Club Executives & Directors
Co-President with Louise Perry
President Elect
Secretary
Service Projects- International Director
Community Service-Local Director
Foundation Director
Immediate Past President
Service Projects - Rotary Tower Director
Membership Director
Club Admin Director
Youth Service -Co Director with John Berry
 
 
Club Information
Welcome to The Rotary Club of New Westminster, proudly serving our community since 1928.
New Westminster

Service Above Self

We meet In Person & Online
Thursdays at 12:00 PM
contact lperrynewwestrotary@gmail.com for information
604 219 2840
New Westminster, BC
Canada
Held Thursdays : For meeting schedule/time/location see our home page. email lperrynewwestrotary@gmail.com for information and ZOOM link
Home Page Stories
We welcomed our new Exchange Student Muki, from Austria at our Summer Picnic at Queen's Park. We look forward to a terrific year hosting him. 
Thank you to our host families! We can't do it without you!
 
 
 
 
 
 
The Rotary Club of New Westminster in cooperation with the Rotary Club of Kololo in Kampala, Uganda, are currently implementing a teaching program at the Dr Irwin Stewart Rotary Memorial Hearing Centre in Kampala, Uganda. The clinic and programs are operated and administered by our partner, Hear His Voice Uganda. Currently a Vocational Training Team consisting of a speech therapist, Rosie Gardner from Dublin Ireland, and an Audiologist Selma Karsan of Vancouver, are in Uganda training staff and clinicians and working with hearing impaired children to build resources and skills for the hearing disabled community of Uganda. The program will last three weeks and has been very well received and supported thanks to this very effective partnership.
 
Our club members work hard to raise funds and were delighted to share some of it with the vulnerable seniors in our community.
We recently provided funding to the Seniors Services Society to purchase fans for distribution to seniors in our community to help keep them cool during the hot temperatures.
We appreciate all the ways SSS supports our seniors.
Learn more about them at http://www.seniorsservicessociety.ca
 
Congratulations to the Youth Committee of both Rotary Clubs in New Westminster who received The Adult Ally Award at The New Westminster Youth Awards last night. This award recognizes an adult mentor or service club who provides support and services to youth.
3 members of the youth committee attended the event.
Supporting youth in our community is a top priority for our clubs!
Photo courtesy of Natalia Botero. nataliaboterophotographer@gmail.com 
 
Several members and guests gathered at our District 5040 Conference in Vancouver. The theme was Connecting Clubs with Communities. 
We we inspired by many wonderful keynote speakers and heard about some terrific projects happening in our district. 
There was some terrific entertainment throughout the weekend as well. 
 
Congratulations to Nancy Eidsvik who received a District Governor Award from DG John Berry and Louise Perry who was recognized as Rotarian of the Year!
Special thanks to the Rotary Rabbit (Bunny) who kept us all on time!
And finally a big thank you to our photographer Gabor Gasztonyi!
 
Rotary Arua Prison Mattress Project - District Grant # 2341394
In an effort to ensure that prisoners in Arua have a more dignified stay, we partnered with the Arua Rotary Club to purchase 300 mattresses and covers. This will allow those who are incarcerated to no longer sleep on the floor, and provide a small modicum of dignity during their stay in the facility.
 
 
The Rotary Clubs in New Westminster are proud supporters of the Hyack Ambassador Program.
We are delighted that Miss Rotary, Jadyn Gibson was awarded the title of Miss New Westminster 2023!
We congratulate Jadyn and the other candidates and wish them a terrific year representing their city.
Event photos by Lydia Nagai Photography.
 
 
 
Club members had a meeting offsite at Massey Theatre to hear what is new and upcoming at this City of New Westminster Venue. 
We had a presentation and a tour from the Executive Director, Jessica Schneider and enjoyed a light lunch from Green's & Beans Deli. 
 
Our members are very proud of the extensive scholarship and bursary program we provide to students graduating from New Westminster Secondary School. 
On behalf or the clubOur President - Elect Gabor Gasztonyi accepted a certificate from MP Janet Routledge.
 
 
 
 

With thanks, we acknowledge the financial support of the Province of British Columbia to provide this program. 

Member classifications make wonderful programs.
We recently heard from Rick Carswell.
We learned that not only does Rick have a degree in classical music and an accomplished career in banking he also ran his own business in making finely crafted furniture AND he has played in several symphonies, including the Russian Circus. Rick plays the trombone, the piano and the cello and he can read Treble, Bass, Alto, and Tenor clef music (which is not common).
 
Rick is a very active member of our club, volunteering regularly at Don't Go Hungry Food Support and hosting a social for our members. 
 
