Salvation Army Kettles

 
The Rotary Club of Calgary East has supported the Salvation Army Kettles for many years and did so again this year. 11 volunteers covered shifts at the Marlborough Mall on November 22 and 23.
Salvation Army Kettles Brian Carnahan 2024-11-23 07:00:00Z 0

O S Geiger and Rundle Pancake Breakfasts

 
 
A big thank you to our 13 volunteers who cooked and served pancakes and sausages for 450 students at O S Geiger Elementary School on September 13. The weather was beautiful and the school really appreciated our efforts. 
 
A big thanks to the 11 volunteers who cooked and served pancakes and sausages for 550 students at Rundle Elementary School on September 20. The day was a little damp and we were very happy to have our trailer for the event today.
 
O S Geiger and Rundle Pancake Breakfasts Brian Carnahan 2024-09-20 06:00:00Z 0

Rotary Alberta Youth Entrepreneurship Camp

 
Who are we thankful for?  YOU!  Just wanted to say a very heartfelt thank you for your clubs sponsorship of the 26th version of the Rotary Alberta Youth Entrepreneurship Camp (RAYEC).  It was a jam-packed week of business fun with 58 campers, 10 youth leaders and 19 adults at Eagles Nest Ranch.  Just over $12, 000 was exchanged during the week and campers took anywhere from $45 to $122 home with them after paying back expenses.  Some of the products developed by campers included keychains, baking in a jar, vintage designed t-shirts, candles, orb lights….and so much more!  It wasn’t all work though – campers enjoyed the Burma bridge, paintball, campfire, lip sync battle and the other fun stuff that just happens.  Many new friends were made, and tears were shed saying goodbye on the last day.
Rotary Alberta Youth Entrepreneurship Camp Brian Carnahan 2024-08-17 06:00:00Z 0

Greater Forest Lawn Seniors Stampede Brreakfast

 
Thanks to the club members and friends and family who volunteered to cook and serve pancakes and sausages at the Greater Forest Lawn Seniors stampede breakfast. The live music and dancing was enjoyed by everyone.
Greater Forest Lawn Seniors Stampede Brreakfast Brian Carnahan 2024-07-11 06:00:00Z 0

Habitat for Humanity Build Day

 
13 volunteers participated in the Rotary Club of Calgary East's build day for Habitat for Humanity at Livingston 24. The Rotary Club of Calgary East contributed $5,000 towards materials and 13 volunteers put in a good days work on a very hot day. A special thanks to Alessandro Raffi, on a New Generations Service Exchange from Stuttgart, Germany.
Habitat for Humanity Build Day Brian Carnahan 2024-06-22 06:00:00Z 0

President's BBQ

 
Christine and Brian hosted the President's year end BBQ. Brian shared the story behind the unique Yellow Wheel that gets "dusted off" during the Club wind-up! We had many guests including prospective members: Hicham, Real, family members and Alessando and Manvi from the New Generations Service Exchange. President Greg acknowledged the Club Directors with a gift of appreciation for their leadership and service. Fun, fellowship, tasty BBQ and no rain. 
President's BBQ Brian Carnahan 2024-06-16 06:00:00Z 0

Grant MacEwan Pancake Breakfast

 
Thanks to the 14 volunteers who cooked and served pancakes and sausages for the 400 elementary students at Grant MacEwan School on June 14. The weather was great and the students really enjoyed the event. 
 
The leftover pancakes and sausages were given to the School for their breakfast program. 
Grant MacEwan Pancake Breakfast Brian Carnahan 2024-06-14 06:00:00Z 0

Saint Damien Pancake Breakfast

 
Our next pancake breakfast was held at Saint Damien Elementary School. We served over 300 K-6 students who gave us smiles and a big Thank you! 
Saint Damien Pancake Breakfast Brian Carnahan 2024-06-07 06:00:00Z 0

Colonel J Fred Scott Pancake Breakfast

 
Breakfast 'kick off' was held at the Colonel J Fred Scott School. The school motto is "We help each other grow." This played out as we served over 500 K-6 culturally diverse students & their teachers a pancake breakfast. Calgary East Volunteers (cooks, runners, servers) did a fantastic job. A shout out to RYPEN Youth Leader Lindsay who was available to volunteer. 
 
