Latest News – Rotary Club of Fort St. John, British Columbia

Doing Good in the World with The Rotary Foundation

Rotary Club of Fort St. John — Thu, 19 Jun 2025 20:30:45 +0000

Dear Fellow Rotarians,

As Rotary members, you already help make the world a better place. You can make an even greater impact by supporting The Rotary Foundation before our year ends on June 30th. Your gift helps fund projects that strengthen communities locally and globally.

Have you heard about our Foundation’s Annual Fund-SHARE? It’s a unique fund within the Foundation, designed exclusively to support the incredible work of Rotary members like you. So far this Rotary year, the fund helped support 458 district grants with nearly US$29 million in approved funding and 1,210 global grants with over US$75 million in approved funding.

Please help our Foundation continue supporting meaningful projects by making a gift online or sending a contribution by mail today. Your donation will be transformed into service projects by clubs around the world, including the Rotary Club of Fort St. John.

Let’s finish the Rotary year strong and remain dedicated to Doing Good in the World, together.

Sincerely,
The Rotary Foundation

DONATE

Empowering Tomorrow’s Leaders Through Rotary

Rotary Club of Fort St. John — Thu, 19 Jun 2025 18:46:20 +0000

William Brain shared his experience at the Rotary Youth Leadership Exchange. William was sponsored by the local Rotary clubs. He learned valuable leadership skills, and had a fantastic time doing it!

Future leaders, keep your eyes out for opportunities to participate in RYLE and other Rotary activities!

Rotary awards Scholarships at NPSS Graduation 2023

Pam Koehn — Tue, 11 Jul 2023 22:38:35 +0000

Rotary awarded scholarships to three Grade 12 graduates at the NPSS Graduation ceremony on June 23, 2023. The three recipients split $5000. Pictured is Sierra Holmes who recently attended a Rotary meeting and was presented with her cheque. Other recipients include Dylan Burtch and Venice Aspi.

Welcome Sonja Denault!

Matt Preprost — Fri, 03 Feb 2023 00:16:10 +0000

Today we welcomed Sonja Denault as the newest member of the Fort St. John Rotary Club. Sonja has been a Fort St. John resident for 13 years. A German native and a Canadian by choice, she enjoys hiking, camping, gardening, hockey, and blueberry pie.

Sonja holds a Ph.D in Political Science, and has been working in human resources and adult learning for the past 20 years. She’s an HR consultant and leadership coach, and recently started her own company, Titanium HR and Coaching.

Sonja is an advocate for mental health, respectful workplaces, and sustainable living. She loves to connect with her community and help out where she can.

Welcome Sonja!

Golden Gavel

Matt Preprost — Fri, 20 Jan 2023 16:40:09 +0000

Club President Samantha Warren presents Past President Vince van Wieringen with his Golden Gavel.

Congratulations to Rotarian Vince van Wieringen on receiving his Golden Gavel!

We want to recognize Vince for the commitment and enthusiasm he brings each week to the Rotary Club of Fort St. John. As Club President in 2021-22, Vince kept our club grounded and active during the Covid-19 pandemic, and as a Committee Chair he has grown and delivered record results for our annual Drive Thru Breakfast fundraiser, which has helped fund so many worthy projects benefitting people of all ages in our community.

Thank you Vince for your dedication to Rotary, and your hard work to make Fort St. John and the world a better place!

January Meetings

Matt Preprost — Thu, 05 Jan 2023 16:22:41 +0000

Happy New Year Rotarians! I can't wait to see all after our lovely Christmas break.

Our January 5 meeting will take place at the Ramada Northern Grand Hotel at 12:15 p.m. I will have the Zoom link active for members who are not able to attend in person.

Here is the rest of our January meeting schedule so you all know what we have planned for this month:

Jan 5th - Business Meeting - Upcoming Fundraisers

Jan 12th - Regular Meeting - Guest Speaker Cole Andrews

Jan 18th - Executive Meeting

Jan 19th - Foundation Meeting

Jan 26th - Regular Meeting / Tour of Rotary Office (spouses can attend)

EarlyAct and Christmas carols

Matt Preprost — Wed, 04 Jan 2023 16:26:32 +0000

Heading into the 2022 Christmas holidays, the Rotary Club of Fort St. John inducted its newest EarlyAct class at Margaret Ma Murray Community School.

EarlyAct is a school-wide service club for elementary students from ages 5 to 13. The mission and operation of EarlyAct are closely linked to the ideals of Rotary, and provide the foundation and natural succession into Interact. EarlyAct provides young students the opportunity for gaining an increased awareness and knowledge of their community and the world.

As part of induction week activities, students presented $570 to the Fort St. John Hospital Foundation's Be An Angel campaign, and invited the whole school to join them in carolling for local seniors. About 150 students hopped on a bus and went to Heritage Manor 2, the Lutheran apartments, and Abbeyfield House to sing. They also handed out 41 gift bags as part of their trip!

At a young age, all students can easily be encouraged to be caring and helpful. Their minds are open to recognize the dignity and worth of each individual which builds respect for others. EarlyAct also engages students in character-building activities and prepares them for leadership roles to identify and carry out projects that benefit their school and local community.

Our EarlyAct co-ordinator Beth Horychun shared this message with students:

"Welcome in becoming members of EarlyAct, Rotary’s youth group. As an EarlyAct member, it is expected that you participate in bettering our community, country, and world. As Rotarians we remember and live the following: Is it the truth? Is it fair to all concerned? Will it bring good will and better friendship? And will it be beneficial to all concerned? If you remember and live the 4-Way Test, you will make the world a better place."

