Recent Stories
Help Support T.A.P. - Teachers Against Poverty by bidding at our Silent Auction this Saturday Aug. 26th at Robert Simpson Park.        **Make a day of it in Arnprior and stay for the Cultural Night Market downtown.**

Items including a Decorated Wheelbarrow Planter, Framed Paintings, Tart Baking Pans and Oven Mitts, and many Gift Certificates from local area Restaurants, Motels and Businesses will be available for viewing and bidding between 9:30 am and 3:30 pm in a tent in the “Tarts and Arts in the Park” Festival there.

T.A.P. is a non-profit organization made up of teachers and community members that are dedicated to bringing positive change to some of Arnprior's most vulnerable families. T.A.P. was formed in 2017 after seeing the growing need within our schools. CPAN: Child Poverty Action Network, notes a staggeringly high percentage of children that lived well below the poverty line right here in our community. Research shows that child poverty rates in Arnprior sit at nearly 30% for kids under the age of 18 and almost 37% for kids under the age of five.

    Click on See More to see the growing List below!
Through the Looking Glass is this year’s theme ... To Kick things off join us for Yoga and local musician Andy Stokes.  Stay for the Queen of Tarts Competition, the children’s games, Little Ray's Reptiles, Valley Artists & Craftspeople plus food and fun for the whole family!    Brought to you by the Arnprior Rotary Club with a Silent Auction in support of TAP.  
    **Make a day of it in Arnprior and stay for the Cultural Night Market downtown.**
 
See the List of our Booth Venders and Displays below!  
Saturday Aug. 26, 2023
 9:30am - 4 pm in Robert Simpson Park - Arnprior
 Butter Tarts - Down by the River!
 
 Through the Looking Glass is this year’s theme ... So join us for the Queen of Tarts Competition, and stay for the children’s games, Little Ray's Reptiles, Valley Artists & Craftspeople plus food and fun for the whole family!    Brought to you by the Arnprior Rotary Club.  Make a day of it in Arnprior and stay for the Cultural Night Market downtown.
 
Admission is free - Mark your Calendar!
 

Rotary Club Runs Race In ‘Fowl’ Weather

Steven Frost (and daughter Annie) $1500, Kyle Coady $1000, Caryn Miller $500.  Various Rotary members.

 

Good weather for ducks means rain, and so it did.  Along with thunder and lightning.  After last year’s cancellation for thunderstorms which never materialized, and races suspended during COVID years, expectations were high for this year’s July 1st event. As spectators lined the shore, organizers went ahead, shortening the finish line and hoping boaters would quickly scoop up the 1500 ducks before the storm hit.   Even as the storm came and went, efforts continued under challenging circumstances to retrieve escaped ducks.  A second search was undertaken up and down the river, and all but a few ducks were captured.  Anyone finding a stray duck is asked to drop it off at the Arnprior Library - Thank You to those who have already found & returned escapees!

 

This is the 14th year for the duck race held by the Rotary Club of Arnprior.   Tickets for this popular Canada Day event sold out beforehand through member sales and booths set up thanks to Antrim Truck Stop, Mark’s No Frills, Giant Tiger, Canadian Tire and other venues. Over $12,000 was raised for ongoing projects. Community support includes Dictionary4Life, Children's Summer Reading program, the Hospital's CT scanner purchase, and donations to Seniors at Home, TAP and the Arnprior Food Bank.

Tarts and Arts in the Park - Application Form

To Apply please use the “ 2023 Tarts & Arts Vendor Application” which is a Fillable PDF form located on the Bottom Right of this page in the Downloads section.
 
If you do not have an application that opens the Form in a Fillable version, we recommend Adobe Reader, available on PCs, Apple & Android.  Go to Google Play, Apple App Download, or Windows https://get.adobe.com/reader/ for your version.
 
Special Announcement: This year's theme is "Alice in Wonderland / Into the Looking Glass". If you thematically dress up or decorate your booth, you are eligible to win back your Booth registration up to $75!!  Those who enter Tarts in the Competition have a chance to be crowned "Queen of Tarts", so get your application in!!
 
Etransfers can be made to ArnpriorRotary@gmail.com, using a Hint of "Our Town" [Arnprior]
Rotary Earth Day Cleanup on White Lake Rd
 
The Rotary Club of Arnprior participated in the 3rd Annual Rotary Great Lakes Watershed Cleanup on Earth Day. Club and family members cleaned up a stretch of the White Lake Rd west from the Highway 417 overpass including in front of the Antrim Truck Stop and Stinsons. 
 
Plenty of the usual trash artifacts were hauled in including pop bottles, cigarette packs and blown tire bits. Some of the more unusual finds included a $20 bill and two credit cards proving that “there is gold in them thar trash piles!”
 
