Last Friday, April 13, we held a joint program with the Community Plan team from the City of Guelph!
Our meeting began with an announcement from President Nanita Mohan wishing Bill Stevens a happy 90th birthday! Everyone sang Bill 'Happy Birthday' and Rosemary gave him a card that she made and that everyone signed. A custom cake was also made for Bill. Happy 90th Bill! Thank you for everything you've contributed to our club and our community!
This program was a bit different from our usual format. We didn't have any announcements and we went straight into a presentation. Marva began the program with an overview of the Community Plan.
She explained that the Community Plan came out of a recognition that our city is growing and that "we need a well-planned approach that steers us in the directions we want to go."
From 2018-2019 and 2020 to 2021 the Community Plan, as it stands today, formed with the help of over 10,000 community members, 100 focus groups, 110+ workshops, and events.
Marva then introduced Glen Lombard, the Manger of Community Engagement at the city of Guelph.
Glen discussed the seven values that came out of these discussions: everyone's well being, environmental stewardship, fiscal responsibility, integrity, innovation, inclusiveness, and respect. These seven values are the foundation of Guelph's community vision moving forward.
After Glen discussed each of the values he had each table discuss one of the values. A table facilitator asked everyone at the table to introduce themselves and then guided the conversation to focus on potential obstacles that are in the way of us achieving each of these visions.
After a long discussion of these obstacles and potential solutions we all came back together. Glen had the facilitator from each group discuss what value we focused and the potential obstacles that needed to be overcome.
After each group presented, Glen tied all the conversations together into concluding remarks.
Aidan Harris and Noma Vales thanked Glen, Marva, and the Community Plan team and the community members that came for the amazing event.
Noma concluded her remarks with the call to action, "now is the time for us to roll up our sleeves and get to work!"
Last weekend, Eleni Bakopoulos had her first art exhibition in New York city!
Last weekend, Eleni Bakopoulos had her first art exhibition in New York city!
Eleni wrote that "The trip was so much fun because of the fantastic company. Several of my art students came along for the journey including Rotarians: Marva Wisdom, Anne McKay, Dianne Dance and Tracey Curtis. (We missed Crista And Ben).
The exhibition was the result of an international competition for artists on the theme of “The Middle Path.” I was one of the finalists invited to show my work at the Blanc arts space in Midtown Manhattan.
Here are a few words I wrote on this theme and my work:
“When we see ourselves in others, we see past propaganda, politics, and fear, and recognize our shared humanity; this is how we walk the Middle Path where integrity, wisdom, and love lives.”
From all of us at Rotary, congratulations Eleni! This is such a big accomplishment!
April 17th, at 7:00 PM, Nurse Fighter Boy will be screened at the Bookshelf!
Artseverywhere Festival is pleased to partner with the Bookshelf and GBHS to bring you this Charles Officer (the Porter) film on national Film Day in Canada, this Wednesday, April 17th. See poster below.
Marva's sister Garvia Bailey, a close friend of the late Charles’ Officer, is co-founder of https://www.mediagirlfriends.com/about and a U of T Massey Fellow in journalism, will attend in person and moderate a Q&A with Ingrid Veninger, producer, and writer of the film. Ingrid is a tenured professor in the department of Cinema & Media Arts at York University (attending virtually).
Charles was a critically acclaimed African Canadian director, artist and performer who died suddenly last December at the age of 48.
This screening is free, and seating is limited. This can be shared broadly. No registration is required. Doors open at 6:30pm – film at 7pm. Please see below.
We will be having a personal invitation only reception for Festival supporters upstairs by the cinema, at 5:30-6:30. Please RSVP my colleague ciana@artseverywhere.ca by Tuesday at noon if you and or a guest wish to attend.
On May 10th at 5:00 PM Elora House will host its annual Princess Gala! All proceeds go towards Elora House.
On May 10th at 5:00 PM Elora House will host its annual Princess Gala! All proceeds go towards Elora House.
Elora House is a local organization whose goal is to provide safe housing and support for females who are victims of sexual exploitation and/or human trafficking.
In addition to safe housing and support, a primary focus lies in assisting residents to build towards self-reliance, resilience, and overall well-being. The journey to emotional and physical strength includes having resources such as life-skills training and education, available to all who enter. Elora House proudly offers all residents unconditional kindness, protection, and freedom.
Tickets are $150/person with all proceeds going to Elora House operations.
The evening includes:
- Silent auction
- Music
- Photo booth
- Chef curated dinner
- Raffle Table
- Cash bar and a signature drink
Semi-formal attire is preferred.
To purchase a ticket please go to www.elorahouse.com, scroll down to find the registration link on their home page and complete the step to register via Tithe.ly.
From May 2-5, 2024 the ArtsEverywhere Festival will take place in Guelph!
As Marva explained in her announcement to the club last Friday, the ArtsEverywhere Festival is the place where conversations, ideas, and artistic experiments come alive in the community of Guelph. From May 2nd to May 5th join members of our community for lectures, conversations, music, artistic performances, circle gatherings, literary readings, exhibitions, and much more. The full festival program will be announced soon, so please subscribe to the ArtsEverwhere email list to receive upadtes.
2023 marked the 20th edition of The Guelph Lecture—On Being, it was an exciting evening that confronted the urgencies of our time through the lens of art and ideas. By bringing together a diverse, informative, creative, and sometimes unlikely combination of people, the festival weekend offers programming that connects to the ongoing work and needs of many organizations and individuals who wish to make the world a better place.
If you are interested in attending, please follow this link for more info: https://festival.artseverywhere.ca/
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