The Rotary Club of Oak Bay received its charter from Rotary International on July 24, 1974. From this humble beginning with 22 people our membership has grown to 50+. We support important and necessary issues for local and communities worldwide. Our members hail from a range of backgrounds; doctors, nurses, professors, bankers, financial experts, artists, small business owners, housewives and retired persons looking for a challenge.
Our club’s very first project was at Uplands Park when, in 1975 we donated four picnic tables. Since then we have contributed to several causes such as:
Oak Bay Heritage Foundation, Uplands Park bike racks, defibrillators for the District of Oak Bay; housing assistance for Habitat for Humanity; dictionaries, smart boards and musical instruments for George Jay, MacAulay and Quadra schools; literacy assistance to the Victoria Read Society; Oak Bay High youth drop in centre renovations; contributions to the Windsor Park Pavilion and Carnarvon Water Park.
Our total contribution over the past five years towards community and youth-related projects was over $112,000.
Our Rotary Club is equally involved in International humanitarian projects such as: pre-school literacy in Ethiopia; Guatemala – dental and nutrition; India – Water & Sanitation; Malawi Girls School – water, sanitation and solar energy; Mexico – water, sanitation and education; Rwanda humanitarian projects with widows and youth, eco stoves and toilets; South Africa primary school – water and electricity; and other emergency relief projects.
Our total contribution over the past five years towards international projects was over $65,000.
In addition to the above our club members have generously contributed to the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International. Our total contribution over the past five years towards the Rotary Foundation was over $85,000. Our total contributions over the past five years for humanitarian projects both locally and internationally were over $262,000.
To support our community and international service actives our club has a variety of fundraising initiatives such as the Fly the Flag Fundraiser. To celebrate Victoria Day, Canada Day and Labour Day, residents in Greater Victoria can expect to see over 300 Canadian flags flying on lawns of homes throughout the city. The premise underlying this program (which is in its fifth year) is simple and patriotic. For a $50 annual subscription our club members temporarily erect a flag on the subscriber’s lawn prior to the aforementioned holidays.
Prior to Christmas our members also deliver beautiful and colourful pots of Poinsettias in various shades and sizes and each year our club organizes its annual 8 km Merrython Fun Run.
In 2017 we will continue to support communities both locally and internationally. We welcome potential members and ask you to drop in as our guest. We met at the Oak Bay Beach Hotel each Tuesday at noon. Email obrmembership@gmail.com for more information.
– Perry Bamji, public relations, Rotary Club of Oak Bay.