The Great Lakes Watershed Cleanup involves hundreds of Rotary Clubs around the Great Lakes and demonstrates that acting locally can have a positive environmental impact on regional and global scales. 

Buena Dejoode’s hard work is rewarded by finding a $20 bill.  Guess where she is donating the funds to!!
 
Briar (left) and Alyson Simon proudly show off doing their bit to save the planet on Earth Day.
 
From left Paula Simon, Vila Smith and Buena Dejoode with the results of their hard work on a Earth Day
 
Arnprior Rotary Club is supporting families in need during the current food inflationary period. Teachers Against Poverty received $1,000, presented to TAP representative Dana Smith by Rotarians Buena Grace Dejoode & Terry Dawson. Arnprior Food Bank representatives Pat Tait & Don Palmer received a cheque for $3,000 from Arnprior Rotary President Diana Tomazin.
 
The Arnprior Rotary Club would like to thank Pembroke Delta Gaming for providing the fundraising for these local community organizations.
Christmas Donations 2022
 
Rotarians Gerhard Peters and Amanda Telford give Cheque to TAP Representative Dana Smith
 
Arnprior Rotary Club is pleased to offer Christmas contributions of $2,500 to the Arnprior Food Bank and $1,000 to Teachers Against Poverty in Arnprior.
 
While Gerhard has been an Arnprior Rotarian since 1988, Amanda is one our newest members!
 
Amanda was first introduced to Rotary through visiting the Rotary House in Ottawa https://rotaryhome.on.ca/, which helps caregivers and individuals with disabilities.
 
Having recently moved to Arnprior, Amanda wanted to join the Club to make a positive impact in her new home town!
Assistance for Ukrainian Refugee Family Living in Arnprior
 
Marta Hutchenko and her four-year old daughter Nikol fled Kyiv, Ukraine following the tragic outbreak of war in February 2022.  Her husband remains behind in Kyiv and her Mother is living in Odessa.  Fortunately, Marta has been able to keep the lines of communication open to Ukraine through social media.
 
Marta and Nikol are staying in Arnprior with Caroline O’Farrell who has very graciously opened up her home to help these two war refugees.  Caroline also organized a euchre tournament and silent auction hosted by the Arnprior Curling Club to help with dental costs.  Nikol is attending junior kindergarten and her English is improving rapidly as she and her mother adjust to all the changes thrust upon them.
 
The Rotary Club of Arnprior recently provided a donation of $250 to Marta.  Rotarian Rod Smith handed over the donation and posed with Marta and Nikol in the photo below in which Marta proudly displays one of her works of art.  Marta is a very talented professional, having worked as a graphic artist in Kyiv. This link provides a sample of Marta’s 2D and painting work and stands as a testament to her talents: https://www.deviantart.com/martahutchenko. She is actively seeking work as a graphic artist in Canada and will undertake commissioned artwork for clients.
 
We all wish Marta and Nikol the best of luck as they endure these trying circumstances.
Get Your 2023 Cash Calendars!!
May be an image of outdoors and text
 
Get your Daily Draw $20,000 Cash Calendar.
 
Daily prizes from $20 - $200, with 3 special prizes of $1,000. A perfect Stocking Stuffer! Ottawa area pictures make up the "Ottawa's Nature Path" theme. Get yours before they run out!
 
Available at White Pine Books or Library. Or contact ArnpriorRotary@gmail.com to arrange for pickup or delivery.
Get your Christmas Cakes!!
 
 
See the Fillable Order Form in the Downloads section of this web page!
 
UPDATE:  Limited quantities, so email before making a e-transfer!!
 
Email & e-transfer m arnpriorrotary@gmail.com with your order, etransfer psswd: [Answer name of Our Town] - "A**r"
Delivery can be arranged within Arnprior area & West Ottawa
Questions?  613 623-6019
Arnprior’s Tarts and Arts festival a huge success
 
The Queen of Tarts has been crowned!
 
It was a delicious day of family fun at the inaugural Tarts & Arts in the Park Festival hosted by the Rotary Club of Arnprior in Robert Simpson Park on Saturday, Aug. 27.
 
From kid’s games, to local artists and yummy treats it was the perfect recipe for success!
 
Diana Tomazin, Arnprior Rotary president hopes it will become an annual event. “I think it’s pretty good for the first year and a good turn out,” said Tomazin.
 
Tart royalty was out in full force and it was a delicious day to test all the tarts!
 
The hardest job of the day, judging the tarts, went to Tomazin, Glenn Arthur, Karen DeLuca, Janet Carlile, Darrel O’Shaughnessy, with hilarious commentary by Andy Kalnins. The tarts were judge by appearance, crust flavour, filling flavour, crust baking, filling baking and creativity.
 
