December 19, 2022
Story by: Tim Fitzgerald
Photographs by: Tim Fitzgerald
Mike Fredericks (left), President and CEO of Annex Business Media, was presented with the Paul Harris Fellow award on Monday, December 19, 2022 at a meeting of The Rotary Club of Simcoe by Rotarian and long-time friend Wally Anderson (right).
Mike first came to Simcoe some thirty years ago when he and his business group were looking to acquire the Simcoe Reformer. Wally Anderson and a committee convinced him to stay and, through Wally, to join Rotary. Mike told us that the principles of Paul Harris (Rotary's founder in 1905) - truth, fairness, benefit to all concerned and goodwill - have guided him all his life.
When he established his company Annex Business Media, the goal was to be the "best" business media publisher in Canada. Little did he know that, years later, he would also become the "biggest".
As the business grew and expanded, he was unable to attend Simcoe Rotary consistently. Eventually he left the club but has always directly or indirectly supported the work of The Rotary Club of Simcoe, other community service clubs and volunteer organizations.
You can't keep a good man down. While visiting his parent's home in Nova Scotia, his passion for fishing involved him with a group restoring a habitat of a salmon river. Likewise, when hurricanes struck at his southern vacation spot, the home of this small community's "pillar/justice of the peace" was destroyed. Again, Mike and a group have undertaken to get it rebuilt.
Mike Fredericks is a deserving recipient!
The Paul Harris Fellow Award
The Paul Harris Fellow recognition acknowledges individuals who contribute, or who have contributions made in their name of $1,000 US to The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International.
Mr. Fredericks joins over 111 individual Paul Harris Fellow recipients in it’s 97 years of existence by the Simcoe Rotary Club. Many recipients are multiple Paul Harris Fellow. For example, one former member has 11 Paul Harris Fellow awards.
For more information, visit Paul Harris Fellow recognition | Rotary International