April 1, 1921 is the official date that the Rotary Club of Kingston was registered by Rotary International, which makes 2021 the 100th year of Rotary in Kingston. There are now four Rotary clubs in Kingston: Kingston (1921), Kingston-Frontenac (1965), Cataraqui-Kingston (1985) and Kingston Waterfront (2015), and two Rotaract Clubs: Queen's Rotaract (1993) and Kingston Rotaract (2020).
Rotarians from all KIngston clubs began planning for this celebration three years ago with a goal to celebrate our past service and offer anniversary contributions to our community. Then Covid-19 happened. Since Rotarians fully understand how to pivot and address community needs, we redirected our energy to assisting people most impacted by the lockdown. Since April, 2020, we have delivered healthy food to vulnerable children and their families and made masks for frontline workers and others who need them.
Centennial planning resumed mid-summer to finalize the details on a series of projects that would have a lasting impact on Kingston. Working with community partners will ensure sustainability long after our Centennial year concludes. Through these projects, Rotarians and friends of Rotary will contribute in excess of $500,000 to the community!
Centennial Projects:
Transitioning Pathways to Education graduates from high school to postsecondary through mentorship
Supporting students at St Lawrence College with scholarships and funding facilities
Promoting Youth Mental Health and Safety with virtual programs for secondary students
Partnering with Loughborough Public School to build a greenhouse and teaching kitchen
Sustaining our environment by planting 100 trees in Rotary Park and in the community
Connecting New Canadians to employment opportunities and services and fellowship
Developing cultural awareness at No. 9 Gardens by engaging indigenous and non-indigenous students
Constructing a new accessible fire pit at Easter Seals’ Camp Merrywood
Purchasing and installing new dock facilities at RKY Camp
Dedicating the Rotary Reading Room as part of the Reg Shadbolt Learning Center at the Boys and Girls Club.
Supporting Hospice Kingston in developing its new facilities
Building a Monarch Butterfly Garden at Rotary Park
In addition to the Centennial projects, we will host a number of celebratory events. In March, Rotarians will honour outstanding community organizations and citizens with Paul Harris Fellow Awards. In June, Rotarians and friends will hold a Centennial dinner and then our community partners and youth program participants will join us at Rotary Park in July for our Centennial birthday party.
A Centennial is a momentous time for any organization. It’s a time to recognize and celebrate a century of service. Rotary in Kingston has evolved and expanded to include over 200 members, including 2 Rotaract and 3 Interact clubs. We look forward to sharing our story through these Rotary Reflections, 52 in number and published weekly in the Kingston Whig-Standard and Kingston-This-Week. Follow us. And we encourage you to join with us in all of these endeavours.
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This is the first of 52 Rotary Reflections published in 2021 to provide a snapshot of the impact Rotary has had in Kingston over the past century. Feedback is welcome at rotaryreflections@gmail.com. For more information about 100 Years of Rotary in Kingston, please visit www.kingstonrotarycentennial.com
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