April 18, 2008 Vol. 83 No 116 Rotary VOICE

Rotary Voice is published by The Rotary Club of

TODAY’S PROGRAMME

SPEAKER: ALBERT SCHULTZ FOUNDING ARTISTIC DIRECTOR SOULPEPPER THEATRE COMPANY

“Building Community Through Culture”

LOCATION: IMPERIAL ROOM

Albert Schultz is an award-winning actor, director, singer and ______producer. He was born in Port Hope, Ontario where he was IMPORTANT NOTICE inspired by his mother’s involvement in community theatre. He Recently our Club circulated a short studied theatre at and at the London Academy questionnaire asking all members whether or of Music and Dramatic Art. Early in his career Albert was a not meetings throughout the summer months member of Robin Phillips young company at the where he played seven major roles including Romeo. of July and August should: Between 1992 and 1996 Albert had lead roles on two CBC A) be changed to Thursdays series: Street Legal and Side Effects. Other television work B) remain on Fridays; or includes leading roles on CBC,CBS, NBC, ABC, PBS, C) you don’t really care which day it is held Showtime and BBC. In 1997 he wrote, produced and starred in Before we began the project we approached the musical variety show Young at Heart which was a national an opinion survey professional to establish radio and television event at the CBC. criteria to assess our results. The benchmark In 1998 Mr. Schultz became the founding Artistic Director of for responses on a questionnaire/survey or the Soulpepper Theatre Company which has been acclaimed as any kind should be a minimum of 60% “the finest theatre company in the history of Toronto” (National Post). With Soulpepper Schultz has produced over 70 response rate from those holding full productions, while acting and directing several. In 2005 his membership. The response rate for the performance of was hailed as “the performance of the Friday vs. Thursday date change was only at year” by the Globe and Mail. Soulpepper celebrates its 10th 53% and therefore no change will be made. anniversary in 2008.

Meetings will continue to be held on Under his leadership, Soulpepper launched its Academy for the training of actors, designers, and playwrights, and in partnership Fridays 12:15-1:30 pm. with George Brown College, created a 55,000 square foot The Board greatly appreciates those who theatre complex in Toronto’s Distillery District - The Young took the time to respond... Cont’d page 3 Centre for the Performing Arts, of which he is the General Director. Albert Schultz has received two Dora Mavor Moore Awards, the Barbara Hamilton Award for Excellence in the Performing Arts, a Gemini Award, the Salute to the City Award, the Joan Chalmers National Award for Artistic Direction, the Arts and Letters Award, the Leo Award for Creativity and Innovation, the William Kilbourn Award as well as four Lieutenant Governor’s Awards. NEWS ACCORDING TO SPRAGGE

This week, I would like to address some remarks to all members of The Rotary Club of Toronto, but especially to those who have joined our Club in the past five years. In the next five weeks you have two opportunities to combine service, commitment, and fellowship together and give Rotary a whole new dimension for you. The first opportunity occurs on Saturday night April 26th, at the National Club when The Club presents the 2008 version of “The Ice Breaker”, with a focus on that world famous mode of travel “The Orient Express”. This is a black tie affair and a perfect chance to introduce your partner to the world of “The Rotary Club Of Toronto”, and all that it means. Neil Phillips and his committee have put in an incredible amount of work to see to it that you will have an evening to remember. There are three reasons th ROTARY INTERNATIONAL THEME that I think you should be at the National Club on April 26 . (1) Commitment: When 2007/2008 you were interviewed as a prospective new member and subsequently decided that you would like to join us, you made a commitment of time, talent and dollars. This THE ROTARY CLUB OF TORONTO event is our one and only fund raising opportunity and thru this evening alone, we

The Fairmont Royal York carry on our philanthropic works. In a sense, we as Rotarians have an obligation to do (Health Club Level) what we can to support our service work. If you cannot see your way clear to buying 100 Front St. West two tickets, perhaps you can buy one and come by yourself. (2) Involvement: By at- Toronto, Ontario M5J 1E3 Tel: (416) 363-0604 tending “Ice Breaker” you involve yourself personally in the service work of our Fax: (416) 363-0686 Club. When you hear from the podium on a Friday about some work that one of our Email: [email protected] committees is carrying out, you can say to yourself “I helped bring that about!”. (3) Web site: www.rotarytoronto.com Fellowship: And the final reason I have for attending Ice Breaker is that it is one hell Meets Fridays - 12:15 p.m. of a good party. Music, food, wine, prizes, auctions and more. Time has run out....you

