Club History
2023-24 President’s Message
Create Hope in the World
Rotary International President, Gordon R. McInally, has chosen “Create Hope in the World” for his theme for 2023-2024. I firmly believe that every Rotarian has hope for the world. And, I see that intention with the wonderful work that fellow Rotarians do daily.
Rotary has accomplished so much - locally and internationally. We have fed the children with a breakfast program, packed food hampers, created playgrounds and given scholarships. The 20+km Rotary Trail loops the Vedder River. Pedestrians, cyclists, runners and equestrians all enjoy the year-round trail. The Great Blue Heron Reserve is another proud accomplishment built with the cooperation of the City of Chilliwack. Internationally, we have built 10 libraries in Peru and completed projects in Uganda, Guatemala, and South Africa. Our first Climate Action Fair was a roaring success as we embraced Rotary International’s seventh area of focus Protecting the Environment. Rotarians are proud of our projects both in the planning and executing.
Our joy also comes from the fellowship that is fostered. Our weekly meetings are noisy with laughter and socializing. We delight in exchanging family news as well as planning Rotary projects. A spark of an idea may become a project or fund-raising plan. Besides getting to know each other better, we engage powerful speakers for programs.
Engaging the members and the community is an important aspect of our Rotary. Fellowships that allow families to participate other than meetings will be encouraged. Participation rather than attendance will be emphasized. Networking with the other three Rotary Clubs will be encouraged. Already we have a relationship with the Salvation Army and Bowls of Hope and we have an opportunity to build a relationship with the multicultural community.
All in all, Rotary is a wonderful service organization. We can help others in need and build life-long friendships.
2023-24 Club President
Janet Reeves
Club History through the decades
1st decade 1934 - 1943
· 1st meeting Feb 23, 1934
· Chartered March 15, 1934
· 35 Charter Members, Bill Curle 1st President
· Provided children's dental clinic
· Financed projects by annual auto show and carnival
· Took on district TB Seals Campaign ( 20 years )
· Sponsored Air Cadets
· Leadership for Chilliwack Arena campaign Farm Raffle
· Helped with hospital expansion 1938
· Encouraged good Urban Rural Relations
2nd decade 1944 - 1953
· Continued Air Cadet Sponsorship
· Undertook post war development study
· Started annual Carol Festival, continued until 1984
· Participated in "Flying" Interclub Meetings
· Continued to strive for Arena
· Started children's Christmas Party, annual for 15 years
· Harold Hicks District Governor 1946 - 1947
3rd decade 1954 - 1963
· Started Radio Auction with CHWK ( 1955 ) for Community Chest Funds
· Helped community complete Coliseum 1958
· Sponsored 1st Ice Shows
· Started student bursaries - ongoing
· Helped with hospital expansion 1958
· Held 1st Harrison Dinner for hospital furnishings
· Initiated planning for Upper Fraser Valley Health Care
· Hold 2nd Harrison Dinner to fund start of Health Centre
· Prepared 1st Hope River Development Plan 1962
· Sponsored "Babe Ruth" Baseball
· Assisted Boy Scouts
· Hosted District Conference at Harrison Hot Springs 1961
4th decade 1964 - 1973
· Financed and built Rotary Swimming Pool 1969
· Provided initial financing for "Homemakers"
· Added TV (cable) to Radio Auction and changed to Sweepstakes until 1990
· Started participating in " Adventures in Citizenship" - ongoing
· Financed housing for " Remand Receiving Home "
· Introduced Camp Hope Improvement Project (CHIP) 1972
· Participated with schools in Vocational Counseling
· Helped with hospital expansion 1972
· Started participating in " Student Exchange " 1972 - ongoing
· Helped furnish Evergreen Hall 1967
· Provided Pioneer Park and Nature Trails
· Hosted District Conference in Harrison 1968
5th decade 1974 - 1983
· Contributed to Parkholm Lodge Facilities
· Provided fountain and planters for Salish Park
· Provided facilities for YM/YWCA
· Provided equipment for Opportunity Workshop
· Provided Chilliwack District with Emergency Vehicle
· Helped Re-cyclers
· Sponsored refugee family
· Helped outfit kayak team
· Assisted with meals on wheels - ongoing
· Assisted senior citizens - ongoing
· Provided assistance for persons with disability
· Started "Concours D'Elegance
· Participated in Adventures in Technology
· Started Chilliwack Roteract
· Started Chilliwack Booksale - ongoing
· Provided Chilliwack District with Coat of Arms and Mayors "Chain of Office"
