In his March 2023 Newsletter, District Governor Iosif Ciosa talks about March being Water, Sanitation & Hygiene Month and reminds us all that clean water, sanitation, and hygiene education are basic necessities for a healthy environment and a productive life. If you are interested in initiating or participating in a project for this focus area, please contact: PDG Ron Denham, Chair Emeritus of WASRAG (the Water and Sanitation Rotary Action Group). Ron, is a member of the Eglinton Rotary Club.  He reminds us that World Rotaract Week is March 13-19 and that invites all of us to sign up for and attend District 7070's March 8 International Womens' Day LIVE from the Rotary Global Classroom at Durham College in Oshawa (or watch on line) . He also invites everyone to sign up and March with the Toronto Rotary Club in the St Patrick's Day Parade in Toronto.......... 

Having received no challenges to the Selection Committee’s decision, I am delighted to inform you that Niecy Dillon-Tyrovolas, from the Rotary Club of Whitby Sunrise, has been selected as the RI District 7070 District Governor for the Rotary Year 2025-26. Niecy will be a great addition to our District Governor Team joining me, IPDG Ron Dick, DGE John Burns and DGN Virginia O'Reilly.

Let's Meet Niecy ....... Please Read more......

Patrick Asiñero has been selected to be a Rotary Peace Fellow and will study at the Rotary Peace Centre at Duke University. In Patrick's own words, he says that after long months of waiting, he finally got the notification from Duke-UNC Rotary Peace Center that he got both the Rotary Peace Fellow scholarship and the admissions at Duke University for it's Master in International Development Policy. 

District 7070 International Women's Day 2023 was another outstanding success. The event was broadcast LIVE to the world from the Rotary Global Classroom at Durham College in Oshawa, Ontario CANADA, on March 8, 2023 International Women's Day. Johanna deBoer, Chair of the IWD23 Committee welcomed the LIVE audience and those watching from all over the world. Rotary District 7070 Governor Iosif Ciosa thanked everyone for attending and stressed the importance of Women in Leadership Roles in Rotary.

The 2023 Rotary Youth Leadership Symposium (RYLS) is taking place, May 11-14, 2022 at the Ganaraska Forest Centre!  The 3-night experience is geared toward youth between the ages of 17-23 and will offer an inspiring program including: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Reconciliation and Land Based Education, Hands-on Activities, Group Dynamics, Public Speaking, Outdoor Survival and GPS Geocache adventures along with campfires, friendship and tons of fun and learning!!!  All this for only $375 per participant which covers all programs, accommodation, and meals.  Rotary Clubs are encouraged to find and sponsor eligible participants within their community, as well as members of the Rotaract and Interact Clubs that they host.  There are only 30 spots available! 

Applications and further information for RYLS 2023 can now be found at this link:   https://rotary7070.org/stories/rotary-youth-leadership-symposium-(ryls)-is-may-11-14-2023-apply-today Due date for submission HAS BEEN EXTENDED TO MARCH 31, 2023.  Online applications and further details are now available on the Rotary District 7070 website and all District social media.  Please Read more.....  

Our 3rd Annual Great Lakes Watershed Cleanup Event (GLWC) is quickly approaching!  Please mark your calendar for Saturday April 22 (Earth Day).  More information to come from your District Environmental Action Committee. Thank you - Dan Coombes - Chair GLWC (dancoombes4@gmail.com)

What is your club doing ?  At The Second Marsh in Oshawa, Ontario, the Rotary Clubs of Oshawa, Oshawa-parkwood and Courtice are helping the Friends of The Second Marsh. The SECOND MARSH is a 137 ha coastal wetland located in the southeast portion of Oshawa, (Regional Municipality of Durham), Ontario, Canada.  The combination of Second Marsh with the adjacent areas of McLaughlin Bay Wildlife Reserve and Darlington Provincial Park represents nearly 400 hectares, one of the largest publicly accessible waterfront spaces available in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).  It is located on the north shore of Lake Ontario in a major urban center, and is unique in being the largest remaining wetland in the GTA.

