The Rotary Club of Oak Bay is encouraging residents to wave the flag to celebrate the coming holidays.
To celebrate Victoria Day, Canada Day and Labour Day, Victorians can expect to see more than 250 Canadian flags flying on lawns of homes throughout the city.
For a $50 annual subscription Rotarians will temporarily erect a five-by-three-foot flag on the subscriber’s lawn prior to the three holidays this summer.
“This is a simple but an effective fundraiser,” said Joan Peggs, chair of the Canada Flag Project. “In 2013 when we first launched the program we had 131 subscribers. Last year we had 209. During these two campaigns we have generated subscriptions worth $17,000.”
While the majority of subscribers are from Oak Bay, Rotary Club members were able to attract friends and supporters from Esquimalt, James Bay, Fairfield, Gonzales, Broadmead, Brentwood Bay and the Saanich peninsula.
“Our target this year is to have over 250 subscribers and we hope to see redder colour on people’s lawns,” said Peggs.
Dr. Perry Bamji, public image director of the Rotary Club of Oak Bay, said the funds generated will go to support humanitarian projects both locally and internationally.
“For example, through the Canada flag program and other fundraisers such as our ever-popular Mardi Gras (on May 9 this year), the Merrython, the car raffle, poinsettia sales and Thrifty Foods Smile program, we have supported local projects within Oak Bay, elementary schools in Victoria, literacy, hospital needs, elder homes and much more,” said Bamji.
On the international front, Rotary has ongoing projects in Rwanda, Guatemala, Mexico, East Timor, Malawi and India.
“In the last 15 years our club has raised over $650,000 to support its local and international projects. In several international projects we have enhanced our club’s contributions through matching grants from the Rotary Foundation,” said Bamji.
To subscribe to the flag program contact Joan Peggs at 250-598-1716 or email flag@oakbayrotary.com.
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