Thanks to the hard work, support and generosity of our supporters, friends, and members, the Saint City Rotary Club is helping to make a difference in our Community and World Wide. Chartered in November 2000, our Club is a small group of dedicated individuals from the business and volunteer community who believe in “Service Above Self”.

You can make a difference!

  • Is it time for you to become involved in the world’s premier service club?
  • Is it time for you to give back to the community and the world?
  • Would you like to team up with other volunteer and business influential leaders in our Community and worldwide to make a difference?

We  meet the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month  at 5:45 PM St. Albert Inn.  Please email us at saintcityrotary@shaw.ca if you would like more information on membership.  You can read more about our club or about Rotary.
 

 

 
News Stories

Listed below are some of the projects worked on, activities participated in, and speakers appeared at the club throughout the year. We try and ensure that there is a good mix of great speakers, volunteer effort, fellowship and business networking by all members.

We're on Facebook

We also post news to our Facebook group page. You don't need a Facebook account to view the group. If you want to post and participate, but haven't signed up with Facebook, you can follow these instructions to sign up.

Celebrating Canada Day the Rotary Way

Several members of the Rotary Club of Saint City spent part of their Canada Day afternoon at Rotary Park, armed with garbage bags, community spirit, and plenty of mosquito repellent!

As we helped clean up the park, we were pleased to be joined by Rotary International Director Marty Helman, District Governor-Elect Andre Charrois, and Lynn from the Rotary Club of St. Albert. Together, we discussed the origins of Rotary Park and reflected on the vision and community spirit that helped create this special place.

Happy Canada Day from Saint City Rotary! 🍁

Annual Changeover Dinner Celebrates Service, Leadership, and New Beginnings

Saint City Rotary Celebrates a Year of Service and New Beginnings

Members and guests gathered on June 30 for the Rotary Club of Saint City's Annual Changeover Dinner, an evening filled with fellowship, recognition, and celebration as we reflected on a successful year of service and looked ahead to the future.

Guided by our theme,"Unite for Good," members supported numerous community initiatives throughout the year, including Appetite to Achieve, Bright Lights for Seniors, community cleanups, the International Day of Peace Celebration, our 25th Anniversary celebration, and fundraising initiatives such as the Holiday Wine Raffle and 50/50 draws.

A special highlight of the evening was hearing from Lily Hammer, a Rotary Youth Exchange student who shared her experiences, personal growth, and the impact Rotary has had on her journey. Her story was a powerful reminder of how Rotary builds understanding, friendship, and connections that reach far beyond our local community.

The evening included recognition of several individuals whose contributions have made a lasting impact on our club and community.

One of the evening's highlights was the presentation of the Saint City Rotary Integrity Award to Ian Griffiths. This award recognizes a community member whose life reflects honesty, ethical leadership, and a commitment to making our community stronger. Through his character, integrity, and positive influence on those around him, Ian exemplifies the values this award was created to honour.

The club also presented its Above and Beyond Award to Myron Kostick. Since joining Saint City Rotary, Myron has brought tremendous energy, enthusiasm, and fresh ideas to the club. His willingness to volunteer, build connections, and support the growth of our organization has already made a meaningful difference.

A particularly heartfelt moment came when Mary O'Neil was presented with Honourary Membership. This special recognition celebrates Mary's friendship, support, and dedication to the Rotary family, and we are proud to welcome her as an Honourary Member.

The evening also marked a first in club history as Dr. Fayez Seifeddine was officially inducted through Saint City Rotary's first-ever virtual induction ceremony. Although unable to attend in person, technology allowed him to join the celebration and become part of our Rotary family.

The passing of the gavel to incoming President Ross Algar marked the beginning of a new Rotary year and the introduction of the 2026-2027 Board of Directors. Building on a year guided by the theme "Unite for Good," Ross shared Rotary International's new theme, "Create Lasting Impact." His message encouraged members to continue turning service into meaningful and lasting change.

More Moments from a Fun & Memorable Evening :

Special thanks to Lucy Roy for taking photos during the evening

St. Albert RCMP - our first corporate member....and more

At our last regular meeting of the Rotary year this week, we inducted our first corporate member, the St. Albert RCMP! Welcome to Rotary!

