1980-1989 – Rotary Club of Fort St. John, British Columbia

Welcome to Fort St. John

Matt Preprost — Sun, 01 Jan 1989 14:17:00 +0000

Service clubs put up signs at entrance ways for tourists

By Scott Crowson, Alaska Highway News

Thanks to the Rotary Club of Fort St. John, the city now has three new welcome signs at the main entrances to town.

The large black and white signs — besides thanking visitors for coming to Fort St. John — also list the various community organizations here.

Two signs are posted on the Alaska Highway, near the City’s colourful “Energy Capital of B.C.” displays, and the third is located on the Airport Road.

Originally there were two such Rotary signs on Highway 97, but over the years these became badly weathered. So the Rotary Club decided to upgrade them and add a third to greet travellers arriving here via the airport and the Boundary Lake Road.

Permission to erect the signs was obtained from the Ministry of Transportation and Highways in 1988, and after severals months of work, the signs were finally installed earlier this month.

Jim Frey, a Rotarian and chairman of the project, said 13 fraternal, service and community organizations are listed underneath the main greeting on each sign. The individual listings include the group’s name, logo, and information about their meeting place.

“You’d be surprised at the number of visitors who stop at these signs to see if their group has a chapter here,” Frey said. “Tourists find it very helpful, and it’s a good way for them to meet people in the community.”

The 13 organizations displayed on the signs are listed in alphabetical order, and there’s plenty of room on the side of the road at the three locations for motorists to safely pull over if they wish to read the smaller print on the signs.

Frey said each participating organizations was charged $180 — this paid for the paint and some of the supplies. The Rotary contributed $4,000 for the steel posts and sunken cement post-anchors. The wood for the signs was provided by the Highways Ministry.

Frey said much of the actual labour was done by Rotarian Alex Pryndik, his son John and Harry Chwyl.

25th Anniversary

Matt Preprost — Sat, 23 Apr 1988 05:40:00 +0000

To My Fellow Rotarians

The sun never sets on Rotary: if a Rotarian were to travel the 161 lands of Rotary visiting one of the more than 22,784 Rotary Clubs each day, it would take hime 62 years to complete his rounds - then he would have to start visiting clubs formed since his journey began. On this trip, he would encounter over one million business and professional men of all races and creeds and speaking more than 35 languages.

Pictured above: President Ernst Kottman and District Governor Frank Totino

The general objectives of Rotary Clubs in every country are the same - the development of fellowship and understanding among the business and professional men in the community, the promotion of community - betterment and the advancement of the international understanding, good will and peace. Rotary Clubs everywhere have on basic ideal - the “ideal of service”, which is thoughtfulness and helpfulness to others.

And today, at the 25th Anniversary of the Fort St. John Rotary Club, wee can be proud of our past achievements.

Our current project is the Charlie Lake Recreational Park at the south end of the lake for 50 campsites with all the facilities. Phase 1 of the project is almost finished. To date, over $200,000 has been spent in cash and donated work. The funds for this project are mainly raised through the Rotary Bingo where each member puts in his work on Tuesday nights.

We are involved in the International Youth Exchange Program wit Kristian Lundin from Norway here this year and Megan Giesbrecht in New Zealand. We send young people from Fort St. John to the Rotary Programs in Ottawa “Adventures in Citizenship” and to Lethbridge for RYLA. We host a Study Exchange Group from abroad each year and tour the Peace River with them with the help of the River Rats. We attend the District Conferences and the International Conferences - which I had the place to attend in Munich last year.

We support and sponsor a Pee Wee Hockey Club and the Rotary Pipe Band. We take care of the distribution of the Christmas hampers. We raise money with the food booth at the Annual Rodeo. The fun part are the golf tournaments, curling events, bowling parties, president’s ball, Christmas parties, luncheons with the ladies, sons and daughters day, family picnics, fireside meetings and this year the “Guess Who is Coming to Dinner” Program.

