Just three weeks after holding their 39th Annual Rotary Duck Race on August 28, 2026, the Rotary Club of Guelph Wellington held their prizegiving on September 21st. The event's success this year was best ever and remarkable for a club of just nine members. All proceeds have been donated to the community. (See below)  We warmly congratulate and thank our friends at the Rotary Club of Guelph Wellington for their positive impact and support of local youth. Onward and upward to the 40th Rotary Duck Race in 2027!

This year, The Grove Youth Wellness Hubs Ontario (YWHO) Wellington-Guelph is celebrating five years of making mental health, substance use, and wellness supports accessible, barrier-free, and available at no cost to youth across rural Wellington County.

Each year, our sister club, the Rotary Club of Guelph Trillium, runs a winter clothing drive. Here are the details for the 2026 drive.

On September 10, 2026, three Guelph Rotary Clubs joined forces once again to host another successful Community Connections meeting with over 50 participants in attendance. This free event invites charities and non-profits to gather for a couple of hours to learn what other agencies are working on in the community, to share ideas and to encourage collaboration. The event is offered twice a year, in April and September. It is a great example of Rotary providing Service Above Self to our local agencies. 

August 28, 2026. Right now, over 123 million people around the world have been made homeless by disaster and conflict. The Rotary-inspired global program of ShelterBox is working to change this. By providing emergency shelter and tools for families robbed of their homes by disaster, ShelterBox helps transform despair into hope. Read the update below from our RotaryGuelph ShelterBox Representative, Carolyn Weatherson. 

 DONATE

On August 14, 2026 the Rotary Club of Guelph inducted two new members - Dhruv Shah and Jim Rooney. Both have incredible track records for making a difference in the world, and we feel very fortunate to have them join our club.  Dhruv spoke warmly about the gift of connection that Rotary provides and he looks forward to collaborating with Rotary on Guelph 200. For Jim, it is “welcome back to Rotary” because he was previously a member of our club for 20 years from 1973 to 1993 before work and family took priority. Jim is proud to once again wear a Rotary pin, and spoke of how Rotary's 4 Way Test has served him as an anchor throughout his life and endeavours. Read more below.

On August 17, 2026 the “Top 7 Over 70” award winners for 2026 were announced by United Way Guelph Wellington … and four are Rotarians! We send our warmest congratulations to our fellow Rotarians:

• Charlie Barnes - from Rotary Guelph South
• Anne Day - from Rotary Guelph Trillium, and currently Rotary-GW Assistant District Governor
• Liz Sandals - from Rotary Guelph

• Jim Rooney - from Rotary Guelph

   

In 2027, the City of Guelph will celebrate its 200th birthday, and the whole community is being encouraged to get involved. The Rotary Clubs of Guelph are heeding the call, and on August 7, 2026, a joint-club meeting was well attended to launch “Rotary Guelph200”. The strategy is twofold:

• To find a Legacy Project that will leave a Rotary imprint on Guelph for many years, and
• For our clubs to seek Community Service opportunities to layer into existing events. 

Our club's 46th annual Lobsterfest Gala - a key fundraiser for our charitable support - takes place on Saturday, 26 September 2026 at the ICC. Join us in cocktail attire and enjoy an elevated experience that includes: Cash Bar - Antipasto - All You Can Eat Lobster - Fall Off The Bone Ribs - 2 Bottles of Wine on the Table - Silent Auction - Live Auction - 50/50 draw - Dance - Early Bird Tickets $160 (up until June 30th) - Single Ticket $175 (after July 1st) - Table of 10 $1500.  GET YOUR TICKETS HERE.