to this week's meeting of
The Rotary E-Club of Canada One
For the week beginning October 20, 2025
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Complete the form for a make-up!
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to this week's meeting of
The Rotary E-Club of Canada One
For the week beginning October 20, 2025
Scroll down to enjoy the content!
Complete the form for a make-up!
The Rotary theme for 2025-26 -
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Greeter this week
Rotarian Lois
Inspirational moment
...submitted by Rotarian Jim
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Canadiana
🌟 “In 1926, the King–Byng Affair shook Canada when a Governor General refused Prime Minister Mackenzie King’s request for an election.
The crisis ended up strengthening Canadian independence, proving that even in moments of conflict, principled leadership can build a stronger foundation for the future. As Rotarians, we’re reminded that setbacks and disagreements aren’t the end of progress—they can be the very spark that leads to greater growth and service.” 🌟
The King–Byng Affair (1926)
The King–Byng Affair (1926)
1. The Setting
• The 1925 federal election produced a hung parliament:
o Conservatives (Arthur Meighen) won the most seats: 116.
o Liberals (Mackenzie King) won fewer: 101.
o But the Progressives and a few independents held the balance of power, and King convinced them to let him stay on as Prime Minister.
o Liberals (Mackenzie King) won fewer: 101.
o But the Progressives and a few independents held the balance of power, and King convinced them to let him stay on as Prime Minister.
• King was governing with minority support, already precarious.
2. The Crisis
2. The Crisis
• By mid-1926, King’s government was rocked by the Customs Scandal (corruption in the Department of Customs).
• Facing censure in the House of Commons, King asked Governor General Lord Byng to dissolve Parliament and call a fresh election — hoping voters would give him a stronger mandate.
• Byng refused.
o He argued: the Conservatives had more seats and should be given the chance to govern before burdening the public with another election.
o He invited Arthur Meighen to form government.
3. What Happened Next
• Meighen became Prime Minister but lasted only three days before losing a confidence vote.
• At that point, Byng had no choice but to call an election.
• The election of September 1926 returned King with a clear majority — and he framed the whole episode as a matter of Canadian independence from British interference.
Was King Wrong?
• From a democratic logic perspective:
o Many thought King was gaming the system to escape a scandal.
o Byng’s refusal seemed principled — why should a Prime Minister with fewer seats, facing corruption charges, get to duck accountability with a snap election?
• From a constitutional independence perspective:
o King argued Byng had overstepped. The Governor General, as a representative of the British Crown, should not overrule an elected Prime Minister.
o This resonated with Canadians, who saw it as a blow to national self-government.
The Aftermath: Was Canada “Saved”?
• The immediate effect was not “saving the country” from crisis — it created one.
• But the long-term outcome strengthened Canadian democracy:
o It clarified the principle that the Governor General must follow the advice of the Prime Minister (except in the most extreme cases).
o It was a milestone in Canada’s evolution toward full constitutional independence (culminating in the Statute of Westminster, 1931).
• Ironically, King won big because of Byng’s refusal — he cast himself as the defender of Canadian autonomy.
So: King was probably being opportunistic (trying to dodge a scandal), but Byng’s refusal looked like imperial meddling. The crisis ended up reinforcing Canada’s democratic sovereignty — even though both men were acting in good faith.
References –
Recommended Articles & Entries
1. The Canadian Encyclopedia – King–Byng Affair (Plain-Language Summary)
This entry offers a clear and accessible overview of the crisis—great for getting grounded in the basic facts. Source
2. Wikipedia – King–Byng Affair
A comprehensive walk-through covering the political context, timeline of events, and its constitutional significance—including how it helped redefine the Governor-General’s role. Source
3. Britannica – King–Byng Affair
Another reliable summary for broader historical context within Commonwealth constitutional evolution. Source
Scholarly Analysis
4. Martin Šubrt, The King–Byng Affair and Transformation of the Role of Governor-General in Canada
This academic paper examines how the affair reshaped the Governor General’s position—transforming it from a British government agent to a representative of the monarch acting on Canadian advice. Source
5. Prague Papers…
Available as a PDF, this study similarly delves into the constitutional aftermath of the crisis—especially regarding the evolution of the Governor General’s role in Dominion governance. Source
6. Macdonald Laurier Institute, The Lessons of the King–Byng Affair for Today's Conservatives
A contemporary reflection on what modern politicians can learn from the affair, particularly regarding confidence and governance. Source
7. K. Lonie, William Lyon Mackenzie King and the 1926 Constitutional…
Offers a political perspective on Byng’s interpretation of King’s request as avoiding accountability, adding nuance to the motivations involved. Source
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Comments from our guests and members
Members and guests attending our weekly meetings are very important to us. Based on your comments we are able to produce many more educational, inspiring, and entertaining weekly meetings.
Following are some of the comments we have received. Would you please send us your comments?
September 8.
Lots of great content this week. Keep up the great work.
September 15.
Really enjoyed today’s Food for Thought and the speaker video was pretty funny.
-- Patrick Gibson, E-Club of Canada One, District 5370
September 15.
The speaker this week - Jury Duty - was a delightful surprise as she spoke. Her humour drew us in right away but then came the depth of her story – the experience of “jury duty” that had clearly touched her life in a profound way. You could see how much it meant to her when she became emotional. A lovely and moving story!
