2019 Rotary Holiday House Tour
Posted on Oct 29, 2019

16th Rotary Holiday House Tour (November 30th & December 1st, 2019)

Once again, the Rotary Club of Simcoe is featuring Port Dover. Last year, many of you toured a remarkable mix of homes with the unique Clonmel Castle. This year we are excited to present a mixture of the old, restored and new as well as something special a barn! 
 

What You Need To Know

 
Ticket Information
 
You can purchase the $20.00 tickets from Simcoe Rotarians, at the door on November 30th and December 1st, 2019 (11:00 am to 4:00 pm) or from the locations listed in the above image. Lunch, washrooms and rest stop at St. Paul's Community Hall, 302 St. George Street, Port Dover.
 

Download 2019 Holiday House Tour Brochure in PDF Format

 
Download the PDF to your personal computer or your smartphone or tablet. All you need is Adobe Reader (free) from Adobe.com. Here is the link to the brochure 2019 Rotary HHT.
 

The Tour

 
Tour 1
Tour 2

Thank You

Simcoe Rotary thanks the owners for opening their homes and establishments to our tour, to our sponsors and to all of you that purchase tickets that support our local and international projects.
 
sponsors
We Have Moved
We Have Moved
 
The Rotary Club of Simcoe meets at 12:00 p.m. at the Royal Canadian Legion (Branch 79), 200 West Street, Simcoe, Ontario N3Y 4K3 (downstairs). Please use the Metcalfe Street Clubrooms entrance. Metcalfe Street is one way from West to Chapel Street. Also this Legion along with many others requests that anyone entering remove their head wear in respect to fallen comrades.
Remembrance Day is November 11th
Posted by Timothy FitzGerald on Nov 05, 2019
 
Our Rotarian Craig Hunter is passionate about the history and sacrifice of the brave men, women and relatives who landed and fought overseas in world wars and continue to this day in present conflicts. Craig has written books of his research and donated them to our national archives.  In prior years, he has detailed these heartfelt sacrifices. This year, Craig detailed for us how, from 1939, for every airmen in the skies, soldier on the beaches, and sailors on the waves; Canada, the nation was with them training, provisioning and supplying armaments.
 
And, so much of this war effort was right here in our backyards across Norfolk, Oxford, Haldimand and Brant Counties. In 1939, the British Commonwealth picked Canada as the training ground for air forces. Canada was remote from prying eyes of Europe and a natural deployment to Europe. The stipulation was that air force training had to be on the Great Lakes to simulate flying over the English Channel and North Sea. Canada trained 80,000 air crew and 131,000 ground crew.
 
Air bases in St. Thomas, Tillsonburg and Brantford are still in operation today. Other airbases were located on Lake Superior, Huron and Ontario. Some pilots and instructors lost their lives in training. Goderich, much like England, can be swept instantly by dense fog - not all the crews returned. If you look closely at buildings on any of these sites and even grass airport strips in Norfolk and Jarvis many of these buildings from WW II are still being used today. Once declared surplus, they were sold to the local community for a dollar. Example - Simcoe had army barracks and large huts for drill/assembly of soldiers and equipment on Second Avenue. The army barracks are still being used within the Second Avenue industrial park. The larger huts were moved to the Norfolk County Fairgrounds. Boaters beware!  - cribs of bombing targets are still submerged off Normandale, which Craig advises that unwary mariners have discovered in past low water years and lost their propellers.
 
But how was all of this possible? The war was consuming all the materials and workers (men and women having enlisted in the armed services). Nevertheless, the craftsmanship of the buildings was there and survives today.
 
Craig said  that his mother is a "war bride". When I hear the term war bride my mind quickly travels overseas. However, with recruits from across Canada, New Zealand, Australia, the British Isles and other nations being trained in Ontario enormous economies sprung up supplying food, uniforms, provisions. Of course, off duty personnel frequented local entertainment and bars. Regular fights broke out between enlisted personnel and locals who did not want the competition for the affections of the women. .
 
