CASH PRIZES!!!
The Rotary Lucky Duck Draw will be held on Sunday September 13th at 12 Noon at McLeod Park!
Get your tickets from any Rotarian or member of Special Olympics Kenora.
The Rotary Club of Kenora supported the "Light Up Central" fundraising efforts with a donation of $5,000.These funds were given to Rotary by the Canadian Tire JumpStart Program to donate or use as we saw fit. We decided that supporting local youth through community clubs would be a great way to put the funds to good use.
Thank you to Canadian Tire JumpStart and to the Light Up Central Committee for helping to make our community a great place to grow up in!
Pictured are left - Tim Gosnell -Light Up Central and Kelly Williams - Rotary Club of Kenora President -2019-29
The Nutrition on Weekends Program (N.O.W.) is receiving incredible support!
It has been a busy spring for Kenora Rotary and facilitating the Nutrition on Weekends (N.O.W.) Kenora program during the COVID-19 pandemic. We were able to increase our assistance to those who rely on school nutrition programs when school programs are not accessible. The Rotary Club of Kenora in partnership with the Northwestern Health Unit and local schools, the N.O.W. Program increased the number of bags being delivered (as many as 350 a week) and the size of those bags (5-7 days worth of breakfasts, snacks, and lunches).
Thanks to all those who volunteered to assist with the program. A version of the program will continue this summer with the health unit handling all finances, Rotarian Stacey Szajewski has volunteered to continue shopping and organizing volunteers for packing, and schools are continuing distribution.
CLICK ON THE IMAGE ABOVE FOR A DIRECT LINK TO CONVENTION INFORMATION!
CLICK on the image for a direct link to Convention Information
Rotary's N.O.W. Program is working to help feed children in our community!
Here is an interview CBC held with Rotarian and teacher Marnie Buffett to explain the program and the increasing need in our community:
There are ways to support the Nutrition on Weekends (NOW) Kenora program during the unprecedented situation due to the coronavirus pandemic. The N.O.W. Program has been managed by Rotary for the past 2 school years and will continue, with assistance from the Northwestern Health Unit and local schools.
Donations to the COVID-19 Community Response Fund from the Kenora Lake of the Woods Community Foundation (www.klwcf.ca) may be directed to the NOW Program. All funds donated will stay here in the region and are being distributed on April 17. Please indicate in the Message section that your donation is to be allocated specifically to NOW. A tax-deductible receipt will be issued.
The Northwestern Health Unit is also accepting donations for NOW and will issue a charitable receipt. Your cheque should be made to the Northwestern Health Unit and indicate on the Memo line that it is for NOW Kenora. The address is 210 First Street North, P9N 2K4. Please address it to the attention of Chelsea Socholotuk.
Our Rotary Club appreciates all the support received from our community.
The Rotary Club of Kenora is fundraising to help alleviate child poverty in our community!
The N.O.W. Program has been managed by Rotary for the past 2 school years and will continue, with assistance from the Northwestern Health Unit and local schools.
We are “selling” double insulated stainless steel bottles to keep liquids cold or hot. They have the Rotary logo on one side and on the opposite side: “Investing in our World
Investing in our Children.”
When you purchase a bottle for $50, you are helping to feed a child for a month of weekends and by using the bottles, you are helping to save our world.
The top has a push-button close/open on the top and there is a hanger hole in the lid for carrying the bottle hands-free.
For information on how to purchase, please contact Fred Wright: Fred.wright2020@gmail.com
PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT
The Rotary Club of Kenora has postponed the Rotary Centennial Gala due to COVID-19. We are grateful for all the support and generosity from participants, volunteers, and everyone involved but want to make the best decision for the safety of our community. ~
St. Thomas Aquinas teacher James Trudeau was honored for his commitment to the Rotary Interact Club which has a membership of 20 students ages 12 to 18. James also volunteers with Rotary's Model United Nations for high school students who compete at the MUNA event in Winnipeg each year. James has a long history of volunteering. Pictured with James Trudeau are Rotarian James Clifford Retson and President Kelly Williams
Scouter Olean Jones was presented with an Honorary Paul Harris for her work with Scouts Canada. Olean has a very long history (42 years) of volunteering with Scouts Canada and has held numerous positions within the organization
The Rotary Club's Health and Hunger Committee has been busy distributing donations to school nutrition programs and community organizations this week.
Old Time Christmas was the theme of this year's Kinsmen Parade, so we had Carolers on our float!
A donation of $750 was made to the Salvation Army's Miracle Marathon. Pictured are Rotarians Sandra Poole of the Salvation Army, and Rotary President Kelly Williams
In the first two months of 2019, the Nutrition on Weekends (NOW) Kenora program has been rolled out to seven Kenora elementary schools (King George VI School, Evergreen School, Pope John Paul II School, St. Louis School, Keewatin Public School, Ecole Ste. Marguerite Bourgeoys and Gaagagekiizhik School. The program currently being introduced to Valleyview School.) and is now feeding 248 children each weekend. (This is approximately 100 more than estimated based on Northwestern Health Unit statistics indicating 8% of school populations with similar programs in their catchment area are accessing those programs.)
