Mailing Address:
Rotary Club of Kenora
P.O. Box 164
KENORA, ON P9N 3X3
Club President 2025/26
President Elect
Immediate Past President
Past President
Club Secretary
Club Treasurer
Club Membership Chair
Club Service Projects Chair
Club Public Image Chair
Club Rotary Foundation Chair
Club Learning Facilitator
Club Young Leaders Contact
Club Administration
International Service
Recording Secretary
Harassment Officer
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Jake on the Lake was the guest speaker at the May 11th Rotary meeting. Jake gave us the back ground on how Wauzhushk Onigum got this community radio station.
The Rotary Club of Kenora was well represented at the District 5550 Conference held in Neepawa May 8-9. From l-r: Lynn Carlson, Christine Hansen, Fred Wright, Deb Lemaistre, Lloyd Mack, Shirley Mack, Ron Noseworthy, Claire Noseworthy and Gord Lemaistre. The conference theme was ‘We are all Canadian.’
On May 1 and 2, student teams from Beaver Brae Secondary School and St. Thomas Aquinas High School participated in the Model United Nations Assembly in Winnipeg. The Rotary Club of Kenora is beyond proud of the hard work in simulating negotiation and consensus-building on global issues with delegates from across Northwestern Ontario, Northern Manitoba and Saskatchewan.Each team was assigned a country in the United Nations model and was expected to articulate how their nation upholds and advances truth,
ensures access, and strengthens resilience in the global system in debate on two resolutions researched prior to the event.
The four teams from Beaver Brae (top photo) were: Henri Degagne-Ross and Sydney Tacknyk, Lauren Fagnilli and Cecelia Hodson, Dorcas Kolapo and Esther Kolapo, and Kayhne McDonald and Emma Wheatley. A special round of applause to Emma and Kayhne for winning the Rais Khan Memorial Award for Diplomacy.
Representing St. Thomas Aquinas were: Stephanie Titova and Izzah Imran (above photo), and Laura McNulty and Mehrosh Tanveer (below photo)
Rotarian Anne Anderson (left) and President Lloyd Mack (right) congratulate Cierra Olsen on her receipt of the Rotary Club of Kenora Community Service Award at Confederation College. The mother of two (a 5-year-old) daughter and a 3-year-old son) is an upcoming graduate of Confederation College, where I will receive her Early Childhood Education diploma. She has 10 years of experience in the Early Childhood Education field, working with various ages groups ranging from infant to school aged children, and has volunteered with the Girl Guides of Canada, working with the Sparks and Embers (5-8 years), and on occasion, she volunteers for my daughter’s school, helping with hot lunches.
Cierra has been accepted into the Social Services Worker (Accelerated) program with Confederation College in the fall of 2026, and plans to continue her education even further to ensure she is providing quality care throughout her professional journey.
This winter there seemed to be a lot of vandalism at the Rotary Peace Park. Every bench had some of the composite plastic boards broken off. Both picnic tables had graffetti on them.
When the town was alerted they jumped into action by removing the graffetti and replacing all the boards with treated lumber. Treated lumber was chosen as the composite boards cost just under $100 per board. It would have been a thousand dollar touch this time.
Denise Lysak from the Lake of the Woods Brewing Company step in at the last minute on March 27th to give an update on what the Brewing Company is involved with. Presentation came 2 days after their Earth Day Cleanup in Kenora. Planting trees, charity pints, Beer for a Cause are just some of the community projects that BrewCo is involved in.Pictured here is Rotary President Lloyd Mack presenting a certificate to Denise for her presentation. The club honours all speakers by making a donation to the Rotary Foundation on their behalf
A group of 10 Rotarians came out to support the Lake of the Woods Brewing Company in their efforts to clean up the street of Kenora.About 70 people came out to pick up garbage filling a large dumpster. The clean look of the town was very noticable. Rotarians met after the event to share a meal together. Thank you goes out to BrewCo for continuing this annual cleanupBelow, John, Judy, Payden & Demi busy at work. More pictures available of the Rotary Facebook page
Congratulations to Guy Saurette, Kenora's newest Paul Harris Fellow. President Lloyd presented the certificate and pin to Guy at a NOW packing event. This is Guy's first PHF
Executive Director Lois Bailey of Wigwas, Program Manager Sheelagh Reid and Enviromental Service Manager Kerry Livingstone gave the club an informative update on what has changed over the past few years at Wigwas Elder and Senior Care Home. Changes from a tired operation to a now vibrant home for seniors are easily spotted when you visit Wigwas. Lois kept reenforcing that it was her hard working team that allowed all the positive changes .
