June 4, 2010 Programme for June 4, 2010 Speaker: , Toronto Mayoral Candidate Location: The Imperial Room, The Fairmont Royal York

George Smitherman has resided in Toronto all his life and has been active in the political arena since high school. He was first elected to the Ontario Legislative Assembly in 1999 in the riding of Toronto Centre. He has served in various major portfolios including as Minister of Health, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, and Deputy Premier. As Minister of Health, he restored the independent status of Women’s College Hospital and initi- ated many significant reforms to the health care system including improv- ing wait times, access to family doctors, and undertaking a massive capital expansion of Toronto’s hospitals. As Minister of Energy, he was responsi- ble for the passage of Ontario’s Green Energy and Green Economy Act to clean our air, reduce our carbon footprint, and create the opportunity for new green energy jobs. He has worked in his riding to enhance services for Toronto’s newest citizens and immigrants at the Sherbourne Health Centre, the redevelopment of Regents Park, and Pathways to Education to reduce school drop-out rates. He was also voted as Toronto’s best MPP. Prior to his election, Mr. Smitherman served as Chief of Staff to Ontario cabinet minister, Hugh O’Neill, senior advisor to federal cabinet ministers, Herb Gray and David Collenette, and chief of staff and campaign manager to Toronto Mayor Barbara Hall. On January 4, 2010, Mr. Smither- man gave up his elected seat at Queen’s Park to run for the position of .

Special Meeting: Wednesday, June 30th

son, . Steven Along with many other organizations, the Rotary Club of : Adlai E , the r Peace member Toronto is making adjustments because of the meeting of Voice fo former A an and linois . statesm gfield Il the G20 (June 25-27, 2010). The regular Friday meeting U .S of Sprin th ry Club read on June 25 has been cancelled. A special meeting has R ota e can sp th unless w ss we been scheduled for Wednesday, June 30 – same time, e lasting ple, unle ce will b to all peo ter, same place. We hope to see everyone there! “N o pea ucation and shel ngs of ed lth, food h e blessi and hea nity and t m hope with dig offer the ir lives amily… can ursue the human f om to p he great ess, and ro bers of t se, sickn Bye, Bye Bertie! by John Andras y as mem hat disea stiny securit knows t itable de rld now t the inev all the wo ry are no th and mise In the evening of May 26 over 120 Rotarians, spouses poverty, and guests assembled at the historic St. Lawrence Hall to of man.” vention say “Bye, Bye Bertie.” Laughter and conversation were RI Con brary/ the 1965 00.org/li the perfect complements to a splendid, EnVille prepared, ddress to taryfirst1 A /www.ro Tuscan feast. A poster of soon- to-be Past President m: http:/ es.htm Fro 2006voic Bert, channeling Bruce Springsteen, was unveiled to ic/peace/ mus great acclaim. Our nearly departed President was re- galed by a quartet of P.P.’s led by Maestro Don Bell and ably backed up by Bill Turnbull singing a slightly doctored version of the 1963 classic “Bye, Bye Bertie.” The quartet con- sisted of four “females”, but I am led to believe that two were Guys – you figure that one out! Ann Margaret was nowhere to be seen! President Bert (ie) then had to suffer the retelling of several of his (classic?) bon mots by incoming President Peter Love (they did not improve with age). We then hit the dance floor and boogied and pranced about until “the gunpowder ran out of the heels of our boots.” (Bonus marks for the Rotarian who can place that last quote.)

THE ROTARY CLUB OF TORONTO Profile: Community Services Committee (CSC) CLUB 55 Year in Review 2009 – 2010 1912 by Greg Vermeulen The Fairmont Royal York (Health Club Level) 100 Front St. West The Community Services Committee is focused on supporting projects that ameliorate the Toronto, Ontario M5J 1E4 lives of socially and economically disadvantaged people in Toronto’s urban community. Our Tel: (416) 363-0604 diverse group of talented members contributes actively to our fun, informative, and engaging Fax: (416) 363-0686 Email: [email protected] meetings. The word must be getting out: with over a dozen members, the Committee has Web site: www.rotarytoronto.com enjoyed tremendous growth in the last year. So much so, that we’ve now moved our Monthly Meets Fridays - 12:15 p.m. meeting to ‘The National Club’ to accommodate the bigger group!

