Ladner Rotary member Shirvan Bakhtiyari founded Millennium Pacific Greenhouses Ltd in 1999. The Ladner-based company has became one of the leading tomato growers in British Columbia. It is a family-run modern hydroponic greenhouse. The wide range of tomatoes are grown from certified non-genetically modified seed (NON-GMO), in a carefully controlled environment with optimal temperature, humidity, and carbon dioxide. The company has expanded with construction of a new 15-acre greenhouse in Tehachapi, California. There are plans to expand the facility in Ladner. Ladner Rotary members toured the local greenhouses on April 23, 2024.
The literacy skills of almost half of British Columbians aged 16 to 65 may make it difficult for them to understand newspapers, follow instruction manuals, read health information, fill out a tax return, read a rental agreement or use a library catalogue, according to Decoda Literacy Solutions, B.C.’s provincial literacy organization.
Delta Community Literacy Committee works with libraries, schools and other organizations to help children and adults alike improve their literacy skills. The Storywalk for children in Ladner, managed by Rotary Club of Ladner, is part of the Committee’s program, similar to similar Storywalks in North Delta and Tsawwassen
Each year, Rotary awards up to 130 fully funded fellowships for dedicated leaders from around the world to study at one of Rotary’s peace centers. The Rotary Foundation partners with premier universities to offer master's degrees and professional development certificates in disciplines related to peace and development.
This opportunity is available to people living and working in our communities of BC, through our clubs in Rotary District 5040, from Greater Vancouver up the coast to Prince Rupert, and through other clubs and Districts in the province.
Clubs and districts have the power to shape the next generation of peace leaders both by recruiting and recommending peace fellows, and by keeping them engaged during and after their fellowships.
Andie Bakehouse, Community & Residency Coordinator, spoke to Ladner Rotary members about The Wexford and The Waterford residences in Tsawwassen and planning advice related to seniors' residential living.
Ty Morris, who spent his early years in Ladner, Tsawwassen and Richmond, and now many years a resident in Washington State, has returned as a member of the Rotary Club of Ladner. He spoke about his life and career to club members on March 26th.
Since 2011 Honour House has been a refuge, a “home away from home” for members of our Canadian Armed Forces, Veterans, Emergency Services Personnel and their families to stay, completely free of charge, when they travel to receive medical care and treatment in the Metro Vancouver area. These brave individuals, along with their families, sacrifice so much on a daily basis to protect our freedom and our everyday way of life. Honour House provides the opportunity to show them that their community cares and how much all that they do for us is appreciated. It costs $10,000 per year to provide each room at Honour House. To date, donations to Honour House have funded over 14,000 nights of accommodation for those needing this support with thanks to the more than 500 volunteers who make this service possible.
On International Women's Day, March 8th, Rotary Club of Ladner and Rotary International celebrate all our dynamic, people of action who are women leading us in service above self here at home and around the world.
Over one million Canadians could be accessing food charity programs for the first time in 2024, according to Second Harvest’s annual “Hungry for Change” national study. As of late February more than one-third of those programs were already reporting they have had to turn people away.
Food for the Rotary-sponsored pantry program at Delta Secondary School, for students of families who need a hand up over weekends, and food for the South Delta Food Bank are the two causes which the Rotary Club of Ladner Shred A Thon on Saturday, April 13, 2024 will support. The Shred A Thon on April 13th will be open from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm on the property behind Eastlink (Delta Cable) at 5381 Ladner Trunk Road in Ladner.
Project Amigo has been empowering disadvantaged and marginalized children from the state of Colima, Mexico to achieve their highest potential since 1984. By offering comprehensive scholarships for formal education, school supplies, access to educational assistance centres, homework clubs, enrichment activities and healthcare services not otherwise available to them, they are committed to ending poverty through education, one child at a time. The Rotary Club of Tsawwassen has been supporting Project Amigo for over eight years with ongoing financial aid for students and with in-person visits for a week of service. In that time, Rotary Club of Ladner has also been a two-year sponsor of the program.