The winners, who were literally crowned with a sparkling tiara, in the Wild tart category was Laura Killoran. In the Original category Erin Welsford was crowned victorious with Alex Everett taking second place.
 
Marilyn Misener
One of the participants has had impressive experience with Butter Tart competitions.  The Grand Champion for Butter Tarts in 2019 from the Ontario Association of Agricultural Societies had a butter tart that just melted in your mouth.  “I was pretty happy to win and I am going to try again this year,” said Marilyn Misener, of Glasgow Station.She first won at the Carp Fair, next she was the best in the district and finally she was the best out of 256 tarts in all of Ontario.When pressured to reveal the special ingredients, she had this to say. “You never know what’s inside, and I don’t give out my secret!”
 
There was so much arts and handicrafts on display it was hard not to go home empty handed. Plus they were all local! And there was something for everyone from wood work, to acrylic paint, to hand knitted creations and bead work. It was all beautiful!
 
One of the best parts of this festival was it was truly for all members of the family. The kids had a wonderful time playing classic games such as limbo, bean bag toss, puzzles and mask making.
Taking centre stage the large crowd saw performances from the Main Street School of Music, Arnprior School of Dance, Balloon Animals and Little Ray’s Reptiles. 
 
The event was run by the volunteers at the Arnprior Rotary Club with funds raised from the silent auction going to support Club Projects including Ukrainian relief.

For more information on the Arnprior Rotary Club visit: https://ArnpriorRotary.ca/
 
 

Shown from  left to right are Diana Tomazin, Candyn Wilson (winner of $1,000 first prize ),Terry Dawson, Isaac Brenton (winner of $500) ,Vila Smith and fronted by Big Duck.

The Rotary Club wishes to thank all those who purchased tickets . The proceeds of which go to funding many projects in Arnprior and area.

The Rotary Club  especially wants to thank the businesses that graciously allowed us to use their premises for selling tickets on the event , those being No  Frills , Canadian Tire Corporation, Arnprior Metro and Giant Tiger.
 
Unfortunately, due to forecast Thunderstorms, the ducks did not get a chance to swim down the Madawaska. Instead, the two winning tickets were drawn beside the Madawaska River by a helpful Arnprior resident.

We look forward to the support of the community in all of our current and future events.
Support the Arnprior Rotary Club by purchasing your July 1st Mad Duck Race Ticket for $5 each.  Proceeds go to support Arnprior Rotary projects, like our Tree Planting & Dictionaries4Life for all Gr 3 students.

etransfer to ArnpriorRotary@gmail.com, including
     Phone, email, psswd: [Answer name of Our Town] - "A**r".  We will send back an image of your ticket.
Schedule: 
    We are down to our last few tickets.  Reach out by email if you wish a ticket
 
20,000 Trees and Counting! 
Saving the Environment One Tree at a Time
 
Working with the with the Township of McNab/Braeside, Arnprior Rotary helped to secure funding from Forests Ontario for a significant Tree Planting operation beginning on April 25, 2022.  Arnprior Rotary also successfully applied for a Rotary District 7040 Grant to help to expand the Clay Bank Nature Park for Outdoor Learning.
 
Arnprior is one of the fastest growing small towns in Ontario and the expansion of Highway 417 to Renfrew is now underway.  To counteract the tree loss due to that expansion, real estate development, the removal of agricultural windrows, and tree mortality due to insects, Arnprior Rotary and the Township of McNab/Braeside have teamed up to plant thousands of white spruce, red pine and white pine trees - 22,840 over two years to be exact - through the Forests Ontario and the 50 Million Tree Program.
 
Rotary International’s newest Area of Focus is The Environment into which the Arnprior Rotary Club has leapt with both feet in a significant way.
 
We are looking for new members and this is just another example of Rotary in Action in our community.
 
Help Us Protect our watershed on Earth Day!
 
Join the Arnprior Rotary Club 9am - 11am in a Great Lakes Watershed Cleanup on Saturday April 23rd 2022.
 
We are all connected. Our Watershed includes the Madawaska and Ottawa Rivers, all the Great Lakes and the St Lawrence. All of our local trash that gets into the river will wash downstream.
 
The two Sites targeted for this year’s Clean Up are The Algonquin Trail and River Road :
A) Algonquin Trail at Division Street on the old Rail bed - meet at the intersection and park nearby.
B) River Road #1 Between Braeside and Arnprior - meet in the parking Lot of Our Lady Perpetual Help Parish on Dochart Street in Braeside
Meet 9 AM April 23rd for Sign In, Orientation and to get Supplies
Reminder that there is always the possibility of Poison Ivy or Ticks in the grass and uneven terrain so please wear appropriate attire. Good Closed Toe Shoes or Boots, Long Sleeves, Pants, and some work gloves are recommended.
 
