The Series
As part of the D7815 Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Accessibility awareness and to help engage Rotarians, you are invited to participate in our upcoming online DEIA Spotlight Series. The session started in February and will go until June. There will be 5 monthly participatory sessions led by DEIA experts and fellow Rotarians to assist you and your club in moving forward toward achieving your DEIA goal.
The Second Session
We are pleased to welcome Rotary International Director 2020-2022 and Rotary International Vice President 2022, Valarie Wafer, as the presenter/facilitator for our second session to be held Monday, March 6, 2023 from 7pm-8pm. Looking through a DEIA Lens: Shifting Our Perspective as Rotarians will be an interactive session with small group discussions throughout.
Valarie Wafer joined Rotary in 2005 in order to fuel her passion for making an impact that matters. Valarie was District Governor of RI district 7070 covering the Greater Toronto Area in 2013/14. Now residing in Burlington, her home club is the Rotary club of Burlington Lakeshore, RI district 7080.
Valarie has served Rotary in a number of international roles. She is an International Trainer, a member of the Host Organizing Convention Committee Toronto 2018, representative of the Rotary International President, a past RI Director - appointed Vice President in the year 2022. Currently serving as the International Assembly Moderator for the years 2023 and 2024.
During Valarie’s tenure as a Rotarian she has participated and led many initiatives including a mission to Kosovo with Gift of Life International. She has also served as the Vocational Training Team leader to Australia in 2010 focusing on youth mental health, a National Immunization Day in India in 2012, and has travelled to Kenya and Tanzania to audit long-term Rotary Foundation grant activity.
In her non-Rotary life, Valarie had a 27-year career as a restaurant owner in Toronto. The brand, Tim Hortons, is the most recognized and iconic franchise in Canada. The Wafer’s operation was best known for its inclusive hiring practices and accessibility, especially in the area of employment.
As the chair of the Rotary International Global DEI Task Force, Valarie brings a strong background of learned and lived experience to this important topic
Valarie, and her husband of 36 years, Mark are Paul Harris Fellows, Bequest Society members and Major Donors to The Rotary Foundation.
Register Now
Please register for D7815 DEIA Spotlight Series by clicking this link:
After registering you will receive a confirmation letter containing the link to join the event. Please add to your calendar. If you do not receive the email, check your spam/junk folder as it might have been redirected there.
If you have any questions regarding registering for the event, please contact Cheryl McDaniel at cherdmc77@gmail.com.
For inquiries around the Spotlight Series, please direct them to our Spotlight Series Chair, Kathi Zwicker at kathizrotary@gmail.com.
We encourage everyone to attend. If you wish, please take the opportunity to reach out to your fellow Rotarians and invite them to register to join the conversation.