· Expanded scholarships and awards
· Sponsored YM/YWCA Indoor Soccer
6th decade 1984 - 1993
· Continued Student Exchange
· Provided finds for Youth Activity Centre
· Conducted in-club Polio Plus campaign
· Undertook club car rallies
· Raised funds for hospital CT Scan
· Representation in Rainbow Housing Society
· Sponsored girls softball team
· Continued Camp Hope Development
· Provided funds for Music Academy Move
· Upgraded Rotary Pool
· Constructed Rotary Service building
· Started annual Bark Mulch Sale
· Major contributions to Townsend Park
· Major funding to Heritage Village
· Initiated QUEST program on local school district
7th decade 1994 - 2003
· Contributed to UCFV Theatre Program
· Sponsored RCMP Bike Safety Patrol Program
· Contributed to Community Services to support Family Place
· Major Contribution to Rotary Trails
· Fund Breakfast Programs at 2 Chilliwack Schools
· Co sponsored Health and Wellness Conference
· Developed Great Blue Heron Nature Reserve and Rotary Interpretative Center 2002
· Rotary Garden Tour came to be
8th decade 2004 - 2013
· Central Community Park 2005
· Harrison Dinner was moved to Minter Gardens and became Rotary Dinner
· Started Rotary Scholarship Golf Tournament - 2007
· Larry Stinson District Governor 2008 - 2009
· Hosted District Conference in Chilliwack 2009
· Provided seating for Rotary Hall at the Chilliwack Cultural Centre 2010
· Provided Major Funding to Chilliwack Hospital Emergency Expansion 2010
· Rotary Trails resurfacing 2010
· Rotary Trails Peach Road Expansion 2011
9th decade 2014 - 2023
· Browne Creek Wetlands developed with partners
· Rotary Service Building on Wolfe Road built 2018-2020
· “Looped the Vedder” by creating a complete trail around the Vedder River Greenway using the Rotary Trail 2019
· “Feed the Kids” hamper program established 2020
· Brad Whittaker District Governor 2019-20
· Carol Tichelman District Governor 2020-21
· A dozen Peru school libraries established
· Purchased Hippo Rollers for women in Africa
· Sent cooling fans to schools in South Africa
· Upgraded accessibility to Browne Creek Wetlands with new “on ramps” in Yarrow 2022
· Held 1st annual Climate Fair 2023
· Distributed 205,000 cedar and fir tree seedlings throughout Chilliwack and surrounding areas - schools, First Nations, organizations, businesses, and individuals all received seedlings
· Rotary Dinner returns in 2023 after missing three years due to Covid-19
· Rotary Garden Tour returns in 2023 after missing three years due to Covid-19
Past Presidents of Chilliwack Rotary
Club chartered on Feb 26, 1934
† - indicates deceased
1934-35 W. F. Curle †
1935-36 W. H. Hicks †
1936-37 C. A. Barber †
1937-38 P. H. Wilson †
1938-39 J. D. Moore †
1939-40 F. D. B. Hall †
1940-41 Marshall McLeod †
1941-42 C. G. Smith †
1942-43 J. B. Dennis †
1943-44 J. H. Eddie †
1944-45 T. M. Edwards †
1945-46 W. J. Pearce †
1946-47 W. S. Barclay †
1947-48 R. Mck. Watt †
1948-49 Dr. J. A. Barber †
1949-50 Thomas Robertson †
1950-51 H. H. Locke Johnstone †
1951-52 L. R. McPhee †
1952-53 C. A. Skelton †
1953-54 Bruce Gleig †
1954-55 Fred Hutchings †
1955-56 Eric Butcher †
1956-57 H. G. Harding †
1957-58 H. E. Edmondson †
1958-59 John Wilford †
1959-60 Jack Pilling †
1960-61 Herbert McLellan † & John Wilford †
1961-62 M. F. Clarke †
1962-63 James Wilson †
1963-64 Fred Tunbridge †
1964-65 A. H. Phelps †
1965-66 D. Thurston †
1966-67 A. S. Arneil †
1967-68 Tom Branson †
1968-69 Bill Linzey †
1969-70 Lorne MacFarlane †
1970-71 Gerry McGaw †
1971-72 Jack Grieve †
1972-73 Cec Hacker †
1973-74 Dennis Barkman †
1974-75 Ross Belsher †
1975-76 Gordon Buchanan †
1976-77 Wilf Keelan †
1977-78 Don Rochester †
1978-79 Norm Crabtree †
1979-80 Bill Towler
1980-81 Ells Hugh †
1981-82 Fred George †
1982-83 Andy Purdy
1983-84 Rod Cooper †
1984-85 Milt Sharpe
1985-86 Tom Meagher †
1986-87 Tony Roper
1987-88 Dave MacAulay †
1988-89 Harry Geddes
1989-90 John Wedler
1990-91 Jack Crosman †
1991-92 Dave McLay
1992-93 John Blessin †
1993-94 Wayne McAlpine
1994-95 Sam Dunbar
1995-96 Harry Mertin
1996-97 Wayne Johnson
1997-98 Bill Clark
1998-99 Hermie Griemann †
1999-00 Jim Gilbert
2000-01 Ron Goldfinch †
2001-02 Larry Stinson
2002-03 Doug Wickers
2003-04 Roger St. John †
2004-05 Delwen Stander
2005-06 Carol Tichelman
2006-07 Casey Langbroek
2007-08 Barrie McMaster
2008-09 Don Patten †
2009-10 Terri Powers
2010-11 Bob Plowright
2011-12 Kevin Wood
2012-13 Brad Whittaker
2013-14 Dennis Rook
2014-15 Sharon Blaker
2015-16 Debora Soutar
2016-17 Ian Meissner & Carol Tichelman
2017-18 Todd Harvey
2018-19 Victor Froese & Doug Wickers
2019-20 Michael Berger
2020-21 Shelley MacDonell
2021-22 Karen Stanton
2022-23 Julie Unger