Stories


Meetings Cancelled With regret due to the Covid-19 pandemic we need to cancel our weekly meetings until further notice. We will update on a regular basis. Please note Trip of the Month Draws will continue too take place as scheduled. Thank you and stay safe!	Meetings Cancelled		2020-03-14 04:00:00Z
March Trip of the Month Winners	March Trip of the Month Winners	Justin Bester	2020-03-14 04:00:00Z
February 2020 Trip of the Month Winners	February 2020 Trip of the Month Winners	Justin Bester	2020-02-12 05:00:00Z
Brian Hutchings, CAO for City of Brantford Thank you to CAO of the city of Brantford, Brian Hutchings, for joining us and speaking about the ambitious goals to maintain Brantford’s status as one of the best cities in Canada. We learned about the key initiatives that are being undertaken and the breadth of the role of the city's Chief Administrative Officer.	Brian Hutchings, CAO for City of Brantford	Jason Cherry	2020-01-17 05:00:00Z
Welcome new Rotarians! Here we grow again! Rotary Club of Brantford Sunrise are proud to welcome Andrea Berestovenko and Blaine Field into our club. Andrea is an independent financial advisor. Blaine and existing member Ken Tota are co-owners of Brant Aero which has the distinction of being our first corporate member. Welcome to the club!	Welcome new Rotarians!	Jason Cherry	2020-01-17 05:00:00Z
Shawn Stuart, Founder and ED of Organized Kaos Thank you to Shawn Stuart for sharing the ongoing story of Organized Kaos with us this morning! Shawn is the founder and Executive Director of this innovative program. To help with their noble efforts, The Rotary Club of Brantford-Sunrise presented Shawn with a donation of $1000. From their website https://organizedkaos.org: "Organized Kaos exists to apprentice young people in life and trade inspiring hope and purpose. We offer a safe environment in which young people work and learn alongside skilled trades persons from local churches. Organized Kaos is not an “up-front” teaching, but a “side-to-side” mentorship, in which trades people teach youth, ages 13-17, in a hands on approach. OK maintains low ratios of 1 Skilled Trades Mentor to 2 Students. Projects create a common ground and break down barriers in a casual setting, leaving space to teach life skills, employability skills, faith, and the trades." Read more...	Shawn Stuart, Founder and ED of Organized Kaos	Jason Cherry	2020-01-08 05:00:00Z
Thank you Steel Wheel! Posted on Sep 29, 2019 This week Cindy Blair and Harold Kuret from our local Steel Wheel Brewery joined us to present a cheque of over $1200 to us. Cindy and Harold joined us at Canada Day and had their own beer tent for people to enjoy some craft beer on Canada Day. They decided to donate all proceeds from Canada Day to help the community. THANK YOU!!! This week we are holding our monthly social event at Steel Wheel in celebration of Oktoberfest. Feel free to come by ... it's only $25 a person and includes a craft beer and some great Oktoberfest eats.	Thank you Steel Wheel!		2019-09-29 04:00:00Z
Rotaract in Action Posted on Aug 15, 2019 The Brantford Rotaract Club set out to raise money to supply the Why Not Youth Centre with $1000 worth of peanut butter, which will provide food supplements to youth in need for a half a year. Why peanut butter? It's relied upon globally as a ready-to-use therapeutic food that requires no cooking/utilities with enough nutrient and energy for those in need. The Rotaract club already has their next community project underway ... click on See More for details and for contact information. Thank you to the Brantford Rotaract Club and all of the community supporters that helped them to reach the $1000 goal. Read more...	Rotaract in Action		2019-08-15 04:00:00Z
Welcome Home Claudia Posted on Aug 06, 2019 In the Fall of 2017, a grade 9 student at BCI, Claudia Costa decided to apply for the Rotary Youth Exchange Program. Claudia has wowed us with her maturity and enthusiasm to truly dive into another culture. Claudia spent a year in Spain and just returned a couple of weeks ago. She will be sharing more about her experience at our regular Club meeting on September 25, 2019. We have two students heading out on exchange this month ... Liam and Trinity. And we have two new students arriving later this month, one from Taiwan and one from Finland. They will both be speaking on September 25 as well. Come out and learn more about the program.	Welcome Home Claudia		2019-08-06 04:00:00Z
