2016 saw the start of the local effort to prepare to welcome 50 incoming Syrian refugee families, generously sponsored by Guelph business owner Jim Estill, and to that end members of our Rotary club volunteered with the local Salvation Army Citadel for the collection, sorting and eventual distribution of clothing, furniture and food that was needed to get the new neighbours started. Charter member Celia Clark took the lead on behalf of our Rotary club.  Celia co-ordinated the volunteers that sorted donated items (bedding, clothes, furnishings, kitchen items and so on) at the Salvations Army’s Victoria Road location in Guelph.

    In May 2016 the City of Guelph hosted the Special Olympics Games and our club was proud to sponsor one of the athletes that participated. The event was one of the largest Special Olympics Provincial Games ever held in Ontario with more than 900 athletes, coaches and team delegates. The University of Guelph hosted many of the events and provided accommodations for the athletes. Sports included swimming, powerlifting, basketball, bowling and rhythmic dance.  The athlete was sponsored was Lianne Nichol, her sport being 5-pin bowling. Lianne was part of a 5-person team that qualified for the Provincial Championships, representing the North East District, Tri Towns Community.

   Thanks to the sponsorship and support of Davies & Mahnke Private Wealth Management and other local businesses our club was able to initiate a 5-year project (2016 to 2020) to recognize volunteers in the community.  April being “Volunteer Month” a special event was held at Cutten Fields where 100 community volunteers representing 10 organizations would be feted with a brunch. Each organization would also receive a donation of $1,000.  Local dignitaries representing all 3 branches of government would also participate in order to extend their appreciation for these community volunteers.  Sadly we could not hold the event in person in 2020 but we still managed to celebrate that year’s honourees in a virtual meeting, and they still got the donations! All tolled, over the 5 years, 500 community volunteers from 50 organizations were honoured and $50,000 in donations were given out. While there won’t be a Volunteer Appreciation Brunch in 2021, consideration is currently being given to options for future recognition of worthy volunteers in our community.