to this week's meeting ofThe Rotary E-Club of Canada One
For the week beginning October 26, 2026
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Complete the form for a make-up!
Please leave a donation to assist our club to do Rotary's good works!
to this week's meeting of
The Rotary E-Club of Canada One
For the week beginning
October 26, 2026
Scroll down to enjoy the content!
Complete the form for a make-up!
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Greeter this week
Rotarian Lois Hannam
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And as we move into November, the Rotary theme is
The Rotary Foundation
November is Rotary Foundation Month—a time to celebrate what becomes possible when generosity meets purpose.
Through The Rotary Foundation, our contributions become opportunities:
- clean water
- education
- better health
- and more peaceful communities.
Each gift joins others to accomplish far more than any of us could achieve alone.
When we support our Foundation, we help turn Rotary’s promise of service into lasting change—and give someone we may never meet a reason to hope.
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Inspirational moment
Canadiana
Barry “Hawk” Tabobondung — Coming Home
Two weeks ago, we met Barry “Hawk” Tabobondung—the young Anishinaabe hockey player from Wasauksing First Nation who played for the Oshawa Generals, was drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers, became a professional hockey player, and eventually earned league MVP honours.
Then Hawk came home.
And hockey remained part of his life.
But it was no longer the whole story.
From Player to Coach
Hawk knew the game from the inside.
He understood the excitement of junior hockey, the pressure of trying to reach the next level, the experience of being drafted, and the reality that even an NHL draft selection offered no guarantees.
Now he could give some of that experience to younger players.
Hawk became a coach.
He coached junior hockey with teams that included the Couchiching Terriers and the Parry Sound Shamrocks.
And he became something young athletes need at least as much as they need someone who understands systems and statistics:
a mentor.
The Bobby Orr Hall of Fame’s account of Hawk’s life remembers the respect his players had for him and his ability to encourage and inspire the young people he coached.
The professional hockey player had found another way to contribute to the game he loved.
Serving Wasauksing
There was another part of Hawk’s life that brought him back to his family’s tradition of community leadership.
His grandmother, Florence “Flora” Tabobondung, had served for many years as Chief of Wasauksing First Nation.
Hawk, too, entered community service.
He served as a councillor for Wasauksing First Nation.
The boy who had left Parry Island to pursue a hockey dream had returned as an adult and was now giving something back—to young hockey players and to his own community.
He was also a father.
And on July 11, 2000, that became the most important role of all.
July 11, 2000
Hawk was working with a road grader.
His eight-year-old son, Thomas, was riding with him in the cab.
Then something went terribly wrong.
Thomas fell from the vehicle.
Hawk jumped out after him.
Both father and son were caught beneath the grader’s rear wheels.
Thomas survived with a broken leg.
Barry “Hawk” Tabobondung died.
He was just 39 years old.
Police investigating the accident concluded that Hawk’s actions had saved his son’s life.
There is something almost impossible to put into words about that final act.
There was no time to calculate the danger.
No crowd watching.
No scoreboard.
No award waiting.
A child was falling into danger. And his father went after him.
Remembering Hawk
Barry “Hawk” Tabobondung was later inducted into the Bobby Orr Hall of Fame in Parry Sound.
His story is remembered there because he was an outstanding hockey player—a Philadelphia Flyers draft pick, a professional player, and a league MVP.
But his life became much bigger than hockey.
- He came home.
- He coached.
- He encouraged young people.
- He served his First Nation.
- He became a father.
They lived in different generations and led completely different lives.
Yet both came from Wasauksing First Nation, a relatively small Anishinaabe community on Georgian Bay.
Peggy went away to war and came home to serve his people.
Hawk went away to play hockey and came home to serve his community.
And when the defining moment of Hawk Tabobondung’s life arrived, there were no medals, trophies, or cheering spectators.
He was simply a father trying to save his son.
And he did.
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OUR SOCIAL CORNER -
Input from our guests and members
Send us your news - what's happening that's important in your corner of the world?