With sadness we share this news.
 
Our honorary member and Past District Governor David Kirk passed away recently.
 
Dave joined our club in May 1982, was President in 1990-1991 and served as District Governor in 2000-2001.

 
Our thoughts are with his wife Sheila and their family at this time.
 
We will remember Dave for his contributions as a Rotarian and to the community.
Rest in Peace Dave.
 
 
 
 
In the spirit of peace and reconciliation we donated these special memorial markers that were unveiled at St. Peter’s Cemetery.
 
The resting place of Chief Rhonda Larrabee’s
Ancestors are now recognized.
 
We are grateful to be included in this emotional ceremony.
 
Also we thank Stewart Monumental, Kearney Funeral Services and St. Peter’s Cemetery for their generous support.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
It was terrific to have so many members and guests back after the reduced summer schedule.
Our member James Wise thanks Yuri Larsson for her presentation about the New West Hospice Society.
We recently donated some much needed funds to support the services they provide in our community.
Photo courtesy of Gabor Gasztonyi 
Throwback to last week's meeting. We had a presentation from the folks at Westminster House they offer addiction recovery services for youth girls, adult women and their families delivered both residentially and virtually.We are delighted to support their good work and donated funds to assist with a renovation. For more information about their impact in our community please see https://www.westminsterhouse.ca
 
 
Photo courtesy of Gabor Gasztonyi
 
 
It's a new Rotary Year!
We say thank you to our outgoing President Mike Crean for a terrific year and look forward to an exciting year with President Laurie Stewart as our new enthusiatic leader!
We can only imagine how exciting 2022-2023 is going to be!
Thank you to our Rotarians, families and friends of Rotary for the support!
Another beautiful Rotary graphic courtesty of Debbie Vance
On March 1, 1987 our District Governor Elect, John Berry joined the Rotary Club of New Westminster.
John is an amazing Rotarian and community contributor.
He is Past President 1997-98, 2015-16 and 2018-19.
He and his wife Pat have made a difference in the lives of many through their generosity.
He is going to make an outstanding DGE!
The members of our club congratulate John on 35 years of Rotary Service!
 
 
A few great moments at our meeting this week!
 
PDG Del Paterson presented Jeremy Perry with another Paul Harris Recognition Pin. PHF+2
and Del also inducted 3 members to our club.
We were delighted to welcome back a former member Rick Carswell and Maxine his partner decided to join as well.
And Bob Robert Crawford who has been an honorary member for several years has returned as an active Rotarian.
DGE John Berry sponsored our new members.
 
If you are interested in attending a meeting to learn more about us please reach out!
 
Such a beautiful day for an outdoor meeting.
Our club members and guests gathered at St. Peter's Cemetery for a special presentation from Chief Rhonda Larrabee who shared her personal family history in New Westminster.
To learn more about Chief Larrabee and her story:
 
City of New Westminster Councillor welcomes Chief Larabee to our meeting and President Michael Crean thanks her for sharing her personal story. 
 
We held a wonderful outdoor meeting on Thursday. A group of members and special guests from the Stewart family met at the Quay to view our newest play area and stroll along the boardwalk.
 
Tugger Replacement Project: A New Westminster waterfront amenity, the “Tugger” was a much-loved child’s play tugboat moved here after its life at Expo 86. It deteriorated and had to be removed. A replacement playful community amenity designed to be a place for all ages abilities has been constructed by the City of New Westminster at the same prominent site. Both of the New Westminster Rotary Clubs have each contributed towards the cost of this play area.
The project will honour the life of PDG Irwin Stewart and his wife, Lois, with the placement of a plaque, and with a hearing theme in part of the design.
We look forward to the official grand opening in the spring.
 

 
 
The Rotary Clubs in New Westminster joined together with our Interact and Rotaract members to spread Christmas Cheer by decorating our Rotary Tower. Several residents came down to join in the Christmas Carols and have a hot chocolate.
 
 
 
 
 
Thursday was a very busy and productive day for our club.
We held a member engagement workshop and brainstormed many ideas for upcoming service projects, fellowship events and speakers for our meetings.
Members were treated to lunch and received a Rotary at Work T shirt.
Nick Jordan also attended to get us all geared up with hats, and jackets.
Then several members volunteered at our Rotary information booth, showing off our new tent, at the New West Farmers Market.
Interested in learning more about membership? Contact lperrynewwestrotary@gmail.com
We welcome guests at our meetings on ZOOM and in person.
 
 

Please join us on ZOOM at Noon, October 21st for a special presentation to recognize World Polio Day from Gabor Gasztonyi.

