News

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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.

All Tangled Up - Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Everything

The impact of artificial intelligence on our lives is growing exponentially, and we have just begun to see the ramifications. Dr. Phil McRae, Associate Coordinator - Research, The Alberta Teachers' Association provided an informative and thought provoking presentation on this topic at our club meeting this week. Thank you for sharing your research with us, Phil!.

Supporting Our Community

SAINT CITY ROTARY - SUPPORTING OUR COMMUNITY

Two St. Albert community organizations received a boost at our meeting this week. St. Albert Public Schools received a cheque for $3,000 to assist in their Appetite to Achieve Program and the St. Albert Food Bank received $1500.

Shown receiving the cheque from Saint City Rotary's treasurer, Ross Alger, is St. Albert Public Schools deputy superintendent Dr. Marianne Barrett. Presenting the cheque to Suzan Krecsy, St. Albert Food Bank Executive Director (on the left) is Nonie Buski, our Youth Services Director.

Rotary - Doing Good in the World!

Saint City Rotary invites you to visit the Netherlands

Mercy Ships

Had a wonderful presentation at our meeting tonight by Darryl Anderson, Executive Director of Mercy Ships. Wonderful work being done by this charity - well worth supporting. Thank you, Darryl, for sharing the Mercy Ships story with us.

https://mercyships.ca/en/

Saint City Rotary invites you to visit Belgium

Mike Ryan - Doing Good in the World

Our speaker this week was Mike Ryan, founder and executive director of Clean Scene, an organization devoted to helping youth deal with drug and crime issues. Since its inception in 2002, the organization has reached over 500,000 youth. Saint City Rotary is a proud supporter of Clean Scene. Mike is an inspiring speaker and we always welcome a visit from him. Shown thanking Mike is Nonie Buski, Saint City Rotary's Youth Program Director.

Also at this meeting we were delighted to induct our newest member, Shanna McConnell. Welcome to our club, Shanna. Together with you, we will all work to make the world a better place.

Envirothon Champions

We had a wonderful presentation at our meeting this week by Avalina, Deirdra and Mapy, three young ladies from our Interact Club at Saint Albert Catholic High School. The trio won first place in the Alberta 2023 Envirothon and went on to represent Alberta in the International Envirothon in New Brunswwick, where they placed 31st in their overall presentation and 9th in their oral presentation. A very impressive group of young ladies of whom wer're very proud. Shown thanking the group is Nonie Buski, Saint City Rotary's Youth Chair.

Celebrating Another Successful Rotary Year

At our Changeover Dinner this evening we celebrated the club's accomplishments thisd past year under the leadership of President Chad Hierlmeier and welcomed incoming president Dr,. Maggie Shane who will lead us in 2023-2024 as we work to Create Hope in the World (the new Rotary theme).

We also honoured Diane Ellis as our Rotarian of the year. Diane has been a tireless worker on behalf of the club and continues to organize one of our major fundraising projects - trips to various places around the world. Congratulations, Diane!

One Step Learning Opportunities Centre in Ghana

We were visited this week by Brian Reed from the Morinville-Sturgeon Rotary Club and John Hagan from the One Step Learning Organization. They spoke to us about John's passion - the One Step Learning Opportunities Centre in Ghana,. Operating in a donated compound building in Entumbil, Ghana, the centre currently provides early childrhood learning experiences for 1 to 6 y ear olds. John's organiation is a registered Canadian charity and is looking for financial support from Rotary clubs and other organizations. Thank you John and Brian for telling us about this interesting project. Shown in the photo (left to right) are John, Saint City Rotary president Chad Hierlmeier, and Brian.

Air Racing

Air Racing was the topic of the presentation at our meeting this week. Jeannette Bancarz, who is the president of the Canadian Air Racing Association, provided us with an overview of the different types of air racing, its history, and current efforts to bring it to our region. Thank you for a great and informative presentation, Jeannette! Shown thanking our speaker is Ross Algar, club treasurer and our club's director of Community Service.

Saint City - Proud Supporter of CAMTA

We were visited at our meeting this week by Jackie Wiebe, Program Manager for CAMTA (Canadian Association of Medical Teams Abroad) and Grace Bredlow, a student nurse who took part in this year's mission to Quito, Ecuador. Jackie provided a bit of CAMTA history and Grace shared an impassioned speech about her experience as a team member. CAMTA has been providing free orthopedic surgery in Quito since 2002. You can read more about the organization on their website: https://camta.com/

Saint City Rotary is a proud sponsor of CAMTA.