2022 Rotary Drive Thru Breakfast raised $24K

Matt Preprost — Thu, 22 Dec 2022 18:08:05 +0000

The sixth annual Rotary Drive Thru Breakfast once again brought friends, families, and businesses together to raise a record $24,000 this year for projects serving the Fort St. John and North Peace community.

Rotarians cooked 1,700 hot-off-the-grill sandwiches to kick-off the new school year on Sept. 8 and raised funds to rejuvenate Rotary projects throughout the community. Proceeds will continue to support and improve the CDC Rotary Play Centre, Rotary Skate Park, the Dudley and Gayle Wagner Rotary Room at North Peace Seniors Housing, Rotary Spray Park, and Rotary RV Park.

"The Drive Thru Breakfast has become a signature event for Rotary, a time to enjoy fellowship and make new friends while serving our community,” says Vince van Wieringen, Breakfast Committee Chair and Past President of the Fort St. John Rotary Club. “With the success of this year’s event, we are able to provide much-needed enhancements to several Rotary initiatives that continue to have a positive impact for families in Fort St. John.”

This year’s Breakfast involved the planning and teamwork of 36 Rotary members and their friends and saw a record 1,300 preorders from residents and businesses. Deliveries went out all across town and as far as Charlie Lake. All leftover sandwiches were brought to the Salvation Army, Women’s Resource Society, and Seniors Housing to feed those in need.

Since the Breakfast began in 2017, more than $90,000 has been raised and distributed throughout the community. Such efforts couldn’t be done without the generosity of sponsors. The Rotary Club of Fort St. John would like to thank this year’s sponsors, including:

Action Property Management; Alaska Highway News
Bold Promotions; Bounce Radio 101.5; Butler Farm Equipment; Braun’s Flooring & Home Decor
The Canadian Grind; Canadian Tire; CSN Collision Centres
DGS Astro Paving; Dan Davies, MLA
Epscan; FSJ Chamber of Commerce, Fort Motors
GFL Environmental; IdealOS; Leah French Realtor
MicSuds Car & Truck Wash; 100.1 Moose FM; Move 98.5; MNP; Murray GMC
Pat’s Auto Supply; Pimm’s Production
Sanjel Energy Services; Signworks; Sterling Management
Techmation Electric & Controls; Wolverine Automotive

The main objective of Rotary is service – in the community, in the workplace, and throughout the world. Rotarians develop community service projects that address many of today’s most critical issues, such as children at risk, poverty and hunger, the environment, illiteracy, and violence. We also support programs for youth, educational opportunities and international exchanges for students, and vocational and career development.

Rotary Christmas Dinner

Matt Preprost — Tue, 13 Dec 2022 21:14:59 +0000

Our thanks this holiday season go to Brian, Cindy, and the wonderful staff at the Lido Theatre for hosting a heckuva Christmas party on December 2, as we closed out another successful year of Rotary in Fort St. John! The buffet supper from Aniela's Kitchen was delicious, the entertainment from impressionist Mat Gauthier hilarious, and the Santa dress-up games priceless!

A well done congratulations go to club president Samantha Warren as well the Christmas committee - Stacy Freeman, Pam Koehn, and Patricia Budgell - for organizing such a splendidly festive evening of fellowship with our guests. And thank you to Brad Small and Harold Goodwin for their humour and good fun shaking our pockets loose to pay our fines!

Picture slides of our various events this year and over the last 59 years reminded us that we are an active club rich with history and dedicated members serving our community - thank you club historian Matt Preprost for putting it all together.

We have much to look forward to in 2023 as we celebrate our diamond 60th anniversary!

Merry Christmas to all!

EarlyAct students learning the value of community

Matt Preprost — Thu, 17 Nov 2022 15:03:46 +0000

Students with Ma Murray school's EarlyAct club leadership program presenting a $700 cheque to the Meals on Wheels program Wednesday afternoon. Nov. 9, 2022. (Dave Lueneberg/Alaska Highway News)

By Dave Lueneberg/Alaska Highway News

A young group of students at Margaret Ma Murray Community School in Fort St. John are learning first-hand what it means to give back to their community.

Through a joint project between the Fort St. John Rotary Club and the school, kids help to raise funds for different charity groups.

On Wednesday, EarlyAct, a leadership club in the school, presented a cheque for $700 to the Meals on Wheels program.

“We had heard that Meals on Wheels needed some help and we thought we’d help out,” said teacher and coordinator Meagan Bracey.

“That’s what we like to do at our school. We do a lot of fundraising, but this is the first time we’ve raised for Meals on Wheels and it’s something we’d like to do annually.”

Bracey said the group also involves itself with other projects like the hospital foundation’s Be an Angel campaign, writing cards to soldiers at Christmas, as well as funding for kids cancer, the Terry Fox Run and SPCA.

“A majority of our clients are seniors," said Pauline Bolen with Meals on Wheels.

“The meals are prepared within the seniors’ housing kitchen and then delivered Monday through Thursday. On Thursday, they're provided with two meals, which helps them greatly."

“Some of our clients don’t have the capability anymore to create their own meals but they want to stay in their own homes.”

Meals on Wheels currently serves between 40 and 45 residents, per week, in an area stretching from Taylor to Charlie Lake.

Bolen said this particular cheque will help to provide meals for three seniors for about three months.

ARTICLE SOURCE: Alaska Highway News