NEWS RELEASE
ROTARY CLUB OF GUELPH
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Renowned Indigenous author, Edmund Metatawabin - who was shortlisted for the Governor General's Award in 2014 for his novel Up Ghost River, and who is a recipient of the Order of Canada will speak at the regular Friday luncheon meeting of the Rotary Club of Guelph, Sept. 27 at 12:15 p.m.
The meeting will be held at the Italian Canadian Club, 135 Ferguson Street, Guelph. Members of the community are invited to attend. Mr. Metatawabin will speak about his Residential School experience.
This extraordinary event is being held in recognition of Orange Shirt Day which falls annually on Sept. 30 and is an opportunity for Canadians to learn about the legacy of the residential school system. Orange Shirt day also reinforces talks about anti-racism and bullying and reaffirms that every child matters.
Rotary is also honored to host the Chief Executive Officer of the Assembly of First Nations, Dr. Paulette Tremblay as well as Vanessa McGregor, Special Advisor to the Chief Executive Officer of the Assembly of First Nations, who will both be present at this special meeting.
To confirm your attendance, please send an email to Dianne Dance ([email protected]) or text her at 519-741-6291 by Sept. 24. Cost of the luncheon is $20 at the door for those pre-registered.
Indigenous Awareness Committee members of the Rotary Club are committed to highlighting reconciliation with First Nations peoples. To this end we invite members of the media, in order specifically to shine a light on the role that we see Rotary being ideally placed to play: supporting groups such as HIP, Honoring Indigenous Peoples [www.rotaryhip.com].
One of Rotary's historic mandates is peace, and what better way to promote peace right here at home than to promote bridge-building and reconciliation with our First Nations friends.
Rotary is a global network of 1.2 million neighbors, friends, leaders, and problem-solvers who see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change – across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves.
The Rotary Club of Guelph was chartered on 20 February 1920. For almost 100 years club members have been committed to local projects that currently include mentoring at College Heights Secondary School, environmental awareness with the 100-acre Rotary Forest, 123Go Program, Sharks at the Y, Food for Friends, Kids Ability, scholarships and awards, assistive devices for seniors, Food for Kids, youth at risk, BHENY (Better Hearing in Education for Northern Youth) and international projects in India, Uganda, Cameron, Lesotho, St, Lucia, Mexico and Guatemala. Fund raising events such as Sparkles in the Park, Canada Day at Riverside Park, Hockey Challenge and Lobsterfest support our community and international projects.
Rotary started with the vision of one man —Paul Harris. The Chicago attorney formed the Rotary Club of Chicago on 23 February 1905, so professionals with diverse backgrounds could exchange ideas, form meaningful, lifelong friendships, and give back to their communities. Rotary’s name came from the group’s early practice of rotating meetings among the offices of its members.
Solving real problems takes real commitment and vision. For more than 110 years, Rotary's people of action have used their passion, energy, and intelligence to take action on sustainable projects. From literacy and peace to water and health, we are always working to better our world, and we stay committed to the end.
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