Toronto is a wonderful city with lots of tall buildings, culture and sport. It hosts plenty of conventions. RI President 2017-2018, Australia’s own Ian Riseley, held his in Toronto late in June with warm balmy days and long evenings.
Dennis and Lynda Shore, Cheryl and David Pisterman with Steve Aquilina (Southbank RC) at the Toronto Rotary Convention.
Photo credit– D9800 Foundation newsletter Spring 2018.
The opening ceremony, held at the Air Canada Centre (home of the Maple Leafs), began colourfully with many attendees waving their country flags against a noisy background of music. That was until the music changed to “I am, you are, we are Australian” introducing Ian and Juliet Riseley. At the first bars, the Aussies scattered amongst the 12,550 attending the first opening session (total registration was just over 25,000) all burst into song – very emotional. At least 30 of us added to the colour of the occasion in our End Polio Tees – we were definitely seen and heard.
In his opening address Ian spoke to the theme People of Action and announced that his wish that every Rotarian plant a tree had exceeded all expectations with approx 2,500,000 planted around the world.
The first official social function I attended was the “Jazz at the Aquarium” and amid 2,500 excited Rotarians from all over, we queued to get in, queued to get a drink, and waited and wondered if we would get the food. However when the crush eased it was an amazing venue with attendees enjoying the exhibits of fish and other marine creatures including our PDG Murray Verso.
The 80 or so of us from District 9800 had a great time together as well as meeting other Rotary friends from all around the world. A highlight was the Down-under Breakfast held just before the first opening ceremony where approx. 600 Australians and New Zealanders heard RI President Ian and Juliet in a relaxed and comfortable setting recount some of his memories of the past year.
During the four-day event, speakers praised, prodded, and partnered with Rotary in featuring RI’s Six Areas of Focus. Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General, WHO thanked Rotary for partnering in the work to improve the health conditions of so many in the world in its indefactible fight against polio. Former first lady of the United States, Laura Bush, challenged Rotarians to keep making early childhood education a priority. Helen Clark, former prime minister of New Zealand and one of the architects of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, joined RI President Ian in a discussion about gender equality and the crucial link between the environment, poverty, hunger, and peace.
However, the many stand-out presenters were those who had made a difference in the world either through their work as Peace fellows such as Marie-Paule Attema who is studying at the Rotary Peace Centre in Queensland or instigators of projects benefiting others, be it in literacy, hygiene, water and sanitation (Jeremy Hurst), PDG, District 7020, and chair of HANWASH initiated a series of Global Grants to implement the latest water filter technology in Haiti, one of the poorest nations on earth. Or Ann Gloag, whose Freedom From Fistula Foundation establishes clinics to ensure women’s safety during childbirth in some of the remotest parts of Africa. Chief R. Stacey Laforme, a leader of a local First Nations People, protect the financial and cultural identities of First Nations people in the Toronto region.
Our Foundation’s significant achieves over the past Rotary year were eloqently presented by outgoing Chair of the foundation trustees, Paul Netzel.
Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, attended to accept Rotary’s Polio Eradication Champion Award. He thanked Rotary for working with governments worldwide to eradicate polio. “Rotarians play a critical role in the fight to end polio, Trudeau said, “Together we will make that happen.”
RI President Elect Barry Rassin announced that next year’s Convention will be in Hamburg, Germany. This was my sixth RI World Convention and I would recommend that if you can, you attend one at least one – it is a great way to understand the true international meaning of Rotary International.
Read about District 9800 Foundation : https://gallery.mailchimp.com/154713a404a5f24c010420601/files/b5a111d8-1351-4dfe-8e5d-0f90abeafe45/Lower_Res.pdf