The left over sausages and pancakes were given to the School for their weekly Breakfast Program that goes every Monday to Friday. The students gave us smiles, hugs and big a Thank you!
Colonel J Fred Scott Pancake Breakfast Brian Carnahan 2024-05-24 06:00:00Z 0

Top 30 Under 30

 
The Top 30 Under 30 Award is an annual campaign by the Alberta Council for Global Cooperation. Maya Povhe is a past Rotary exchange student, Rotaractor, Youth Advisory Board member to the Rotary International Board and recently named one of Alberta's Top 30 Under 30 for 2024. Maya is a 22 year old student from Okotoks currently attending the University of Toronto.
 
Maya is being mentored by Calgary East Rotary's Vocational Service Chair, Rhea Graham. Maya will write a Rotary blog post for Youth Service Month (in May) mentioning the 30 Under 30 Award and is one of three Young Leaders in Action who will be presenting a webinar "Become a Champion for Youth" on May 15 at 9:00 am MDT.
 
Top 30 Under 30 Brian Carnahan 2024-04-29 06:00:00Z 0

New Members Inducted

 
Calgary East Rotary Club added two new members on April 25. Jaya Dharan and Wilner Pagaling were inducted by Past District Governor Christine Rendell. Jaya felt welcomed when her family immigrated to Canada and wants to give back to the community. Jaya already has a service project in mind and will present it to the club. Wilner is transferring from another Rotary club and has already done an International Service project in the Philippines with support from Calgary East Rotary and will also present a follow up project to the club. We welcomed them into the club and look forward to their community and international service contributions. 
New Members Inducted Brian Carnahan 2024-04-25 06:00:00Z 0

Inclusion Alberta Update

 
Seranna Rowse and Teagan Macza from Inclusion Alberta gave us an update on the Rotary Employment Partnership which has facilitated much needed jobs to people with developmental disabilities. They provided the business case that inclusive hiring works and a video profiling some of the employees. Both are attached to the Inclusion Alberta page on our website.
 
Inclusion Alberta Update Brian Carnahan 2024-03-28 06:00:00Z 0

New Members Inducted

 
Calgary East Rotary Club added two new members on March 28. Tiffany Barbosa and Des Dikic were inducted by Past District Governor Christine Rendell. Tiffany and Des have been actively volunteering at Calgary East events for several months. We welcomed them into the club and look forward to more community service contributions. 
New Members Inducted Brian Carnahan 2024-03-28 06:00:00Z 0

Social With Fish Creek Rotary Club

 
Our social on January 18 with the Rotary Club of Calgary Fish Creek was enjoyed by everyone who attended. Our guest speaker, Marino Farella, is a Rotary Youth Exchange student from Italy. He is currently being hosted by members of Calgary Fish Creek and told us about himself, his family and his home in Italy. 
Social With Fish Creek Rotary Club Brian Carnahan 2024-01-18 07:00:00Z 0

Holiday Celebration

 
Members of Calgary East Rotary Club joined members from Calgary Fish Creek, Calgary Chinook, Calgary West and Okotoks Rotary Clubs for a Holiday Celebration on December 18. The food provided by the Willow Park Golf and Country Club staff was first rate. The gift and re-gift exchange and the ugly sweater contest were entertaining and the Rotary fellowship was wonderful as always!
 
Holiday Celebration Brian Carnahan 2023-12-18 07:00:00Z 0

Los Amigos Presentation

 
Mary and Steve Turner from the Rotary Club of Olds and John Fortunka from the Rotary Club of Okotoks were guest speakers at our meeting on December 14. They gave a presentation on the Los Amigos project which has delivered 60 decommissioned emergency and service vehicles to Mexico over the last 13 years. In September, 2024, Rotarians will leave Alberta with four firetrucks and four handi-vans. The project is looking for 16 drivers and $64,000 to cover the project costs.
Los Amigos Presentation Brian Carnahan 2023-12-14 07:00:00Z 0

New Members Inducted

 
The Rotary Club of Calgary East inducted two members on December 7. John McIlravey and Diane Frost were inducted by President Greg Wing and Past District Governor Christine Rendell. John is a Property Manager and Diane is an Indigenous Educator. We welcomed them into the club and look forward to their community service contributions. 
New Members Inducted Brian Carnahan 2023-12-07 07:00:00Z 0

Climate Change Presentation

 

On October 19, Bill Skinner from the Rotary Club of Calgary Heritage Park gave a presentation on "Climate Change from a Rotarian's Perspective". The receding Columbia icefield and the impact of the pine beetle on Alberta's pine forests are both examples of climate change. Bill gave an example applying the four way test to climate change and showed the warming trend of Alberta temperatures over the last 120 years. What was really interesting was Bill's calculation of his ecological footprint which showing he has 6.6 times the world's average ecological footprint. This definitely makes us think and Bill ended his presentation with a quote from a famous frog who said "It isn't easy being green!"
 
