Events

Shining Together: The Canada Club Rotary Holiday Celebration

Join us for an evening of fellowship and celebration as we come together to honor the spirit of the season and the shared accomplishments of the Canada Club of Rotary. This special gathering will be a time to reflect on the year’s successes, enjoy fine dining, and celebrate the light we create when we shine together.

Event Details
Date: Saturday, December 13
Time: 6:00 PM
Location: Bight Restaurant, 2201 Sleeping Giant Parkway
Tickets: $100 per person

Seating is limited, and this event traditionally sells out quickly. We encourage you to secure your place early and be part of an unforgettable evening of connection, gratitude, and joy.

Purchase Your Tickets Here

✨ Save the Date! – Thursday, December 18, 2025 · 7:30 a.m. · RFDA ✨

The RFDA Gathering Room is officially booked for a very merry Lakehead Rotary Christmas Breakfast!

Break out your festive finest—whether that’s a dazzling Christmas sweater (the uglier, the better!), a cheerful elf hat, or anything that jingles—and join us for a joyful morning of fellowship, laughter, and a special holiday breakfast whipped up by Santa’s very own elves.

Board Members:
Our December Board Meeting will be held at the RFDA on Wednesday, Dec. 17 at 5:30 p.m. As soon as we wrap up, the Elf Network will spring into action!

 Looking forward to celebrating the season over a festive and delicious breakfast as we come together in the Rotary tradition of friendship, community, and goodwill.🎄✨

We were pleased to welcome Brittany Hearn, Community Development Manager for Donor Relations and Collections with Canadian Blood Services, as our guest speaker.

Brittany will be sharing insight into the vital work Canadian Blood Services does to support patients across the country. As Canada’s Lifeline, the organization is responsible for recruiting donors, collecting blood and plasma, managing stem cell and organ donation registries, and ensuring lifesaving products reach the hospitals and patients who rely on them every day. 

The Lakehead Rotary Club welcomes Brittany and is looking forward to learning more from Brittany about the impact of this important work.  Together, we are Canada's lifeline.

We’re delighted to welcome fellow Lakehead Rotarians Gail Brescia, Sharon Hollinsworth, and Scott Wilcken, who will share their personal perspectives on the Rotary District 5580 District Conference, an event that brought together clubs from Northwestern Ontario and Northern Minnesota for several days of connection, learning, and inspiration.

The conference showcased what Rotary does best. Service projects in action, updates on Rotary International priorities like peacebuilding, youth exchange, and community resilience, and keynote sessions that challenged us to think bigger about our impact. From fellowship events that strengthened cross-border friendships to breakout sessions focused on club innovation and membership growth, the experience was both energizing and practical.

Their experiences capture the spirit of District 5580. Thoughtful, welcoming, and action-oriented. We look forward to hearing how the conference sparked new ideas, strengthened Rotary pride, and perhaps even planted a few seeds for projects right here at Lakehead.

The discussion at the morning meeting will focus on the current health of the club, with an emphasis on membership engagement and sustainability. It will likely include conversation around the recruitment of new members into Lakehead Rotary, exploring opportunities to attract prospective Rotarians, share the value of membership, and continue building a strong, active, and welcoming club.

We are honoured to welcome guest speaker Carolyn Karle, founder of the DEK Foundation, to speak with the Lakehead Rotary Club.

Born from deep personal loss and transformed through courage and purpose, the DEK Foundation is a community-driven, volunteer-led organization committed to supporting those affected by addiction and advocating for stronger resources to address the addiction crisis in Thunder Bay. What began as one mother’s determination to create change has grown into a powerful local movement rooted in hope, compassion, and action.

Carolyn will share how the foundation is uniting community leaders through a dedicated Board of Directors and inspiring meaningful change. This movement honours the memory of her daughter Dayna, while standing alongside every individual and family still navigating the challenges of addiction. Her story is a reminder of the impact one voice can have when guided by love, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to community.