Another Rotary year is in the books! And what a magical year it was! PDG Jillian Gibson got us off to a fine start working with the entire leadership team in the development of our 3-year District Action Plan.
A plan aligned with Rotary International’s vision and based on four pillars:
Increase Our Impact
Expand Our Reach
Enhance Participant Engagement
Increase Our Ability to Adapt
Jillian also established the Action Teams (check out the district website) who meet on a monthly basis to check on our key activities and progress toward our overall goals. The Magical Major Gift Campaign was launched, as was the One Magical Project initiative.
As we all know, Jillian had to resign for health reasons, but PDG Don Sword took up the torch and kept us on track for the rest of the year. The Magical Major Gift campaign was an overwhelming success with over $1.6 M USD raised! The One Magical Project was also a major success with 16 clubs showcasing their amazing projects and we know there were probably many more projects out there that we did not hear about!
Overall, it was a very good year, but we still have work to do to tweak and build on what we have started as we roll into the next three years.
Our priorities going forward will focus on three key areas:
Membership: The reality is membership in our district has continued to decline, though it has slowed somewhat. Recent data shows that membership growth is coming via the creation of new clubs, particularly the concept of companion clubs. We were fortunate to have Patrick Longano, a Rotarian from North Carolina, who created the companion club idea present his 4-step process at our PELS/SELS session at the end of May. Ten clubs immediately signed up with Patrick’s program and we highly recommend your club check it out.
Foundation: The Magical Major Gift campaign was hugely successful, but there is still much more we can do. Over the past few years, approximately 35% of district members donate to the Foundation. This year’s campaign is Every Rotarian Every Year. If every Rotarian in the district donated just $15 Canadian every month, that’s about fifty cents a day, we would raise about $250,000. With 50% of that coming back to the district in three years in the form of grants, we can double the impact we can have on many of our community projects!
Youth: Our youth programs – Interact, Youth Exchange, RYLA and Rotaract are key to the future health and growth of Rotary. The more we invest in these programs and the development of our youth, the stronger and more relevant will our district become. More information will be coming about these amazing programs in the upcoming months.
Rotary is at a crossroads in its history. The time to act is now. While there is no Rotary theme this year, there is a clear message – Unite For Good. Together we can continue to make the world a better place.
Yours in Rotary,
DG Marcel Gervais
July is Maternal and Child Health Month
Rotary makes high-quality health care available to vulnerable mothers and children so they can live longer and grow stronger.
We expand access to quality care, so mothers and children everywhere can have the same opportunities for a healthy future. An estimated 5.9 million children under the age of five die each year because of malnutrition, inadequate health care, and poor sanitation — all of which can be prevented.
How Rotary makes help happen
Rotary provides education, immunizations, birth kits, and mobile health clinics. Women are taught how to prevent mother-to-infant HIV transmission, how to breast-feed, and how to protect themselves and their children from disease.
Here’s the team leading the way this Rotary year! Dedicated, passionate, and ready to serve — our 2025–2026 Board is here to support our club’s mission, strengthen our impact, and make this year one to remember.
District Governor 2025–2026: Marcel Gervais District Governor Elect 2026–2027: Chris Hornberger District Governor Nominee 2027–2028 : Wayne Thompson Past District Governors : Jillian Gibson (Jul–Nov 2024) Don Sword (Dec 2024–Jun 2025) Membership Engagement: Kevin Armstrong New Club Development: Robbie Griffin DEIA - [Vacant] Foundation: Wayne Thompson International Service: Jack D’Orsay Community Service: Nikki Whyte Youth: Jane Simmons Rotaract: Michael Morrison Training: Candace Boone Public Image: Kelly Hunt Events: Stephanie Letemplier Executive Secretary: Brian Smith Treasurer: Dave Kowlessar Data Management :Holly Thompson
We need YOU to help shape the future of Rotary District 7815! With multiple positions available, now is your chance to bring your ideas, passion, and leadership to the table. Whether you're experienced, or just looking to make a bigger impact, there’s a place for you on our District Board. Together, we can strengthen our clubs, amplify our community efforts, and create lasting change. Be a part of something bigger—step up, make a difference, and help lead our District to new heights! We’re stronger with you on board!
