Port Hope Rotary Beacon for August 5, 2025
Co-President Ron Tuttle called the meeting to order by introducing our guests, reciting the land acknowledgment and saying Rotary Grace as the opening of our Rotary meeting.
For those who were unable to attend, the meeting was moved to Tuesday night because of the Monday Civic Holiday.
Before dinner introductions were made. Past President Steve Tallo introduced Mayor Olena Hankivsky, Councillors Les Andrews and Adam Pearson. Rotarian John Davidson introduced Ian Jarvis who wants to join our club. Co-President Ron introduced Abigail and Trissa Torres, two Port Hope High School Interact Club Members who went to the Rotary Youth Leadership Symposium last April.
The mayor spoke of the walk-in clinic fundraising campaign that so far has been very successful. They will hire a nurse practitioner which will allow for expanded hours of operation. Olena also talked about the current project to provide high speed Internet in Ward 2. 1000 homes will be able to access fibre Internet, but 393 homes are not included in this project. She has been working hard to try to obtain more funding to expand the project to cover these homes. Her argument includes the idea that if the Wesleyville site is developed for nuclear power, high speed Internet is essential along the lake shore.
Also introduced was Glenn Dees, the Director of Health and Human Services for Northumberland County. He is heading up the search for medical recruits in our county. As well, the County is the lead agency for our town’s new Walk-In Clinic. Glenn gave a brief overview of the finances for the clinic. He would be happy to return to our club so to give a more detailed explanation.
As always, Lisa provided us a lovely dinner of pork tenderloin, potatoes and veggies with bread and of course, very slimming dessert options. lol!!
Co-President Ron thanked Lisa on behalf of the members for the delicious meal.
She will be doing her Thanksgiving dinner take home for groups of 10 people. It sounds delicious, and she’ll provide us further information before Thanksgiving.
Updates
Co-President Ron read out three thank you letters from Port Hope High School Students who were recipients of awards at the school’s graduation ceremony in June.
Ron also gave an update about Youth Exchange. Our Inbound YE Student Lorenzo Fava and his family flew home to Italy on July 28. Our Outbound YE Student Lily Hall left for her exchange to Finland on August 2. Returned YE Student Haylee Jolicouer will talk about her year in Finland at our club meeting on September 8. Elin Bjur and her boyfriend Rickard will be at the meeting. Elin was our YE Student from Sweden 15 years ago in 2009 – 10. She lived with Bonnie and Ron Tuttle for a few weeks when she arrived, and then with Julie & David Stewart, Lisa & Scott Laing and Faye Langmaid and Paul Laing. Elin and Rickard will fly out west to see the Rockies at the end of August before they are in Port Hope for a wedding on September 6.
Program
Two young ladies, sisters Abigail and Trissa Torres came to talk to us about their experiences at the Rotary Youth Leadership Symposium (RYLS), and how it has enhanced so much of their relationships in so many ways. They talked about gaining confidence, connecting with others and having fun during the team building and leadership activities. The camp was held in April at the Ganaraska Forest Centre northwest of Port Hope.
Abigail and Trissa collected happy bucks, and it looked like EVERYBODY put something in the pot! (They should come back often!!) Hopefully, we’ll see them in the next generation of Rotarians. They are both members of the Port Hope High School Interact Club. Trissa is the President.
The meeting closed with the singing of O Canada.
Upcoming events - Please put them in your calendars.
Monday, August 11 – The Brighton Rotary BBQ and Corn Roast is being held at Proctor Park in Brighton again this year. Have fun and sing for your supper!! Begins at 6:00 p.m.
The annual Port Hope Rotary Corn Roast and BBQ is on Monday, August 25 at their home on the shore of Lake Ontario. It starts at 5:00 p.m. with dinner at 6:30. It is always a great event. Ron would like some help to set up on Monday morning at 9:00 a.m. and to put things away on Tuesday morning at 9:00 a.m., so if you’re available, please let him know. The rain date for the Corn Roast is Tuesday, August 26.
September 8 – Rotary meeting at the Knights of Columbus Hall – Speaker: Haylee Jolicouer, our Returned YE Student who lived in Finland last year
September 8 – Board Meeting after the club meeting
September 22 – Rotary meeting at the Knights of Columbus Hall – Speaker: District Governor Niecy Dillon-Tyrovolas
Here is a little humour seen on Facebook to go with our hot weather.