Shown thanking Jackie (left) and Grace (right) is Saint City's Treasurer and Community Services Director, Ross Algar.

Welcome to our newest member - Nancy Hoffman

Welcome to our newest member - Nancy Hoffman!

At our meeting this week, Saint City Rotary inducted our newest member - Nancy Hoffman. Nancy is no stranger to Rotary, as daughter Hayley was an exchange student to Brazil a few y ears ago, and also since Nancy's parents are PDG Julius and Nonie Buski

Welcome to Rotary, Nancy.!

Shown presenting Nancy with her new member kit and badge is Saint City's Membership Director, Jeff Hodgson.

John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Roights

Renée Vaugeois, Director of the John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Rights, joined us this week to outline the great work being done by the Centre and to tell us about the exciting Ignite Chance 2023 Global Convention being co-hosted by the Centre from December 1-10, 2023.

https://www.jhcentre.org/ignitechange

Thanks for all you do, Renée and for sharing the story of this wonderful work with us.

Shown thanking Renée is club member Karen Kiddine.

The Story Behind Métis Scrip

Holly Brandsma, Métis Education Consultant with the Rupertland Institute, shared with us the story of the Métis Nation and Métis Scrip at our meeting this week. An eye-opening presentation for which we thank you sincerely, Holly. Shown thanking Holly is Lydia Hodgson, Saint City Rotary Administration Director.

Come Visit Thailand With Us

Paris and Nice - Nice in the Fall

Art Gallery of St. Albert - A Little Gem

Emily Baker, from the Art Gallery of St. Albert, treated us to a virtual tour of the gallery at this week's meeting. The gallery is certainly worth a visit. Thank you for a most interesting presentation, Emily!

Overcoming Covid Obstacles

At our meeting this week Dr. Sharon Ryan shared with us her passionate story of how she overcame the many obstacles in trying to visit her mother in a nursing home during the Covid pandemic. A truly remarkable story which Sharon has written about in a book to be released shortly. Thank you , Sharon, for sharing this experience with us!

SASHA - St. Albert Sturgeon Hospice Association

Marcie Mazurenko, from the St. Albert Sturgeon Hospice Association, spoke to us last night about he work of the Association. The mission of SASHA is to create a haven in the St. Albert region that honours people in their end of life care, and to support, educate and empower those affected by or caring for a person with a life limiting illness in our community. Thank you Marcie for telling us about this service and thanks as well for the many volunteers involved.

More information is available on the society's website at:

https://sasha-cares.com/

Shown thanking Marcie for her presentation is Nonie Buski left), Saint City's Past President and Director of Youth Services.

UCSS - Assisting Ukrainian Immigrants

John Shalewa, President of Ukrainian Catholic Social Services ( https://ucssedmonton.ca/) spoke to us this week about the work being done by his organization in assisting immigrants fleeing Ukraine due to the Russian invasion. The needs are many and John outlined various methods of assistance. Thank you for the work your organization does, John, and for taking the time to speak to our club.

T8N100Men - Doing Good in the World

At our meeting this week, John Liston, one of the founding members of T8N100Men shared with us the story of what the group is and its projects. Founded in 2016, the group has helped raise over $580,000 in St. Albert and surrounding area to provide financial resources to selected charities. The group selects charitable organizations which they feel will make the greatest impact in the community and provide an average of $10-$12,000 as their contribution. It's an outstanding story of community members coming together to do good in the world, just like Rotary. Shown thanking John for his outstanding presentation is Saint City Rotary's Treasurer and Community Services Director, Ross Algar.

Another Great Program!

Classification talks are some of our most interesting programs. This week our newest member, Karen Kiddine, shared her story with us. Thank you, Karen! Shown thanking Karen is club president Chad Hierlmeier.

Happy Holidays

Bright Lights Christmas tour for Seniors

On Tuesday evening the Rotary Club of St. Albert-Saint City provided St. Albert seniors with its annual Bright Lights tour. Departing the St. Albert Inn on two chartered St Albert Transit buses, 50+ seniors were driven through central Edmonton, the Legislature grounds and Candy Cane Lane in Edmonton and also visited Elaine Crescent in St. Albert. Upon their return to the St. Albert Inn, the seniors enjoyed cookies, provided by the Girl Guides in addition to coffee and Hot Chocolate courtesy of the St. Albert Inn. Another wonderful community event provided Saint City Rotary! Special thanks to the St. Albert Inn and Suites for providing a meeting room and the beverages. Rotary – Doing Good in the World, and the St. Albert Inn – a wonderful corporate citizen!

Our Vietnam Trip Travellers Have Landed