District Leadership Team for 2016-17

 

Don grew up New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, graduating from Halifax West High School and earning Commerce and Law degrees from Dalhousie University.

 

Don practiced law in St. John’s, NL for over 33 years, 28 as a corporate counsel. He spent seven years as Legal Counsel and Corporate Secretary at Fishery Products International, and 21 years at Johnson Inc., Atlantic Canada’s largest insurance organization. At Johnson, Don led a team of ten lawyers and paralegals responsible for the delivery of all non-claims related legal and regulatory compliance services. Don retired as Vice President, Legal & Regulatory and Corporate Secretary in June 2013.

 

During his career Don was active in community volunteerism, professional associations, crime prevention organizations and industry based committees.

 

Don became a charter member of the Rotary Club of Avalon Northeast in 1989 and was Club President in 1993-94. Don has also served as District Secretary, Assistant Governor and was a recipient of a Polio Plus award for fundraising services. Don played key roles in developing Topsail Beach Rotary Park and Manuels River Hibernia Interpretation Centre. Both projects earned RI Club Significant Achievement Awards. A Paul Harris Fellow since 1997, Don has recognized his mother, father, wife and brother as PHF’s.

 

Since retirement Don has continued to be an active volunteer. He and his wife Pat (a retired photographer) live in Conception Bay South, NL and enjoy walking the extensive trail systems in their community. Don has two adult daughters, Kimberley (a teacher in St. John’s) and Heather (an early childhood educator in Alberta). 

 

Born and raised on the West Coast, Rob attended the University of British Columbia and earned a Bachelor of Science in Forestry in 1967. Rob subsequently qualified to become a Registered Professional Forester and worked as such for his entire career. He has held a variety of senior management positions ranging from Chief Forester to Manager of Forest Resources for a number of privately owned companies in British Columbia. For a few years he worked as an international consultant and worked in such countries as Venezuela, Indonesia and Vietnam. In 1989 Rob was recognized by his professional organization as “Forester of the Year” for his contribution towards integrated forest management. Now retired, Rob has been awarded the distinction of being a Life Member of the profession.

 

Rob’s involvement with Rotary began more than a quarter of a century ago, when his son became a Rotary Exchange Student to Mexico. Upon his son’s return Rob’s family hosted Exchange Students from Mexico, Japan, Costa Rica and Australia. Rob was invited to become a Charter Member of the Rotary Club of Whitehorse Midnight Sun in 2007. He served as Secretary for three years before becoming President in the year 2009 – 2010. Among other projects he worked on the District 5010 team hosting Group Study Exchange (GSE) participants from Estonia and South Korea.

 

Moving to Pictou in 2011, Rob transferred his membership to the Rotary Club of Pictou where he has served on the Board for the past three years. Rob is a multiple Paul Harris Fellow and a member of the Bequest Society. At the District level, Rob served as Assistant Governor for Northern Nova Scotia and has recently volunteered to represent this area on the District Membership Committee.

 

Rob’s first wife, Sheila. whom he married in 1966 and gave him a son and a daughter, died of cancer in 2003. Rob is fortunate to have three very active grandsons. After retirement and a number of years travelling, Rob did volunteer work for the Anglican Church in Whitehorse, YK. It was here he met Irene Szabla. They married in September of 2011 and moved to Pictou where they reside in a provincially registered heritage home.