk (Rotary Club of Calgary Heritage Park)
Members were invited to support the upcoming Second Chance Art Sale, a key Rotary fundraiser supporting community initiatives. Artwork donations are being accepted at select Calgary Co-Op locations through March 30 with the sale taking place April 17-18 at the Acadia Recreation Complex.
The event will feature 1,500+ pieces of art with most items priced between $20-$60, making it an accessible opportunity for the community to purchase original and other donated works. Members are encouraged to donate artwork, attend the sale, and help spread the word as proceeds directly support Rotary-led projects.
Guest Speaker - Dr. John Brown, Dean of the University of Calgary School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape
Madeleine King introduced guest speaker Dr. John Brown, Dean of the U of C School of Architecture. Dr. Brown spoke on the School's move into the former Nexen building as part of Calgary's downtown office conversion program, positioning the School at the centre of the city's evolving urban landscape.
His presentation highlighted how this shift supports hands-on, city-integrated learning, giving students direct exposure to real-world challenges in planning, design, and redevelopment. He emphasized the opportunity to reimagine downtown Calgary through adaptive reuse, mixed-use development, and community-focused design.
Closing
President Bill Hamilton closed the meeting, noting that the next club meeting will take place on March 10, 2026. The guest speaker will be Chief Katie McLellan, Calgary Chief of Police, who will speak on civil affairs and security, offering insight into current priorities and challenges facing the city.
Members are encouraged to attend what promises to be an engaging and timely discussion.
From the Board Table
Heidi Lacey
Highlights from the RCCD Board Meeting (Jan 15, 2026)
The Board meets regularly to review club priorities, governance matters, programming, and upcoming initiatives. Below are member-relevant highlights from the January meeting:
Recognition – The Board approved awarding a Paul Harris Fellow to Shelley Zucht-Shorter, as recommended by the Paul Harris Fellowship Committee.
Leave of Absence – A one-year leave of absence was approved for Ginny Sparks-Kellough; dues will be invoiced to cover Rotary International costs.
Membership – The membership situation remains consistent with December. Steacy noted she is sponsoring four new members who are coming in.
Programs & Key Dates – Speakers and dates discussed.
Communications & Social Media – The Board approved updated Social Media Guidelines (as recommended by the Communications Committee).
Leadership Opportunity – The Communications team is seeking a Chair. (Position subsequently filled; Louise Redmond to take Daudi Kawooya's position July 1)
From the Community Service Fund (CSF)
Heidi Lacey
Highlights from the Rotary Club of Calgary Community Service Fund Board Meeting (January 15, 2026)
The CSF Board met to review charitable initiatives, fundraising activities, and allocation decisions. Member-relevant highlights include:
Adopt A Village – The Board supported Gerard D’Mello holding a September fundraiser to expand the Adopt A Village initiative. The project is exploring collaboration with The Rotary Foundation and other clubs to scale impact. A documentary on the project has also been produced.
Legacy Funding – The Board granted the Legacy Project Committee authority to defer the remaining $250,000 in the 2025/26 CSF budget to the next Rotary year at their discretion.
Stampede & Recovery Day BBQs – Two small BBQ events were approved in principle (Stampede week and Recovery Day), subject to BBQ Committee support and a submitted budget.
Ronald McDonald House – Home for Dinner – $1,000 was approved this year to support member participation in the Home for Dinner volunteer event (from discretionary funds).
Motion Correction – A correction was noted to the December 18 motion regarding funding for the Breaking the Silence Punta Cana project. The approved amount is USD $16,500.
How to Get Involved in Calgary Reads Big Book Sale 2026
Steacy Pinney
On Feb. 17, Calgary Reads Big Book Sale got to share the news that many local book-lovers have been waiting for: the dates for our 2026 sale. We’re excited to announce that this year’s book sale runs May 8-17 at the Calgary Curling Club.
Those are the dates to shop at the sale, but many of us know the work to prepare for this 10-day event is already underway. If you’ve been hearing about how much fun it is to volunteer or you want to get behind an event that helps children to become thriving readers, we have answers for your frequently asked questions!
1. How do I volunteer at the Big Book Sale?
If you’re a returning volunteer, on Feb. 17 you should have received an email about your timeline for booking shifts. We’re fortunate to have many experienced volunteers helping to lead our teams and keep the work of sorting and selling as safe and efficient as can be—so a portion of shifts are held for returning volunteers.