Canada’s ambassador to Japan, who started life in Kamloops and Penticton, began his career journey as a Rotary exchange student. Ian McKay’s career path has run like a superhighway through some of the world’s most important cities: New York, London, Tokyo. It has led him to the highest reaches of finance, politics, and global diplomacy, culminating in his current role as Canada’s ambassador to Japan.
When asked the secret of his success, McKay credits his foresight in learning Japanese, his keen interest in finance, and his understanding that high-level negotiations often work best away from boardrooms and summits. But the underlying answer is simpler. “It all started with Rotary,” he says — and later adds: “I can’t overstate that the critical part of that whole journey was Rotary." -- photo: Ambassador McKay with Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in September 2023 at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in Indonesia.
North American Youth Exchange Network (NAYEN) is an association representing 167 Rotary Districts in Canada, Mexico, and the United States involved in Rotary Youth Exchange throughout the world. The Exchange creates transformative exchange experiences that promote cultural understanding, foster global citizenship, and build a more peaceful world. The 2024 Nayen Annual Conference is being held March 7 to 9 at the Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre in Vancouver.
Having arrived in Vancouver after a 13-hour flight from Thailand on the morning of March 5th, three members of Rotary District 3330 -- representing the 353 clubs in Thailand -- who are attending the NAYEN conference, dropped in for lunch at the Rotary Club of Ladner's mid-day meeting with District Governor Designate Dean Hsieh and heard about Rotary Club of Tsawwassen's support of, and visit to, Project Amigo in Mexico. The visitors presented a District 3330 banner to Ladner Rotary as a thank you for their visit.
What drives you? What is your passion? What do you bring to the world? video (2:34) -- courtesy of Rotary Club of Silverdale, WA
Donny van Dyk started as the new City Manager at the City of Delta on September 18th, replacing Sean McGill who retired at the end of August. He came to his position over five years as City Manager for the City of Penticton, where he led the City through a sustained period of planned growth, instituted new climate initiatives, and grew a provincially renowned Community Safety Officer team and did so through wildfires, floods, and a pandemic.
International education consultant and Ladner Rotarian Dr. Avis Glaze gave the following invocation at the February 20, 2024 meeting of the Rotary Club of Ladner.
Recently, with all that is happening around us, I have been preoccupied the issue of media literacy in general and news literacy in particular. This highlights the importance of teaching critical and analytical skills in our schools.
Rector of St. Davids Anglican Church in Tsawwassen, Rev. Simbarashe (Simba) Basvi, spoke, as a new member, to fellow Rotary Club of Ladner members about his life and occupation. Simba has been serving the St. David's parish for two years. He and his wife, Mebbo, have three children.
Strong Towns is a nonprofit media advocacy organization that analyzes the failures of the post-war North American development pattern and gives the citizens of towns and cities the knowledge and tools to start making their communities better places to live and work. As every city, town, and neighborhood pursues growth, development, and prosperity Strong Towns recommends its approach.
Roy Sakata, a former teacher, vice principal, school principal in Prince Rupert and Richmond, and Principal and Member of the Economic Development Committee of the Gitxsan Community of Gitsegukla, has returned as a member of Ladner Rotary. President Brian Coe presents Roy with his Rotary pin.
Paul Harris Fellows honourees are individuals who meet high professional and personal standards set forth by Paul Harris, the founder of Rotary International. Honourees may have contributed more than US $1000 to The Rotary Foundation or may be recognized with this award by their club for extraordinary service above self. Dr. Arthur Birk received a Paul Harris Award +2
In 1910 William Kirkland commissioned Ladner architect J.B. Elliot to build him a large Edwardian-style home on the family farm. Construction on what would be named ‘Hawthorne Grove’ began in that year and was completed in the fall of 1911. The pioneer Kirkland family was prominent in the political and social life of Delta and resided in the house until the late 1940s. In 1949, Claire Haynes purchased the home and farmed the 280 acres until the mid-1950s. Then followed a series of house renters and the farm buildings were abandoned. -- stock photos courtesy of Delta Optimist and Kirkland House Foundation
Ladner Rotary members took a field trip to McKee Seniors Recreation Centre in Ladner on January 16, 2023 for lunch and a tour. The Centre for those 50+ years of age is operated in partnership with the City of Delta and the volunteers of the McKee House Seniors' Society. President of the Society, Mae Quon-Forsythe, spoke to club members and led a tour of the facility, with its large hall, multipurpose/activity space, meeting rooms, snooker room, lounge with fireplace and cafeteria.