Officers: need to act now....see you at the National Club. President: Susan Howson The second opportunity you have to combine service and fellowship occurs exactly President-Elect: Bill Morari Vice President Bert Steenburgh four weeks after Ice Breaker and I refer to our annual “Camp Scugog” weekend. This Treasurer: Harold Fisher event is as different from Ice Breaker as night is from day, with one major similarity. rd th th It combines service and fellowship in one event. This year on May 23 , 24 and 25 Directors you are invited to put away your black tie, and bring out your oldest, scrubbiest paint Will Andras William Empey Maureen Bird Daniel Johnson clothes, apologize to your family for leaving them alone one weekend and come on up Susan Hunter Pat Neuman to Lake Scugog near Port Perry, Ontario and help out. When you arrive Friday night, Kevin Power Jeff Dobson having deposited your alcoholic beverage(s) of choice on the communal bar, and Margaret Stanowski Michael Edmonds Sylvia Geist Chris Snyder found a place to sleep, you will join your fellow members on the back deck near Chef Jim Norwood’s BBQ and enjoy your choice of either steak or tuna done as only Chef Executive Director: Valerie Clarke James can do it. Early Saturday morning you are awakened to the sound of the camp Office Administrator: Yvonne Yu bell (not PP Don, he’s in the kitchen baking up a storm) and summoned to breakfast. Club #55, Organized 1912 District 7070 Governor: You are assigned to a team and will spend the day painting, or landscaping or even Lynda Ryder doing carpentry work. Whilst you work, you will hear the sounds of the bell announc- ing President Susan’s “Martini Wagon” dispensing all manner of goodies to keep you alive and working. After lunch and an afternoon of work, you clean yourself up (some skip this part) and are treated to a Saturday night dinner the likes of which you can only find in a 5* restaurant. Executive Chef Bill Morari, has had a planning meeting, BRANDED MERCHANDISE and his crew, consisting of pastry chefs Don Bell and Catherine Lloyd, Master chef

Your single source for corporate branded Geoffrey Johnson, “Doctor Spice” Paul Truelove and BBQ chef Jim Norwood have products, clothing, give-always and more. Vast come up with a buffet that you won’t believe. Sunday morning (weather permitting) selection from over 10,000 Canadian and US we go back to work for half a day, leaving for Toronto after a light lunch, tired but firms. happy. Ask anyone at your table this week if they have been to our camp week-

In-house custom garment designs & end...plan to come up with a fellow Rotarian and enjoy the fellowship. To me this manufacture. event is the best combination I know of Service and Fellowship. When I joined The Club in 1975, President Ernie Carr said to me at a Friday meeting “You’ll be coming Corporate premium programs, from initial up to our camp weekend of course. We will leave, right after the Friday meeting, and I catalogue development through to procurement, web commerce (budget or credit card) and will drive you there and home Sunday.” I just took it as part of my membership obli- overall program management. gation, and that was 33 years ago and I have never missed. So there you have it...formal or informal, you have two wonderful opportunities to NEIL PHILLIPS cement your relationship to The Rotary Club of Toronto. T: 905.670.6778 Until next time – John.

New Member Proposal Inner Wheel News The following new member proposal is Mea Culpa - Joan Moore sent a card via me to all the ladies of the Inner Wheel thank- pending in the club office. Please contact ing them for their kind support following Blake’s death. Chris Snyder, Chair, Membership commit- New Address - After May 1 - G. Wm & Ann Bahen, 503-52 McMurrich St., Toronto, tee for any comments. ON M5R 1R1 Shannon Lundquist Bridge Luncheon - at Weston Golf & Country Club, Tuesday, May 6. EDS Albany Club Luncheon - This will be our final get-together until the Fall so it would Business & IT Services be nice to have as many as possible attend on Wedsnesday, May 14th.