Craig and Rotarians are assembling at the Baldock Funeral Home November 11th to march in the parade to the Cenotaph. Please join them (and dress warm).
Salvation Army Kettles - "care for our Community"
Posted by Timothy FitzGerald on Nov 04, 2019
 
                        
 
Frank MacMaster from The Salvation Army kicked off the 2019 Kettle Campaign with us today. This year's goal is $100,000 with kettles  stationed at retailers around the country starting November 22nd.
 
Funds raised stay in our communities and fund social programmes. Campaign costs are kept to basics because of volunteer hours from Rotary, other service clubs, community organizations and citizens at the kettles. Each shift is 2 hours.
 
Please give at the kettles and give often.
 
To volunteer - contact Frank MacMaster at 519-909-9421 or frank_macmaster@can.salvationaemy.org 
 
 
 
 
Pik-an-gi-kum its on the "Ice Road" in the north of  Ontario.
Posted by Timothy FitzGerald on Oct 30, 2019
That is how it is spelt (phonetically) - just as it is pronounced!
 
Peter Wheatley (educator), Marjorie and Jim Dawson (both engineers) are members of the Rotary Club of Norfolk Sunrise (meetings Tuesday AM) and drove to Pikangikum last winter - being thanked today by our Rotarian Stan Knowles.
 
The trio said the "Ice Road" serving Pikanjikum is reliable only two plus months of the year. The rest of the year its fly-in, fly-out or river barge for bulk deliveries during the summer/melt to stock up for the winter. The community is 3,000 people.
 
Jim and Marjorie are not strangers to the area. They have completed many canoe trips and other adventures here over the years. They were joined by a Winnipeg Rotarian (Mennonite minister) and his adult son (yet another engineer). Rotarians on the road are bound to have good natured fun - usually at each others expense. Peter, quite tall, was a natural to organize basketball games at the high school. Jim became quite articulate backing up a big trailer behind a big Ford pick-up truck; but, was also self-appointed as a fuel conservationalist - "go green"! So to Jim, excessive warming up the truck in January was a no-no. Peter (tall boy) could not see out the top of the frozen windshield; but remarks that "positive" Marjorie (normal height or less) could look through the steering wheel at the defrosted area and did not "see" the problem.
 
So while the "engineers" were unpacking, organizing and envisioning a fix to most anything, Peter organized basketball games but also spoke to the Band Chief and asked what help did they need most. Paradox - although the high school and similar buildings are modern - tap water is supplied with spring loaded taps and GI infections are common/contagious - kids miss school days. The community at 51.8 North latitude is in a permafrost zone. So water and sewer infrastructure can not be buried (else it would freeze or even if it was insulated and buried would still melt the permafrost, then break and then freeze - get it!). So residents and the band transport water from a single heated supply source in the town. Envision if you had to carry water in jugs to your house - get it home before it froze and keep it heated when you got it home - you might conserve water excessively as well. Marjorie also pointed out that this self-imposed water conservation would also be especially risky for residents with diabetes - said, who need to drink water to balance their sugar levels.
 
Listening today, I now understand that new government infrastructure (buildings and water supplies) alone may not be the complete solution.
 
The Chief advised that some kids are wearing summer shoes to school in winter. They have indoor arenas and outdoor skating rinks but a shortage of skates ages 4-5 to 25 years old.  The list goes on; but above all, the Band Chief asked for "HELP TO KEEP OUR KIDS IN SCHOOL LONGER"!
 
The Sunrise trio "making a difference", rounded up 100 pair of shoes from Al's Shoes, 20 new pairs of skates from from Boyko's and a sports store in Haggersville, books, Blue Star Ford donated a vehicle, two bushels of apples from Norfolk Fruit Growers (of course these were Peter's bunk buddies for the duration of the trip). All of this and more was packed into a trailer (except Peter's bunk buddies warm inside the truck during the day) and driven north in January.
 
The future? The youth are eager. The girls of Pikanjikum want to start a hockey team of their own. The local economy is limited. Residents hire themselves out for tree planting and fighting forest fires. A local saw mill initiative is creating some employment.
 
But what of the Rotarian (minister) from Winnipeg? He brought pictures of a visit he had made to Pikangikum some 30-40 years earlier. Showing them at the community centre, kids shouted out "that's my grand father", "that's my auntie" ... . Pikangikum translated from Ojibway is "one river, one people, one voice". The residents of Pikangikum even as they are gathering together bits of their history are trying to piece together their future culture.
 