An award-winning professional photographer, author, gallery owner and filmmaker, Gabor Gasztonyi lives in New Westminster with his wife, artist Judith Copland.

Gabor is a two-time winner of the prestigious Nikon Press Award. He is a regular lecturer at Emily College University and a Bernie Legge Cultural Award winner.

A dedicated member of Rotary, Gabor is currently the Polio Chair for District 5040 and is keenly interested in rehabilitation for Polio Victims particularly in Ethiopia. He is also interested in promoting accessibility for Rotary meeting spaces.

Contact lperrynewwestrotary@gmail.com for ZOOM link 

At our evening meeting Nancy presented Kevin with a PHF. He was the winner of her 2021 Rotary New Year's resolution challenge.
It was a great initiative to get members engaged!
It included 10 easy things...including I will attend more meetings, I will contact members that haven't been attending and I will take at least 1 E Learning course.
 
Our club supports many groups that are making a difference to help the vulnerable in our community.
We recently received this thank you note from The Purpose Society.
 
 
Thank you so much for your generous donation to the Digital Inclusion Project initiative. It is because of donors like you that we are able to continue to try and eliminate the digital divide within New Westminster.
With this donation we aim to create a welcoming, inclusive lounge space in our Digital Inclusion Hub where people who do not have access to the internet or electronic devices can come utilize them with access to 1-on-1 support as well. Because of this donation we are able to continue to positively impact the lives of New Westminster residents that would otherwise not have access to these resources.
Thank you once again for this charitable donation to our project. We will send you updates over the course of us creating this lounging area so that you know exactly what is happening with your donation, and the impact that we have been able to create together!
With all our gratitude
 
Please join us Thursday September 23rd on ZOOM at NOON for a presentation from:

Vera LeFranc was born in Prince Rupert, attended grade 1 in Terrace, grew up on Haida Gwaii and lived in the Okanagan before ultimately moving to the Lower Mainland.  With connections to northern and interior British Columbia, Vera brings a unique combination of skills and experience to her role as COO of Elizabeth Fry Society of the Lower Mainland. 

With a degree in Business and Liberal Studies from Simon Fraser University, Vera brings a solid mix of business sense and a passion for social justice and reconciliation to her work.

Vera is currently a member of the Provincial Child Care Council, with a mandate of providing support and advice to The PCCC provides advice on the policies and programs that affect the affordability, quality and accessibility of child care. Its members are appointed from throughout the province and represent key partners in delivering universal child care: Indigenous communities, the business sector, child care providers, the education system, the non-profit sector and local governments.

For over a decade, Vera worked with Vancity Community Foundation and the Surrey Homelessness & Housing Society to distribute almost over $5 million in funding to organizations working with Surrey’s most vulnerable. As well, Vera led the team that administers over $10 Million in Homelessness Partnership Funding annually to organizations working across the region to reduce homelessness.  This meant closely working with EFry and other organizations delivering programs to our most vulnerable residents.

From 2014 to 2018 Vera was an elected City Councilor with the City of Surrey where she led initiatives such as the Surrey Urban Aboriginal Leadership Committee, laying the foundation to ensure the full economic, social and cultural participation of the Indigenous people who call the City of Surrey home.  In addition, Vera was the Vice Chair of the Finance Committee, Co Chair of the Social Policy Advisory Committee including extensive work on poverty reduction, Co Chair of four very successful Social Innovation summits aimed at creating a culture and eco-system conducive to tackling significant social issues in the City of Surrey, Chair of the Surrey Aboriginal Social Innovation Strategy, grounded in the Truth and Reconciliation calls to action, Vice Chair of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and Co-Chair of the Healthy Communities Partnership.  In addition, Vera was named by the Federation of Municipalities as one of the inaugural 2018 Top Ten Best for Canada Municipal Innovators. 

Vera spent has spent the majority of her career working within women serving organizations to advance women’s equality, provide employability and life skills training, develop programs that meet the needs of the most vulnerable, including crime prevention, housing and homelessness, and community economic development.

 

Vera has been married to Jen for over 14 years.  They live in Guildford and are deeply involved in the community volunteering to support young people who are exiting the foster care system. 

Please join us on ZOOM at Noon, September 16th for a presentation from Lily Nichol about the New West Farmers Market.

Lily Nichol grew up in New Westminster, but lived in Kamloops, and Prince George as a teenager and young adult, finally landing back where she started in her favourite city. Lily has experience working in nonprofits, the tech industry and radio broadcasting, and has been running the New West Farmers Market since 2018. She takes great pride in building the market and being a part of the community in her hometown. She loves supporting small local businesses, eating seasonally, and getting to know more of her neighbours at every market. When not at the market, Lily is a rescue dog and cat mom, avid reader, fiestaware collector, and home baker.

