August 23, 2017 -

Keynote Speaker

-Owen Bjorgan

 

An Enthusiastic young man with a passion for nature and the outdoors.  Born and raised in Niagara on the Lake and a former Rotary Exchange Student to Australia.  He spoke to us about his new business (spring 2017) called Biophilic World Hiking Tours.

 

 After earning his Bsc. in Biodiversity and trekking and  camping around the world he now  guides tours solely in the Niagara Region,  this includes The Niagara Escarpment, Carolinian Forests, Niagara Wetlands and Shorelines.

 

 His tours are geared to all ages groups and physical abilities.

 

 He is a one stop shop now looking after guiding and marketing of tours and will customize to almost any needs/tasks.

 This includes possible winery and brewery stops and prepared meals.

 

 Highlights were images of all nature found in our backyard, that included waterfalls, forests, beaches and lots of wildlife.

 

He was thanked by Bob Miller.

 

 

 

 

On Saturday DG Marlee (a new American Citizen) presented graduation certificates and pins to two couples of Rotary.  The Chards from our Club and The Dawsons from Simcoe-Norfolk Sunrise.  Also taking course one was Beth and Janet

Guest speaker, Bill McPhee, spoke to us about his journey of hope and recovery with schizophrenia. He is also the author of 'To Cry a Dry Tear.

 

His son, one of his 3 children, lent a hand with the electronics.

 

Eric Jones thanked the speaker.

 

 

 

A flags raising ceremony was held at City Hall today, March 16th. The Rotary flag was raised in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Rotary Foundation. The second flag raised was to salute Rotary for it's past and continued efforts to eradicate polio worldwide.

 

President Sandi Chard was on hand to speak of the background and current mission of the Foundation.

 

Some photos to follow. Attendees Alan Caslin, Regional Chair of Niagara, George Darte, St. Catharines Club, District Governor and Incoming DG, 3 St. Catharines Club Presidents, a couple of city councilors and fellow Rotarians.

 

CLASSIFICATION: Gary Snider, Real Estate Agent & Broker with Sotheby's Int'l Realty, spoke about his personal background as well as his professional life. Gary's life was hugely impacted by the death of his father, Jack Snider, WWII Bomber pilot and Captain of TCA Flight # 831 that crashed leaving Montreal en route to Toronto on November 29th, 1963. It was the worst aviation disaster in North America at the time. As a result of that crash, the 'Black Box' became a permanent fixture on all flights. Gary has 2 daughters, lives in Fonthill and has been working in real estate for almost 20 years. He received a warm welcome from the club.

 

NEWS FROM REGIONAL COUNCILLOR, Bruce Timms. Bruce spoke on the topic of 'Where do your taxes go' as well as how is the City portion used as well as that of the Region.

 

50/50 DRAW: Emilio Raimondo is captured trying to explain why he left behind the Ace of Spades (when there were only 2 cards to choose from).