On the delightful evening of December 4th, a gathering unfolded within the grandeur of The National Club's Main Dining Room. Ontario's Minister of Education, the Honourable Jill Dunlop, graced us with her presence and insightful words on the profound importance of education and the government's dedication to cultivating enriching learning experiences for students across the province.
President Binoy raised a toast, speaking on the transformative power of education and Rotary's unwavering commitment to promoting access to this vital resource for all. Past President John Fortney was then invited to step forward to welcome the visiting Rotarians and special guests who had joined us for this wonderful evening.
Club Treasurer Jeff Pollock took the stage to introduce our esteemed guest, the Honourable Minister Jill Dunlop. With a hint of admiration and a touch of humor, Jeff spoke of Minister Dunlop's remarkable accomplishments, including her impressive victory in the Simcoe North elections. Prior to her current role as Minister of Education, she served as Minister of Colleges and Universities, making a significant impact in shaping the future of education in Ontario.
Taking the podium, Minister Dunlop passionately addressed the importance of updating the school curriculum to meet the ever-evolving needs of our society. From skilled trades to personal finance management and technology-driven courses, her vision for education is one that adapts and grows alongside the needs of our youth. She also proudly spoke of the successful implementation of the cell phone ban in schools, ensuring students remain focused on learning and fostering connections in their shared environments.
Minister Dunlop highlighted the value of collaboration with unions to alleviate labour issues and disruptions in the school system. She spoke of her unwavering dedication to nurturing inclusive learning environments that cater to the diverse needs of students, touching on the significance of cultivating partnerships between schools, families, and communities in creating a solid foundation for our children's future success.
Minister Dunlop emphasized the significance of creating inclusive learning environments that cater to the diverse needs of students. her commitment to fostering partnerships between schools, families, and communities will undoubtedly help create a strong foundation for the future success of our children.
Following a few questions President Binoy thanked Minister Dunlop with a donation in her name to Water First, Canada's leading charitable organization working with First Nations communities to resolve local water challenges through education and training.
President Binoy next introduced our newest member, Levi Greene. Levi is a familiar face at our club as he was the Past President of The Rotaract Club of Toronto and participated in our Club Board meetings and Indigenous Partnerships Working Group. Welcome Levi!
President Binoy then called the Club Annual General – Special Meeting to order for the purpose of accepting the Audited Financial Statements along with the Auditors report for the year ended June 30, 2024, and for the appointment of the auditors for the year ending June 30, 2025. Before passing the agenda to treasurer Jeff Pollock, President Binoy thanked Jeff and the Audit Committee for all their hard work.
Club treasurer Jeff then made the motions to accept the audited financial statements and to appoint Racolta Jensen as the auditors for the year ending June 30, 2025. The motions were moved and our members agreed.
As the evening drew to a close, President Binoy extended an invitation to all members to attend the highly anticipated Tree of Remembrance lighting ceremony at Sankofa Square on December 5th, sharing a heartfelt message of celebration, unity, and camaraderie.
President-Elect Dauna Jones-Simmonds then took the floor, eagerly sharing details of the upcoming club's Holiday party on December 19th at the Sheraton Centre Toronto. With promises of delectable cuisine, exhilarating entertainment, and enticing Silent Auction items, the room buzzed with anticipation for the festive celebration to come.
As the evening came to a close, President Binoy imparted his final words, closing the meeting with a message of unity and celebration, reminding all in attendance of the remarkable impact that can be achieved when we come together as one.
The meeting was closed, and Rotarians went on their way.
Written by Brinda Luckoo
Photos courtesy of Binoy Luckoo and Jeff Pollock
Hon. Minister Dunlop with President Binoy
RCT Members & Guests listening to Minister Dunlop's speech
Welcome Levi Greene!
President Binoy, PP John, Minister Dunlop's assistant Paige, Minister Dunlop, Jeff Pollock
PE Dauna's table
VP Pauline's table
Sewing Service Project - November 23rd
During the course of a morning, members of our club made reusable sanitary pads for young girls in the Dominican Republic who do not have the luxury (nor the money to purchase) sanitary pads.
Special thank you goes to Lori Brazier for organizing this event and to all the volunteers who spent their Saturday on a fun fellowship project that will make a real difference.
