On a sultry Summer evening, The Events Committee treated our members to an authentic French dinner.
Our members decided that Summer isn't an excuse to stop getting together. The Rotary Club of Toronto's International Dinner Series was such a success last year that the committee worked its magic to find a place worthy of yet another great dinner. They chose Le Baratin, the popular French bistro located at 1600 Dundas Street West, Toronto.
As soon as we walked through the door, we understood why this bistro is a longtime favourite amongst those who know. Intimate, warm and distinctly Parisian, Le Baratin doesn't make any effort to impress, it's just what a good French bistro should be. Ten tables, chatter and a menu that delights with its respect for tradition.
The food, mon dieu, the food. Each plate that came to our table was all about the story: rustic and bold, deeply flavoured, and one that encouraged you to stop and smell the coffee. There were no frills, it was just right. We feasted on pate, tarte nicoise, steak frites and of course duck confit. Simply put, c’etait magnifique.
No French dinner is complete without the right bottle to match. At Le Baratin the glasses were raised, the tales were traded, and the wine did what a good wine should do at a table of good company, it made the evening last a little longer.
This gathering was particularly enjoyable because it was done with a sense of fun, no big committee, no formal meeting attendees, no formal headcount. It was only a restaurant and a date, and Rotarians, uninformed and unorganized, left seat themselves at tables of old friends and new acquaintances, facilitated by a shared spreadsheet and a shared hunger for good food and good company.
Cheers to Neil and his team! Merci for an unforgettable evening at a venue that was so appropriate for the theme.
À votre santé!
Written by Diego Ribeiro Galbiati
Welcome New Members!
The following new members were inducted on August 5, 2026.
Ikechukwu (IK) Iheanacho
Ikechukwu (IK) Iheanacho lives in Toronto, grew up in Lagos, Nigeria and received his bachelor’s degree in Economics from Covenant University, Nigeria.
He is a Chartered Investment Manager with the Canadian Securities Institute and a certified Life Insurance Advisor. He worked with Sun Life as an advisor, and is setting up his Canadian investment advisory firm, while he continues with his offshore trusts firm – Voyager. He loves travel, swimming, tennis, Formula 1, UEFA Champions League And Nat Geo Wild.
Susan Stephenson
Susan was born in Montreal and obtained her BSC in Nursing in Ottawa and began working there at the Civic Hospital. She obtained her master's degree in counselling psychology in London and later moved to Toronto with her husband and three children. In 2000, Susan opened her Private Practice, working with individuals who struggled with addiction and trauma. Susan has since retired in 2024.
Join Liz Compton (DGE) and her Committee for an inspiring weekend celebrating service, connection, and community impact. Meet fellow Rotarians and Rotaractors, learn from engaging speakers, and enjoy time together in the heart of North York.
For all members who have joined or want to join the WhatsApp Group, please note that we will use your first name & last name - no business name or acronym please. Thank you.
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