Officers: We also get some good work done. Our committee is focused on initiatives that have a wide President: Bert Steenburgh impact across a broad spectrum of the downtown Toronto Community. In the past year, the President-Elect: Peter Love Committee has provided funds to a range of fantastic projects that make Toronto a better place. Vice President: Sandy Boucher Here is an overview of a few of them: Treasurer: Harold Fisher

Directors Broadview Community Youth Group: day-camp placement for 20 underprivileged youth Bill Bressmer Kim Curry Toronto Sports Council: development of volunteer database and website to promote Jeff Dobson John Fortney volunteering Sylvia Geist Rick Goldsmith Demetra Layzell Catherine Lloyd Food Share Toronto : funds to construct an educational beehive for local school children and Lorraine Nelson Nancy Schaefer purchase materials for local composting initiatives Chris Snyder Ric Williams Rotary Tree Planting Initiative: annual event engaging local youth in tree-planting Immediate Past President: 6 Saint Joseph House: provide meals for underprivileged people through the ‘Yellow Door’ Bill Morari program Executive Director: Clare Bonnell Accounts: T.K. Belliappa Youth Employment Services (YES): funds provided to the ‘Mock Wage’ program to teach District Governor: Doug Byers personal finance and employment skills to youth Oolagan Youth Mental Health: funds to the ‘Wrap Around’ program providing essential items and know-how for at-risk mothers and their babies Urban Peace Initiative (PACT): funds for the purchase of a vehicle to transport materials and people for community gardening initiatives AMIK Native Housing: funds for the purchase materials for ‘Amik Fest’, a day-long Native cultural celebration for residents of the housing project Environment Sub-Committee: is active on issues relating to environment. They have done a wonderful job bringing speakers to our luncheon meetings, and working with a number of committees to secure support for various environment-related initiatives.

Our members look forward to another great year as we seek to expand the positive impact that Happy June Birthdays! Community Services Committee has in Toronto. Why don’t you join us at one of our meetings? We meet from 12-1:30pm on the 4th Monday of the month (except holidays) at the 2 Boris Nossovskoi, Amar Mehta National Club; bring $10 for a fabulous catered lunch. Enjoy great fellowship and excellent 3 Bert Steenburgh food in a wonderful environment, and know that you are supporting good causes that make a 5 Lori Brazier positive impact in our community. 6 Agnes Walkinshaw, James Norwood For the upcoming 2010/11 year, the CSC will be led by their capable executive team: Greg 9 Mark Overbury Vermeulen is Chairperson, Susan Woods is Co-Chair, and Amar Mehta is Secretary. Don 10 Frank Jordan Brooks is Board Liaison. Any of the above would be pleased to speak with you more about the 11 Andrew Brandt, Stuart Watts Committee and ways to get involved. Contact Greg Vermeulen at [email protected] . 12 Jai Persaud, Jack McQuaig 18 Chandravadan Chandaria, Hans Schafer, 19 Ric Williams Reminder! 21 Tatiana Naimouncina, 22 John Mastandrea, Henry Sun Bring in your filled Healthy Beginnings Canvas Bags – filled with items for 0-6 year 29 Behz Naini, Anne Saunders olds and personal care products for moms and dads. Didn't get a bag? Pick one up in the 30 Gen. (Ret.) Rick Hillier Rotary Office. Upcoming Speakers & Events What You Missed – May 28, 2010 by Jackie Davies 2010 June 11 Hugh Segal, Senator, Although many members were already at Camp Scugog, we had a good “Life in the Senate” attendance of 85. With many members dressed for camp, the meeting took 18 Fellowship Meeting, on a rather informal flair. In fact, when our six visitors and one visiting hosted by Shannon Rotarian were introduced, they greeted the membership! There was one Lundquist banner exchange from the Plymouth Club in Minnesota which had a sail 25 No meeting boat on it – very topical for the speaker of the day. (Wed.) 30 Joe Pantalone, President Bert graciously thanked all who had put time into preparing the Toronto Mayoral Candidate very enjoyable Bye Bye Bertie evening. He also advised that due to the July 2 No meeting G20 security arrangements we are moving our June 25th meeting to the 9 Changeover Day following Wednesday, June 30th. It will be here and the time is the same; only the day is 16 , different. There will be no meeting on June 25th or July 2nd. Toronto Mayoral Candidate A highlight of the meeting was when Glen Gilbert received a well deserved Paul Harris- William Peace award. Glen has been a Rotarian since 1997 and Treasurer of the Foundation since taking over from Norm Ovenden. Glen brought his incredible expertise to our system, PROPOSE A SPEAKER streamlining it to comply with industry standards, and providing timely and valuable service to CONTACT - our Club and Foundation for a number of years. In 2009 The Institute of Chartered Harold Hetherington , Chair Accountants awarded him FCA status – a testimony to his contribution to the CA profession. PROGRAMME COMMITTEE Glen made a humble speech of thanks saying he would “now start earning the award.” [email protected] James Statham, this year’s chair of the program committee and a sailor, introduced our guest speaker Paul Dennis, President of the Toronto Brigantine. Paul told us that Toronto is the only Editor of the Week: Anne Saunders Canadian host for the Great Lakes United Tall Ships Challenge, a race from port to port across all five Great Lakes. The fleet of 11 participating tall ships will come to Toronto on the Canada Day long weekend. The Toronto Brigantine is a registered charity mandated to provide experiential learning, team work and leadership skills for youth 13 -18 years of age through tall ship sail training. Our Club provided funding 30 years ago for the engine of one of the two ships the Brigantine owns and which Queen Elizabeth subsequently launched. Paul showed us a nice picture of the ship’s commemorative plaque of the Club’s contribution. More than 20,000 young people have been through the program in 48 years; all the officers are teenagers from the program, one of whom told us about the seamanship they learn. There are summer and winter programs; the winter programs cover subjects from navigation to first aid. The organization has been revived in the last 8 years as a result of dedicated volunteers giving 30,000 hours of time and Paul’s own leadership. They are working toward a complete refurbishment of the two ships for their 50th year in 2012.

