Rotary Club of Toronto

Turning 100 years young in 2012, The Rotary Club of Toronto is the second oldest club in Canada and is the largest club in District 7070. Meeting every Friday at 12:15 p.m. at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel, the club attracts superb speakers covering a wide range of topics and issues. With support from the Rotary Club of Toronto Foundation, fundraising and membership, The Rotary Club of Toronto has become a vital part of the philanthropic community of our city with a well deserved reputation for finding innovative solutions and taking on difficult causes.

One of the earliest projects was Bolton Camp in 1921 to provide a camp experience for needy children and their mothers. The camping tradition continued with Blue Mountain Camp, Camp Huronda and most recently Lake Scugog Camp. Another early project was organizing the Federation for Community Service which evolved into the United Way. For 81 years the club has hosted a Christmas Party for physically challenged children and for 50 years we have provided Christmas cheer to shut in seniors.

The club and its Foundation focused its attention on the issue of homelessness in the early 1990’s. Project: Warmth, The Health Buses, the medical clinic at Seaton House, The Rotary Club of Toronto Transition Centre all were made possible by the club and its Foundation. The YWCA’s Elm Street Centre (formerly the Rotary Laughlin Centre) was provided $500,000.00 in seed funding to provide accommodation for homeless elderly women. During the Centennial of Rotary International, the club, in partnership with other Toronto Rotary clubs and Habitat for Humanity, developed Rotary Drive. The club partnered with the Salvation Army to create Gateway Linen which provides employment, and job skills training to people in the Salvation Army shelter system, cleans linens that previously were contracted out and saves the shelter system money that can be put back into program. Support of Andre Cazabon’s film Letters to a Street Child led to the creation of the Pine River Institute which provides critically needed residential treatment for youth with addictions.

Internationally, the club has provided support to Rotary International for Polio Plus and other RI programs. The club was also involved in the founding of CARE Canada and has supported the creation of the Canadian Landmine Foundation, Dignitas International and Shelterbox. Members of the Rotary Club of Toronto are active organizers and participants in sweat equity trips throughout the developing world.

The Rotary Club of Toronto has a proud history of service. Imagine what we can accomplish in the next hundred years?