District Governor Don Sword has just announced the selection of Wayne Thompson, from the Rotary Club of Summerside, as the District 7815 Governor Nominee Designate (DGND). That title requires a little explanation: District Governors are actually appointed by Rotary International but each District selects a “Nominee Designate” several years in advance, and that person begins the orientation process to become first the District Governor Nominee (currently Chis Hornberger of Halifax Harbour Club) and then District Governor Elect (currently Marcel Gervais of Moncton Club).
Our new DGND was chosen by a Nominating Committee representing Rotarians across the District, from several excellent candidates proposed by individual Clubs. We greatly appreciate the dedicated work of the Nominating Committee under its Chair, IPDG Roger Sevigny.
Please see 'read more' for a bio on our new DGND, Wayne Thompson
Wayne Thompson Bio
Wayne Thompson is our new DGND (to serve as DG in 2027-28). Wayne Thompson is well known across our District as the current Rotary Foundation Chair and an active member of the Summerside Club (think Pumpkins for Polio). His Rotary journey began in 1998 through a Group Study Exchange with Argentina, where he learned firsthand about being part of the family of Rotary. He has served as Summerside Club President, as a District Director, Assistant Governor and Group Study Exchange Coordinator in District 7820 and now as a Director with District 7815. He has played an important role in developing the combined Foundation Committee and new initiatives like the Magical Major Gifts Campaign.
When he isn’t in a Rotary meeting, Zoom call or developing new Foundation ideas, Wayne is the General Manager and co-owner of Garden Isle Farms Limited, marking potatoes into Canada, the United States and the Caribbean. Between Garden Isle Farms and Thompson Potato Company Limited, a 250 Acre farm and related processing facilities, he has spent over 30 years in agriculture production and marketing. Wayne lives with his wife Tara in Victoria, PEI and they have two university aged children, Wyatt and Charlotte. He is a proud Islander, but travels regularly across Atlantic Canada and beyond as part of his agricultural industry activities.
DG Don Sword, speaking on behalf of the District Board is glad to have Wayne Thompson named to begin the learning process culminating in a new District Governor for 2027-28. “Every new District Governor brings fresh ideas to the role of District Governor, and having the “DG Line” as part of our decision-making brings those fresh ideas into everything we do in the years before they become the District Governor. Wayne knows the new District, our individual Clubs and leaders already through his Foundation work, and we are looking forward to the rest of his journey to lead our District.”