Rotary Meeting May 5, 2025 Knight of Columbus Hall
Co-President Drina started the meeting by welcoming the guest for the evening:
Guest presenters from Horizons of Friendship Megan Botha and Bessie Hodder
Co-President Drina started the meeting by welcoming the guest for the evening:
Guest presenters from Horizons of Friendship Megan Botha and Bessie Hodder
The next YE outbound student, Lily Hall and her parents Sarah Millar and Aaron Hall.
Lily will be going to Finland. She is currently attending Grade 10 at CCI. Her hobbies
include sports and languages. Potential new members joined us as guest, Angela Grogan and Margaret Kerr
Lily will be going to Finland. She is currently attending Grade 10 at CCI. Her hobbies
include sports and languages. Potential new members joined us as guest, Angela Grogan and Margaret Kerr
A delicious dinner of cabbage rolls and mash potatoes was served by Shelley from Lisa’s Catering and enjoyed by all after Co-President Drina delivered the club toast and land
acknowledgment.
Rotarian Kevin said grace and also reported that he and Lori went to visit Sylvia and Paul Binkley on the weekend.
acknowledgment.
Rotarian Kevin said grace and also reported that he and Lori went to visit Sylvia and Paul Binkley on the weekend.
Main presentation by Megan and Bessie from Horizons of Friendship:
Horizons of Friendship (Horizons) is a Canadian international development organization, committed to promoting social justice and sustainable development in Central America and Mexico. Current project include Guatemala, El Salvador, Mexico and Panama. Working directly with community-based partner organizations, we provide financial and
technical support that empowers local people to lead projects that address needs in their communities
Our Canadian program provides support to vital migrant workers in our community.
Horizons of Friendship (Horizons) is a Canadian international development organization, committed to promoting social justice and sustainable development in Central America and Mexico. Current project include Guatemala, El Salvador, Mexico and Panama. Working directly with community-based partner organizations, we provide financial and
technical support that empowers local people to lead projects that address needs in their communities
Our Canadian program provides support to vital migrant workers in our community.
CONTRIBUTING TO AND SUPPORTING THE WELL-BEING OF MIGRANT WORKERS
IN NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY AND SURROUNDING AREAS.
Location: Northumberland County Ontario
Duration: March 2025 – March 2026
12 Farms, 150+ Migrant Agricultural Workers
IN NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY AND SURROUNDING AREAS.
Location: Northumberland County Ontario
Duration: March 2025 – March 2026
12 Farms, 150+ Migrant Agricultural Workers
On-farm jobs in agriculture have one of the highest vacancy rates of any industry in Canada, at
5.4%.
•In 2021, Canada welcomed 61,735temporary foreign workers in the agriculture sector, up 11.9%
from 2020 (Statistics Canada, 2024)
5.4%.
•In 2021, Canada welcomed 61,735temporary foreign workers in the agriculture sector, up 11.9%
from 2020 (Statistics Canada, 2024)
MAWs have closed work permits, which can allow employers to fire workers without recourse to an appeals process, normally triggering their repatriation MAWs are required to pay into Canadian employment insurance premiums, income taxes, and generally receive legal access to provincial health care, however, under the SAWP,
workers have limited access to these social services The Canadian agricultural industry has the highest rates of musculoskeletal injuries, toxic
chemical injuries, occupational injuries, and fatalities than other workforces.
In the mid 1960s S.A.W.P was created by the federal government to satisfy the seasonal labour demands of Canadian agriculture operations This program currently accounts for almost half of Canada’s paid agricultural employment The Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFW) created by the government of Canada allows
companies to recruit temporary foreign agricultural workers through 4 main streams, including the SAWP.
workers have limited access to these social services The Canadian agricultural industry has the highest rates of musculoskeletal injuries, toxic
chemical injuries, occupational injuries, and fatalities than other workforces.
In the mid 1960s S.A.W.P was created by the federal government to satisfy the seasonal labour demands of Canadian agriculture operations This program currently accounts for almost half of Canada’s paid agricultural employment The Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFW) created by the government of Canada allows
companies to recruit temporary foreign agricultural workers through 4 main streams, including the SAWP.
This program currently accounts for almost half of Canada’s paid agricultural employment.
The migrant worker program aims to remove barriers and support workers and employers
by:
Providing critical access to health care clinics and free legal support
Provide information on workers’ rights, occupational health and safety
Translation and Transportation services
Free mental health support .