I Googled Pikangikum and found this video recorded by the youth of Pikangikum quite revealing.
 
Funds for Operation Eyesight - Nepal
Posted by Timothy FitzGerald on Oct 28, 2019
 
On the left, Jim Dawson accepts our cheque of $2,500 for Operation Eyesight from our Mike Cobb - International Affairs Director. As a new project, Operation Eyesight has placed a mobile van in Nepal - bringing eye care to the Nepalese.
Curl For Kids
Posted by Timothy FitzGerald on Oct 26, 2019
cid:3305edb6-2f80-4e52-a5a1-01976db6b111@CANPRD01.PROD.OUTLOOK.COM
Big Brothers Big Sisters Grand Erie (BBBS GE) is hosting a fundraising bonspiel in support of their work with local, Grand Erie kids. It is scheduled for Saturday 16 Nov ’19 at the Simcoe Curling Club. The theme is ‘Wild West Adventure’.
 
Rotary is assisting with the organization and contributing teams to the event. So far, we have registered one Rotary team from the morning club (Jim Simpson, Andy Kooistra, Cheryl Peck and Minori Kubode). But in the past Rotarians have been able to field two or more teams. So the challenge is out there.
 
This year, we will be coordinate this with other Rotary clubs in the BBBS GE area so that we can best support the event in Rotary style.
If you have a curling contact in a neighbouring club that would be interested, or if I can offer any other coordinating help, Rotarian or not, please let me know - Jim Simpson at  jimandlyndasimpson@gmail.com  or phone 289-680-0070.
 
To register or fundraise for Curl For Kids Sake, click this link.    http:// https://give.classy.org/cfks
Alzheimer’s – Stigma or Disease?
Posted by Timothy FitzGerald on Oct 21, 2019
 
When Alzheimer’s is viewed as a stigma it burdens families and raises health care costs. Alene Bradshaw – Director of Development and Maria Leitos – First Point Navigator (seen here with Rotarian Craig Hunter) are staff with our local Alzheimer Society. They explained that Alzheimer’s lies in a spectrum of dementia diseases. Like any disease, if proper information, diagnosis and medical treatment are not sought out – the disease may likely get worse.
Shatter the myth – old age does not equal memory loss! If your family member or friend is losing memory find out why. It could be factors of seven reversable/pseudo causes; tumours, depression, diabetes … . There are eight irreversible causes in the many areas within the brain; frontal lobes, anterior lobes, and many more. Disease/dementia in one lobe may leave others intact and fully functioning – thus risk of family and friends ignoring symptoms and not seeking medical advice.
When dementias remain undiagnosed, in some patients, activity deteriorates; others patients get agitated in unfamiliar circumstances (which may lead to involving the police) – both may end up in the hospital emergency room.
Education and some things that have been learned:
Education and learning – the more neural pathways that we develop over a lifetime makes us more resilient. So if you continue learning/using all five senses and then if you loose, say,  two pathways through dementia then  you still have pathways left to continue functioning with. So social groups and exercise are important therapies. Alene and Maria advised that walking enlarges the memory active part of the brain and is a most significantly beneficial therapy – for some reason especially in men.
For patients with a diagnosed dementia moving them to their next residence early allows them to become familiar with new surroundings and routines.
Please visit their website for more information www.alzhn.ca
Rev. Bryan Robertson, D.C.
Posted on Oct 01, 2019
Rev. Bryan Robertson and Rotarian Thor Olsen
 
Rev. Bryan Robertson, September 16, 2019 speaker with Rotarian Thor Olsen who presented a card with a donation to the Gord Watts Scholarship Fund in his name.
 
A "civilian" solder, a chemistry teacher and now a Anglican minister. Rev. Robertson's story is a fascinating mixture of achievement, dedication and service. These are things that Rotarians can relate to when we say "Service Above Serve".
Rotary Day of Action
Posted on Sep 29, 2019
Rotary Day of Action
 

Rotary Day of Action, Saturday, September 28, 2019, Planting Daffodil Bulbs, Northern Simcoe, Ontario

The morning of Saturday, September 28th found about 50 members of the Norfolk Sunrise, Delhi, Rotary Club of Simcoe and Rotaract planting daffodils along side the Norfolk Sunrise Walking Trail. Andy Kooistra loosened the soil with a hydraulic auger and 3,900 daffodil bulbs in plots of 75 were planted to beautify the trail and the environment. Daffodils were chosen as they are not eaten by animals.
 