Contact  for Zoom login info

Starting the year off right!
We welcomed our newest Rotarian, James Wise to our club at our first in person meeting. He is ready to help us SERVE TO CHANGE LIVES.
Nancy Eidsvik, our membership chair performed a delightful induction.
Our President Mike Crean is leading by example -
Rotary International President Mehta's Each One, Bring One initiative asks every member to bring one person to join Rotary within the next 17 months.
Recently, our club celebrated our COVID-19 Rotary Year 2020-21 with our first in person gathering. We said good bye to President Louise and welcomed our new President for 2021-22 - Mike Crean at our 94th Installation event.
It was a wonderful event hosted by Rotarian Laurie Stewart and her husband Jamie in their beautiful yard. Dave Vallee was a terrific Emcee.
A few favourite moments - we had our Co-Presidents of our Rotaract Club join us and we met 3 of the new members we inducted this year!
Our Honourary member Bob Crawford performed the Installation of President Mike and the Officers and Directors and presented Louise with her Past President Pin. DGE Lorne Calder ZOOMED in with greetings from Prince George.
 
We are looking forward to the new Rotary year -Serve to Change Lives.
 
The NWSS Interact Club teamed up with our Rotary Youth Committee to clean up the gardens and plant spring flowers for the enjoyment of the 110 Seniors who live at the Rotary Towers in New Westminster.  13 Interactors & 9 Rotarians spent their Saturday morning pulling weeds, laying new soil and bark mulch and planting perennials throughout the gardens.  The 3 sets of stairs leading to the back gardens were also cleared of moss and the gravel was replaced to ensure the safety of the tower residents.  It was a great outdoor project for both Interact & Rotary that included fellowship over lunch in the pristine gardens! 
A BIG thank you to Gordon's Landscaping and Trevor Crean for helping with the supplies and equipment!
 
 

Please plan to join us on ZOOM at 7PM, Thursday May 27th for a special presentation from Dr Robert T Ssekitoleko

Robert will be speaking about the Bio Medical Engineering Program our club has been involved with for the past  5 years. He will discuss the need for the services as well as the success of the program. He will share what some of the past students are doing now.

Dr Ssekitoleko is a lecturer, researcher and the head of the Biomedical Engineering Program at Makerere University. 

He completed his MEng Degree in Medical Engineering at Queen Mary, University of London in 2007. 

email lperrynewwestrotary@gmail.com for ZOOM link

 

Thank you to all who participated in our show & to all who donated directly to PADS! We are donating $2,500 to PADS puppy raising program.
 
And a big round of applause for our sponsors and partners. 
G&F Financial Group - Team Dave Vallee - Nancy Eidsvik - New Westminster Firefighters Charitable Society - Bosley's - New Westminster Hyack Ambassadors - Rotaract - Interact 
 
Here are few of our category winners showing off their rosettes. 
 
 

Please plan to join us on ZOOM at NOON, Thursday May 6th for a 

presentation from St. John Ambulance to hear about the 

Start Me Up BC initiative.

 

As a social enterprise, the revenue generated by St John Ambulance BC&Y is reinvested in community services programs and training, which in turn further supports the mission of the organization to save lives at home, work, and play.

Please contact  lperrynewwestrotary@gmail.com for the Zoom link.
 
 
 

Please plan to join us on ZOOM at SEVEN PM, Thursday April 29th for a presentation from The New Westminster Hyack Ambassador Candidates. 

The candidates will present a selection of their prepared speeches.
Contact lperrynewwestrotary@gmail.com for link. www.newwestrotary.org

To learn more about this wonderful leadership programme please visit https://www.hyackfestival.com/hyack-ambassadors

Please plan to join us on ZOOM at NOON, Thursday April 8th for a presentation from Freddie Marsh. 

 

In 2015, Freddie Marsh became a living kidney donor to his friend, Anna Maria.  Freddie is an advocate for organ donation and volunteers his time at BC Transplant sharing his story.  Freddie donated extra funds from a fundraising campaign to BC Transplant.  This donation went towards BC Transplant first, Live Life Pass It On Scholarship that will be awarded to two grade 12 students who lead an organ donation awareness project.  

Freddie has a passion for traveling and movies.

Contact Louise Perry by email for ZOOM link  lperrynewwestrotary@gmail.com

Spring has Sprung! Please join us April 1st at Noon on Zoom for a special program.

