THE PARKWOOD JOURNAL

OFFICIAL BULLETIN OF THE ROTARY CLUB OF OSHAWA-PARKWOOD

Mailing Address: 200-481 Taunton Rd W., OSHAWA, ONTARIO, CANADA L1J 0G3

WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE DO:

ROTARY – People of Action

Rotary is where neighbours, friends, and problem-solvers share ideas, join leaders, and take action to create lasting change.

We're made up of local business, professional, and civic leaders. 

We meet regularly, get to know each other, form friendships and through that, we're able to get things done in our community. 

It's up to YOU.............Join leaders in our community

Be sure to share this with all of your friends and associates and ask them to get in touch with our Club President President Hilda Finnigan at 905-431-4258 or Club Past President Linda Porritt at 905-626-6386 

You are invited to our next Rotary meeting. You may wish to become a Rotarian. Dinner is on us. Isn't it time to give back to your community?.

THE OBJECT OF ROTARY

is to encourage and foster the ideal of service as a basis of worthy enterprise and, in particular, to encourage and foster:

FIRST The development of acquaintance as an opportunity for service;

SECOND High ethical standards in business and professions, the recognition of the worthiness of all useful

occupations, and the dignifying of each Rotarian's occupation as an opportunity to serve society;

THIRD The application of the ideal of service in each Rotarian's personal, business, and community life;

FOURTH The advancement of international understanding, goodwill, and peace through a world fellowship of

business and professional persons united in the ideal of service.

Rotary Code of Conduct provides a framework for ethical behaviour that all Rotarians can use, together with The Four-Way Test, in their business and professional activities.

ROTARY CODE OF CONDUCT

As a Rotarian, I will

1. Exemplify the core value of integrity in all behaviours and activities

2. Use my vocational experience and talents to serve in Rotary

3. Conduct all of my personal, business, and professional affairs ethically, encouraging and fostering high ethical standards as an example to others

4. Be fair in all dealings with others and treat them with the respect due to them as fellow human beings

5. Promote recognition and respect for all occupations which are useful to society

6. Offer my vocational talents: to provide opportunities for young people, to work for the relief of the special needs of others, and to improve the quality of life in my community

7. Honour the trust that Rotary and fellow Rotarians provide and not do anything that will bring disfavour or reflect adversely on Rotary or fellow Rotarians

8. Not seek from a fellow Rotarian a privilege or advantage not normally accorded others in a business or professional relationship

THE ROTARY FOUR-WAY TEST

of things we think, say and do:

1. Is it the truth

2. Is it fair to all concerned?

3. Will it build goodwill and better friendships?

4. Will it be beneficial to all concerned?

MINUTES OF MEETING:  Tuesday, September 2, 2025

Editor: Tess Pierce

Meeting Called to Order at 6:30 PM: by President David Mankiewicz

Grace: David Penney

Toast to the KING: Bill Creamer

Land Acknowledgement: President David Mankiewicz

We respectfully acknowledge that the Rotary Club of Oshawa-Parkwood is meeting on the traditional territory of the Mississauga’s of Scugog Island First Nations, within the jurisdiction of the Williams Treaties.  We are committed to our responsibility of stewardship, in these relationships and for this land on which we learn, share and live.

Toast to CANADA: Shashi Bhatia

Visiting Rotarians and Guests:

• Jennifer French, our speaker

• Bev Fiddler, prospective member

• Caroline Kipling

Birthdays and Anniversaries

Happy Anniversary to Ana and Nazir Rejab on September 5.

Happy Birthday to Britannia’s husband Roger Suecharan on September 8

 Shashi reminded us that we are all to be celebrated every week!

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Hilda:

• Annual Club Picnic: Saturday, Sept. 13. Our host is Fahim Fikrat,158 Taylorwood Court, Oshawa, Ontario. A sign-up sheet is going around tonight. The cost is $15/couple. Please bring cash next week so that Shashi can go shopping. Kids are free.

• Bingo update: We could pick up a 3^rd monthly session – a matinee. A few more volunteers are needed. Hilda will contact Red Barn and confirm that we will do this.

• Safety Village Anniversary: Come celebrate 30 years of our signature project. Sept 19 from 6 PM-8 PM.

• Tulips Sale: The bulbs should be here mid-September. The boxes contain mixed colours and are still a bargain at $20/20 bulbs.

Ted:

• SEP 28: Rotary Foundation Walk: 9 AM-1 PM at Nort Johnson District Park, 7800 Islington Avenue, Vaughn, ON L4L 2S7. Please register today and start collecting pledges. Click HERE to register.

• NOV 1: Kids Against Hunger – 8:45 AM-2 PM at the JUBILEE PAVILLION, OSHAWA. Together with Oshawa, Whitby, Whitby-Sunrise, Bowmanville, Ajax and Courtice Rotary clubs, we will pack over                                                 

30,000 meals that feed the neediest in the world. Friends and family are welcome. Contact Ted to volunteer.