April 18, 2008 Page 2

UPCOMING WHAT YOU MISSED...by Rohit Tamhane SPEAKERS & EVENTS Rotarians, you missed a lovely and informative meeting on Friday – President Susan shared the huge success that the Women’s Initiatives Committee’s event was last Thurs- 2008 day at the National Club. The event raised the attendee’s awareness to the actions being Apr 18 Albert Schultz taken by Rotarians to help homeless and marginalized women in our community. The Founding Artistic Director Ice Breaker is right around the corner, and if a costume fits your sense of style, the Chif- Soulpepper Theatre Company ferobe is offering us a terrific choice and the price is right! If you haven’t purchased th 25 Raheel Raza, Author your ticket, it’s not too late, so please contact the office. On April the 19 , the District nd “Their Jihad...Not My Jihad” Assembly is taking place at the BMO Institute for Learning, and on the 22 of April, 26 IB 2008 - “The Orient Express” the New Member’s Dinner with our own Rotary International President Wilf Wilkinson at The National Club is taking place at the Sheraton and there is still space if you are interested. We had the May 2 Peter Dalglish, Founder privilege of hosting L.O.V.E.’s Charlene MacFarlane who thanked us for the grant of Street Kids International $10,000 to support their violence prevention program in St. Jamestown. I learnt that we have been tirelessly supporting them since 1999. The focus of L.O.V.E. is to discuss 6 Bridge Wind-up Lunch at school violence and educate/empower the students so that they may cause a change in Rosedale Golf & Country Club their respective schools. To date, this resulted in a decline in violence in the schools 9 Richard Gwyn involved – and that is excellent news. Past President Gerry Nudds has generously Reporter / Political Commentator established a Donor Advised Fund in the memory of Alison Truelove. Alison Truelove 16 Youth Day founded the Rotaract Club of Toronto and supported them throughout her life. This 23 Judge Ruth Dyson fund is to be used by the Toronto Rotaract Club for leadership development and their 23-25 Camp Scugog projects. The main speaker, Ersilia Serafini, Executive Director of Clean Air Founda- 30 Elizabeth May, Leader tion gave us an educational and timely reminder of our need to be aware of the impact The Green Party our consumption has on the environment. Considering two significant ice shelves have Aug 13 Day at The Races broken off due to climate changes in the last month, I was keen to learn that the Clean Sep 12 Celebrate the Power of Rotary Air Foundation has been very entrepreneurial in their efforts. By teaming up with major Luncheon manufactures and their respective incentive plans, Clean Air has removed approxi- General Romeo Dallaire mately 75,000 cars, 15,000 window A/C units, and 18,000 2-stroke lawnmowers, all of PROPOSE A SPEAKER which were higher polluters than newer models. I learnt that though we felt our CONTACT - Didhiti Bhoumik, Chair neighbor down under was a bigger culprit of polluting our fragile plant, it was embar- PROGRAMME COMMITTEE rassing to learn that as a nation and as individual Canadians, we have done little if noth- [email protected] ing at all to reduce our per person CO2 emission. In fact, with only 33 million consum- ers, we won a tarnished and bruised silver medal while the billons in China and India Cont’d from page 1 ranked close to last in the race to pollute. I have hope we can shine up our track record, some of which was fostered in the number of questions our members asked ranging ...to the survey. I am hopeful that future from government support to what can be done as individuals. My heartfelt thanks to surveys will have greater participation, Didhiti Bhoumik’s Program Committee for organizing this speaker. On a much lighter so the Board will have input from the and tastier note, David Wilson and Krystyna Benyak won the bottle of wine in the Ace majority of our membership and thus be able to make informed decisions that will of Clubs draw and have generously offered to share it at Camp Scugog. Now, since I be in the best interest of our great Club. did not get to see the bottle and because I have a youthful (and healthy) imagination, I Thank you. can only fathom that wrapped in a demure (recycled?) paper bag, is a cult classic Amarone by Masi, the 1999 Vaio Amaron? Maybe yes, maybe no, but either way, it’s Susan Howson, President 2007/08 worth the trip to Lake Scugog to find out!