Daffodils
Rotary At Beerstock
Posted on Sep 29, 2019
rotary At Beer Stock
 

Rotary at Beerstock, Port Dover, Ontario, Saturday, September 28, 2019

Murray Porteus, Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program
Posted on Sep 12, 2019
Murray Porteous
 
On September 9, 2019, Murray Porteous spoke to Simcoe Rotary about the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program.
 
In Norfolk County, we know when spring has come when the Whistling Swans arrive, the snowbirds return from Florida and we see the Seasonal Agricultural Workers, primarily from the Caribbean and Mexico shopping at the local supermarkets. The program has been in existence for 52 years. With the aid of a very informative video, the importance of the program to the agricultural industry and to the seasonal workers was explained.  For some of the workers, it is the only way they can feed and shelter their families. 
Pull Up Your Socks
Posted on Sep 12, 2019
District Governor Bob Artis and his wife Corine
 
District Governor Bob Artis and his wife Corine (Photograph from the District 7090 website)
 
On August 26 , 2019, District Governor Bob Artis and his wife Corine visited Simcoe Rotary.
My hearing isn't as good as it used to be. But I believe, I heard District Governor Bob tell Assistant District Governor Bob Stevenson (and Simcoe Rotarian) to pull up his pants. And surprise, surprise; District Governor Bob also pulled up his pant leg to display along with Assistant District Bob, the "Best of Friends" Rotary Theme socks.
Best of Friends ThemeSsocks
 
Simcoe Rotarians who are style setters can purchase a pair of the socks from this link for $ 16.00.
Changeover Meeting, June 18, 2019
Posted on Sep 12, 2019
Changeover Meeting, June 18, 2019
 
Simcoe Rotary, Changeover Meeting, Culver Barn, Walsh, Ontario, June 18, 2019
 
Prior to June 30th of every year, the Club recognizes the service and contribution of the outgoing executive and the new President introduces the membership to future priorities and initiatives. This year Margaret Bancroft becomes President and Dave King joins a large group of Simcoe Rotarians as a Past-President.
 
Welcome To Canada Minori
Welcome To canada Minori
Canada_Japan Flags
 
Host Mother_Connie_Forsythe_Minori_Kubode
 
Host Mother and Rotarian Connie Forsythe and Minori Kubode, 2019-2020 Rotary Youth Exchange Student, Kaga, Japan
 
This young lady will be ordering take-out pizza from her cell-phone in no time.
Rotary Supports Community Art
Posted by Timothy FitzGerald on Aug 19, 2019
 
 
Rotarian Mike Cobb presented Roberta Grosland, Curator of the Norfolk Arts Centre (Lynnwood Avenue, Simcoe, ON), with $1,000 to aid in their programmes.
 
"The arts centre is a public gallery, dedicated to the learning, preservation and nurturing of creativity, enjoyment and appreciation of the arts throughout Norfolk County".
 
This presentation to Roberta also coincided with the award, today, of our Gord Watts (Art) Scholarship to Chloe Shippey. Roberta explained that art programming in schools has been subject to provincial funding cutbacks. Gifts such as ours helps them procure materials, paint brushes and media to drop off at the local high schools. Not every graduate from these programmes goes on to an art career. However, in addition to appreciation of the arts, perhaps for some, students benefit from therapeutic aspects of lowering stress and blood pressure (that could be precursors to other medical conditions).
 
The Arts Centre dedicates 1,000 sq. ft. (90 square metres) to the display of local talent - please visit them and their web site  http://norfolkartscentre.ca 
 
 
 
2019 Gord Watts Fine Arts Scholarship Winner
Posted by C. Richard Campbell on Aug 19, 2019
Rotarian Mike Cobb and Chloe Shippey
 
Rotarian Mike Cobb presenting Chloe Shippey with the 2019 Gord Watts Arts Scholarship
 
" ...I am incredibly honoured to receive the Rotary Club of Simcoe Gord Watts Scholarship. Art is a universal form of communication. It is like a language that allows both the artist and the observer to express their emotions and ideas, while engaging both the mind and the body.
 