Now let’s have a look back to 1963 and the first 10 years: May 17, 1963 was the Charter Night of the Fort St. John Rotary Club chartered by the Grande Prairie Rotary Club. As I went through the photo album, I found that one of the first fundraisers was the planting, cultivating and marketing of potatoes; the harvest that year was good - as the photos indicate; but as you know, there is not much money in farming, so the Rotary gang turned to a more profitable job: they robbed a bank, and full money bags show - they were successful.

Development of Rotary Park at Charlie Lake, 1987-88.

Then there was the serious stuff to take care of: to support the Pee Wee Hockey Club, to donate to the wading pool in the Pacific Pete Subdivision, to sponsor young people like Brenda Cranston - one of the first to represent us in the “Something for Young Minds” Project, to provide a home for a group of children operated by the North Peace Community Resources Society and supported by the Rotary Club.

But there was fun as well; the Rotary District Bonspiel was held here in 1967. With the Slave Auction, Rotarians were auctioned off as slaves, and they really looked like some - chained together and in dreadful clothes. Rotary raised over $1300.00. There are some other events that should be mentioned: In 1971, the Rotary Pipe Band was formed. Tony Brummet received the “Service Above Self” award.

More and more, the Fort St. John Rotary Club got involved with the youth programs. Senior high school students were sent to Ottawa and Lethbridge, and the club took part in the International Youth Exchange Program with hosting students and sending girls and boys from Fort St. John to faraway countries.

Then there was a big project starting in 1971: The Rotary Health Unit at a cost of $150,000. On May 27, 1972, the Fort Nelson Rotary Club was chartered by the Fort St. John Club.

Now to the next ten years, 1973 - 1983: we see the Rotary Health Unit opened, a visit from the Rotary International President, Bill Carter, a Miss Rotary each year, participation and donation to the annual Dog Sled Derbys, a contribution of a large amount of books to the Asia-Pacific Teaching Fellows in the Philippines. During this time period, the planning and work on the Charlie Lake Project starts. In 1978, the club co-sponsors a Christmas party for 35 handicapped children, ages 3 to 15 years.

The pictures show lots of fun at the annual millionaire dinners, Christmas parties, family picnics, the banquets, conferences and meetings with Rotary Clubs of other towns. In 1978, the club honoured Ross MacLean with a Paul Harris Fellowship and during the following years, several more members were honoured with this award. To commemorate the “Year of the Child” - 1980 - a donation of $10,000.00 was given to the Child Development Centre.

In 1982, sponsorship of the Ride for Disabled was started at the Equestrian Centre. In May, 1983, we celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Fort St. John Rotary Club with a big party. As to the Charlie Lake Project, the boat launch was completed in the summer of 1983 with manpower, materials, equipments, and cash. For the B.C. Winter Games in March of 1984, the club donated handsome outfits for the 25 ladies in charge of hospitality.

In 1985, manpower was needed to paint the Rotary Wading Pool and the construction of the Rotary Diamond at Charlie Lake was completed. The plans for the future Charlie Lake Park were laid out.

In 1986, the club donated $15,000.00 to the Expo Legacy Library Theatre Complex, and $5000.00 was spent towards the Christmas Hamper Fund. One of the latest donations went to the North Peace Performing Arts Festival in March of 1988.

I would like to close with some words of the District Governor, Frank Totino, which he wrote to us upon the 25th Anniversary of the club:

“Over the past 25 years, Rotary has made Fort St. John a better place to live. The many projects that your club members have completed are a credit to all of you. I hope that on April 22, 1988, you and your fellow Rotarians will take time to celebrate your achievements. You are all truly Rotarians, United in Service - Dedicated to Peace.”

Ernst Kottman, President
1987-88

President Ernst Kottman and District Governor Frank Totino

1st Plan of Future Charlie Lake Park

Matt Preprost — Tue, 01 Jan 1985 14:07:00 +0000

City and Rotary to study Charlie Lake development

By Dave Nagy, Alaska Highway News

The city will establish a committee to work with the Rotary Club in a study of a proposed recreational development for Charlie Lake.

Grant Timmins of the Rotary explained how the service organization has since 1973 tried to upgrade the city-owned property on the south end of Charlie Lake.

