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.

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:

Promote the raffle and draw to your friends, family, and colleagues.
Share our online ticket link: https://www.rafflebox.ca/raffle/rotarysaintcity2025winecellar
Encourage others to participate—every ticket sold makes a difference!

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.

CAMTA - Doing Good in the World

For many years the Saint City Rotary Club has been a proud supporter of the Canadian Association of Medical Teams Abroad. CAMTA's volunteer surgeons and medical teams visit Ecuador each year to perform life changing orthopedic surgeries. Jackie Wiebe, Program Manager for CAMTA visited our club at this week's meeting to tell us about this ear's mission. Shown thanking Jackie and presenting our $1,000 annual donation is Diane Ellis, Saint City Rotary's president-elect.

SAINT CITY SUPPORTS THE ROTARY MUSIC FESTIVAL

Saint City Rotary is pleased to make an annual donation to the Don Vaugeois Scholarship which is awarded at the Rotary Club of St. Albert's Music Festival. Don was a member of our club and is fondly remembered. Dr. Alan Murdock attended our meeting this week and presented us with a thank you certificate. Shown receiving the certificate is Nonie Buski, Saint City Rotary's Youth Services Director.

SAiF (Stop Abuse in Families)

Mark Dixon, executive director of SAiF (Stop Abuse in Families) spoke to our club this week bout the many services offered by SAiF. Thank you for your interesting presentation, Mark, and for this critical service provided to the community by your organization.

Check out the SAIF website for more information:

https://www.saifsociety.ca/

RCMP Musical Ride and more

RCMP Const Geoff McKay visited our club this week to share some stories about the RCMP Musical Ride as well as his experiences serving in Canada's north. A fascinating presentation. Many thanks, Geoff! Shown thanking Geoff is Saint City Rotary's Youth Program Director Nonie Buski.

St. Albert Community Foundation - Serving the Community

A great presentation at our meeting this week by fellow Rotarian Doug Campbell, President of the St. Albert Community Foundation. The Foundation provides an opportunity for citizens to contribute to and invest in the long-term fulfillment of community needs. Funds from the Foundation are used to support worthwhile community projects organized by charitable organizations within the St. Albert area. Thanks for sharing this good news story with us, Doug, and many thanks to you and your fellow directors for volunteering your time. Shown thanking Doug is Nonie Buski, Saint City Rotary’s Youth Programs director.

Homelessness in the Inner City

Jim Gurnett, our speaker this week, talked to us about homelessness in the inner city and the correlation between that and declining investment in social housing by all levels of government. A number of local, provincial and national organizations are calling on all levels of government to invest in 50,000 social housing units a year over the next five years across the country to help address the issue. Thanks for your eye-opening presentation, Jim. Shown thanking Jim is Nonie Buski, Saint City's Director of Youth Programs,.

St. Albert Food Bank

Our guest speaker this evening was Suzan Krecsy, Executive Director of the St. Albert Food Bank. The food bank not only provides food to those in need but also serves as a referral service to other community organizations. Thanks for all you do, Suzan, and thank you for your interesting presentation. Shown presenting Saint City Rotary's annual donation of $1500 to the food bank is Ross Algar, Saint City's Community Services Director and Treasurer.

Rotary - Doing Good in the Community

BRIGHT LIGHTS TOUR FOR SENIORS

Each year at this time, Saint City Rotary Club coordinates a tour for seniors of holiday lights and decorations, with the cooperation of St. Albert Transit, St. Albert Inn and Suites, and our Interact Club at St. Albert Catholic High School.

On Tuesday evening of this week, about 65 seniors boarded the buses at St. Albert Inn and were provided with a tour of the best displays in Edmonton and St. Albert. Upon their return they were greeted with coffee and hot chocolate courtesy of St. Albert Inn and Suites, and were also served cookies by the Interact Club.

Saint City Rotary wishes to express our thanks and appreciation to our partners: St. Albert Transit, St. Albert Inn and Suites, and the SACHS Interact Club for once again helping us make this happen!

Rotary – Doing Good in the Community!

Happy Holidays

Inspiration and Service

We were delighted to have DG Brian Edwards and Ann pay a visit to our club this week. This was the DG's "official visit" and Brian shared much interesting and inspiring information with us.

Also in attendance was Dr. Marianne Barrett, Deputy Superintendent, St. Albert Public Schools, to receive our $3,000 donation to the district's "Appetite to Achieve" program. Shown presenting the cheque is Ross Algar, Saint City Rotary's Community Services Director.

Rotary - Doing Good in the World!

This Week's Program - MLA Marie Renaud

Our speaker this week was Marie Renaud, MLA for St. Albert. Marie provided an interesting presentation about serving as an opposition MLA and her work on some of the Legislative Committees. Shown thanking Marie is president-elect Diane Ellis.

Hon. Dale Nally - Our Speaker This Week

Hon. Dale Nally, Minister for Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction and MLA for Morinville-St. A.lbert was the speaker at our meeting this week. Mr. Nally shared with us some recent legislative initiatives from his department and ones contemplated for the fall sitting of the legislature. An enjoyable and informative meeting. Shown thanking the minister is Saint City Rotary past president Maggie Shane.e The speaker at our next meeting (October 15) will be Marie Renaud, MLA for St. Albert.

Thoughts on Today's Media

A wonderful presentation at our meeting this evening by Tim Shoults, Publisher of the St. Albert Gazette and Vice President of Great West Media's northern division. Tim outlined many of the challenges facing today's print media and shared some optimistic thoughts about the future. Many thanks, Tim. We learned a lot.

Shown thanking Tim is Ross Algar, Saint City Rotary's treasurer.

Come and Check Out Rotary

Travel to Ireland with Saint City Rotary - April 7 - 15, 2025

https://www.indus.travel/tour/travel-to-ireland-with-saint-city-rotary-club/

ANOTHER ROTARY YEAR BEGINS

Yesterday evening Saint City Rotary held its annual Changeover Dinner We thanked outgoing president Maggie Shane for her outstanding leadership of the club during this past year and introduced our new board, headed by PDG Julius Buski. Chad Hierlmeier was presented with the Rotarian of the Year Award and the club honoured Teresa Rieger with the Integrity Award. We were delighted to have District Governor Brian Edwards join us for the evening and help present the awards. We look forward to a great year as we share the Magic of Rotary!

21st Century - the Good, the Bad, the Ugly

Wonderful presentation at our meeting this week by Dr. Alan Murdock, on the topic of "The 21st Century - the Good, the Bad, the Ugly." Well researched and thought-provoking. Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us, Alan. Shown thanking Alan is Chad Hierlmeier, (right), our Vocational Services Director and Sergeant at Arms.

Goodies for Nunavut

What an inspiring presentation! At our meeting this week RCMP Const. Geoff McKay shared with us how his receipt of a small box of goodies while posted in Nunavut led to hundreds of boxes being sent for school children throughout the territory. Thanks for sharing this wonderful story with us, Geoff! Shown thanking Geoff is Saint City Rotary Treasurer Ross Algar.