In addition, Youth Services Director and past president Nonie Buski was presented with a Heart of Rotary Award (with several former SACHS Interact Club members present) and past president PDG Julius Buski received the Rotarian of the Year and Lifetime Leadership Recognition Awards.

Supporting CAMTA
Jackie Wiebe and Marita Echaiz-Eguren from CAMTA (Canadian Association of Medical Teams Abroad) visited our club this week to provide an annual update on the organization's recent trip to Ecuador, offering free orthopaedic care. CAMTA is one of our favourite charities and Saint City Rotary is proud to support it. Club treasurer Ross Algar is shown in the photo presenting our annual donation.
New Member - Shannon DesRosiers
 
At our meeting this evening we were delighted to welcome Shannon DesRosiers as the newest member of the Saint City Rotary family.  Welcome to Rotary , Shannon!
Canadian Vision Care
Dr. Kim Bugera spoke to our club this week about her work with Canadian Vision Care.  This outstanding Alberta based charity sends teams of vision care specialists to developing countries to assist those needing eyeglasses and associated vision care.  Thanks for sharing  your story with us, Kim.
Shown thanking Dr. Bugera is Saint City Rotary President-elect Ross Algar.
An Introspective Look at Retirement
Drawing on his own experience, David Atkinson, out guest speaker this week, entertained us with an introspective and at times humorous look at retirement. Thank you for your thoughtful presentation, David.
Shown thanking Dr. Atkinson (on the right) is Past District Governor Julius Buski.
 
Addictions and Treatment
Dr. Tim Parker, Professor Emeritus at the Augustana Campus (Camrose) of the University of Alberta, spoke to us this week about addition, its causes and treatment options.  A fascinating and informative overview.  Thank  you for sharing  yo
ur knowledge and expertise with us, Tim!
Welcome to Rotary - Dean Sproat
At our meeting this week (March 17) Saint City welcomed into membership Dean Sproat. Shown with Dean (left) is his sponor, Myron Kostick. Welcome to Rotary, Dean!
Metis Nation in Alberta

A very informative and interesting presentation this week about the Metis Nation in Alberta by Jody Swanson. Jody braved the cold weather to sh are the story with us. Thank you, Jody.

Jody (left) was thanked on behalf of the club by Nonie Buski, Youth Services Director.

 

Our Newest Member - Wilf Day
At our meeting yesterday we welcomed into the Rotary family our newest member, Wilf Day. Welcome to Rotary, Wilf. Shown with Wilf (left) is his sponsor, club treasurer and pressident-elect Ross Algar.
Supporting Veterans Association Food Bank

Yesterday afternoon Saint City Rotary President, Shanna McConnell, dropped by the offices of Veterans Association food Bank to present the group with a donation of $300 from the club.

Saint City Rotary and Veterans Food Bank - doing good in the world

 

Veterans Association Food Bank
Paul Owen from the Veterans Association Food Bank shared the food bank story with us at our meeting this week.
The Veterans Association Food Bank was started by Marie Blackburn in 2018. She is a Veteran family member and saw the loss felt by the Veterans she had come to know throughout her time working alongside other Veterans. Her driving force is to remove the risk of hunger, homelessness, and isolation Veterans face without a dedicated system in place to help. She continues to be determined to fill the void and be the voice of The Veteran Association Food Bank.
The Veteran Association is more than a Food Bank. It is a safe place. The Veterans Helping Veterans initiative is a program developed to connect to what is needed by Veterans and their families. It’s an ongoing program that is growing and evolving as The Veterans Association Food Bank does.
Currently, The Veterans Association Food Bank serves Veterans in Calgary, Lethbridge, Edmonton, and Grande Prairie.
Thank you for your outstanding presentation, Paul!
 
St. Albert Further Education Council
Great presentation at our meeting this evening by Muna Abdulhussain, Executive Director the the St. Albert Further Education Council. Muna provided an interesting overview of the work of the council and its service to our community. Thank you for speaking to us Muna, Shown thanking Muna is Saint City President Shanna McCulloch.
Holiday Food Hampers
Saint City Rotary is a proud supporter of St. Albert Public Schools' Appetite to Achieve Program. Our annual contribution helps the district provide food hampers to needy families at this holiday season,. This morning Ross and friend assisted district staff in preparing the hampers for delivery. Rotary - Doing Good in the World!
Appetite to Achieve
Dr. Marianne Barrett, Deputy Superintendent, St. Albert Public Schools, visited our club this week to provide an update on one of our favourite programs, the school district's "Appetite to Achieve." Our annual donation will help provide food hampers to needy families this holiday season. Shown presenting our cheque to Marianne is club treasurer Ross Algar.
Rotary - Doing Good in the World
Congratulations to our Bright Futures Scholarship Recipients!
#Brightfutures #SaintCityRotary #StudentLeadership #Unsungheroes

