Last year in September 2018, a powerful tornado swept through the Ottawa area. Many of the homes, farm properties  and a children’s recreational building in the Dunrobin area were either partially or completely destroyed.

Many Rotarians immediately went to work to help the families ravaged by the devastation. 

On June 17, at the Kenwood Centre in Arnprior after 9 1/2 months since the disaster happened President Dave Palmer thanked Martha Weaver, District Governor, and several members of the Rotary Club of Arnprior for assisting him through the process to obtain funds from the District in order to help the victims of Dunrobin.  Dave introduced Lori McGrath of the West Carleton Disaster Relief group who was delighted to announce that a local company SenStar had stepped in to rebuild the equipment shed, change room, bleachers and do other remedial work. 

Dave especially acknowledged John and Beate Stewart from the RC of Chesterville who ran a fundraiser to raise money for this cause and Ed and his son Brent Smith of the RC of Ottawa-Stittsville Club who arrived with a $1000 cheque to be used towards the relief fund.

DG Martha Weaver helped present the gift cards provided by Rotary for families in need to Lori McGrath of the West Carleton Disaster Relief. A total of $1,320  was obtained in gift cards from each of following stores in Arnprior and area; Shell & McEwan gas stations, Canadian Tire, Home Hardware, Rona and Sobeys.  

Front row: John and Beate from the Chesterville Rotary Club, District Governor Martha Weaver, Lori McGrath of the West Carleton Disaster Relief, President Dave Palmer, and Ed Smith of the RC of Ottawa-Stittsville Club.

Leo Hughes at home with his wife Margaret. .  Photo courtesy of Derek Dunn/Metroland.

Her Excellency the Right Honourable Julie Payette, Governor General of Canada and Queen Elizabeth II’s representative, has granted the Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers to Rotarian Leo Hughes of Arnprior.

The Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers is a Canadian decoration which recognizes the exceptional volunteer achievements of Canadians from across the country in a wide range of fields and pays tribute to the dedication and commitment of volunteers. 

The Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers will be awarded to Reverend Dr. Leo Hughes during a ceremony hosted by the Rotary Club of Arnprior on May 23rd. The 87-year-old Mr. Hughes has been an exceptional volunteer in the community, co-founding the Arnprior branch of the Rotary Club, providing support to the local Legion and veterans and for years as reverend of St. Andrews Presbyterian Church.

A.J. Charbonneau Public School in Arnprior offers a variety of programs and services that help students succeed at school. The school has been offering a Snack Program for the past few years, with the assistance of the Renfrew County Food for learning grant and community partners. They offer healthy snacks at both nutrition breaks, prepared by their life skills program.  This program is offered to all grades, JK through Grade 8.  

By promoting healthy eating and providing nutrition programs in school settings, students have the potential of achieving optimal health, growth and intellectual development. Many children come to school without breakfast, for a variety of reasons.  This translates into a child’s inability to concentrate, increased restlessness and disruptive behavior, which affects the learning conditions in the classroom.

The Rotary Club of Arnprior is pleased to support this program and seen here presenting a cheque to Ms. Lisa Murphy, Principal of A.J. Charbonneau, is President Elect and Foundation Chair Gerhard Peters. 

Photograph courtesy of Vila Smith 

 

Paul Harris Fellowship Award

The Paul Harris Fellowship Award is one of the highest honours Rotary can bestow upon a person. Recipients are Rotarians and community professionals, in recognition of their outstanding contributions.  Several Rotary Club of Arnprior members were awarded the Paul Harris Fellowship on Monday during the club's annual changeover meeting at the residence of Rod & Vila Smith’s . This year the award went to three Rotarians. They were Dave Palmer for his contribution to the Rotary Foundation, Rod Smith and Mike Steeves for “service above self.” These Rotarians have joined past and present Rotarians in receiving this prestigious honour.

 

Rod presenting the Paul Harris Award to Dave Palmer

In the Spring of 2018, a group of "Me to We" students from Arnprior District High School (ADHS) travelled to Quito, Ecuador and the surrounding areas on an educational trip.  The students learned much about life in Ecuador including the interests of similarly aged students and did a number of activities such as planting trees on a farm, constructing a new kitchen for a school, visiting a cacao farm, and, as a highlight, visiting the Amazon rain forest. 

Students Tessa and Kaylee along with their teacher Mark Wroe presented a 4 1/2 minute video of their trip to the Rotary Club of Arnprior on May 14. The Club donated $2,200 to the group of  students to assist with the trip out of proceeds from the 2018 Arnprior Rotary Cash Calendar fundraiser. Art students at ADHS partnered on the project by providing most of the artwork for the calendar.

Pictured below Rotarian/Treasurer Jane Peters, Students Tessa and Kaylee, Rod Smith President of The Rotary Club of Arnprior and in the background ADHS teacher and one of the chaperones Mark Wroe