This past Friday, August 25, over 25 Rotarians and guests gathered under the sunshine for a memorable Summer Fest luncheon hosted at the stunning rooftop of The National Club. The event was led by President- Elect Pauline Lyons, who brought energy and warmth to a truly vibrant afternoon.
Attendees were treated to a delightful selection of appetizers, each dish offering a taste of summer with a cultural Carribean twist. Personal favourites included the salted cod fish cakes and miniature Jamaican patties—both bursting with flavour and served with a side of storytelling, thanks to Geoffrey Johnson, who shared the rich history and cultural roots behind the dishes.
The celebration brought plenty of smiles and rhythm to the rooftop as Sergio Amatller encouraged guests to the dance floor for some spontaneous fun. The lively atmosphere continued with a round of Toronto-themed trivia, expertly cracked by our brilliant volunteers Anny-Sandra Hamel and Christine Cote, who both solved the challenge with flying colours.
A special highlight of the afternoon was the exchange of flags with a visiting Rotarian from the Rotary Club of Thane Hills, India, marking a meaningful moment of international connection.
You could feel the fellowship in every corner—from the trivia table to the dance floor. Summer Fest brought warmth, connection, and plenty of smiles.
Written by Anna Koneva
Welcome New Members!
Paige Caldeira
Paige Caldeira, originally from the UK, is now in Canada, where she continues to channel her love for storytelling through digital content, production work, and community building. She thrives on building meaningful connections and crafting narratives that resonate, whether behind the scenes of a major campaign or in front of the camera sharing her own experiences of life abroad.
Paige was named a BME PR Pros 2020 and a PRCA Young Communicator of the Year Finalist 2022. And it should also be noted that Dauna is her Great Aunt.
Randeep Sandhu
Randeep Sandhu is a Director with Dynamic Security & Ash Brown Media Beyond business. He is also an entrepreneur and an aspiring land developer.
He lives in Brampton and is deeply committed to community service, and organizes food and clothing drives. In his spare time, he enjoys playing polo (apparently with Prince Harry), horses, tennis and networking.
Selena Pollard
Selena Pollard is Founder and a Real Estate Broker with over 29+ years of award-winning service.
She has been passionate about the development of youth and disenfranchised women and her commitments include the King Bay Chaplaincy and the Redwood Shelter. Most recently, Selena served as 2nd Vice President on the Board of Donald Moore Canada. She interestingly developed and provided training for the 1st Nail Salon in Barbados.
Survey Reminder
Please take a moment to complete the member survey by Friday, August 8, 2025
As we prepare for an exciting new Rotary year, your voice is more important than ever.
To ensure our Club continues to thrive, stay relevant, and meet the evolving needs of our members, we are conducting a Member Engagement Survey. This short survey will help us better understand your preferences, experiences, and aspirations within the Rotary Club of Toronto.
Your honest feedback may directly inform:
· Our meeting formats and scheduling
· Committee and event planning
· Volunteer and leadership opportunities
· Member recognition and engagement strategies
Whether you’re highly active or participate occasionally, your input is valuable and appreciated.
Please click the button below to access the survey.
Notice: Member Special Meeting! We’ll be conducting a bylaw vote and encourage all members to attend. Your participation is important.
Brent Thomas
Keeping you, your tech, and your data safe and
secure in an increasingly connected world
Brent is a tenured and recognized senior cybersecurity leader who has spent the last two decades working for several well-known organizations across multiple industry verticals in both technical and progressive leadership positions. In a full-time capacity, he is currently with The Co-operators Group Limited where he is AVP, Security Architecture and Consulting. On a part-time basis, he’s an advisor to Phelps Group and runs events under the CxO Open Mic brand.
He has had the opportunity to drive large transformation and improvement programs, develop capabilities and processes, and build resilient teams to support them. Brent has also worked with professional certification and educational organizations to develop and support the next generation of cybersecurity leaders and often engages in professional events and activities and other initiatives that further the profession, give back to the community, and develop future talent. He maintains several designations including the CISSP, CISA, CISM, CSSLP and CRM-E.
WhatsApp Group
For all members who have joined or wants to join the WhatsApp Group, please note that we will use your first name & last name - no business name or acronym please. Thank you.
Would you like to write for the Voice or have a story or picture to share?
Contact our Voice Editor Kelsey Horning at kelsey.horning@rotarytoronto.com
