Events

Canada and the Second Coming of Donald Trump

Be sure to join us for a very interesting and timely presentation on Monday, April 14 with John English as he explores - Why has Donald Trump attacked his major trading partners and closest allies and threatened Canada’s sovereignty while mocking its leadership? What are his aims and how does it reflect the complexities and history of Canadian-American relations?  Can we ever go back to what we had before?

We are very pleased to have John, a Distinguished University Professor Emeritus, at the University of Waterloo and an honourary member of our club, back with us again.  His talks are always engaging and enlightening and this one is sure to be no different!

NB! Pre-Registration and meal selection is required!

Our meeting will be held at the Charcoal Restaurant.  We will have a fully private room with lunch served at a cost of $32.00 with tax and gratuity included which is to be paid in advance as part of registering for the event.  Doors open at 11:30 and the program will begin at 12:00 noon. 

 Deadline for registering is Thursday, April 10.

SPRING DOM CARDILLO TRAIL CLEAN UP

Our next Dom Cardillo Trail Clean-Up will be on Monday, April 28 (we go rain or shine unless there is thunder and lightening).  As usual we will meet at Stanley Park Mall by the new Canadian Tire Store and the River Road entrance at 4:30 p.m.  

If interested, please join us afterwards for socializing at the Whale & Ale Pub on Victoria Street.

To help with planning we would like members to sign up.  As always, though, feel free to bring along friends and family members but please indicate if you are doing so in the comments box on the registration page.  

Please register by Sunday, April 27.

The Royal Canadian Artillery and Its Roll in Domestic Operations

Our guest speaker on Monday, May 12 will be Capt. Paul Elliott, Operations Officer with the 11th Field Regiment Royal Canadian Artillery.   He will describe the Reserves roll and what roll civilian organizations such as Rotary can provide.

The 11th Field Regiment is a reserve unit from the Canadian Forces 31 Canadian Brigade Group, a unique element of the Canadian Forces, whose task is to augment Canada’s Regular Force military by providing indirect artillery support.  Throughout His military career Capt. Elliott has been involved with multiple domestic response situations also completing the Province of Ontario’s Emergency Measures Operators course. Other Highlights of his career include one operational tour to Afghanistan in 2009. He has been awarded the Canadian Decoration 2, Queens Diamond Jubilee Medal, and was appointed to the Order of Military Merit in Oct 2012.

Be sure to join us for what will be a very enlightening presentation.

NB! Pre-Registration and meal selection is required!

Our meeting will be held at the Charcoal Restaurant.  We will have a fully private room with lunch served at a cost of $32.00 with tax and gratuity included which is to be paid in advance as part of registering for the event.  Doors open at 11:30 and the program will begin at 12:00 noon. 

 Deadline for registering is Thursday, May 8.

A Kitchener Rotarians In Action Project
Raised Garden at A Better Tent City

As part of our ongoing support of A Better Tent City, again this year, we will be assisting with the preparation and planting of several raised gardens for them and your help is requested.

The project is scheduled for Saturday, May 24 from 9:00 a.m. to noon (at the latest) at A Better Tent City on Ardelt Avenue in Kitchener (beside the Board of Education Offices).

Some equipment will be needed - wheel barrows, shovels and garden tools.  Please indicate what, if anything, you are able to bring in the comment box.

Please register (or decline) by Wednesday, May 21.

A Tour of the Waterloo Regional Police Services Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Operations

On Monday, May 26 we have a unique opportunity to have a tour of the SWAT Operations at the Waterloo Region Police Services Main Branch.  The tour will run from 12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m., but we ask all participants to arrive no later that 11:45 so that the tour can begin right on time.

Following the tour, those available and interested will gather at Moose Winooski's for fellowship and a late lunch.  To assist with planning, please indicate in the comment box on the registration page if you will be joining the group for lunch.  Please register by Friday, May 23.

NB! The Main Police Headquarters on Maple Grove Road is a large complex.  Please see the attached for directions for parking and to the correct building.  Also, please note the recommendation to car pool where ever possible.

A Tour of the Kitchener Public Library Main Branch and Meeting with CEO Darren Solomon

For our meeting on Monday, June 9 we are fortunate to have arranged for a private tour of the KPL Main Branch.  Following the tour we will meet with CEO Darren Soloman.

Here is the agenda for the meeting:

• 1:00 p.m. - Tour of KPL Central Library
• 1:30 p.m. - Kitchener Rotary meeting with KPL CEO
  • Mr. Darren Solomon, KPL CEO on new Strategic plan and the vision to KPL future
  • Kitchener Rotary presentation by President David Chatson - service above self, projects, achievements, plans
  • Identify synergies and possible collaboration opportunities
  • Club business

We will meet and gather near the main entrance on Queen St. (a ramp is there).  If it rains, we will meet inside near the circulation desk on the ground floor.