To calculate your ecological footprint go to: http://www.footprintcalculator.org/home/en
 
 
Climate Change Presentation Brian Carnahan 2023-10-22 06:00:00Z 0

September Pancake Breakfasts

 
The new school year has started and the Calgary East Rotary Club continued the tradition of cooking and serving pancake breakfasts at Calgary Elementary Schools. On September 15, we assembled our crew of 9 Rotarians and 2 volunteers at the Rundle Elementary School to feed 500 students. The weather co-operated nicely and everyone enjoyed the breakfast. On September 28, we were at the Colonel J Fred Scott Elementary school to feed another 500 students. We were short a few volunteers but our group of 6 Rotarians and 2 volunteers met the challenge and completed another successful pancake breakfast. The weather was a little cool but the school set up tables in the gym and the students were enjoyed their breakfast in comfort. Our BBQ trailer is done for another season and goes into storage until the spring.
September Pancake Breakfasts Brian Carnahan 2023-10-02 06:00:00Z 0

MOMA Hope Monarch Butterfly Tour

 

We hosted David Eaton from the Rotary Club of Monterey, Mexico and Dawn Byford from the Rotary Club of Canmore. David gave a presentation on Operation Pollinator, which is aimed at saving the monarch butterfly population, which has had a precipitous decline in the last 50 years. RI President Gordon McInally and past RI Presidents Jennifer Jones and Mark Maloney have signed the Operation Pollinator Partnership. Following David presentation the Rotary Club of Calgary East signed a Pollinator Pledge joining over 150 Rotary clubs who have signed the Pollinator Pledge.  
 
 
MOMA Hope Monarch Butterfly Tour Brian Carnahan 2023-08-31 06:00:00Z 0

Habitat for Humanity Build Day

 
8 Rotarians and 2 family members participated in Calgary East Rotary's Habitat for Humanity build day. Teams of two worked with skilled team leaders and future home owners installing drywall and building fences at Habitat's Cornerstone build site in NE Calgary. It was hard work and we learned some new skills. By the end of the day we were all pretty tired but the experience was very rewarding and we will definitely look at doing another build day in 2024. 
Habitat for Humanity Build Day Brian Carnahan 2023-06-24 06:00:00Z 0

Saint Damien Elementary Pancakes

 
Members of the Calgary East Rotary Club cooked and served pancakes and sausages for 350 students and teachers at the Saint Damien Elementary School. The Calgary East volunteers were supported by three friends of the club. We listened to Western music while we cooked and served and the students thoroughly enjoyed this annual event. The Calgary East cooking crew will be at the Greater Forest Lawn 55+ Society Stampede breakfast on July 13 and at three more Elementary Schools in September. 
 
Saint Damien Elementary Pancakes Brian Carnahan 2023-06-09 06:00:00Z 0

Grant MacEwan Elementary Pancakes

 
Members of the Calgary East Rotary Club cooked and served pancakes and sausages for 800 students and teachers at the Grant MacEwan Elementary School. The Calgary East volunteers were supported by one friend of the club and four volunteers from the Calgary Chinook Rotary Club. The students thoroughly enjoyed this annual event and even did some line dancing. The Calgary East cooking crew will be at Saint Damien Elementary School on June 9 and three more Elementary Schools in September. 
 
Grant MacEwan Elementary Pancakes Brian Carnahan 2023-05-26 06:00:00Z 0

50th Anniversary Celebration

 
Calgary East Rotary Club is 50 years young! 15 club members and 45 guests attended the celebration. The Calgary Plaza Hotel prepared a great meal, we viewed a slide show of pictures from the last 50 years and a video of highlights from some our our past inbound youth exchange students. Past President Brian Carnahan gave a summary of the history of the Calgary East Rotary Club which has raised $1.5 million and provided 27,000 volunteer hours to support communities in East Calgary. We were entertained by Dueling Pianos, live from Las Vegas. They played hits from the 70's, 80's and 90's and some dancing broke out.
 