New Member

Alex Zalewski will graduate from York University in the field of environmental studies this June. For the past 5 years he has been working as a crew foreman with Parklane Nurseries, a family Landscape design and Build company started by his grandfather Casey VanMaris in 1958. Beginning this year, Alex has moved into a full time design and sales consultant role within the business, and shifting the focus of Parklane towards a more sustainable business model. He is developing new business practices and technologies and has become a leader in the field of environmental landscape design.

Alex is an avid camper and outdoors man. He has trained with both Georgian and Fleming Colleges in wilderness first aid and survival and has assisted in the training of Seneca aviation students in wilderness survival. Reflections on the Camp Scugog “Village” by Mark Overbury (Photo credit: Maureen Bird)

I was drifting in and out of consciousness, my thoughts on the words 'Girl Amp.' I then flitted to the idea it takes a village to raise a child. Then came the revelation I was in that village. My eyes opened slowly and I saw inscribed on my cabin’s ceiling the words which were invading my thoughts: Girl Amp. I couldn't help but think this term perfectly described our hosts for the weekend – the staff at Camp Scugog, and heads of the village responsible for raising our kids. These girls were amped WAY up – and completely devoted to the cause of helping kids achieve. At the end of the day, I could talk about the fantastic weather we had, the wonderful fellowship, the bond between people sharing a space in time and place, the work we put in, or about the food... most definitely a culinary moment if ever there was one. But I really want to talk about the little village our Club supports. Camp Scugog does life-changing work. They take about 160 kids from our community every summer – kids who are otherwise at risk, and bring them to our village. Here, they challenge them in positive ways, finding and creating opportunities to help them feel good about themselves and build a future. The camp also has an unofficial winter program, creating continuity and an even stronger bond that lasts, quite literally, a lifetime. The results are impressive. Over the years Camp Scugog has helped thousands of kids develop the skills and wherewithal to get themselves university degrees and create opportunities which would have been beyond their reach. Ultimately, a person has to want to help themselves to truly achieve. Our Club supports a village where the girls are amped and where those who desire opportunities are given them. In doing so, we share special fellowship and develop connections that will last a lifetime – and culinary moments! As fun as it is, it's all about the kids. I'm humbled to have been a part of it.

Looking ahead: Friday, June 11, 2010 Speaker: The Hon. Senator Hugh D. Segal Topic: “National Security: A Dynamic Challenge” Location: The Imperial Room, The Fairmont Royal York

Senator Hugh Segal’s political career spans four decades from his early days as an aide to federal Progressive Conservative Opposition Leader Robert Stanfield. He served as senior aide to Ontario Premier William Davis in the 1970s and 1980s, Chief of Staff to Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, candidate for the leadership of the federal Progressive Conservative Party in 1998, and appointed by Prime Minister Paul Martin to the Senate of Canada in 2005 to represent Kingston-Frontenac Leeds. He co-chaired the Conservative campaign in 2006 and is presently Chair of the Special Senate Committee on Anti-Terrorist Measures. Senator Segal has taught at the School of Policy Studies and the School of Business at Queen’s University in Kingston, served as President of the Institute for Research on Public Policy in Montreal from 1999 to 2006, and holds an honorary doctorate from the Royal Military College of Canada. He is a well known political commentator and columnist, author of three books on Canadian political life, and an accomplished and popular speaker.