TIMMINS - A 75-year tradition is changing and being honoured by new members and volunteers.
The Rotary Club of Timmins-Porcupine is celebrating its diamond anniversary this year, and president Ross MacIvor said things have been shifting for the club over the years.
“We’ve always raised funds, and we give away all the funds we raise,” he said. “The club’s about change and supporting projects that we feel are worthwhile, and there’s certainly a need in the community.”
The work has become more hands-on for many members, said MacIvor.
“The makeup for the club has changed a lot, from the mine managers to the guys working in the mine,” he said. “We’re doing more of the work, physically, so we’re more hands-on.”
His personal journey with Rotary was something of a family tradition.
“I have a grandfather, my brother, my uncle, my cousin were all in Rotary,” he said. “My parents were very active in the community as far as volunteering, it’s been in our history.”
Due to scheduling issues, it took him a little time to join despite the family connections.
“The meetings were Monday night, and I used to play hockey Monday and Tuesday nights,” he said. “It just wasn’t convenient for my schedule at the time.”
Rotary is a worldwide organization that has raised over $4 billion in the last century for programs like polio eradication, water-borne illness prevention, anti-bullying campaigns, and providing eyeglasses to communities without access to those services.
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Locally, the club works to provide holiday happiness to seniors through the Adopt-a-Senior campaign, fundraising support for local charities, and initiatives like community clean-ups, Lobster Fest, and this year, the club brought back Rotary Ribfest at the end of August.
“We had a nine-year hiatus, and we started back this year with a very successful Ribfest in August,” he said, “Everyone had a smile on their face!”
The Rotary Youth exchange program has been a point of pride for the club, with two teens from Timmins taking part last year and two teens coming to Timmins to experience life in Canada.
“That’s always been the crown jewel of Rotary,” said MacIvor. “One of the main thoughts in Rotary is global understanding, and learning people’s cultures is the way to see things from a different perspective and this is how peace comes about. We learn as much or more as they learn when they come here.”
The experience is one of growth for both the students and the host club, said MacIvor.
“There are some very outstanding teenagers that are out there,” said MacIvor. “They get to see a bigger part of the world that way.”
The club is always looking for more projects and partners to work with, said MacIvor, as well as members interested in making their community a better place.
“The reality is that our club is a bit smaller, and volunteers are hard to come by, but in the last couple years, we’ve had about 11 new members, which is great,” he said.
Anyone looking to get involved can email the club here.