Parking Options:

Surface Lot: Hourly paid parking is available in the surface lot located at the corner of Queen Street North and Ahrens Street East. $2.70 per hour, $13.40 daily max.

Underground Parking: 83 Queen St. N. Attached to the library (enter off Queen St. N - purple arrow) the first and second 30 minutes are $1.25 each at this location only, each extra 30 minutes: $1.85.

Metered parking is available on Ahrens St and Roy St. A limited number of free one hour and two-hour parking spaces can be found along other nearby streets.

Public transit is also an option.

Please note that no lunch is arranged for this meeting.  To assist with planning we ask that members please register by Friday, June 6, or decline the invitation.  Friends and family are welcome.

A Better Tent City Report

One of the suggestions that has come from the strategic planning review we have conducted so far is to keep members better informed about our ongoing projects and the good work we do in the community.  We have been providing support to A Better Tent City for several years now and our meeting on Monday, June 16 will provide members with an update on our connection with them and the great work we are doing there.

As we move into the summer months we will be returning to having a few of our meetings via ZOOM, starting with this one.  The ZOOM Link details are below.

Please register or decline by Sunday, June 15.

Kitchener Rotary is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: Rotary Club ZOOM Meeting
Date/Time: Monday, June 16, 11:45 a.m.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://rotary7080.zoom.us/j/86031395729?pwd=WkRRemcwV1BERkVPL0R6YWRvNVhkQT09

Meeting ID: 860 3139 5729
Passcode: 817823

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Dial by your location
• +1 438 809 7799 Canada
• +1 587 328 1099 Canada
Meeting ID: 860 3139 5729

A Look Back with President Dave 

For our next meeting on Monday, June 23, as summer begins, president Dave will take us back over some of the highlights from this past year.  We will be back at KidsAbility Kitchener with opportunies for fellowship and networking.

To help with planning, members are asked to register, or decline, with a deadline of Sunday, June 22.

Annual Year-End Celebration and Turnover Meeting

Again, this year, our annual Year-End Celebration and Turnover event will have some special elements in addition to the official passing of the gavel from Dave to Elena.

 Honourary Member Presentations

District Award Presentation

YFF & PHF Pin Presentations

Please join us as we celebrate and thank Dave for his year of service as club president and welcome Elena as our new leader.  Our event will be at the KW Granite Club in Waterloo which is fully accessible.  Live oldies songs will add to the evening's festivities.

Dinner will be provided by Davenport Catering and participants have the choice of Roast Beef or Chicken Parmigiana as their entree. Please indicate your meal choice and any dietary restrictions in the comment box.  Choice of two salads, dessert, coffee and tea also included.

The deadline for registering is Sunday, June 29, guests are welcome and encouraged.

Updates on the Waterloo Regional Health Network
and the New Hospital

On Monday, July 14 our own Trevor Eaton will be providing us with an insiders update on the development of the newly formed Waterloo Region Health Network and the new regional hospital.

Trevor Eaton is a proud member of the Rotary Club of Kitchener and a passionate advocate for health care in our community. For over five years, Trevor has served in various leadership roles at Grand River Hospital and the Grand River Hospital Foundation, where he currently leads the philanthropy and corporate partnerships portfolio.

You don't want to miss this timely and informative session.

We will be back at the Charcoal Restaurant for this meeting in our regular room with lunch served at a cost of $32, tax and gratuity included; paid in advance when registering.  Doors open at 11:30 with the program commencing at 12:00 noon.  Lunch includes coffee or tea and one of the main entrées listed below.  Indicate your meal selection and any dietary restrictions in the comment box on the registration confirmation screen.

Deadline for registering is Thursday, July 10.

Main Entrée Options:

Chicken Cobb Salad: chicken romaine lettuce, cherry tomatoes, blue cheese crumble, bacon, avocado wedge, hard whole egg, maple mustard vinaigrette

Charcoal Burger: fresh ground chuck, smoked bacon, monterey jack cheese, dill pickle, tomato, shredded lettuce, roasted garlic aioli, toasted brioche bun

Fish Tacos: trio of blackened blue cod tacos with cabbage, guacamole, cotija cheese and pico salsa topped with a roja aioli, cilantro & green onion

Creole Chicken Naan’wich: blackened seared chicken served in a garlic buttered naan bread with cabbage, tomato, roja aioli and onion crisps

Vegetarian Pad Thai: stir-fried vegetables, egg, bean sprouts, spiced peanuts, rice noodles, scallions, cilantro, sweet & sour peanut sauce

The Royal Canadian Artillery and Its Roll in Domestic Operations

Our guest speaker on Monday, August 11 will be Capt. Paul Elliott, Operations Officer with the 11th Field Regiment Royal Canadian Artillery.   He will describe the Reserves roll and what roll civilian organizations such as Rotary can provide.