Art has a transformational effect, and it is clearly evident in Norfolk County, as it continues to bring individuals together, while fostering a stronger community. From the Norfolk Arts Centre where I had my first gallery showing, to the annual Studio Tour, to the art exhibit and school showings at the Norfolk County Fair, to the Norfolk Potters Guild, we are incredibly fortunate to live in a County that encourages, supports and celebrates artists of all ages.
 
Art is my passion and passion has no limits. I am excited to be heading to Sheridan College, in just a few weeks, to study Animation. With this scholarship, named in the memory of Gord watts, a community-minded volunteer and artist, you are ensuring that my dreams are turning into reality. On behalf of myself, and all the aspiring artists in our community, thank you for ensuring that the arts continues to be alive and vibrant in Norfolk County."
Chloe Shippey, 2019 Gord Watts Arts Scholarship Winner
 
 
The Gord Watts Arts Scholarship has been expanded from interdiscipline fine arts to include visual arts, graphics, art history, film, photography, animation, and web design.
 
Be The Change We Want To See 
Big Brothers Big Sisters Grand Erie
Posted by Timothy FitzGerald on Jul 22, 2019
Melisa Pollard is the Executive Director in our area. Melissa was inspired by an article of a mother whose three daughters grew to become a Physician of Pediatrics at San Jose, a CEO at 23andMe, and a CEO at You Tube.
Quite a success story! As a parent, how did she engender such success?
  1. Teach kids to care!
  2. The importance of community!
  3. The American ideal is all wrong (chasing personal wealth ...)!
  4. Prioritize service and purpose!
So given these elements "Be The Change You Want To See" (in the world). Be a mentor!
 
Most of us remember a person in our lives who was there when we needed it most. Who listened to us. Who gave us the inner well being and peace to keep moving forward.
 
But what would could have happened if you had no siblings/neighbours/parent who would listen to you or had time to do so? Could this  compound into loneliness, anxiety or lack of purpose? The future social outcomes would probably be quite different simply because there was no such person at hand.
 
Big Brothers Big Sisters is an agency that recruits volunteers to act as that mentoring person (since 1904). Not onerous, perhaps just two hours a week, to be with the little brother/sister and listen to them.
 
Melissa is vivacious and inspirational. She mentored a little brother, age 8, along with her fiance. The "little brother" attended her wedding ten years later. Another slide in her presentation showed a man, age 70, who was a "little brother" who kept in touch with his big brother the rest of his life.
 
The Grand Erie chapter is a lean organization. 6 paid staff members, 130 volunteers and 313 little brothers/sisters. But there are still 200 more little brothers/sisters on a waiting list.
 
While the agency relies upon volunteers, as lean as it is, it takes $1,200 in costs to sponsor a child for a year. The Rotary Club of Simcoe is proud to do so. Rotarian Capt. (Salvation Army) Rick Honcharsky (Community Service) thanked Christine (staff and volunteers) for their good work and sponsored a little brother/sister for a year with our cheque of $1,200.
 
Melissa has 15 years of private sector experience in start ups and large corporations. Effective at organization, agile innovation, there are plans to rebrand BigBrothers BigSisters and colours in its logo. Watch for these changes this September. Plans mission/values are being examined to ensure they are reaching our to each of the diverse communities of the Grand Erie District (Norfolk/Haldimand/Brant inclusive of Six Nations).
Youth and Skate Park Waterford
Posted by Timothy FitzGerald on Jul 19, 2019
"Why Not Waterford" (kids need a place to go) That's what Marlene McCulligh and Kerry Bockenholt (Kerry's St. James St. Eatery) thought when kids started doing projects about the hamlet.
 
There's no graffiti on these projects because the kids themselves planned and implemented them and took ownership of the projects. it was wonderful to see a diverse group of kids walk into a room, help each other out and become knit into one being.  (Our Rotarian John Featherstone, on the left thanking Marlene and Kerry, and joking that he grew up in Waterford and there was no place to go!) 
 
