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?

Happy Bucks! 

Dave A: Welcome John and happy John is doing well! Welcome Mark too!

Bob Stewart: Teased Mark about eating salad.

Hilda: April is Tissue Donor Awareness month. Flag raising events are scheduled for the City of Oshawa on April 1^st and at the Regional Headquarters April 16^th.

Bev: Happy to be back even though leaving Mexico made her cry.

Robbie: Picked up lots of goods for Safety Village including giant rolls of stickers. Thanks to the cutting crew Camille, Al, David P. who pulled double duty at Bingo.

Emmy: Welcome friends especially the Marimpietri family.

Tito: Happy his cousin Ennio is visiting, and God bless us all.

Neil: His dear friend had a heart attack but thanks to the excellent healthcare in Ontario, he is alive and doing well.

Tess: Jumped in the lake on March 29 and raised over $500 for Rotary projects. Thanks to those of you who donated. The new waterproof booties worked well. The water was 1C. BRRRRRRR.

Robert K: Happy to be well after surgery and a long recovery. He agrees with Neil-our healthcare is great.

Dale D: Happy to be healthy after his experiences in Cook Islands, Jan’s 18 stitches, and his Typhoid fever scare and hospitalization. (Note to self-if the docs come into your room in hazmat suits-be worried!)

Larry: Treated us with a joke about the names of football players from Iceland vs Herzegovina.

Our Speaker: John Henry - Rotarian and Regional Chair-Durham

Dave Andrews introduced our speaker, John Henry. John was elected Regional Chair in 2018 and re-elected in 2022. Born and raised in Oshawa, John has a long history of public service and volunteerism. He is a proud member of the Rotary Club of Oshawa. He is married to Katherine, and they have two daughters. Every year Lennis asks John to but a Reverse Draw ticket. (See their picture below.) Not only does John buy a ticket he contributes to the Silent Auction.

John had three themes tonight: building connected communities, strengthening resilience, and leading with purpose and partnership.

Building Connected Communities

The 2025 Regional Strategic Plan is the roadmap to building connections. Improving transit options is essential. In 2025 DRT served over 12 million passengers, travelled 14 million kilometres, and completed more than 330,00 On Demand trips. The Durham-Scarborough RT (DSBRT) will link Oshawa, Whitby, Ajax, Pickering, and Scarborough. Once complete the DSBRT is expected to reduce wait times, cut carbon emissions, and save riders precious commuting times. Other transit improvements include the GO Lakeshore East expansion, and toll reductions on Hwy 407 E. In addition to transit improvements, several housing initiatives are planned. The At Home Incentive Program supports new affordable rental units and Housing Durham is a key player in redeveloping Durham properties, like the Ritson School Project, into mixed income communities.

Strengthening Resilience

Resilience is about being prepared, responsive and supportive – so our communities can weather change and emerge stronger. To this Durham Region invests in infrastructure projects that improve roads (100 kilometres paved) and installation of 15 kilometres of new watermains and sewers. Resilience also means supporting businesses that protect the local economy and fuels economic growth. When businesses thrive, we all benefit. Resilience also means feeling safe and the Region is increasing investment in policing and paramedic capacity. Resilience also includes strengthening our energy systems and climate resilience. Durham is proud to be named the CLEAN ENERGY CAPITAL OF CANADA

Improvements at OPG Darlington, creating clean energy jobs, for example, the graduates of the Ontario Tech Nuclear Engineering program.

Leading With Purpose & Partnership

Across Durham strong partnerships and bold ideas are shaping a brighter future – enhancing quality of life and fueling economic growth. We are proud to be the hometown partner of the professional Lacrosse team, the Firewolves. In 2025 the Intelligent Community Forum named Durham Region Community of the Year. These reflect what we can achieve when we lead with purpose and work together.

John ended his speech tonight thanking our club for our community contributions and providing him with his Rotary make-up meeting! Ted Morrison thanked John. 

President David Mankiewicz closed the meeting at 8:05 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.