 Eric Young will present The Art and Science of Dahlias 

  • Eric has been a volunteer with Rotary International since he joined the Rotaract Club in 2007 while in university.
  • He has a BSc in Health Information Science from the University of Victoria and moved to Vancouver in 2014 to work at the BC Patient Safety & Quality Council as a Data Analyst. Eric has a strong interest in healthcare transformation and quality improvement and is passionate about using health information to story-tell and drive improvement work.
  • In recent years, Eric picked up gardening, growing dahlias in particular. 
  • This is a passion of his mother (Connie) and he took it upon himself to learn from her.
  • In his spare time he enjoys spending time outdoors either running
  • Contact Louise Perry by email for ZOOM link  lperrynewwestrotary@gmail.com
A fine photo of four fine gentlemen.
All Past District Governors for District 5040
Many, many years of Rotary experience and dedication is reflected in this photo.
Left to Right
David Kirk PDG 2000-2001, Don McKenzie PDG 1978-1979
Irwin Stewart PDG 1993-1994, Del Paterson PDG 2002-2003
 
Although we have lost Don and Irwin their legacies and service to the local and international communities lives on.
We thank all four for their years of Rotary service.

Claire is the daughter of Michael and Melissa Haffner, and is sister to Grace. She is in grade 11 at New Westminster Secondary, where she plays both basketball and volleyball. Claire also plays volleyball outside of school, and dreams of continuing to play for a university, as it is one of her biggest passions. Having played many sports in her lifetime and after taking the career course in grade 10, she has been looking at jobs in Health Sciences (physio therapy, genetic counsellor, etc). buat has also recently been interested in business and technology, and she looks forward to exploring her options. Claire also plays piano and has volunteered at many small events, but looks forward to  doing more volunteering in her community through the Hyack Ambassador Program.

Claire is most inspired by her parents, as they are the kindest, most supportive and hardworking people she has ever met. They always push Claire and her sister to do their best and make them take risks even when they don’t want to. She is very thankful to have them in her life.

Claire's most treasured keepsake is her Pandora charm bracelet. Almost every
important event that has happened in her life is represented by a charm. It shows her family, friends, travels, May Day and so much more.

Her proudest moment of her life so far was receiving female athlete of the year for her grade last year. "I worked really hard during the volleyball and basketball season and it was nice to
be recognized for my effort."

Claire's favourite thing to do in the Royal City, besides the Hyack Festival, is going down to the Quay in the summers, getting gelato at the farmers market and walking along the boardwalk with her friends. "At the end of the boardwalk, there used to be
beach volleyball courts and I loved playing there. Or relaxing in the hammocks the city would hang. It was the perfect place to relax."​

When asked who she would trade places with, past or present, Claire says:
"I have always wanted to know what it was like to live during the renaissance so I think it would be interesting to trade places with Marie-Antoinette. When I visited France, I got to go inside
the place of Versailles and it would be interesting to see how the royal family lived back then. The society was very divided and it would be different to live in a monarchy government, especially to be the Queen. However, if I was to trade places with her, I would want to leave before the French Revolution."

If she could give advice to her 13-year-old-self, Claire would tell herself not to care what anyone else thinks or says. "It’s typical to be self-conscious at that age but the only thing that matters is how you see yourself." She would also tell her 13-year-old self to not worry so much about the future and to just live in the moment.

Claire believes she would make a good Hyack Ambassador because no one loves this city more than she does. She
loves our traditions like the Hyack Parade and May Day. "We are a small community but our spirit is big. My parents grew up here and it only seems fair that I do my part to give back by
volunteering and representing my Royal City."

The Rotary in New Westminster Virtual Pet Show has more than just cats and dogs!
Here are few of our more unique pets that have recently entered.
An alpaca, donkey and a few guinea pigs!
Get your pets pictures entered before March 31 to show them off and maybe win an awesome prize from one of our sponsors!
Enter at:
Follow along on Instagram @powerofpetshow
 
Speakers
Tonya - Ubuntu Hope Charity
Oct 05, 2023
Note: ON ZOOM at NOON
NEW WESTMINSTER Chamber of Commerce
Oct 12, 2023
Note: IN PERSON at NOON Boston Pizza 1045 Columbia St
Jeremy Perry Rotary Foundation Month
Nov 02, 2023
Note: On ZOOM at NOON
Remembrance Day Program
Nov 09, 2023
Note: IN PERSON NOON at Boston Pizza 1045 Columbia
District Governor Shirley-Pat Gale visit
Nov 23, 2023
Note: IN PERSON NOON at Boston Pizza 1045 Columbia Street

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