Come Join us!
The Rotary Club of Arnprior recognized a posthumous Paul Harris award on the late Rabbi Reuven Bulka, who exemplified Rotary’s motto “Service Above Self”. The evening’s award occurred during the club’s weekly meeting and was attended by the Rabbi’s son Eliezer and the current Rabbi of Machzikei Hadas, Rabbi Scher. Rotarian Leo Hughes spoke about how the Rabbi Bulka dedicated his life to spreading kindness, helping people, making a difference, comforting others, and always saying the right thing at the right time to make someone feel better which is guided by the Rotary motto, Service Above Self.
 
The Rotary Club of Arnprior has two members who belong to the synagogue for which Rabbi Bulka was a rabbi since 1967, and another Club member worked with the Rabbi in delivering "Who is Nobody" kits to schools in the area.
 
Rabbi Bulka co-founded Kind Canada, a non-profit organization that encourages Canadians to practice kindness daily and support charitable causes The first national Kindness Week is slated for February 2022, and Canadians are called on to carry out acts of kindness in their communities during the third week of February every year.
 
A Paul Harris Fellow Award is Rotary's highest recognition to acknowledge individuals who contribute to the betterment of our community. The dedication plaque will be displayed at his synagogue in a room dedicated to all his accomplishments.
 
In December, Arnprior Rotary donated to the Grove Nursing Home so that every resident received a gift during the Holiday season. Funds were available due to contributions from Delta Bingo
Rotary Great lakes Watershed Cleanup
 
Rotary Club of Arnprior Cleans up Algonquin Trail and “Unplugged” Kids Clean up Galilee Beach
 
On Sept 25, 2021 a dozen Club members, family and friends of Rotary gathered to clean up sites that could pollute local waterways.  Also participating in the cleanup as part of an educational outing were 10 children and guardians of the Unplugged Program of St John Lutheran Church.
 
Some of the cleanup crew on the Algonquin Trail in Braeside. Rod Smith, Gerhard Peters, Jane Peters, Bill Sellers, Vila Smith, Terry Dawson, Bruce Buie, Dave Palmer and Pushpa (bottom row)
 
An initiative of the Club’s newly minted Environment Committee, approximately 275kg of trash was carted away with considerable effort from the Algonquin Trail (former CP rail line) adjacent to the Arnprior Landfill near Braeside.  Afterward, the group gathered for a much deserved lunch at Betty’s Chips in Braeside overlooking the extraordinarily beautiful – and cleaner - Ottawa River.
 
Unplugged children cleaning up the Beach along the Ottawa River at the Galilee Centre in Arnprior
 
 
 
Arnprior Rotary is selling this Cash Calendar whose theme is "Ottawa's Nature Path".  Perfect Stocking Stuffer!
 
Cost is $20, with half going to our Club for our programs.  Over $20,000 in Cash Prizes and daily prizes from $20 - $200, with 3 special prizes of $1,000.  4,000 Calendars printed.
 
Contact ArnpriorRotary@gmail.com to order & make an e-transfer.  Local delivery early December, along with our Annual Fruit Cake sales.
SEPTEMBER IS BASIC EDUCATION AND LITERACY  MONTH
 
How does The Rotary Club of Arnprior help with literacy?
 
Every fall, all Grade 3 students in Arnprior are presented with a beautifully illustrated dictionary called Dictionary 4 Life. Using these dictionaries helps children develop their facility with the English language, stimulate their interests in exploring how to spell words and find their meanings.
 
One of the most positive aspects of being able to use a dictionary is that it helps to develop autonomy and confidence in the learner — one of the core goals of education. 
 

 
The Rotary Club of Arnprior, working in partnership with the Rotary Club of Newbury in the UK, recently donated 20 desks to schools in Ukerewe, Tanzania so that every child will have a seat and a good learning environment. Each desk cost $24.
 
 
 
Rotary supports activities and training to improve education for all children and literacy for children and adults. The Rotary Foundation enables Rotarians to ensure that all people have sustainable access to basic education and literacy
 
 
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Club Information
Welcome to Our Club
Arnprior

Service Above Self

We meet In Person
Mondays at 7:00 PM
Currently ONLINE - normally Kenwood Corporate Centre, Room 102
PO Box 481
Arnprior, ON K7S 3L9
Canada
Mondays at 7pm, Dinner Meeting 1st Monday of Month - at 5:30pm - Contact Club for Location
Club Executives & Directors
Co President
Co President
Treasurer
Literacy Chair
Environmental Committee Chair
International Service
Foundation Chair
Secretary Coordinator
E-Secretary
Public Relations