Thanks to Rotarian David for sharing his Rotary history!
I especially have enjoyed learning the stories of Canadian teachers inspiring change, and I was in awe of Bruce Farrer’s extraordinary dedication in tracking down former students to return the letters they wrote decades earlier. What an impact from a simple classroom idea!
There really are so many good people in this world, and what a gift it is to meet them through the stories that can be shared in our Rotary meetings.
I would love to hear what inspired you from this week’s meeting - and from other meetings posted. Each of us may have taken something different from these stories; it would be wonderful to hear your thoughts too.
-- Kitty Bucsko, Rotary Club of D6330 Passport
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Archived Meetings
- All meetings are archived. Click here to see a list and choose what you wish to view.
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Announcements
A POWERFUL VIDEO!
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Material Suggestions and Greeter Messages Always Needed!
Please feel free to forward an approx. 150 - 200 word message or any material suggestions in an e-mail, or in a Word document, along with a JPeg picture or two, to E-Club Administration Chair, Kitty Bucsko.
We'd love to hear from you!
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Just so you're aware -
Our Club's Ongoing Projects -
We provide ongoing support for the following projects:
Click the links below to find out more about each project!
And we're doing great!
Ask for more information if you'd like to be involved!
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Real-time meetings
Each 3rd Thursday of the month is our Fellowship Assembly, and we often invite interesting speakers or Rotary Leaders for this entertaining, educational fun event. Plan to join us.
The time is 9:00 a.m. (Mountain Time) in lieu of the weekly Coffee Chat except for July and August when there are no FA’s. Here is the zoom link:
Everyone is welcome to attend and we encourage your participation.
Please click our Event Calendar for details and access Link.
For further inquiries or suggestions please contact: info@rotaryeclubcanada.ca
All our videos can be viewed on our YouTube channel.
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How do you support our club?
- The Paypal button on our ClubRunner Home Page
- The donation button on the attendance form, or
- Make an Interac transfer to rotaryeclubcanada1@gmail.com
- Send a cheque to:
The Rotary E-Club of Canada One
14008 101 Avenue NW
Edmonton, AB
Canada T5N 0K3
(780) 267 4547
Environment
Humour
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New members' corner
For children struck by severe polio, the virus often damaged the nerves controlling the diaphragm, leaving them unable to breathe on their own. Without a ventilator, death could occur within hours. The iron lung could keep patients alive for weeks, months, or even years. Some spent the majority of their lives inside, tended to by nurses who would adjust bedding, provide food, and even hold mirrors above the patient’s head so they could see their surroundings.
The “iron lung” was a type of negative pressure ventilator used to help patients breathe when their muscles were paralyzed by polio. The device worked by creating rhythmic changes in air pressure inside the chamber. When the pressure dropped, a patient’s chest expanded, drawing air into the lungs; when pressure increased, the lungs were forced to exhale. Only the head stuck out of the sealed machine, while the rest of the body remained inside.
By the early 1950s, thousands of children in the U.S. and abroad relied on iron lungs. The situation changed drastically after Jonas Salk introduced the polio vaccine in 1955, followed by Albert Sabin’s oral vaccine in the 1960s. Mass immunization campaigns nearly eradicated the disease, making iron lungs a relic of medical history.
The “iron lung” was a type of negative pressure ventilator used to help patients breathe when their muscles were paralyzed by polio. The device worked by creating rhythmic changes in air pressure inside the chamber. When the pressure dropped, a patient’s chest expanded, drawing air into the lungs; when pressure increased, the lungs were forced to exhale. Only the head stuck out of the sealed machine, while the rest of the body remained inside.
Added fact: A few polio survivors continued to live in iron lungs into the 21st century. One of the last known users, Paul Alexander from Texas, spent over 70 years in one after contracting polio in 1952. Despite his condition, he became a lawyer and author, proving that even from within an iron lung, life could still be lived to its fullest.
By the early 1950s, thousands of children in the U.S. and abroad relied on iron lungs. The situation changed drastically after Jonas Salk introduced the polio vaccine in 1955, followed by Albert Sabin’s oral vaccine in the 1960s. Mass immunization campaigns nearly eradicated the disease, making iron lungs a relic of medical history.
The “iron lung” was a type of negative pressure ventilator used to help patients breathe when their muscles were paralyzed by polio. The device worked by creating rhythmic changes in air pressure inside the chamber. When the pressure dropped, a patient’s chest expanded, drawing air into the lungs; when pressure increased, the lungs were forced to exhale. Only the head stuck out of the sealed machine, while the rest of the body remained inside.
Added fact: A few polio survivors continued to live in iron lungs into the 21st century. One of the last known users, Paul Alexander from Texas, spent over 70 years in one after contracting polio in 1952. Despite his condition, he became a lawyer and author, proving that even from within an iron lung, life could still be lived to its fullest.
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Food for thought
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Rotary Jukebox
For a small donation, your favorite musician will be featured on one of our next e-meetings for everyone to enjoy.
Every week we'll have a draw and the lucky person will see their song featured!
The Four-way Test
To close the meeting, Rotarian Doug recites the Four-Way Test of the things that Rotarians think, say, or do.
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