For many, Rotary clubs will be a familiar concept, people getting together to make the world a better place.
It’s a network of people who want to make a lasting change, not just in their community but globally.
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I had the pleasure of attending a Rotary event this past weekend. It was the district conference for District 5370, which is immense, spanning from North Battleford to Whitehorse, Yukon.
The speakers captivated me, and I learned about a variety of topics I knew nothing about. It was eye-opening to learn how polio affects the modern world.
The Rotary Club of Lloydminster started all the way back in 1929, hard to believe in just a few years it’ll be 100 years of serving the community.
Early meetings were held in the Britannia Hotel until it burned down during the great fire. Despite losing their meeting location, Rotary remained active.
Most notably in the 1930s, the public library was entirely volunteer-based and Rotary assisted with fundraising activities.
One of the more popular fundraising activities was the screening of motion picture shows, which during the late 1930s, generated almost $40 per year.
That may not seem like a lot in 2025, really that would be about half a tank of gas. At the time, that was more than 70 per cent of the funds necessary for the library to operate.
Rotary has also been involved in one-year exchange visits to far-away countries. New clubs were formed in Vegreville in 1951, and Vermilion in 1955. Both clubs were sponsored by the Rotary Club of Lloydminster.
Lloydminster even got its own second local club, Border City Rotary Club in 1999.
Rotary continues to have an impact in the community, raising money, hosting events and helping with donations.
While I may not be a Rotarian, I am encouraged by the work they do. Communities are built on the foundations of people looking to give back or make the place they call home better.
Rotary has a firm place in our community and the global landscape for its work educating people on little-known topics or championing causes like polio.
I encourage anyone with some time to attend a meeting, you might just learn about something you’ve never heard of.
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