A New Rotary Year: Time to Tidy Up Club Administration!
A new Rotary year means a fresh start—and a great opportunity to make sure your club’s admin essentials are in order. Whether you're a seasoned executive or stepping into a new role, now’s the time to check your club info, update your member list, and set yourself up for success.
Read more for helpful tips, tools, and reminders to keep your club running smoothly this year!
The start of a new Rotary year is more than a tradition—it’s a chance to renew our commitment to growing vibrant, welcoming clubs that reflect our communities and multiply our impact. Membership growth isn't just about numbers—it’s about connection. It's about making sure every member feels seen, valued, and engaged. It's about inviting others into the meaningful work we're doing and showing them that Rotary is a place where they belong.
This year, let’s focus on:
Reconnecting with current members to understand what inspires them—and what they need to stay engaged
Reaching out to past members and guests with a warm invitation to return
Identifying people in our community who care about service, leadership, and friendship—and inviting them to a meeting or project
Creating inclusive, flexible experiences that fit real lives and diverse schedules
Every Rotarian plays a role in building a thriving club. Whether it’s extending an invitation, checking in on a fellow member, or helping a new face feel at home—small actions can lead to lasting growth.
Let’s make this year one where people don’t just join Rotary—they stay, lead, and thrive. Here’s to a year of stronger clubs, deeper connections, and new beginnings.
Last year, clubs across District 7815 made a meaningful impact through The Rotary Foundation Canada—from the Magical Major Gift Campaign, to local grants and global giving. As we enter a new Rotary year, our focus is on growing awareness, increasing participation, and encouraging every Rotarian to give what they can.
Read more to see what we achieved—and how your club can be part of the Foundation’s story this year.
Rotary service starts in our communities—but it doesn’t end there. This new Rotary year, we have the opportunity to make a difference both at home and around the world. From food drives to global partnerships, your club can lead with impact, connection, and purpose.
Read more for inspiring ideas to power your local and international service this year.
Rotary District 7815 is expanding its Youth Services programs, and there are many ways for you to get involved—from Youth Exchange and Interact to RYLA and the Youth-to-Youth Truth and Reconciliation Experience. Whether you're interested in joining a committee, supporting students, or learning more about these transformative programs, we’d love to hear from you.
Read more to discover how you can help shape the future of Rotary youth in our district!
Why Join or Start a Rotaract Club? To Empower. To Connect. To Lead.
Rotaract is more than a club—it’s a movement of young leaders building a better world while growing themselves in the process.
Whether you're a student, young professional, or someone simply looking to make a difference, Rotaract offers a place to belong, lead, and serve. With opportunities to take on real responsibility, collaborate on meaningful projects, and connect with Rotary’s global network, Rotaract is where passion meets purpose.
This short video captures the energy, impact, and heart of Rotaract. If you’ve ever wondered what it’s all about—or how you can be part of something bigger—start here!
Ready to get involved? Reach out to a local Rotaract club, connect with your District’s Rotaract Chair, Michael Morrison, or visit rotary.org/rotaract to learn more.
New year, new chance to shine! July is the perfect time to refresh how your club shows up in the community. Is your Facebook page active? Website up to date? Do people know what your club actually does?
Read on for practical tips and quick wins to help your club be seen, known, and proud this year—from sharing real photos of real people doing real service, to creating a simple posting plan that doesn’t require a social media guru.
You don’t need fancy tools—just someone who’s excited to tell your club’s story.
