We had a wonderful new “greeter” at our Rotary meeting this week when Jules Croskill visited with three month old baby Callum, making him our youngest ever volunteer and providing Callum with another milestone for his book of “Firsts” !
OUR CLUB'S PROGRAM ON MAY 29, 2026
GUELPH GENERAL HOSPITAL
This week's meeting featured two of the most prominent people involved in the operation of our local hospital. We heard from Julie Byczynski - the CEO of the Guelph General Hospital Foundation, and Mark Walton - the President and CEO of Guelph General Hospital.
The first order of business was to once again recognize and thank our very own Ruth Thatcher on receiving the Inspirational Philanthropist Award from the Guelph General Hospital Foundation for her 50-plus years of volunteering service at the hospital. The award was actually made at the 30th Annual Black Tie Bingo event back on March 28th and our club had scheduled to have Julie and Mark attend our club on April 10th for today's presentation. That meeting unfortunately had to be delayed and finally took place this week. Read more about Ruth being a Living Legend and also watch the wonderful video about Ruth, shown at the awards event.
Mark and Julie told us about the hospital's expansion efforts and the new campus on Speedvale Avenue West, at Conestoga College.They discussed how the new facility, funded entirely by community donations, includes a second MRI, additional mammography capacity, and plans for future phases that will include fracture clinics and endoscopy services, with Phase 2 requiring an additional $18 million in funding. The presentation covered how the hospital is addressing growing demand through innovative solutions while working toward a new hospital, with the process expected to take about 10 years from approval to opening.
Mark and Julie were introduced by Helen Pickard, and thanked by Ben McCarl.
CALLS TO ACTION
Saturday, June 6, 2026 - Guess Who's Coming To Dinner is back by popular demand. It's one of our favourite fellowship events of the year. You are invited to bring your “Plus One” to this great evening as well! Please respond to the email invitation sent out to all club members. Contact Noma Vales for more information.
You are invited to attend a one-hour presentation by a local Grade 12 youth advocate speaking out on how to protect children from online harm. This is being hosted by Rotary's local “Eradicating Human Trafficking” committee. The student Bella is speaking twice, on June 4 and June 8, 2026 at 7pm. You can attend in person at The Citadel or remotely on Zoom. Details are on our website HERE.
Save the date for our annual Summer Picnic on Friday, June 12th. Full details will be provided next week. This offsite event is instead of meeting at the ICC.
The 13th annual Tour de Guelph fundraiser will take place on Sunday, June 28th, 2026. Over the years, this cycling event for riders of all ages and abilities has raised over $1.4 million for the Guelph Hospital, and is jointly organized each year by the Hospital Foundation plus two local Rotary clubs - the Rotary Club of Guelph Trillium, and the Rotary Club of Guelph South. Be sure to support astonishing octogenarian Rotarian Charlie Barnes for his long ride again this year. Charlie is a member of the Guelph South club.
Terrie Jarvis is our latest club member to join Guelph's honour roll as a “Woman of Distinction”, an award given out during each of the past 30 years through our local YMCA of Three Rivers. She was recognized for co-founding the Food4Kids Guelph program which was merged with the Children's Foundation almost two years ago and continues to operate successfully under its new name of “Keep Kids Fed”. Terrie emphasized that this personal recognition was “Not about ME, but about WE, because everything good that gets accomplished truly takes a TEAM,” and she was delighted that so many of the original and ongoing volunteers in this food program were present at the event to share the moment. Terrie and Alan were especially delighted to have their two daughters present - Heather from Halifax, and Paula from Calgary.
President Marva Bailey-Wisdom is happy to confirm that our club is partnering with Immigration Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) through the Guelph-Wellington Local Immigration Partnership to host a citizenship ceremony on Canada Day 2026, where at least 45 new citizens will be sworn in outdoors near the Civic Museum and John McCrae statue. Rotarians are invited to support the new citizens and their families at the ceremony. Save the date for Canada Day on July 1st, 2026 to join the welcome and cheering for our newest citizens!
Our Lobsterfest Gala is on Saturday, Sep