Please Read more .......

The Wilf Wilkinson Peace Award was inaugurated following Wilf’s year as President of Rotary International. It was commissioned to honour him for his specific efforts in supporting the 4th Object of Rotary, namely the advancement of international understanding, goodwill, and peace.

Past winners include the late Jack Layton, War Child, and The Canadian Centre for Refugee and Immigrant Health Care. Rotary Clubs in District 7070 are invited to forward nominations for this award on an annual basis. Nominees can be Rotarians, Rotary Clubs, friends of Rotary, or organizations in our district.

Submissions should include a biography of the individual or group, and answers to the following in as much detail as possible: ......

The Doctor Bob Scott Disease Prevention Award was inaugurated following Bob’s retirement as Chair of Rotary’s Polio Eradication program.

It was commissioned to honour him for his significant leadership in efforts to reach The Rotary Foundation’s primary goal, namely the eradication of polio from the face of the earth. Rotary clubs in District 7070 are invited to forward nominations for this award on an annual basis.

Nominees can be Rotarians, Rotary Clubs, friends of Rotary, or organizations in our district.

Submissions should include a biography of the individual or group, and answers to the following in as much detail as possible: .....

What Is your Rotary Club doing to focus on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene in March 2023?  Clean water and sanitation is a human right. When people, especially children, have access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene, they lead healthier and more successful lives. We don’t just build wells and walk away. Rotary members integrate water, sanitation, and hygiene into education projects. When children learn about disease transmission and practice good hygiene, they miss less school. And they can take those lessons home to their families, expanding our impact.

Read more, right here, for more details....

The Host Organizing Committee is very excited to welcome Rotary members and guests to Melbourne for the 2023 Rotary International Convention.   Known as one of the world’s most livable cities, you will enjoy what we take for granted, a beautiful, vibrant and cosmopolitan city.

NOTE ON VISAS: Canadian's now require a visa to enter both New Zealand and Australia including if you're just transiting through the country.  New Zealand is Easy,  download the NZeTA application to complete. Generally issued within a few hours or less if everything is complete and there is a fee.  Australia doesn't make it as easy to find but now having found the process, download the Australian ETA app snd then the process is quite simple, they just don't make the information as easy to find as they should.  There is also a fee to apply for this snd if the application is complete, they issue the certificate in minutes. Both Visa's must be applied for from outside of the country so people need to make application prior to departure.  In order to apply, you will need to have your passport available as they require the App to scan the passport as part of the process. As Canadian's prior to COVID did not require Visa's for either country it is important we communicate this to all attending or thinking of attending.  Also, when I booked my flight nothing was mentioned in this regards and has the potential of catching some people off guard........

ROTARY DISTRICT 7070 WORLD UNDERSTANDING AND PEACE DAY SYMPOSIUM

OFFERING AN OLIVE LEAF- CELEBRATING -  (PeMa) - (PRACTITIONERS, EDUCATORS, MEDIATORS, ADVOCATES)

Thank you to Nevine Yassa, Chair of Rotary District 7070 Peace Committee and her team for an outstanding Rotary District 7070 World Understanding and Peace Day Symposium with music, art and incredible speakers on Thursday February 23, 2023 . The Symposium included Rotarians from all over the world including two Past Rotary International Presidents: Wilf Wilkinson and Gary Huang. We heard from Nobel Prize Winner Ouided Bouchamaoui who will join us all the way from Tunis, different entities that Rotary International is collaborating with to promote peace such as Mediators without Borders, The Institute for Economics & Peace, Rotary Inter-Country Committees (Rotary ICC), Chris Offer on the Rotary Peace Centres, John Currie on Honouring Indigenous Peoples, and even the Interact Club of Earl Haig Collegiate, right here in District 7070. It was truly an evening where we learned  how Rotary is collaborating with these different entities to extend peace and understanding around the world......