The 11th Field Regiment is a reserve unit from the Canadian Forces 31 Canadian Brigade Group, a unique element of the Canadian Forces, whose task is to augment Canada’s Regular Force military by providing indirect artillery support.  Throughout His military career Capt. Elliott has been involved with multiple domestic response situations also completing the Province of Ontario’s Emergency Measures Operators course. Other Highlights of his career include one operational tour to Afghanistan in 2009. He has been awarded the Canadian Decoration 2, Queens Diamond Jubilee Medal, and was appointed to the Order of Military Merit in Oct 2012.

Be sure to join us for what will be a very enlightening presentation.  Note: this is the rescheduled program, originally scheduled for May 12.

NB! Pre-Registration and meal selection is required!

We will be back at the Charcoal Restaurant for this meeting in our regular room with lunch served at a cost of $32, tax and gratuity included; paid in advance when registering.  Doors open at 11:30 with the program commencing at 12:00 noon.  Lunch includes coffee or tea and one of the main entrées listed below.  Indicate your meal selection and any dietary restrictions in the comment box on the registration confirmation screen.

Deadline for registering is Thursday, August 7.

Main Entrée Options:

Chicken Cobb Salad: chicken romaine lettuce, cherry tomatoes, blue cheese crumble, bacon, avocado wedge, hard whole egg, maple mustard vinaigrette

Charcoal Burger: fresh ground chuck, smoked bacon, monterey jack cheese, dill pickle, tomato, shredded lettuce, roasted garlic aioli, toasted brioche bun

Fish Tacos: trio of blackened blue cod tacos with cabbage, guacamole, cotija cheese and pico salsa topped with a roja aioli, cilantro & green onion

Creole Chicken Naan’wich: blackened seared chicken served in a garlic buttered naan bread with cabbage, tomato, roja aioli and onion crisps

Vegetarian Pad Thai: stir-fried vegetables, egg, bean sprouts, spiced peanuts, rice noodles, scallions, cilantro, sweet & sour peanut sauce

Rescheduled Military Presentation – The Royal Canadian Artillery and Its Roll in Domestic Operations with Captain Paul Elliott

At the Charcoal, 12:00 to 1:30 - Registration and Meal Selection Required

Online Auction Kick Off! 

Our annual Online Auction is our primary fundraiser, and it is critical that all club members get behind and support this activity.  On Monday, August 18 we will have our official Kick Off for this campaign with lots of background information along with tools and tips to help you be successful.  Please be sure to join us!

To help with planning, members are asked to register, or decline, with a deadline of Sunday, August 17.

Guided Tour of the Toyota Cambridge Plant

We are delighted that we have been able to book a guided tour of the Toyota Plant in Cambridge for our club meeting on Monday, August 25.  The tour includes a visit to the Experience Centre and a Tram Tour with a driver of approximately 90 minutes. We are limited to a maximum group size of 20, we must submit a list of all participants no later than 7 days prior to the tour and no additions or substitutions are allowed after the list is submitted.  This event is open to members and guests.  The deadline for registering is Saturday, August 16, or earlier if the maximum number is reached.

Enter via Visitor Parking, Gate 2.  Go to reception and you will be given a parking ticket for your car which must be placed on your dashboard.  Please plan to arrive by 11:45 at the latest.  Our tour is scheduled to begin at 12:15 sharp.

In addition, please note the following:

• Valid ID is required to gain entry into the plant.
• Attendees must wear closed-toed shoes.
• Personal belongings such as purses, knapsacks, brief cases, etc., are not allowed and are to be left in cars.
• Weapons, or anything that could be perceived as a weapon, are not allowed.
• Photos are encouraged in the Experience Centre but are strictly prohibited on the tram tours.
• The use of cell phones are not allowed on the tram tours.

Initially for members only - 12:00 to 1:30 - Registration Required

An End of Summer Gathering in the Park

Summer is coming to an end and what better way to celebrate than with a gathering in the park - Victoria Park that is.  We did have the official dedication of the newly renovated Rotary Band Stand last year but at the time, the formal plinth and dedication plaque were not yet installed, but now they are.  So we will gather at the Band Stand at 12:00 noon to view the plinth and plaque in person and to enjoy the environment and have some photo opportunities.

Following that we will head over to the Boat House for lunch.  We have tables reserved and everyone will be free to order their own selections from the menu.  Plenty of parking is available in the Victoria Park Parking lots off Schneider Avenue and Park St./Jubilee Drive.  Guests are most welcome.