Some basics facts:
Migrant workers earn minimum wage, which is currently $17.20 per hour
Housing standards are very low
Employment Standards Act does not apply to migrant workers
Horizons is always looking for donations, especially work cloths for the migrant workers, at their
store on Covert St in Cobourg.
by:
Providing critical access to health care clinics and free legal support
Provide information on workers’ rights, occupational health and safety
Translation and Transportation services
Free mental health support .
Some basics facts:
Migrant workers earn minimum wage, which is currently $17.20 per hour
Housing standards are very low
Employment Standards Act does not apply to migrant workers
Horizons is always looking for donations, especially work cloths for the migrant workers, at their
store on Covert St in Cobourg.
Rotarian Bruce thanked Megan and Bessie for their presentation.
Rotarian Bob Gibson presented a plaque received as a thank you from Challenger Baseball.
The Earth Day clean up, organized by Rotarian Adam, was very successful.
The Earth Day clean up, organized by Rotarian Adam, was very successful.
Rotarian Jana provided an update on the Surf &Turf event taking place on June 7th . Volunteers are needed for the event as well as volunteers to promote the event to other clubs and sell tickets.
The District Assembly is taking place on Saturday, May 10th and members who would like to car pool should meet in the parking lot on Toronto Rd at 6:45am.
Existing board members should confirm to Presidents Drina and Steve whether they will stay on for the next Rotary year.
Happy Bucks were collected by Sergeant at Arms Ken.
Happy Birthday to Rotarian Ron.
The next club meeting will take place on Monday May 26th .
Service projects Up dateRon Tuttle thanked the 25 Rotarians and community members for participating in the Earth Day Cleanup on April 27. Organizer Adam Pearson sent teams of volunteers off to four locations in town to pick up litter.
Ron Tuttle told club members that we will make our second donation of $12,500 to complete our commitment to sponsor the large multipurpose room at the renovated Town Park Recreation Centre. The first $12,500 donation was made in the 2023 – 24 Rotary year. There is a sign outside the room to recognize our club’s sponsorship.
The Service Projects Committee has recently received three requests from other Rotary
Clubs for donations for international projects.
Clubs for donations for international projects.
Rotary Club of Cobourg
The Rotary Club of Cobourg is looking for other clubs to make donations for the Project Rozanna: Women for Women health care project in the West bank of Gaza. A team of Palestinian healthcare professionals deliver the healthcare through remote care technologies supported by the Sheba Medical Centre in Isreal. Cobourg wants to raise
$40,000 Can and then apply for a District Grant for another $40,000. Cobourg will donate $8,000. They are looking for a commitment so that they apply for the District Grant.
Rotary Club of Scarborough
The Scarborough Rotary Club is working on a Global Grant to help the Koch Koo School in Uganda to upgrade their classrooms, dormitories and sanitation for students.
The Scarborough Rotary Club will donate $12,000 USD and they have commitments for donations from 9 other Rotary Clubs for a total of $65,081 raised. Their fundraising goal
is not clear in the information that Ron has.
The Rotary Club of Cobourg is looking for other clubs to make donations for the Project Rozanna: Women for Women health care project in the West bank of Gaza. A team of Palestinian healthcare professionals deliver the healthcare through remote care technologies supported by the Sheba Medical Centre in Isreal. Cobourg wants to raise
$40,000 Can and then apply for a District Grant for another $40,000. Cobourg will donate $8,000. They are looking for a commitment so that they apply for the District Grant.
Rotary Club of Scarborough
The Scarborough Rotary Club is working on a Global Grant to help the Koch Koo School in Uganda to upgrade their classrooms, dormitories and sanitation for students.
The Scarborough Rotary Club will donate $12,000 USD and they have commitments for donations from 9 other Rotary Clubs for a total of $65,081 raised. Their fundraising goal
is not clear in the information that Ron has.
Rotary Club of Campbellford
They are looking for a donation pledge from 5 Rotary Clubs for a project in the Dominican Republic to provide 500 re-useable menstrual kits for young women.
Campbellford will donate $2,000, and they need 4 other clubs to donate the rest of the 43,000 to meet their goal of $5,000. They will apply for a District Grant for a matching
$5,000. The donation would be made in the 2025 -26 Rotary year.
They are looking for a donation pledge from 5 Rotary Clubs for a project in the Dominican Republic to provide 500 re-useable menstrual kits for young women.
Campbellford will donate $2,000, and they need 4 other clubs to donate the rest of the 43,000 to meet their goal of $5,000. They will apply for a District Grant for a matching
$5,000. The donation would be made in the 2025 -26 Rotary year.
The Service Projects Committee made a $2,000 donation to Adopt-a-Village-in-Laos earlier this Rotary year form the approved budget for international projects.
The committee will see if there are funds available this year to support one of these
international projects.
international projects.