The Legacy of Lucia Melnick Forever an endowment fund that the KLWCF has set up in her honour . The banner was proudly displayed at this year's Festival of the Arts. The arts is something that Lucia always supported and participated in. Lucia was a long time honourary Rotarian until her passing in the fall of 2023
The St. Thomas Aquinas Interact Club in Kenora made a generous donation to the Ripple Effect Scholarship Fund. They raised $600 to send a student at the Santo Domingo Xenacoj School to high school for a year!
This is the 5th consecutive year the students have sponsored a student in Guatemala.
April 8th had City of Kenora staff shoveling out the Rotary Peace Park. When will there be spring?
On March 25th a group of Rotarians came out to Wigwas Elder and Senior Care Home to meet with different residents and do a survey with them. The survey will give the Wigwas staff an idea on whether there are areas that need to be addresses.
Rotarian John Dahl goes thru a survey with Wigwas resident
March 23rd presentation was by Dr Jonny Grek on needles.He spoke about how needles were always some how connected to him from his early days in Liverpool to the current situation of needles here in Kenora. What Dr Grek reminded us of is that a drug addict is not thinking about anything when getting high other than the high. The last thing on that person's mind is how to properly dispose of needles
Water is something we all need to survive, but billions of people live without safe drinking water. Rotary members are working tirelessly to change this. Through projects that provide sustainable clean water, sanitation, and hygiene, we’re helping communities thrive and build healthier futures. This life-changing work is made possible by generous supporters like you. Your gift to The Rotary Foundation fuels these efforts, providing resources for Rotary members to implement projects that transform societies. This World Water Day, 22 March, you can make a difference. A gift today can help more people gain access to clean water and bring hope to communities around the globe. You can also enroll in Rotary Direct, our Foundation's recurring giving program, to support this vital work throughout the year. Let’s work together to ensure that all people have safe, clean water. Sincerely, The Rotary Foundation |
Rotarian Paddy Brett performed at the Lake of the Woods Brewing Company on March 14th in celebration of St Patrick's Day.By all accounts it was great turn out to listen to Paddy sing Irish folks songs. A portion of each ticket sold will go towards the building of the Rotary Playground on Coney Island
Meeting March 9th was to be entertained by the Sunset Country Handbell Ringers. The group is directed by Ruth Girard. Their performance was a small thank you for the financial support that our club gave the group during the covid shut down
Come out and be Irish on St Patrick's Day. Rotarian Pat Brett has donated his time and talent in support of the fully accessible Rotary Playground on Coney Island. The playground is set to be started this spring. Rotary's committment is $66,000 for the naming rights
Rotarian John Dahl delivers a $500 cheque to the Fellowship Centre to help with their programs. Donation was from the Health and Hunger Committee. Jubilee Church also received a $500 cheque
March is Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) Month. During this month, Rotary clubs worldwide highlight their
commitment to providing clean water and sanitation facilities to create healthier communities and promote
basic human rights
Old Deaner )aka Dean Irvine) takes the plunge at Garrow Park on March 1st
Dean helped raise an incredible $2255 for the Ontario Special Olympics
Thank you Dean for your committment to do good for our community
Rotarians and Friends of Rotary braved cooler weather on Feb 28th to raise money for the Fellowship Centre and Jubilee Church. The weather just makes it more real that there are people who live this every day
In total we have now raised an incredible $2735 plus the Health and Hunger Committee donated another $500 to both Fellowship Centre and to Jubilee Church. Thank you Walkers and team supporters.
by Debra LeMaistre
This is a PARTIAL List of those who have benefited from donations from the Rotary Club of Kenora:
