Rasheed Sulaman is a Senior Programs Officer for Health Canada in Ontario. Rasheed engages the public on environmental health issues, specifically, under the Chemicals Management Plan (CMP), a Government of Canada initiative aimed at reducing the risks posed by chemicals to people and their environment. He is passionate about outreach and providing awareness on chemicals and risk management. Prior to his current role, he worked with Service Canada for 10 years delivering services and guidance on programs to the public.
Phoebe Tung is the Regional Radiation Specialist for Health Canada in Ontario. Under the National Radon Program, Phoebe is committed to increasing awareness of radon, its health risks, and encouraging action through testing and mitigation. Phoebe actively participates in outreach activities engaging the public, government and industry on radon and radon-related projects. Prior to working at Health Canada, Phoebe was a Research Assistant in the Hazardous Air Pollutants Laboratory at Environment and Climate Change Canada.
This will be a Google Meet only event. Watch for email with link.
Rotary Club of Toronto Charitable Foundation Report
A donation link is on our home page for the foundation’s COVID-19 matching campaign. We have just recently extended the donation deadline to July 31, 2020.
Last week foundation President Susan told you that $31,000 has been donated. Donations to our foundation COVID-19 fund will be matched by the foundation up to $100,000. So, if you possibly can please click the link to donate or contact Belli it would be put to very good use in our community.
Our foundation’s Research and Appeals Committee has been hard at work over the summer and recently recommended two grants for funding by our foundation.
The first grant approved in the amount of $15,000 by our foundation, was for the Geneva Centre for Autism, as a result of COVID-19, they have had to completely revise its services for children with autism. The purpose of the current request was to support children with autism to continue their development through social and recreational activities, while social distancing measures prevent them from accessing regular treatment and services. Approximately 200 children/ families will benefit from this project and it is underway as we speak.
The second grant in the amount of $8,500, was for a charity called Sound Times, who work with a considerable number of marginalized individuals, many of whom are unable or unwilling to comply with the COVID-related screening, sanitizing and physical distancing requirements necessary to keep staff and others served by the agency safe. When COVID hit, the agency decided to replace the front window of the building with a service wicket to ensure the agency could continue to be accessible to all members, while reducing the probability of infection for members and staff, and this grant will help pay for that window.
Our foundation’s COVID-19 grant review committee met recently and approved another grant request for COVID-19 support for the YWCA in the amount of $10,000, to support sanitation, staffing and virtual counselling.
The total amount granted to date from the foundation’s COVID-19 funds is $85,000.
New President John continues to do a fine job. We had a great report from Past President Jeff Dobson, now on our Foundation board, about more grants approved - see below. The matching of donations continues to this Friday, July 31 so log in and be generous. Terry Wray gave a great Let's Be Personal - see below. Volunteers for this feature are to let Don Bell know.
Rotary is in good hands with the next generation getting involved. Our two speakers - Rodayna Abuelwafa and Michael Power - were delegates to the May 2019 RYLA week-long event, with 30 participants from District 7070.
With sessions on Professional Development, Service Activities and Fellowship, a full program was enjoyed by all. They looked at Human Trafficking, developing trust, communication and leadership skills. They have a Model UN and a "Survivor" game.
Our speakers were passionate and involved.
The 'closest number' prize was shared by baby Victoria and Carolyn Purden - another repeat winner. Email your number to Carol, 1 to 500.
Rotary began for me in 2007 some 13 years ago. Since then I reached the age of 80 and decided to retire 3 years ago.
My story began as a pretty ordinary working class kid from Ottawa, I struggled in primary school, was sent to Ottawa Tech where my life started to change. I became the president of my class in grade nine and by grade 12 was Elected President of the ‘Key Club’. The Ottawa Kiwanis Club
sponsored us and I got to attend their meetings at Ottawa’s famous Chateau Laurier. Working class kids do not go to lunch at the Chateau Laurier, it is a place for important people like Prime Ministers. I was in awe. As I wrote this I found it interesting that at 80 years of age I am a member of the Rotary Club of Toronto that meets at the “Royal York Hotel” where famous Political Leaders and the well to do get together…..how often is it said, “life is a circle”
I started working after grade 13 and spent the decade as a salesman, ending up in Montreal where I soon found a job with a Personnel Agency. I did well and by 1970 formed a Partnership with the owner and started a Direct Search Consulting Practice called Fraser Wray and Associates. That business grew and by 1980 our Montreal Office was doing very well and employed about 25 people.
The 80s brought many challenges as we dealt with recession, clients moving from Quebec and ultimately the business almost dissolved but I kept going, moved to Toronto and commuted between the two cities weekly. Ultimately this split-city living was not good for my personal life and business continued to crumble until the summer of 1990 when I had to accept my life had totally crashed. My marriage was dissolved all my assets were gone and my business had collapsed. I reached out to friends in Toronto and asked if I could stay with them for a while as I got back on my feet.
The journey back was a 30 year adventure starting at age 50 in November 1990 with Cambridge Management Planning offering me a position to develop their Career Transition Practice. I spent the rest of my career with this group and it was through our Partner Bob Graham that I met Chris Snyder who introduced me to Rotary in January 2007.
My first big Rotary Adventure was participating in the Camp Scugog weekend. This was the first year the club was at Scugog and there was a lot to do. It was the most amazing experience for me, the work, the fellowship, the food, the stories about what this camp did for the Inner City Kids and families touched me deeply.
I continued from there to work on the Youth and Children’s Committee, the Golf Committee, Membership Committee and many other club projects such as the Children’s Christmas Party, Porker Night fund raiser, Seniors Christmas Party and so on.
Rotary has been a very important part of my journey to rebuild my life. It has given me purpose, pride and the feeling that I have value. The truth is, I am a very lucky guy, I have been blessed with so much.
Virtual Cooking Class
by Lori Brazier
Final Rotary cooking class (for now anyway). I joined as a way to avoid the loneliness of isolation and to get to know some of my fellow Rotarians better. I learned a lot in the process, pushed out of my comfort zone, made some new friends and most importantly enjoyed great conversation and some laughs. I never bake and have never before made pastry. These are fruit galettes - very tasty and decadent little treat.
The previous week was a choice of two soups, either Mexican or Asian.
our Fellowship & Entertainment Chair for supporting all these activities to keep us busy and connected in a very challenging time - and to Neil Phillips and
for facilitating and helping us survive the pandemic.
Maybe they can be talked into resuming evenings in the fall.
F&E Activities
We are here for the long term so please join in. All events are listed on our Google Calendar accessible through your @rotarytoronto.com account or find the emails sent out in advance. Contact Maureen Bird to set up your access. 416-804-3726.
For The Love of Gardening, Tuesday July 28, 4 pm
Euchre with Jay Llave, contact jay.llave@rotarytoronto.com if you are interested
Staying Connected, Tuesday July 28, 7 pm - full this week - watch for more
Virtual Cocktails, Wednesday August 19, 5:30 pm
Continue to have a safe summer.
August Birthdays
Aug 04 Jack Robertson
Aug 07 Jay Llave
Aug 08 Brent Thomas
Aug 11 Eugene Neisely
Aug 13 Walter Davies
Aug 13 Steve Smith
Aug 20 Robert Kinnear
Aug 21 James Statham
Aug 24 Harold Hetherington
Aug 25 Peter Stephenson
Aug 29 Marcy Berg
Aug 30 Charles Dillingham
Aug 30 Takako Ito
Aug 30 Guido Marini
SERVICE ABOVE SELF
The Rotary Club of Toronto, Fairmont Royal York Hotel, H Level
