Friday, October 1, 2021 - Time: 12:00 Noon to 1:15 PM
Guest Speaker: Jon Allen, Former Ambassador to Israel
Hybrid Meeting at The National Club,
303 Bay Street and
Rotary Virtual Meeting via TEAMS! (Use LinkTr.ee Link)
Topic: "Values and Interests in Canadian Foreign Policy:
Saudi Arabia, China, Ukraine and Israel"
Host: Robert O'Brien, Club Past President
NEW! FOR ROTARY MEMBERS AND GUESTS! AT THE NATIONAL CLUB - LIMITED CAPACITY
RSVP MANDATORY REGISTRATION WITH 2 DOSE CERTIFICATE -
Email to: office@rotarytoronto.com
AND FOR OUR VIRTUAL ONLY GUESTS: OUR USUAL ROTARY VIRTUAL MEETING ON linktr.ee/rotarytoronto
Rotarian and Guests: RSVP to office@rotarytoronto.com
if using TEAMS to be admitted to the meeting.
Guest Speaker: Jon Allen
Born in Winnipeg in 1950, Jon Allen (LL.B., University of Western Ontario, 1976; LL.M., International Law, University of London School of Economics, 1977) joined the then Department of External Affairs in 1981.
In addition to postings abroad in Mexico City (1983-85), New Delhi (1989-92) and Washington (1997-2001), Mr. Allen spent his early career in the Legal Bureau of the Department representing Canada in disputes under the Canada-US Free Trade Agreement and working in the areas of human rights, humanitarian and environmental law.
Mr. Allen also held the positions of Director General, North America Bureau (2001-2004) and Minister (Political Affairs) at the Canadian Embassy in Washington (2004-2006). As Assistant Deputy Minister, Americas (2010-2012), he managed Canada’s relations with North America, Latin America and the Caribbean
From 2006 to 2010, Mr. Allen was Canada’s Ambassador to Israel. From 2012 to 2016 he was Ambassador to Spain and Andorra. From December 2012 to July 2014, he was Chargé d’affaires a.i. to the Holy See.
He is currently a Senior Fellow at the Munk School and at Glendon College, York University, and a Distinguished Fellow of the Canada International Council. He is the Chair of Project Rozana, a not for profit whose objective is to build bridges between Palestinians and Israelis via the health sector, and a Member of the Board of Transparency International Canada.
He is married to Clara Hirsch. They have two sons, Jake and AJ.
This Truth and Reconciliation Week we acknowledge the enduring pain of the Indigenous People in Canada as their lives continue to be impacted by colonialism. In particular, we remember the tragic loss of young lives through the residential school system. Torn from their families, deprived of their culture, dying far from home, the children's suffering has become a challenge for all Canadians to learn more about the Indigenous story.
As Rotarians, we renew our pledge of the last 10 years: we will stand with the Indigenous people in Canada as they fight injustice; we will build relationships with Indigenous people; we will support Indigenous education; and we will listen and reflect as we work toward reconciliation.
Past Meetings
Most of our Friday speakers are posted to our YouTube page. Check out all our social media through
Member Only Segments (12:00-12:15 pm) are stored on your club Google Drive under
All RCT members/Member Exclusive Segments.
IMPACT REPORT
The Club and Foundation work together to have an impact. Here is a recent example from one of the organizations…
COVID-19 Rapid Response Initiative
Robin Hood Army Canada (RHAC (click for ‘Rhac’ pronunciations:- one and two) - www.RHACanada.com) was founded on a cold winter night in January 2018 to help serve the homeless community. With an aim to help reduce homelessness in Canada, RHAC to date has served close to 80,000 meals and has distributed over 50,000 hygiene and clothing items. Robins (volunteers of RHAC) deliver food, clothing and hygiene items to people-in-need, and help facilitate basic life skills workshops.
Members of The Rotary Club of Toronto have been instrumental in seeding the RHAC idea including helping with creation of its structure and legal terms. 44 members of Rotary Toronto have participated on RHAC drives, be it cooking at shelters, at Rotarians homes and even at their workplaces. Other projects have included hygiene item drives, women’s winter boots, Reverse Advent Calendar, Welcome Box for Indigenous Students and Rapid Response during Covid. The Rapid Response initiative raised over $9,400 in donations and resulted in delivery of over 7000 meals and 6,294 hygiene items when the shelters needed it the most - for a total estimated value of over $30,000. Rotary’s impact on RHAC and the homeless community is greatly appreciated. It is clear from the 100s of homeless that have been directly impacted by Rotary’s generosity in time, skills and funds and from the numerous thank you notes we have received from the shelter - that Rotary is making a profound difference in the lives of people, some with the greatest need in our community.
Foundation Walk, September 26, 2021
Thank you to the Rotary Club of Trenton President, Sandi Ramsey and Trenton Rotarian Gordon Bunt, Assistant Governor Brenda Hellyer, all the members of the Trenton Rotary Club, the Region #1 Rotary Clubs and the District Foundation Walk committee chair, Thiva Kulasingam for a great District Foundation Walk! Let's get our pledges in! Special Thank you to our District Governor Nominee John Burns for fantastic photos. Lots more on Facebook ........ rotary7070
Rotarians are proud to be part of #GlobalCitizenLive, a global event uniting the world to protect the planet and defeat poverty. "We stand together with Global Citizen as people of purpose and people of action."
Jennifer Jones, our President-elect, spoke from the #GlobalCitizenLive Paris stage on September 25, addressing #Rotary's commitment to improving health, economic and education opportunities around the world.