50th Anniversary Celebration Brian Carnahan 2023-04-20 06:00:00Z 0

Queen's Platinum Jubilee Medal

 

On Feb 13, 2023, our member Cam Stewart was awarded a Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee Medal for his outstanding contributions to serve Alberta and your community. This is icing on the cake after RI's People of Action - Champions of Inclusion Award. Cam Stewart has been active in diversity, inclusion, and human rights for more than two decades, with a particular focus on Indigenous inclusion. He founded and chairs District 5360’s Indigenous Relations Committee, which is unique within Rotary because its members include Indigenous, non-Rotarian leaders. The committee, which reports to the District Governor, ensures that Indigenous issues and people are a priority. It received a district grant for the Indigenous Community Action Project to address some calls to action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada. This project creates opportunities for Rotary clubs and Indigenous organizations to identify community issues, brainstorm solutions, develop initiatives, and take action together. Stewart provides resources for clubs to learn about DEI issues related to Indigenous peoples and organizes events where people can meet, learn, celebrate, and build relationships. He also arranges for Elders or other keepers of knowledge to participate in Rotary events. Stewart has been honored with an eagle feather and a pipe from Elder Doreen Spence and was given the Blackfoot name Mikostahpinukum (Red Morning) by Elder Herman Yellow Old Woman.
Queen's Platinum Jubilee Medal Brian Carnahan 2023-02-13 07:00:00Z 0

Yuk Yuk's Comedy Night

 
Comedy Night at Yuk Yuk's. Calgary East Rotary Club held a fundraiser on February 2. The 50 plus people in attendance were treated to some great comedy from Jacob Balshin  (MC), Scott Dumas (Middle) and Dale Ward (Headliner). Humor certainly is the best medicine and we raised some money for Rotary in the process. Look for another chance to enjoy Comedy Night at Yuk Yuk's in the fall!
Yuk Yuk's Comedy Night Brian Carnahan 2023-02-02 07:00:00Z 0

Presentations from Young Leaders

 
Three young leaders gave presentations at our club on January 19th. Luke Mendonca and Kaleb Langton attended the Rotary Alberta Youth Entrepreneurship Camp at Eagle's Nest Ranch in the Cypress Hills in August and shared their experiences. They were two of 58 campers supported by 10 leaders and 24 volunteers who learned hands on about entrepreneurship. In teams, they developed business plans, got loans from teams of bankers, and created their products. At the conclusion of the Business Day, when families came to pick up their campers, all the loans were repaid with interest and fees. Each camper went home with $20 to $120 and some teams made donations to charity on top of that. 
 
Eve Pigat attended the Zone Interact Convention sponsored by the Rotary Club of Calgary East in October. The four day convention was attended by over 50 Interact members from Districts across Canada and the United States. Speakers included Rotary leaders like RI Director Drew Kessler and RI Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Vice Chair Brian Rusch. Eve really enjoyed the program and meeting Interactors from across the Zone.
Presentations from Young Leaders Brian Carnahan 2023-01-19 07:00:00Z 0

Community Kitchens

 
Rotarians from Calgary Easy teamed up with 7 other Calgary area Rotary Clubs to help replace the Community Kitchens delivery truck. The new truck was unveiled on December 19 and Rotarians from the clubs involved were present. Rotarians from all 8 clubs provide volunteers monthly to prepare food boxes for the Good Food Box program. 
Community Kitchens Brian Carnahan 2022-12-30 07:00:00Z 0

Zone Interact Convention

 
Calgary East Rotary Club sponsored the Zone Interact Convention at The Calgary Plaza Hotel on Oct 20 - 23, 2022. The convention was two years in making due to delays due to COVID. It was attended by over 50 Interact members from Districts across Zones 28 and 32. Speakers included Rotary leaders like RI Director Drew Kessler, and Rotary Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Vice Chair Brian Rusch. There were awesome speakers and great programs developed by Rotaract members from Zones 28 and 32 many who were former Interact members. This first of its kind convention is a great platform to develop future Rotary leaders and the next convention is already being planned.
 