Linda:

• Safety Village. Lennis asked her to announce that the next Board meeting for the Safety Village committee is scheduled for Monday, September 15, at 2 pm.

Tess:

• Reminder: Budget plans for committees are due the week of September 15. Nothing formal – an email will be OK. Email Tess with your plan.

SGT AT ARMS: David Penney

ACE OF SPADES: Jennifer French pulled Bev Fiddler’s ticket. Bev chose the 9 of diamonds. The pot grows.

• Dave A: Thank you, Jennifer, for always agreeing to speak to the club. Thank you, Janice,

for the job you do every week. Dave only filled in, and it was not easy!

• Kim: Happy to spend her time playing her piano, reading, and of course, doing a bit of fundraising for the club.

• Shashi: Thankful both Jennifer and Bev are here tonight. Happy to see Janice back. And happy to be sitting between her two ‘brothers’ – one yells and the other calms her down.

• Bev: Retired as of today. Happy now to be doing something she loves.

• Emmy: Happy to have Jennifer here tonight.

• Tess: Happy to be home after a nice trip to Montreal. Only one fight- over where to eat!

• Linda B.: Just happy to be here.

• Linda P.: Happy to be back and receiving the good vibes.

• Al: The dog they inherited is now trained. [SIDE note: I wonder who got trained the dog or the humans?]

• Ted: Happy to have something in common with Tess. Sharon and Ted had a bit of a tiff when she came home from shopping.

• Janice: Happy to be back after an interesting, frustrating, and still successful trip for work.

• Donald: Happy to see everyone here and thanks for the vegan pasta

• Bob K: Happy to see Caroline Kipling here tonight. It was fun to share BBQ memories of their horseshoe winnings

• Dave M: Happy to be here and to see Janice back safe and sound.

Dave Andrews introduced Jennifer. Jennifer French is the MPP for the riding of Oshawa. She was a committed classroom educator who was first elected to serve at Queen’s Park in 2014. Jennifer has been a strong and passionate voice for workers, students, seniors and the community. She has been proud to build relationships across our region to ensure issues are raised at the Legislature and people are heard. Jennifer is a champion for autoworkers, our local environment and Greenbelt, fairness across our community for road users, and for safe learning and working environments. She is proud to serve as a Presiding Officer of the Legislative Assembly as a Deputy Speaker of the Legislature.  MPP French also serves as His Majesty’s Loyal Opposition Shadow Minister for Infrastructure and Transportation. 

“It’s easy to support people [like Rotarians] who care.”

Jennifer spoke from her heart when she talked about returning to Queen’s Park after the (cold and snowy) election in winter. Her return was just long enough to meet new members and to experience Premier Doug Ford’s legislative push. The ramifications of that rushed session are just now being analyzed and felt. Please contact her and her office with any concerns you may have.

Several themes emerged from her conversations with her constituents.

• Funding shortages - especially with families with autistic children.

• Healthcare billing issues, such as what is covered by OHIP vs upselling of services (like cataract lenses). Increased transparency is necessary to help people make good decisions about their health.

• Underfunding of provincial schools. Yes, spending is up, but the paradox continues that even with the increase, classrooms are still hurting.

• Housing issues. This is not one issue, but layers of problems that need fixing. It is not just giving developers incentives to build; it is creating affordable and safe housing with predictable rent. It is also the need for ‘supportive housing’ for folks who need help to stay housed. This may be access to social workers, help with medications, or help with their banking.

• The mental health crisis – she is proud of her work with the Back Door Mission. She successfully asked the Minister for Mental Health and Addictions to visit Oshawa, and these visits secured funding for on-site medical care, keeping folks out of the emergency room.

As Canadians, we are overwhelmed by talk of tariffs and trade wars. We will not be the “51^st” state. We are all doing our part to buy Canadian and support local businesses. But we need a plan not just for now, but one for the future. Please feel free to reach out to her to voice your concerns or provide suggestions. Her door is always open. If she does not have the answers, she will work with MP Kirkland’s office to get the answers we need. It is about Oshawa and our bright future.

Comments from Kim, Dave A, and Emmy. Kim voiced concerns about the elimination of school trustees. Dave congratulated her on her work on the Great Lakes Legislative Caucus. Emmy thanked Jennifer for her continuing leadership. Tess thanked Jennifer.

President David Mankiewicz closed the meeting at 8:15 pm.                                             

IF YOU CAN’T MAKE IT, YOU CAN MAKE UP: Go online at www.rotary.org go to the club locator and find a club or clubs near your destination. Or you can add the free App Rotary Club Locator to your phone for instant look up of any club in the world. Please mail or fax your make-ups to Executive Secretary Dave Andrews or give your make-up card to the attendance/registration officer at the next club meeting.