On November 24, 2025, at the École Secondaire St. Albert Catholic High School Awards Night, we proudly celebrated the incredible students from École Secondaire St. Albert Catholic High School who received the Saint City Rotary Bright Futures Scholarships.

This year’s recipients truly embody what it means to make a difference in your school and community. They have demonstrated leadership in quiet but impactful ways and been the unsung heroes who make the school a better place.

Congratulations to each of you! Your bright futures start now, and we can’t wait to see where your journey takes you.

Saint City 2025 Holiday Wine Raffle & 50/50
Get your tickets while they last! Draw is on December 16, 2025
Funds raised from our Holiday Wine Raffle and 50/50 Draw directly support:
  • Youth programs and scholarships
  • Local food bank initiatives
  • International disaster relief
  • Global medical aid
  • Enhancements to St. Albert Rotary Park
Every ticket purchased helps Saint City Rotary continue its mission of making a meaningful impact both locally and globally.
 
Here's how YOU can help:
Protecting Your Identity in this Digital World
Outstanding presentation at this week's meeting by Shayne Kawalilak, author of "Don't be the Weakest Link". Shayne provided us with some valuable information on protecting our identity in this digital world. Ross Algar, our treasurer, thanked Shayne on behalf of the club.
Amarok Society - Bringing Literacy to the Slums in Bangladesh

GEM Munro never fails to inspire in his presentations. At our meeting this week he spun for us the story of how he and Tanyss came to establish Amarok schools in the slums of Bangladesh. Our club is proud to be a supporter of Amarok.

Shown thanking Tanyss and Gem is Saint City Rotary's Youth Director, Nonie Buski.

Great Program on Tuesday - Amarok Society
 
Our speakers at our meeting on Tuesday will be Dr. Tanyss and Gem Munro, founders of the Amarok Society, a wonderful program which teaches literary skills to mothers in Bangladesh. Come and join us for this inspiring presentation.
Tuesday, September 30
5:45 - 6:45 p.m.
St. Albert Inn and Suites
amaroksociety.org

 
Sport Central - Helping Out Young People
Great presentation at our meeting this week by Courtney Lee from Sport Central. Her organization collects, refurbishes and distributes sports equipment young people. Shown thanking Courtney is Saint City president Shanna McConnell.
One Rotary Year Ends, Another Begins
Another Rotary year is coming to an end. At our Changeover Dinner this week Saint City Rotarians celebrated our club's accomplishments this past year, presented awards and welcomed our incoming president, Diane Ellis. Ross Algar was presented with Rotarian of the Year (a much deserved honour), Tim Shoults, publisher of the St. Albert Gazette, accepted the club's Integrity Award on behalf of the Gazette, Shanna McConnell received an Above and Beyond Award, Travis and Elysse from our SACHS Interact club spoke about the club's activities during the past year, and Diane Ellis presented outgoing president Julius Buski and Nonie with a gift from the club. Rotary - having fun and doing good in the world!
POSITIVE PEACE, YOUTH AND MENTAL HEALTH
Positive peace, youth and mental health. All are intricately related. Tamara Larson joined us at our meeting this week to provide an interesting presentation on this topic.
Shown thanking Tamara is Saint City Rotary president Julius Buski.
 

We meet the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month at 5:45 PM 
St. Albert Inn & Suites
30 - 156 St. Albert Road
St. Albert, AB  T8N 0P5
Canada (map)

Mailing Address

Rotary Club of St. Albert - Saint City
P.O. Box 311
St. Albert, AB  T8N 1N3

Upcoming Speakers
Past Speakers
All
Jun 30, 2026
Changeover Dinner
Classification Talks
Jun 16, 2026
All
Jun 02, 2026
Budget Meeting
Jackie Wiebe
May 19, 2026
CAMTA
Julius Buski et al
May 05, 2026
What's Rotary - A Rotary Fireside
View entire list...