Receive an email with instructions for signing up for shifts in March
It’s an incredible thing to be surrounded by so many book-lovers and books and to know that, book by book, the sale proceeds help Calgary children learn to read by Grade 3.
If you’d like to volunteer with other Downtown club members as a group, we’ll be sharing fellowship opportunities for the club soon.
Spread the Words Barbecue
If you’re one of our barbecue aficionados, the Spread the Words volunteer appreciation event takes place May 7, and our club looks forward to hosting a barbecue that afternoon. Stay tuned for more info to help out that day. This is a fun chance to share our thanks with nearly 1,300 volunteers who give their time to help sort and sell books over the course of 20 days.
Whether it’s behind the grill or behind a stack of books, we can’t wait to see you and say thanks for representing Rotary at this very special and impactful community event! Please watch for our next article about how to contribute by hosting book drives and donating books!
Save the Dates - Volunteer for BBQs
Diane Macdonald
Barbeque season is coming fast!
The BBQ Committee has committed to several events over the next few months, so below is a list of the dates.
Please mark your calendars and, if at all possible, be ready to put your name on the list when the sign-up sheets come out.
Big Book Sale Volunteer Appreciation - Thursday, May 7th
St. Monica School - Thursday, May 14th
West Dover School - Thursday, June 11th
Pow Wow - Saturday, June 20th
There will also be some events in the fall – dates will be announced once they are finalized.
Thanks to the Club for Young Adult Support (A letter from Mercy Trinh to Madeleine King)
Madeleine King
I am writing with the good news that I have been accepted into the NGSE (Rotary's New Generations Service Exchange) program (supported without financial aid by the Rotary Club of Calgary Downtown) and I have an internship confirmed in Tours, France (District 1720). I would like to thank the Rotary Club of Calgary Downtown for their support; without their sponsorship I would not be able to participate in this amazing opportunity. I would also like to share some context about what exactly I will be doing during this exchange.
The program will begin on May 5th. I am staying with the President, Gérard Chambon, of the Rotary Club in Tours, and his wife. During the first week of my stay I will be working in wills and estates, the second week will focus on family and criminal matters, and the third week will be in real estate law. I am excited to experience such a wide breadth of practice, especially since one of my career goals is to practice law in Europe.
Upon my return to Canada I will reach out to set a date to present my experience at one of your club meetings, as required by the NGSE program.
Club Meeting Dates
President Bill Hamilton and Program Director Terry McMahon
Mar. 10 - Guest Speaker: Katie McLellan, Chief of Police
Mar. 24 - Guest Speaker: Lara Murphy, Calgary Wild women's soccer team CEO
Apr. 9 Thursday - Guest Speaker: PREMIER DANIELLE SMITH
Apr. 21 - Guest Speaker: Cheryl Barnard, Olympian and CEO Sports Hall of Fame
May 5 - Guest Speaker: Jo Pittman, Superintendent Calgary Board of Education
May 19- Evening meeting- President’s dinner
June 2- To be decided
June 16- Guest Speaker: Alice de Kooning, Haskayne School of Business on entrepreneurship and innovation
June 30- President’s final meeting
Proudly Presenting Our Corporate Members
Upcoming Events
Frank n' Stein ( 1st Thursday)
Mar. 05, 2026 4:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Call your fellow Rotarian and join us...
chat about world and local happenings over a drink or two
Volunteer Event - Home for Dinner - Ronald McDonald Cagary House
Mar. 12, 2026 3:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Mountain Daylight Time (UTC-06:00)
We are gathering volunteers for a Home for Dinner event at the Ronald McDonald House in Calgary, where our group will help prepare and serve a meal for families staying at the House.
Event Highlights:
- Arrive at **3:00 PM** (includes a tour of the newly expanded House)
- Guided cooking experience with **Executive Chef Soham**
- Dinner served from **5:30–6:30 PM**
- Meal prepared for approximately **200 family members**
- Group size limited to **10 volunteers**
All groceries, meal plans, gloves, and aprons are provided. Closed-toe, non-slip shoes are required. Volunteers must be symptom-free for 48 hours prior.
This is a meaningful way to support families by providing a warm meal when they need it most. Thank you for your continued service.
This is the standing meeting for the RCCD Youth Committee, which meets on the 4th Wednesday of every month. Meeting takes place online.
Please e-mail the youth Director (Currently, Peter Harrison) if you'd like to join the Youth Committee. All RCCD Rotarians are also welcome to join any of our meetings as a guest.
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