The Boundary Bay Quilters’ Guild encourages its 90 members in their love of quilting through workshops, demonstrations, guest speakers and small groups. It inspires creativity, learning and friendships among members and provides outreach where help is needed in the community.
January is a time when Rotary recognizes the purpose and value of "vocational service". As one of Rotary's five Avenues of Service, Vocational Service calls on every Rotarian to work with integrity and contribute their expertise to the problems and needs of society. By including men and women from diverse professions and backgrounds, Rotary recognizes the importance of all skills and occupations.
To help 29 Delta families in need enjoy the festive season students at Delta Secondary School held their annual 20 Days of Giving Campaign from November 20 until December 15 to purchase $11,000 of food items, pet food, toiletries, gift cards and cash donations for Christmas food hampers purchased. Members of the Ladner Rotary-sponsored Interact Club at the school also collected donations at Save On Foods in Ladner on December 5th. -- main photo and story courtesy of the Delta Optimist.
Rev. Simbarashe (Simba) Basvi, rector for St. Davids Anglican Church in Tsawwassen, has joined the Rotary Club of Ladner. Simba was inducted as a new member at the Ladner Rotary Christmas dinner on December 19th. Simba has been serving the St. David's parish for two years with his wife, Mebbo. They have three children. He is in the process of applying for permanent residency status. President Brian Coe presents the Rotary pin. -- photos by Chris Offer
50 members of the South Delta Weekend Family and Peer Support Group for special needs adults and Rotarians celebrated Christmas with the 19th annual dinner hosted by Ladner Rotary. The eagerly anticipated dinner always gives a lift to those who can find the festive season somewhat lonely. Santa Claus was on hand to wish everybody a Merry Christmas and hand out gifts. Mitch Drew entertained throughout dinner singing some favourite Christmas songs. -- photos by Chris Offer
Ladner resident John Donnelly counts among the latest concerts and community events he has produced the Barnside Harvest Festival in Ladner’s Paterson Park in September. The Rotary Club of Ladner provided parking services over the three-day event. John recalled the many types of events he has organized over the years and the challenges and rewards which accompanied them.
About 30 Rotarians and friends from Metro Vancouver loaded a shipping container with $250,000 of used medical equipment bound for Ukraine through the local multi-club system, Rotary World Help at warehouse on Riverview Lands, the site of the former Riverview Hospital in Coquitlam, BC.
The Delta Hospital is now lit up for the Christmas season. Colourful lights provide a little seasonal cheer to the patients, visitors, care professionals and staff, who may need it most in our community. Six Ladner Rotary members and three friends of Rotary put up the lights and decor at the main entrance plus the Healing Garden in the hospital's courtyard -- opened in 2008 by the Delta Hospital Foundation, in partnership with the Rotary Clubs of Ladner and Tsawwassen -- and at the entrance to Mountain View Manor home to over 90 residents. -- photos by Patricia Sibley & Peter Roaf
Women and children spend over 250 million hours each day collecting water for their daily needs. That’s why the Hippo water roller was developed. The water roller is a re-invented "wheelbarrow" which transports 90 litres (24 gallons) of water, weighing about 200 pounds, by rolling it on the ground. One trip to the water source using a hippo roller equals five trips with a bucket.
Service Above Self
Delta, BC V4L 2B2
Canada