On Tuesday morning, 27 January 2026, we will welcome Sarah Page as our Guest Speaker - Sara is the CEO at Grand Erie Public Health (GEPH). At our hybrid (ie live attendance at R83 with zoom remote attendance) session, she will speak to us about topical issues related to the public health program(s) in our local area.
We encourage open attendance by all of those who are interested in this topic. If you would like to join in (either in-person at R83, or by hybrid zoom link), please contact our RCNS meeting coordinator at your earliest opportunity at this email link.
On Tuesday morning, 20 Jan 2026, Dave Douglas welcomed Shawn McGowan as our Guest Speaker. At our hybrid (ie live attendance at R83 with zoom remote attendance) session, he spoke to us about his work and involvement in support of the local famers; in particular with regard to his responsibilities for the Temporary Foreign Farmers (TFW) program. It was noted that this group of support workers, so-essential to our food-chain operations numbers around 38,000 in Ontario and over 6,000 here in Norfolk County. Shawn covered a wide range of connected topics from legal & compliance frameworks. to recruitment strategies & practices, to workplace integration rights (incl development & training). As he closed, he noted the main challenges and risks faced by our farmers and their workers as well as many of the ongoing efforts at continuous improvement. Click here for a link to Shawn's business webpage comlete with a short bio on our speaker. It was a remarkable and detailed insight into a very important aspect of life in Norfolk County. Many, many questions followed. In the end, Co-President Ross Gowan offered appreciative remarks in thanking Shawn for his skill, experience and work within the local agricultural community. Shawn was then presented with an expression of our thanks by noting that we had, in his name, restored the sight of a 34-year old Ghanian as part of of our Operation Eyesight support.
In the spring of 1996, a new Rotary Club, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Simcoe, appeared on the Norfolk scene. The aim was to expand opportunities for Norfolk residents wanting to serve locally & internationally by participating in Rotary programs and activities. On May 16, 1996 the Rotary Club of Norfolk Sunrise (RCNS) received its Charter from Rotary International (RI) and began its own record of "Service above Self”. The RCNS's current success is rooted in the work of the initial, charter group of 54 Sunrisers; some of whom are still with the Club (as shown in bold font). That group included; Debra Abbott-Greenfield, Mark Boerkamp, Randy Bridge, Dave Brown. Cam Carter, Tony Cheung, Rhonda Clarke-Bruyn, Randy Coates, Robert Cole, Joan Davidson, Mike Dickenson, Yvonne DiPietro, Charlie Douglas, Dave Douglas, Keith Flexman, Mike Fredericks, Blair Harrison, Al Harrington, Mike Heirwegh, Gary Hepburn, Steve Jackson, Keith Jones, Janet Kazakevicious, Terri Kristman, Carrol Lambert, Doris Long, Steve Malo, John Matecsa, Scott Morris, Dave Murphy, Linda Newbury, Kim Novak, Jeff O'Donnell, Jim Peters, John Race, Keith Rainey, Peter Rasokas, Mike Redden, Barry Robinson, Eric Rustan, George Santos, Doug Slade, Bryan Slaney, Tony Suprun, Dawn Swaenpoel, Shawn Swarts, Gerry Townsend, John Verbakel, John Wallace, Peter Wheatley, Carolyn Wiens and Wayne Wormald. Over the course of the year, our plan is to celebrate in style; to celebrate our community presence and to celebrate the way in which we have worked in our community to make things better. Stay tuned to our media sites for more information on this anniversary.
From our Ways & Means Committee. A new RCNS fun-draiser is launching this February 14. A whole evening of fun wrapped up in 1 event; dinner, music bingo and a dance. Yes, all that for a mere $60. Although it is happening on February 14th, it is not necessarily for couples only. If you like to have fun, this is an evening for you. Instead of listening to boring bingo letters and numbers being called, you will listen to snippets of songs that you then have to find on your bingo card. Yes, even if you don't know the actual title, our DJ Hal will give out the answer. No music knowledge is needed. What is needed is for you to attend, sing along and have some fun. Ways & Means is challenging you to sell 2 ticketsin addition to your tickets. It is anticipated that this will be an event that will take off but it needs to get started. If you cannot make the dinner and bingo, you can come to the dance at 9:30 for $20 at the door.
The Rotary Club of Norfolk Sunrise (RCNS) recently made a donation to the Lighthouse Festival Theatre in Port Dover. The money will be used to purchase a new Clear-Com system, the primary communication link between stage managers, lighting and sound operator, backstage crew and the House Manager. Making the presentation from RCNS is Joanne Kiefer, Chair of Community Service (3rd from left). Receiving the donation are L-R Hailey Parker, Technical Director, Caitlin O’Neill, Operations Manager and Andy Dominick, Head Technician; all from the Lighthouse Theatre.