- What has Rotary contributed to your life?
- What have YOU contributed to Rotary recently to make your community a better place?
- Is there a Rotary project or experience you'd like to share?
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Do you know anyone from/in Canmore, Alberta? Here's a live webcam view of downtown Canmore. |
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THE YEAR IS 2026
This year marks the 40th anniversary of Rick Hansen’s Man in Motion World Tour, and a new documentary, Man in Motion: The Rick Hansen Story, is being screened at Canadian film festivals this autumn.
“Rick Hansen went around the world in a wheelchair.” It’s a story most Canadians know.
But there is another part of the story worth remembering:
Rick Hansen has said that Terry Fox inspired him as he wondered whether he, too, had the courage to undertake something extraordinary.
Perhaps that is one of the most powerful things about inspiration. We may never know how far an act of courage or service travels — or whom it inspires to take the next step.
One Canadian inspired another.
Rick Hansen has said that Terry Fox inspired him as he wondered whether he, too, had the courage to undertake something extraordinary.
Terry Fox → Rick Hansen → Who does Rick Hansen inspire?
Perhaps that is one of the most powerful things about inspiration. We may never know how far an act of courage or service travels — or whom it inspires to take the next step.
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A Shelterbox update
Recent Operational Updates (August–September 2026)
Venezuela Earthquakes: Nearly three months following the destructive June earthquakes in the La Guaira region, ShelterBox Canada and Rotary partners are distributing tents, solar lights, and mosquito nets, alongside transitional shelter designs for over 1,100 affected households.
Nepal Flash Floods: Emergency shelters and vital household items are being distributed by ShelterBox and local partners to families affected by severe flooding in northern Nepal.
Afghanistan Returns: Over 2.6 million people have returned to Afghanistan from Iran and Pakistan through 2026; ShelterBox and partner Intersos are providing cash assistance for shelter repairs and urgent needs in Herat Province.
https://www.instagram.com/shelterboxuk/
Cameroon & Ethiopia: 870 emergency shelters and over 1,520 roofing kits were completed in Cameroon, while aid distributions reached 2,400 households in Ethiopia.
Syria Crisis Response: Assessments continue for north-east Syria, where over 15 years of conflict and the legacy of past earthquakes leave 15.6 million people needing aid.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Dd3fxQfF0r9/
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An interlude
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ROTARIAN CODE OF CONDUCT
As a Rotarian, I will:
***1. Act with integrity and high ethical standards in my personal and professional life
2. Deal fairly with others and treat them and their occupations with respect
3. Use my professional skills through Rotary to mentor young people, help those with special needs, and improve people’s quality of life in my community and in the world
4. Avoid behaviour that reflects adversely on Rotary or other Rotarians
5. Help maintain a harassment-free environment in Rotary meetings, events, and activities; report any suspected harassment; and help ensure non-retaliation to those individuals that report harassment
Rotary’s Code of Conduct provides a simple but powerful guide for ethical behaviour, emphasizing honesty, accountability, and respect for others. Along with the Four-Way Test, it encourages thoughtful reflection on how we live and interact, helping us become better citizens and better human beings.
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
Once a month - Fellowship Assembly. 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
What If There Were No Such Thing as Waste?
We have become very good at throwing things away.
But where, exactly, is away?
October is Circular Economy Month in Canada, and this year marks the 25th anniversary of a Canadian campaign that began as Waste Reduction Week.
The idea behind a circular economy is surprisingly simple. Instead of take it, make it, use it, throw it away, we keep things in use for as long as possible.
We repair them. Share them. Reuse them. Refurbish them. Repurpose them. And when they can no longer be used, we recover and recycle their materials.
An old piece of furniture can become something new. A broken appliance can be repaired rather than replaced. Tools that spend most of their lives sitting unused in garages can be shared through community tool libraries.
Perhaps protecting our environment doesn't always require doing something extraordinary.
Sometimes it simply means looking at something we are about to throw away and asking:
Could this have another life?