When most Rotarians think about Rotary, they think about their club—the meetings, projects, and people they see regularly. And that makes sense—our clubs are our Rotary homes. But one of the most exciting things we talk about in the Rotary Leadership Institute (RLI) is just how big Rotary really is—and how much potential lies beyond your club's four walls.
Rotary isn’t just a club; it’s a global network of 1.4 million leaders in over 200 countries. It's a place where local service meets international opportunity. When you step beyond your club, you find mentorship, new perspectives, partnerships, and projects that challenge and inspire you.
At RLI, we encourage Rotarians to explore Rotary as a leadership laboratory, a service incubator, and a community of learners. Because the more we understand the full Rotary landscape, the more creative, connected, and confident we become in our own clubs.
Want more ideas like this? RLI offers 3 levels of interactive leadership development across Atlantic Canada.
People of Action Around the Globe - As Seen in 'The Rotarian Magazine' June 2025
Rotary Club of Summerside Curling 'Funspiel'
Drawn by national curling and youth baseball contests, crowds of athletes flock to the small town of Summerside on Prince Edward Island.
Townspeople, however, aren’t content merely to be spectators. Each winter, local curlers contend in a tournament that’s been sponsored by the Rotary Club of Summerside for nearly 20 of the event’s 36 years.
In March, 36 teams vied in a friendly meetup that raised about CA$40,000 for Strive, a program that provides scholarships and Rotarian mentoring to high school students.
“In curling, [a tournament] is a bonspiel,” explains Paul Power, a past president of the club. “We call ours a ‘funspiel.’” Participants, including about a dozen club members, “love their curling,” says Power. “It’s not competitive whatsoever,” unless you count the points awarded to the best-dressed Mardi Gras- themed team. “It’s basically all hands on deck” — and on the granite stones players slide across the ice once the games begin.
Magic All Around: Highlights from Rotary’s 2025 Convention in Calgary
In late June more than 15,000 Rotarians from over 120 countries converged on Calgary for the 2025 Rotary International Convention Against the backdrop of the Canadian Rockies (“Blue Sky City” Calgary), the convention lived up to its theme of Magic All Around – an energetic celebration of service, culture and global fellowship. From the start, the excitement was palpable. Attendees donned cowboy hats and cheered as Rotary International President Stephanie Urchick launched the festivities with a hearty Calgary “yahoo!” She reminded everyone that despite the rodeo flair, Rotary’s focus is higher purpose: “Beneath the sparkle and the boots is something stronger than style — it’s purpose,” Urchick said, emphasizing that Rotary unites people in understanding, not uniformity.
Francesco Arezzo will become the third Italian to lead the global membership service organization
Francesco Arezzo, a member of the Rotary Club of Ragusa, Italy, has been selected to serve as president of Rotary International for 2025-2026 - taking office on 1 July 2025.
Arezzo, a Rotary member for more than 30 years, will be the third Italian and the first from southern Italy to lead the global membership organization. He follows Gian Paolo Lang of the Rotary Club of Livorno, Tuscany (1956–57), and Carlo Ravizza of the Rotary Club of Milano Sud Ovest, Lombardy (1999–2000).
“Rotary’s greatest strength lies in its ability to unite people of all cultures and generations through a shared commitment to doing good,” said Arezzo. “As we look ahead, I am committed to building on this legacy – working together to advance peace, understanding, and opportunity around the world.”
16,000 Rotary members and participants from 140 countries registered for the service organization’s international convention in Calgary
As Rotary’s international convention in Calgary draws to a close, Rotary members and participants from over 140 countries will bring home indelible memories, renewed connections, and an inspired sense of purpose for helping to create a healthier and more peaceful world.
Often described by attendees as a “mini-United Nations”, the convention served as a hub for Rotary members and participants to connect and learn from each other and a range of experts on how to take action to address issues in their communities.
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This bulletin was sent to our French-speaking clubs in French. If you received the English version, but would prefer the French version, please send an email to our Bulletin Editor.
Fellow Rotarians,