Past District Governor and E/MGA Zone 24 West District Membership Co-chair/Chair Paul Harris Society Pat Chernesky and Carolyn Ferguson, major gifts officer for Rotary, joined the packing on Wednesday at the NWHU. Thank you all for your service!!
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE WINNERS OF OUR 2019 DREAM TRIP DRAW FUNDRAISER!
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THANK YOU TO EVERYONE FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
The Rotary Club of Kenora was honoured to have Rotarian Takako Ito, Consul General of Japan as featured guest speaker at their meeting on September 26th to discuss Canada-Japan relations.was introduced by Rotarian Bruce Krawicki's grandson Thomas, an Interact Student from St. Thomas Aquinas High School.
About the Consulate-General of Japan
The Consulate-General of Japan in Toronto is the Japanese diplomatic mission responsible for overseeing the relationship between Japan and Ontario. A branch of the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Consulate-General functions as the window to the Government of Japan to Japanese nationals living in Ontario and Canadians who wish to do business with Japan or visit or simply learn more about the country. In addition, the Consulate-General is the link between Japan and the Government of Ontario, as well as the province's business and cultural communities.
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We were proud to welcome 2 new members to our Rotary Family! Ron Malashewski and Kelly Smith were inducted at Monday's meeting.L. to R.: Ron's Sponsor Steve Walker, President Kelly Williams, Kelly Smith's Sponsor Lynn Carlson, Kelly Smith, Ron Malashewski, Past President James Retson.
Rotary’s Official Visit of District 5550 Governor Fred Wright was held Monday evening at St. Alban’s Church Hall. A fish fry, some great laughs and fellowship was enjoyed by all. The club president Kelly Williams presented Fred with a donation of $2,000 to be used for Kenora Rotary’s Nutrition On Weekends (NOW) Program. Rotarian Lloyd H. Mack is the Chair of the Program, which helps kids eat healthy on weekends in Kenora.
Nutrition on Weekends (NOW) Kenora is back underway with volunteers packaging the first weekend bags on Thursday, Sept. 5th for King George VI and Evergreen Schools (a total of 60 bags). The bags are being packaged in a central location and delivered to the schools this year. Additional schools will be added over the coming weeks with expectations of about 150 weekend bags being packed when the program is fully up and running.
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The Special Olympics, Kenora Chapter, again partnered with our Rotary Club to put on the Lucky Duck Race on July 1st of this year. President Kelly Williams presented a cheque for $7,770.50 to members of Special Olympics, representing their share in the profits. Thanks everyone who volunteered, or sold or purchased tickets! We appreciate your support!
A donation was made to Harvest Kenora to help with their endeavor to promote food security in Kenora.
Harvest Kenora is a collective of people working to promote sustainable small-scale agriculture, community building, and a love of gardening! Harvest Kenora is a sub-committee of Climate Action Kenora.
KENORA ROTARY SPLASH PARK GRAND OPENING!
JULY 6, 2019
It was a great day to celebrate in Kenora on Saturday July 6th when our Rotary Club celebrated the Grand Opening of the Kenora Rotary Splash Park!
Balloons (biodegradable), cookies from Lana's Kitchen, free drinks and beach towels and a free draw - courtesy of Century 21, and free Rotary Splash Park t-shirts! All this was just part of the celebration, along with the Kenora Scottish Pipes and Drums escorting dignitaries into the park.
Guest Speakers were MPP Greg Rickford, Kenora Mayor Dan Reynard, Grand Chief of Treaty 3 Ogichidaa Francis Kavanaugh, and Rotary Club of Kenora's President Kelly Williams. MC was Splash Park Chair Deb LeMaistre.
We had music provided by Wolfe Sound and Music, Chad Gropp's food truck on site with half the food sale profits going to the splash park.
Of course we held the official ribbon cutting, the official splash park turn on by 5 year olds Layla Nordlund and Sunna Hutchison, and also planted a beautiful blue spruce as Rotary's Centennial Tree, donated by Debbie's Greenhouse and planted by President Kelly Williams and DG Fred Wright.
You are invited to the GRAND OPENING of the Rotary Splash Park!
July 6, 2019 at 11 a.m. at Norman Park, Kenora
- Balloons (biodegradable ones)
- Cookies by Lana's Kitchen
- T-shirts - shot from a connon!
- Music by Kenora's Pipes and Drums!
- Bubble Machine!
- Food - Gropp's Food Truck!
- Free giveaways from Century 21!
- FUN for the Whole Family!
- Live Broadcast by Q104!
- Q104 Swag!
- Music by Wolfe Sound & Music!
- Rotary's Centennial Tree will be planted, donated by Debbie's Greenhouse
Guest Speakers:
MPP Rickford and a representative for the Ontario Trillium Foundation, will attend the launch and will formally present the Rotary Club of Kenora and the City of Kenora with a plaque to mark the Splash Park completion as a result of receiving a grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation in 2018.
Deb LeMaistre, Splash Park Committee Chair
Kelly Williams, President of the Rotary Club of Kenora
Mayor Daniel Reynard
Ogichidaa Francis Kavanaugh, Grand Chief of Treaty 3
This celebration will also be the start of the Rotary Club of Kenora’s Centennial Year, celebrating 100 years of doing good in our community and the world!
"Service Above Self"
Kenora, ON
Canada