Humour
I was working as a phone-order representative for a textbook publisher. One very busy day, many customers had been put on hold. When I took my next call, I heard a soft yet annoyed voice on the line muttering, “Darn, darn, damn, darn, darn it!”
I chuckled and said, “What may I help you with today?”
There was a brief silence, followed by, “I’m so sorry. I wish to place an order.”
“Don’t be sorry,” I replied. “That’s hardly the worst thing I’ve heard today. Now, first I need your name.”
“Oh, dear,” she said, “how embarrassing. My name is Sister Patience.”
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Pity the poor insomniac dyslexic agnostic. He stays up all night wondering if there really is a dog.
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New definitions to add to your vocabulary:
Arbitrator: A cook who leaves Arby’s to work at McDonald’s.
Bernadette: The act of torching your mortgage.
Parasites: What you see from the top of the Eiffel Tower.
Primate: Removing your spouse from in front of the TV.
Subdued: A guy who works on submarines.
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There were only two people in line ahead of me at the electronics store, yet the wait was dragging on forever.
Finally, the customer behind me muttered, “Mr. Hare must be on vacation.”
Only then did I notice the name tag on the man at the register. It read: “Mr. Turtle, sales associate.”
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Rotary minute
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Rotary Members' Inspiration
We often talk about Rotary’s power to change lives through
large projects. But service also begins with something very small: noticing
another person and choosing to help.
As you watch this short film, consider how
far a single act of kindness might travel—and how rarely we know where its
influence ends.
Whose day could we
change before this day is over?
AN INTERESTING GLOBAL GRANT SUCCESS IN D6330
Rotary Jukebox
For a small donation, your favorite musician will be featured on one of our next e-meetings for everyone to enjoy.
Click Here to send your request.
THIS WEEK - Glen Campbell
The kindness of being there
We don’t always need special training or perfect words to make a difference. Sometimes we need only to listen, offer our time, and let someone know they matter.
Following our speaker’s story, Angels Among Us celebrates those who bring comfort when it is needed most—and reminds us that any one of us could be that person.
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The Four-way Test
To close the meeting, Rotarian Angel recites the Four-Way Test of the things that Rotarians think, say, or do.
Thank you for joining us. We appreciate your feedback and hope you will return and invite a guest.
Please Click Here to leave us a comment or send a message..
Scroll down for Program Donations and Attendance links.
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Our Facebook page. Please remember to check out our posts on the Rotary E-Club’s Facebook page. We work hard to post something every second day, sometimes more often.
Invite friends to Like our page and enjoy our posts. Also, please take the time to Share our posts on your Facebook Page.
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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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Attendance Links
Complete the attendance/donation form to have your attendance recognized.
- CLICK HERE to return to our ClubRunner Home Page.
- Visiting Rotarians and guests - Click HERE.
- Members of Rotary E-Club of Canada One - Click HERE.
- e-Satellite Attendance - Click HERE.
Confirmation of your attendance will be sent to your e-mail address promptly.
Please support our club!
Donate For the Meeting You Have Attended.
Please consider making a small donation in lieu of a meal
to help us help those in need.
As you have not had to buy lunch or travel to attend this program, please consider a donation of a minimum of $10.00 in appreciation for the experience you have enjoyed.
We thank you very much!
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Program Donations
Our E-Club is a dynamic club comprised of ordinary working and retired people who acknowledge that Rotarians are people who are generous with their time and their resources.
Our club and the program you have just enjoyed, either as a member or a visitor, is funded only by donations.
We are developing ideas for fundraising with our members who are scattered across Canada, USA, Central America, and Europe, but we do need your help.
As you have not had to buy lunch or travel to attend this program, please make a donation of a minimum of $10.00, considering you're saving in time and cost in appreciation for the experience you have enjoyed.
Interested in providing Rotary Service? Unable to attend terra club meetings?
Contact our membership chair for information or
or HERE to learn about Associate Membership
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