This the official RI Master Brand Logo - it is taken from the RI Branding Center and it replaces all other past versions.
This is the official RI Master Brand Signature Logo - it is taken from the RI Branding Center and it replaces all other past versions.
This is our official RCNS Club Logo - it is taken from the RI Branding Center and it replaces all other past versions.
There are similar versions of each of these logos that may be used depending on a specific application. Available are versions in specific Rotary colours (eg all black, all white, all blue etc) and in several different file formats (raster, vector etc). You may find out more about this Rotary policy by;
This year, our local Rotary Clubs are sponsoring three outbound exchange students and three inbound exchange students. All of this is being managed by our Youth Service Committees headed up by Rudi Atkinson (RCNS) and Amber McKnight (RCS). Of course, this challenging student-related task requires participation, funding and personal support to make it work as well as it does. Addressing these needs, the THE RCNS and RCS organized a special, internationally-themed, cocktail dinner event highlighted by food and drink from the inbound student home countries (Denmark, Germany, Spain). This event served to recognize those who are participating as well as those who are hosting the students and managing the program and to contribute to the fundraising need. Our Youth Service teams report a terrific success on all fronts! Go to the ‘Read more …’ tab to find out additional details and see a few selected photos. Go to this link to see a folder with photos taken during the evening. BZ.
Evidently, the 'Dragons' like it hot ... not even the most serious heat-wave in recent memory could dampen the energy for 24 DragonBoat teams (over 500 paddlers) brought to the Dragon Boat Festival in Waterford, Sunday 22 June 2025.
Sponsored once again by the Rotary Club of Norfolk Sunrise (RCNS) and the Cancer Resource Support Program (CSRP), this annual, community event is a major fundraiser for both organizations. Well-over 30 volunteers were onsite including Rotary Sunrisers, CSRP members, family, friends and students.
On Race Day, the heats started at 9am and finished up around 4pm. In spite of the record temperatures, spirits ran high throughout the park with many moving to the great music provided and the cheering as race times and winners were announced. Everyone was kept nourished with the local food vendors onsite and entertained with music all day long. Again this year, we arranged for formal team pictures to be taken behind the wooden dragon boat and paddles made by Abel Enterprises. Again his year, a highlight of the day was the carnation ceremony to remember all those currently battling breast cancer, those in remission and those who have died.
Go to the 'Read more ...' tab for more on this story, the participating teams, notes of our appreciation, our connection to the CSRP and more.
Until next year - Paddles Up! (or maybe down for a wee rest)
"A speaker at a Rotary meeting sparked an initiative that led to a valued legacy project by the Rotary Club of Norfolk Sunrise (RCNS) and for our community. In 2008 the RCNS hosted a speaker from Norfolk County’s Planning & Economic Development Department to speak about the County’s new Strategic Plan. One of the goals identified in that plan was for the County to develop a walking and cycling trail through Simcoe on the historical Lake Erie and Northern Railway line. Following that meeting, and some discussion by the RCNS Board, we told the County “We can help with that!” And help we did, to the betterment of our community."
See how we went about this at the 'Read more ...' tab. Watch the video to see how much fun we have with this task!
Following nine, successfully-concluded licences of our ever-popular Catch the Ace (CTA) fundraiser, the Rotary Club of Norfolk Sunrise, with the support of the Port Dover Legion Branch 158, will be re-starting the game on Friday 09 May '25. This new start will be our tenth licence and it will conclude once the Ace of Spade is finally drawn later in the year.
Once a licence is concluded, a summary of the results is generated. This summary information is then shared with the local print media and can also be found on this web-site - ie see our FUNdraiser Tab at the top of this website to see the results from our eighth completed licence.
For those who follow the CTA game on a more regular basis, the best way to stay abreast of the current results is to visit our FaceBook site. You may find an image of our FB Page as a panel on this web-page or you may wish to visit our FB Page by clicking on this link. Alternatively, the results are also posted to our weekly RCNS Bulletin (the 'Sunriser'). Normally, it is released to our members and friends on a weekly basis. If you are not a subscriber and you might wish to join the mailing list, please see the 'RCNS Bulletin Subscribe' panel as given at this website.
As we begin year two of our co-presidency, we will stay the course with a few exciting and innovating ideas. This past year we hosted a very successful Invasion of the Dragons Festival, made a generous donation to the Norfolk Haldimand Community Hospice, planted 120 trees and supported many other organizations and projects in our community and abroad. With community projects/service and youth in the forefront for the coming year, we are committed to making a difference locally and globally. We are truly thankful to our fellow Sunrisers for their dedication and support.
If you are interested in Service Above Self, this very dynamic and engaged Club invites you to join us at one of our meetings and get to know us. Be part of the good of our community.
Mary
<div style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-family:'Arial Black', Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:18px;"><strong><u>Co-Presidents Mary & Ross' Message</u></strong></span></div>