So Why Not a Skatepark? How do you accomplish that? Marlene and Kerry are both doers. Kerry on the right is the talkative one and said that if you involve every group in Waterford (Lyons, Chamber, Foundation, Trail Assoc., Museum, Norfolk County, the list goes on) on the Board then no one is against you.
 
A year ago it was a dream. Now they have Charitable status, a blueprint and fundraising plan. The Museum said we have land beside us. You can put the park there. The County will put up $200,000 if the group can fund raise $300,000. $70,000 is already being held in trust.
 
"Keep them occupied" , the kids are involved every step of the way. To understand the cost and design have a look at the Skate Park in Port Dover. It begins with a very large concrete pad and sculpted features and a pump track (a rider can keep moving continuously up and down rolling features of the track - sessioning again and again with friends - a good workout.
 
As we can see sports cost money. The park is free. However, the kids are participate in conception of the idea, design and fundraising. The next fundraiser is August 19th at Whistling gardens.
 
If you take youth seriously they will take care of the park/projects. "I'm proud of you" - just saying that is enough!
 
Our Joan Shirlow and the Spring Arbour Farm Dedication
Rotarian Joan Shirlow
 
In May, the Long Point Basin Land Trust dedicated the Spring Arbour Farm to its land inventory.
Rotarian Joan Shirlow donated the land to LPBLT which "...works with landowners and the local community to provide a helping hand to wild species and ecosystems in one of Ontario’s most naturally diverse regions."
Simcoe Rotary Donation to the Norfolk General Hospital
Kelly Isfan and President Dave King
 
June 10th, 2019, Rotarian and President/CEO of Norfolk General Hospital and West Haldimand Hospital in Hagersville Kelly Isfan accepts the latest installment from President Dave King of the Club's financial commitment of $ 25,000.00.
 
 
Simcoe Sign
Simcoe Sign
 
Recently the County of Norfolk replaced the "community" signs on the highways entering and exiting Simcoe. The Rotary Club of Simcoe and Norfolk-Sunrise contributed to the cost of the modern signs.
Rotary Builds Friendships
Tom Pidduck, George Renshaw,Jim Jackson, Harold Shantz
 
January, 2019. Rotarian Tom Pidduck, Honorary Rotarian George Renshaw, Rotarians Jim Jackson and Harold Shantz
 
When you become a Rotarian, you build friendships. Some last for decades. George Renshaw was an active member of the Rotary Club of Simcoe for over 63 years. The 102 year old Honorary Rotarian now lives in a nearby nursing home where the Rotarians in the photograph visit him frequently (but not before dining out a Simcoe restaurant).
 
Photograph: Courtesy of Harold Shantz
 
 
Highlights
2019 Holiday House Tour
Download PDF version of the 2019 Holiday
House Tour brochure for your computer,
smartphone or tabloid from this link
2019 Brochure. You will need the free
Adobe Reader from Adobe.com.
Let's Do Lunch Monday
 
Join Us!
norfolk Rotary Tabloid June 19, 2018
 
Click on image to download pdf.
April 9th,1925
 
 
Canada End Polio How Stamp
 
 
Rotary Youth Exchange
Tumaini Children's Foundation
Dr. Gord Watts Scholarship
Caution - Retired
Our Resident Speaker Critic

Our Resident Speaker Critic!

Service Above Self
Follow Us On Facebook--New Link
 
 
Speakers
Board Members - Committee Reports
Nov 18, 2019
Annual General Meeting
Kelly Isfan
Nov 25, 2019
An Update on Ontario's Health System
Kristen Forsyth
Dec 02, 2019
Rotary Student Exchange Experience in Brazil 2018-2019
TBA
Dec 09, 2019
No Meeting in lieu of Christmas Party on Dec 17th
Dec 16, 2019
Christmas Party
Dec 17, 2019
Norfolk Golf & Country Club
No Meeting in lieu of Christmas
Dec 23, 2019
No Meeting in lieu of New Years
Dec 30, 2019
Happy New Years
TBA
Jan 06, 2020
TBA
Jan 13, 2020
View entire list...
 
Links