LOOKING AHEAD: FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 2008

SPEAKER: RAHEEL RAZA, AUTHOR “THEIR JIHAD...NOT MY JIHAD” LOCATION: UPPER CANADA ROOM

Author of THEIR JIHAD…NOT MY JIHAD, Raheel Raza is an award winning writer, professional speaker, diversity consultant and interfaith advocate.

Raza works towards bridging the gap between East and West, promoting cultural and religious diversity through her writing and speaking. She has appeared numerous times in print, on television and radio to discuss diversity, harmony and interfaith. A passionate advocate for human rights and a leader among Muslim women, Raza has the distinction of being the first Muslim woman in Canada to lead mixed gender prayers.

Raza has received many awards for her work to build bridges of understanding. In a presentation to Members of Parliament and international diplomats at the House of Commons, Raza received a standing ovation in response to her 30-minute speech titled, "Celebrating our Differences". She is a recipient of the City of Toronto’s Constance Hamilton award and has the distinction of being the first South Asian woman to do the narration for a CBC documentary on “Passionate Eye”.

Raza started writing at a young age because she grew up in a culture where women were supposed to "be seen and not heard.” Travelling extensively throughout the Middle East, Europe, Far East and North America, Raza brings a fresh global perspective and international experience to her diversity mandate. Raza’s motto is “there is unity in diversity”. She has spoken at Harvard and Columbia; churches and synagogues, the private sector, the Justice Department, School Boards and government institutions. April 18, 2008 Page 3 WELCOME! Earth Week Tree Planting

Dauna Jones-Simmonds Over the past 18 years, over 250,000 trees Manager, Diversity have been planted in Toronto under the Rotary TD Canada Trust Ecosystem Education Programme, sponsored Bus: 55 King Street W., 34th Floor, Toronto, ON M5K 1A2 by The Rotary Club of Toronto and other Res: 33 Ardmore Crescent, Richmond Hill, ON L4B 2H8 clubs in the District. The students who do the Bus: (416)983-3416 Fax: (416)308-2713 spadework also learn about local plants, trees Res: (905)737-7267 Cell: (416)627-5298 and wildlife in classroom presentations, com- Dr. Wrensford Simmonds plementing the hands-on tuition at the sites. [email protected] Hence the “ecosystem education” label. The Rotary committee meets at various times Dauna, the 13th of 14 children, migrated to Canada from St. Kitts over 31 years throughout the year, and forestry consultants ago. make sure that the plants (chosen specifically She recently joined TD Canada Trust where she is Manager, Diversity. Prior, for each site) receive ongoing attention. Dauna was a Senior Consultant, Diversity Training at CIBC, where she developed This year, the site assigned to our club is again and delivered many diversity awareness training workshops and experienced their impact on organizational change. She has won numerous awards for her leadership on Carstowe Road, off Mount Pleasant south style, results orientation and diversity efforts. She previously worked at American of St. Clair, and the planting date is Wednes- Express, the University of Toronto, and the Addiction Research Foundation. day, April 23. Students from local schools will She serves as the Chair of the Business Advisory Council for JOIN/SES, is a Board be arriving at 1.0 p.m. to begin planting. Member for ACCES, and is involved in “The Mentoring Partnership” program for This is a well-established initiative with tangi- new immigrants to Canada. ble benefits both to the environment, the Dauna lives in Richmond Hill with her husband, a family physician, and her two young people and the community in general, children. She is a sports fanatic, and loves tennis, golf, basketball, baseball and and a Rotary presence at the sites is appropri- soccer. He claims that it is wise not to disturb her when she is watching these ate. Any members who can come out on the games on television. She is also a great cook and loves to entertain her friends and 23rd for a few minutes, simply to make them- family with her favourite Caribbean dishes. Dauna loves to travel and has so far selves known to the consultants and the teach- been to 28 different countries. ers, and to offer encouragement to the stu- She believes that The Rotary Club is well aligned with her interest particularly as dents, will enjoy being a part of this worth- they relate to new immigrants and people with disabilities. She hopes to be able to while enterprise. make a difference to the community, in addition to being able to facilitate access to Anyone interested or available can turn up at meaningful and sustainable employment among people who continually encounter the site unheralded on April 23. Please contact barriers to the workplace. Bill Turnbull for more information.

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