To assist with planning, we ask that members let us know if they will be attending or not no later than Sunday, September 7.

Our Rotary Year Ahead with President Elena

Kids are back at school, the summer is over (almost) and we have an exciting Rotary year ahead.  Please join us on Monday, September 15 as president Elena outlines what is in store for Kitchener Rotary for 2025-26.

NB! Pre-Registration and meal selection is required!

We will be back at the Charcoal Restaurant for this meeting in our regular room with lunch served at a cost of $32, tax and gratuity included; paid in advance when registering.  Doors open at 11:30 with the program commencing at 12:00 noon.  Lunch includes coffee or tea and one of the main entrées listed below.  Indicate your meal selection and any dietary restrictions in the comment box on the registration confirmation screen.

Deadline for registering is Thursday, September 11.

Main Entrée Options:

Chicken Cobb Salad: chicken romaine lettuce, cherry tomatoes, blue cheese crumble, bacon, avocado wedge, hard whole egg, maple mustard vinaigrette

Charcoal Burger: fresh ground chuck, smoked bacon, monterey jack cheese, dill pickle, tomato, shredded lettuce, roasted garlic aioli, toasted brioche bun

Fish Tacos: trio of blackened blue cod tacos with cabbage, guacamole, cotija cheese and pico salsa topped with a roja aioli, cilantro & green onion

Creole Chicken Naan’wich: blackened seared chicken served in a garlic buttered naan bread with cabbage, tomato, roja aioli and onion crisps

Vegetarian Pad Thai: stir-fried vegetables, egg, bean sprouts, spiced peanuts, rice noodles, scallions, cilantro, sweet & sour peanut sauce

Online Auction Kick Off! 

Our annual Online Auction is our primary fundraiser, and it is critical that all club members get behind and support this activity.  On Monday, September 22 we will have our official Kick Off for this campaign with lots of background information along with tools and tips to help you be successful.  Please be sure to join us, we need you!

To help with planning, members are asked to register, or decline, with a deadline of Sunday, September 21.

Ella Mironescu And Her Year in Japan

Ella Mironescu, spent the last year in Japan as our outbound exchange student and next Monday evening, September 29, she will tell us all about this life changing adventure.  Also on the program will be the induction of two new members, it’s a meeting you won’t want to miss.

We will be at the Edelweiss Tavern, and everyone will be selecting their own meal from the menu. To assist with planning, we ask you register or decline by Friday, September 26.

First Rotary Peace Building Initiative Talk

The concept of Peace building and promotion is fundamental to the work of Rotary.  The object of Rotary is to encourage and foster the ideal of service as the basis of a worthy enterprise which is achieved through four main points, one of which is advancing international understanding, goodwill, and peace through a global fellowship of people united by the ideal of service.   Rotary's seven Areas of Focus are categories for service projects and activities that address some of the world's most pressing issues. The first of these is Peace and Conflict Prevention/Resolution.   But what is peace?

Please join us on Monday, October 6 for our First Rotary Peace Building Initiative Talk to explore this complex issue, with guest speaker Dr. Edmund Pries, a  Professor at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, specializing in Global Studies, Peace and Conflict, and Religion and Culture.

NB! Pre-Registration and meal selection is required!

We will be back at the Charcoal Restaurant for this meeting in our regular room with lunch served at a cost of $32, tax and gratuity included; paid in advance when registering.  Doors open at 11:30 with the program commencing at 12:00 noon.  Lunch includes coffee or tea and one of the main entrées listed below.  Indicate your meal selection and any dietary restrictions in the comment box on the registration confirmation screen.

Deadline for registering is Thursday, October 2.

Main Entrée Options:

Chicken Cobb Salad: chicken romaine lettuce, cherry tomatoes, blue cheese crumble, bacon, avocado wedge, hard whole egg, maple mustard vinaigrette

Charcoal Burger: fresh ground chuck, smoked bacon, monterey jack cheese, dill pickle, tomato, shredded lettuce, roasted garlic aioli, toasted brioche bun

Fish Tacos: trio of blackened blue cod tacos with cabbage, guacamole, cotija cheese and pico salsa topped with a roja aioli, cilantro & green onion

Creole Chicken Naan’wich: blackened seared chicken served in a garlic buttered naan bread with cabbage, tomato, roja aioli and onion crisps

Vegetarian Pad Thai: stir-fried vegetables, egg, bean sprouts, spiced peanuts, rice noodles, scallions, cilantro, sweet & sour peanut sauce

Edmund Pries is a profressor at Wilfrid Laurier University, specializing in Global Studies, Peace and Conflict, and Religion and Culture.
This wil be the first Rotary Peace Talk Event.