Senior Gift Packing - November 24th
What an incredible day of giving! On November 24th, our Rotary Club came together to pack over 200 festive gift bags for seniors. With love and care, we filled each bag with holiday essentials, wrapped them in ribbons and tissue, and delivered smiles to local senior agencies!
Huge thanks to all the volunteers and as well as Jackie Davies & Jake Tran and the Seniors Working Group for organizing this heartwarming event. Special thank you also goes to John Joseph Mastandrea for the use of Manor Road United Church.
Together, we’re spreading joy and warmth this winter season!
Holiday Hamper Packing at the
Daily Bread Food Bank - Nov 30th
RCT Members packed 500 Holiday Hampers on November 30th
Few would argue that food is a basic human right. Yet in Canada today, there are 8.6 million people - more than twenty percent of our population - living with food insecurity.
In our own city, one out of every ten Torontonians relies on help from a local food bank to make it through the month.
Organizations like Daily Bread Food Bank (DBFB) are working towards long term solutions to end hunger and poverty, to educate the public, and to spark policy change.
On November 30, 18 members of The Rotary Club of Toronto and a few family members arrived at DBFB to pack and deliver 500 large boxes filled with three days worth of nutritious meals. This “Holiday Hampers” project, spearheaded by Don Bell, has been going strong for the last five years. With the help of generous donors, proceeds from our annual “Oktoberfest” party, and individually run home “hamper parties”, The Rotary Club of Toronto has raised nearly $10,000 to purchase food and give a little extra cheer to hungry families in our city’s core.
A few members of the club then followed the delivery truck expertly driven by the DBFB CEO, Neil Hetherington, to the two drop off charities, namely the Native Canadian Centre of Toronto and Progress Place.
Great Saturday morning with friends giving a helping hand to those in need in our community! Thank you everyone who participated in the Rotary Club of Toronto Holiday Hamper.
Written by Kirste Spencer
The Rotary Club of Toronto Children’s Holiday Party
Dec 8th
The Rotary Club of Toronto was thrilled to host its Annual Children’s Holiday party. This marks the 92nd anniversary of the event.
We hosted over 300 children with disabilities and their parents and siblings at the Sheraton Centre from the many service organizations we support. These include Easter Seals, CNIB, Bob Rumball Centre for The Deaf, Starlight Foundation and Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital.
Activities included face painting, meeting with Santa, storytelling, a delicious lunch and a gift bag to take home!
The highlight is always the snowball fight – when all the attending police officers are on stage, and the children are on the dance floor. Armed with foam balls, each side fills the air with joyous noise and flying balls.
Speeches from Club President Binoy Luckoo and Deputy Police Chief Lauren Pogue, with MC duties handled beautifully by Past President John Fortney.
A special shoutout to our outstanding team leaders - Rotarians Mark, Lorraine, Kai, Susan, June, Lori, Jayson, Suzanne, Dawn-Marie, Susan, Natalie, Bill, Jay, Tony, Jackie, Mitra, Carol, Sarah and Brinda, along with your fantastic teams. Your selflessness and enthusiasm made this event a magical day for everyone involved!
Special thanks to all the fantastic volunteers who helped, as well as all the staff at the Sheraton Centre Toronto. We had great coverage on CTV News!
Let's remember the difference we made in the lives of these children and their families. The commitment to service is what makes our Rotary Club so remarkable!
It was a truly inspiring and very successful event!
Pictures from the 2024 Children's Holiday Party - courtesy of Brinda Luckoo, John Fortney, Diego Galbiati, Youri Wims, Irene Quan, Alex Ahabwe and Binoy Luckoo
UPCOMING MEETINGS & EVENTS
Our Tree Is Back!
Wow, what an incredible night at the Winter Glow Toronto inauguration at Sankofa Square on December 5th!
The energy was electric as Mayor Chow led the countdown for the Chevy EV to light up The Rotary Club of Toronto's magnificent Tree of Remembrance!
It was truly heartwarming to see so many people writing messages of peace, love, and remembrance on the Golden Ribbons that now adorn the Tree.
A special treat for all attendees - The Bare Naked Ladies will be performing a free concert on Wednesday Dec. 11th from 6:00 pm t0 7:00 pm at Sankofa Square.
Don't miss your chance to experience the magic of our Tree of Remembrance at Winter Glow, now until December 22nd! Enjoy the dazzling lights, thrilling carnival rides, and unforgettable memories waiting for you at Sankofa Square!