The Rotary wants to develop among other things an RV park, to attract tourists on their way up the Alaska Highway. The club approached council yesterday to find out if the city would be interested in co-operating in some kind of development of the property. He gave an example of such a facility in Grande Prairie, built through the co-operation of Rotary and the city.

But he said it a co-operative agreement could not be reached then maybe the city could lease the property to the Rotary.

Mayor Brian Palmer expressed concerns about “developing a park outside the city as opposed to inside.” And felt there would be considerateions about liability in such a project.

Ald. Eric Graham also voiced concerns business people would have, saying people staying outside the city would not benefit city merchants.

Timmins said the proposed RV park would be “revenue producing” and suggested funds raised from this be used for further development of the property. The project would also include facilities for boat parking.

Early in his presentation Timmins outlined steps taken over the years in attempt to eliminate the bog problem on the property. One recent problem was the raising of the lake level and dike, making the area unstable. It would also be a “very expensive” problem to correct in covering the property to a recreational area.

Mr. Palmer added the committee would include someone from city administration who could provide legal advice.

Ride for the Disabled inaugurated

Matt Preprost — Sun, 17 Oct 1982 17:42:00 +0000

Ride for the Disabled inaugurated

Alaska Highway News

The North Peace Light Horse Association in cooperation with the local Rotary club will be inaugurating a Ride for the Disabled at the Equestrian Centre, Sunday October 17 at 2 pm.

Designed to give physically handicapped children a chance to learn to ride horseback, the program will provide free hour-long lessons of four children once a week for eight weeks. The goal of the program is to teach the children to ride by themselves but organizers admit this will not always be possible.

Byron Redhead had his first ride on a horse Tuesday night. After a couple of tries he got pretty good at yelling “forward” to the horse and kicking it in the ribs at the same time.

“It is amazing what these kids can do after one lesson. It is good therapy. It is also good psychologically when a handicapped kid can go home and tell his brothers and sisters he can ride a horse,” says NPLHA spokesman Barbara Daley.

The new program requires a considerable number of dedicated volunteers to operate. Three people are needed for each handicapped child, one to lead the horse and two to stand on either side. This means that to provide places for four children, 12 volunteers have to put aside two hours a week each for eight weeks running, Daley explains.

And what do they do once they get a handicapped child on a horse? Walk, trot, play game, do exercises, jump, the works Daley claims. Even wheelchair people get into the act.

Terry Eissenfeldt will be instructing the Ride for the Disabled program at the Equestrian Centre beginning Sunday October 17. She just bought her thoroughbred Jet a few weeks ago and is in the process of training him.

Terry Eissenfeldt, who is full-time caretaker-instructor at the centre, will be instructing the children on a voluntary basis. She will be attending the Western Canada Training Conference for the Ride for the Disabled in Langley October 1, 2 and 3 in preparation for the program.

Rotary is providing the financial backing for the project, which includes buying equipment and paying to stable donated horses.

According to club president Ken Rimbey, the plan whereby people donate a horse for the winter, on the basis that the program with pay to keep it at the Equestrian Centre, has advantages for both the owner and the program.

“If you donate a horse for the winter you can still go down and ride it. Only you know there are certain nights when you can’t. So its a good deal for both parties.”

Some of the gear needed for the horses is being loaned or donated but Rotary will make, buy, or rent anything else that is needed.

The Ride for the Disabled movement, which is now spreading into western Canada, is already well established in Britain, Europe, Australia, and the US, as well as eastern Canada, she says.

If the local group meets the safety standards set by the Pacific Ride for the Disabled, the provincial organization operation out of Langley, on October 17, they will become an officially recognized branch of that organization.

The way Eissfeldt barked the orders from the centre of the ring as the children went through their paces at a practice half hour ride Tuesday night, there doesn’t seem to be any reason why they won’t.

This all goes to show the riding for the disabled is serious business. Anyone interested should be out at the Equestrian Centre at 2 pm Sunday to see the official opening of the program, complete with local dignitaries, including mayor Brian Palmer.