At our club meeting on February 20, 2026, two new club members were inducted and welcomed into our club. Read more about the backgrounds of Rotary Peace Fellow Carole St. Laurent, and well-known Guelphite Leanne Caron, below. We were pleased to have District Governor Suzanne Zbinden with us to welcome and congratulate our newest Rotarians.
CAROLE ST. LAURENT
(Introduced by Noma Vales)
Carole is an international development professional whose passion is peace. In 2006, she founded a peace ministry, “CryPeace”, to share personal stories that nurture peace from around the world. In 2019, while working in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, she shifted her focus to peace education. In 2024, CryPeace relaunched a free, certified peace curriculum in Uganda. Currently, 8 peace clubs are making an impact in the lives of students and former street children and the program is growing. In 2026, a Biblical version will be added for Christian schools, churches and ministries. Her dream is to see this resource used more widely … including in Canada.
Professionally, Carole is an IT consultant who worked for World Vision for many years, and prior to that, the financial industry. She holds a BSc in Computer Science from Western University, a Master's in Information and Communication Technologies for Development from York University, a Certificate in Ministry from Tyndale seminary, and a Rotary Peace scholarship Postgraduate Diploma in Peace and Conflict Studies from Makerere University, Uganda. She lives in Guelph, and travels to Uganda frequently to support CryPeace's peace education projects. Learn more at CryPeace.org.
LEANNE CARON
(Introduced by Marva Bailey-Wisdom & Faz Ashkar)
Leanne was raised in a home where public service was simply part of life. As the daughter of a Rotarian, she has been involved for over five decades as a volunteer in organizations that support youth leadership, education, environment, conservation and social justice. Leanne is currently serving her 5th term of office as a City of Guelph councillor, after having served as a former Upper Grand District School Board trustee. She also currently works full-time as Manager, Occupancy and Marketing at the University of Guelph, and was in a similar role at McMaster for 15 years. She also served as Director of Communications for 4-H Ontario for many years.
Leanne graduated from McMaster University with an Honours BA in History and English, and a Masters of Arts (Leadership) from the University of Guelph. She has served on the Board of Directors of many organizations, some due to her Council role, and others as a result of her own passions, including the Guelph Public Library board, Art Gallery of Guelph, Guelph Historical Society, Guelph Police Services, Guelph Junction Railway, Family and Children's Services, Guelph Downtown Business Association, and more.
Leanne is mom to four adult children, two grandchildren, and an extended bonus family who inspire her daily. She and her husband Arni have been busy over the last several years restoring and renovating their stone heritage home and garden near downtown in their spare time.
You can learn more about Leanne from this Guelph Today article before the 2022 municipal elections.
https://www.guelphtoday.com/2022-municipal-election-news/meet-ward-5-candidate-leanne-caron-5725945