Zone Interact Convention Brian Carnahan 2022-10-23 06:00:00Z 0

Iyethka Trading Co

 
Renette Kurz was our guest speaker on Oct 13. Renette teaches at the Morley Community School and leads the Entrepreneurial Academy. Grade 10 and 11 students volunteer in the school's Mini Thni Mini Mart where they sell clothing they helped create through the Iyethka Trading Co. The clothing icludes quality T-shirts and hoodies with unique logos designed by local artist Tyson Crawler. Calgary East Rotary members purchased the orange T-shirts being modelled from the Iyethka Trading Co.
Iyethka Trading Co Brian Carnahan 2022-10-13 06:00:00Z 0

New Blood Presentation

 
New Blood was presented at Arts Commons on September 30. It featured poetry, music, and contemporary and traditional dance. This powerful presentation was inspired by the life of Chief Vincent Yellow Old Woman, his experience as a child in a residential school, and how he reclaimed his way of life and became chief of his people. Calgary East Rotary provided volunteers ticket takers and ushers for the performance and provided sandwiches and drinks for the performers and attendees after the performance.
 
New Blood Presentation Brian Carnahan 2022-09-30 06:00:00Z 0

Day of Truth and Reconciliation

 
Volunteers from Calgary East Rotary and University of Calgary Rotaract manned the Rotary District's information booth at Princess Island during the celebration of the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation on September 30. Over 300 people joined in the Pokaiks Commemorative Walk to remember the children followed by traditional drumming and dancing performances, remarks from Indigenous community members and a reconciliation panel discussion. The Rotary and Rotaract volunteers encouraged attendees to write on a post-it note "What they will do for ReconciliAction" and got over one hundred responses. Great team effort!
Day of Truth and Reconciliation Brian Carnahan 2022-09-30 06:00:00Z 0

Rotary Ribfest YYC

 
Volunteers from the Calgary East Rotary Club and from the Marlborough Community Association joined volunteers from five other Rotary and Rotaract clubs for Ribfest YYC. Three ribtruck crews provided the ribs and Rotary volunteers ran the beer garden and sold 50/50 tickets to raise funds for Rotary's causes. Live bands provided entertainment and the weather was great! The event was a huge success and will become an annual event.
Rotary Ribfest YYC Brian Carnahan 2022-09-10 06:00:00Z 0

Challenger Park Golf Tournament

 
Members from the Calgary East Rotary Club played in the Calgary Rotary Challenger Park golf tournament held at the Bearspaw Golf and Country Club. The annual event raised about $48,000 for the park this year and the total raised in 16 years is about $750,000. Calgary East Rotary is one of many sponsors for the golf tournament.
 
Thanks to the volunteers from the Calgary East Rotary Club who joined volunteers from other Rotary clubs for the Challenger Park fundraiser at Elbow River Casino on August 9 and 10.
 
Challenger Park Golf Tournament Brian Carnahan 2022-08-24 06:00:00Z 0

Forest Lawn Stampede Breakfast

 
10 volunteers from the Calgary East Rotary Club cooked and served pancakes and sausages to 275 people at the Forest Lawn 55+ Society Stampede breakfast on July 11. This is an annual event that has been supported by the Calgary East Rotary Club fpr many years. Everyone enjoyed the food and the live music and line dancing.
 
Forest Lawn Stampede Breakfast Brian Carnahan 2022-07-11 06:00:00Z 0

Umoja Community Mosaic Event

 
10 volunteers from Calgary East Rotary cooked 500 hamburgers at the Umoja Community Mosaic Event held at Calgary Rotary Challenger Park on July 8. The event was attended by 250 members of the Umoja community and Rotarians. The event was part of the Imagine Rotary Canada Tour and was attended by Rotary International President Jennifer Jones, RI Director Valerie Wafer, and past RI Director Bryn Styles as well as Jennifer's husband Nick Krayacich. Both Jennifer and Bryn took a turn at flipping burgers. The event included soccer, fun games, the kicking off a Rotary iniative, Move for Polio.
Umoja Community Mosaic Event Brian Carnahan 2022-07-08 06:00:00Z 0

Marlborough Community Clean Up

 
4 volunteers from the Calgary East Rotary Club joined volunteers from the Marlborough Community Association for the annual community clean up. A steady stream of community members dropped off garbage, yard waste, and metal and electronics recycling. This annual event helps keep the community clean.
 
Marlborough Community Clean Up Brian Carnahan 2022-06-04 06:00:00Z 0