WE NEED YOU!!
Sign up for a shift at the link below. We hope to have members there from Thursdays to Sundays - December 5th to 22nd. Bring a friend or family member. Or a potential Rotarian.
You can invite family, friends and neighbours to donate for their own dedicated ribbon(s) by following the link below. A Rotarian will transcribe the message, or the name of their loved one, and place the ribbon(s) on the tree on their behalf.
We need volunteers to make this year's event an even bigger success!
Please sign up HERE to volunteer at the Tree of Remembrance!
If you have any questions regarding volunteering at the tree, please contact
Sergio Amatller at sergio.amatller@rotarytoronto.com
Let's come together and celebrate our accomplishments, our friendships, and the spirit of Rotary! We are excited to remind you about our upcoming Rotary Club of Toronto Holiday Party.
This year's celebration promises to be filled with joy, laughter, and the warmth of the season. Come and enjoy a delightful festive atmosphere, complete with delectable cuisine, spectacular entertainment, and a silent auction featuring incredible items that will make for perfect holiday gifts. Don't forget to dress in your favorite festive outfits and be prepared for an unforgettable time!
You can register HERE. Act quickly, as space is limited, and you won't want to miss out on this festive occasion!
We are looking for some items for the silent auction. If you would like to donate items for the silent auction, please email brinda.luckoo@rotarytoronto.com OR sergio.amatller@rotarytoronto.com. Your generosity will be greatly appreciated and will contribute to the success of our Holiday Party and the continued efforts of our club in helping our community. Thank you!
We look forward to seeing you on December 19th for a memorable holiday celebration!
WANTED:Charities who need us.
The Community Outreach Committee is on the lookout for charities working within the downtown Toronto area that we haven't crossed paths with who could benefit from our support. If you know of a registered charity that supports our local Toronto community and could use a helping hand, please contact Community Outreach Committee Co-Chair Bert Steenburgh (bert@stonefortress.ca) with the charity's name and any other intel you have. We will take it from there and follow-up on the lead.
Be on the lookout: If you see a social media post in the months ahead regarding community outreach, we would appreciate your support in re-posting/sharing with your social media networks to spread the word.
The fine print: In the past, we have supported food banks, seniors' centres, shelters for those experiencing homelessness, and music programs for children, among many others. Funding requests for travel, conferences, advocacy, and large capital campaigns are generally not eligible.
Mosaic of Humanity Silent Auction
Bid on a unique 40x40 painting, created with values from our Rotary Club members and incorporated in the Rotary wheel.
The dynamic wave background symbolizes movement, change, and power.
The artist is Reisha Felix (Artist and Founder) from ReiCreations Art
Bidding closes on Dec 19th and the winner announced at the Club Holiday Party.
60% of proceeds will support IDEA initiatives at The Rotary Club of Toronto.
Levi Greene is a Past President and member of the Rotaract Club of Toronto. He is also a past Rotary Youth Exchange Student and a RYLA alumnus.
As Manager, of RBC Origins Regional Banking Support he works on a new national Indigenous strategy team and provides specific support for Indigenous Peoples. Levi is a member of Sawridge First Nation in Treaty 8 Territory and is a member of our Indigenous Partners Working Group.
He holds a University of North BC degree in International Studies and Political Science, with a focus on International Development and pre-colonial Indigenous history.
December Birthday Celebrations!
On Behalf of all our members, we wish a very Happy Birthday to everyone celebrating their birthday in December!
Rotary Club of Toronto
Membership Anniversaries
On behalf of the entire club, I would like to extend our warmest congratulations and heartfelt appreciation to those celebrating their Rotary Club of Toronto anniversaries this quarter (October to December 2024).
Your dedication, commitment, and invaluable contributions have played an integral role in our club's success and impact throughout the years.
Your unwavering support and tireless efforts continue to inspire us all, and we are honored to have you as part of our Rotary Club Toronto family.
Thank you for your service and for embodying the spirit of Rotary in everything you do.
Here's to many more years of fellowship, growth, and shared accomplishments!
Message from President Binoy
WhatsApp Group
We have 80 members on The Rotary Club of Toronto WhatsApp Channel - it's a great way to communicate with each other! Ask to join - any member can add more people to the group.
Would you like to write for the Voice or have a story or picture to share?
Contact Brinda Luckoo at brinda.luckoo@rotarytoronto.com