Welcome Home Amanda! Posted on Jul 23, 2019 On July 8, Participation Support Services moved eight individuals to the newly transformed Stedman House as their permanent home. This was possible as a result of the support of our Rotary Club. We donated $125,000 for Participation Support Services to invest in the capital equipment needed to make this a home. “Stedman House is a perfect, comfortable small home that suits the needs of individuals who require supportive housing,” said Sherry Kerr, executive director of Participation Support Services, which offers residential services at its site at 10 Bell Lane. For more from our original announcement, click Read More ... Read more...	Welcome Home Amanda!		2019-07-23 04:00:00Z
Thank You Dominos Pizza Thank you to Jackie Young and Stephanie Young of Dominos Pizza Brantford for your very generous donation of $1,725. On Wednesday, July 10th, 2019 Jackie and Stephanie attended our Rotary meeting and presented our Club with a cheque for all proceeds from the sales on Canada Day. THANK YOU! Read more...	Thank You Dominos Pizza		2019-07-16 04:00:00Z
Celebrating Canada Day ... thanks Brantford! Happy Canada Day!! Members of the Rotary Club of Brantford-Sunrise spent their Canada Day volunteering as one of our many annual club fundraisers. We organize the beer tent (and run it on the day of) and manage the parking for the event in collaboration with the City of Brantford each year. Thank you to the many volunteers from other community organizations, including the Rotary Club of Brantford, Laurier's Rotaract Club and more for coming out to help. And THANK YOU to all of our Brantford and Brant County residents and visitors to this great city for supporting us. What a great day, with 20,000 people attending and many local entertainers. See you next year.	Celebrating Canada Day ... thanks Brantford!		2019-07-02 04:00:00Z
Recognizing Community Members Posted on Jun 23, 2019 We are so pleased to honour the contributions of Nick and Glayde Rizzo to our community by making them Paul Harris Fellows. Nick was a Rotarian in the Brantford Rotary Club (Friday) for over 30 years. He served on their board, many committees and helped to establish the YOuth Exchange program. An avid runner, Nick and some of his running friends got together one year and held the 'Boston to Brantford' run as a fund raiser. That little has now grown into the Brantford Classic, which raises close to $100,000 every year to help our community. Click on 'Read More' to learn more about Nick and Glayde's contribution to Rotary and to read about the Paul Harris Fellow recognition. Read more...	Recognizing Community Members		2019-06-23 04:00:00Z
Noah Irvine, Activist for Mental Health 18-year-old Noah Irvine came to share his story and mission with us on Wednesday, March 27. In early 2017, Noah wrote a letter about mental health to all 338 MPs across Canada to push for changes to our Mental Health system. Noah has lost both of his parents to mental health and he wants to make sure that no other child ends up in the situation that he did. Noah exemplifies this year's Rotary motto, Be the Inspiration. Thank you Noah for sharing your story. Read more...	Noah Irvine, Activist for Mental Health	Teresa Schoonings	2019-03-30 04:00:00Z
Another FUN Monthly Social We like to have fun! Each month, our club hosts a social event in lieu of a Wednesday morning meeting. This month we had a St.Practice Day event at Steel Wheel Brewery to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. Members and spouses from our club, Rotary Club of Brantford -Sunrise, Rotary Club of Brantford and the Rotary Club of Cambridge all came out to enjoy some local beverages and food. Thanks to March team for organizing. Picture here is our President-Elect and Membership Chair, Richard Boyington and his wife (and fellow Rotarian), Darion. Read more...	Another FUN Monthly Social	Teresa Schoonings	2019-03-20 04:00:00Z
Sunrise Rotary Welcomes 4 New Members The Rotary Club of Brantford-Sunrise is thrilled to welcome four new members to our growing club! Pictured here from left to right are proud new Rotarians: Ian McKeen (IF Wealth Management), Shawn Eliovitz (RBC Dominion Securities), Jason Cherry (Cherry Home Inspectors) and Caitlin Turner (Waterous Holden). Read more...	Sunrise Rotary Welcomes 4 New Members	Teresa Schoonings	2019-03-15 04:00:00Z
Brantford Rotaract in Action! Posted on Jan 29, 2019 Since 2017, our members prepare and serve a dinner for 60 to 75 local youth at Why Not on Dalhousie Street every month in partnership with the Rotary Club of Brantford. This month, our local Brantford Rotaract Club led the Why Not Youth Centres dinner. Click on 'Read More" for full story. To learn more about Why Not Youth Centres, please click here. To learn more about Rotaract, please click here. Read more...	Brantford Rotaract in Action!		2019-01-29 05:00:00Z
$125,000 to be given to Participation Support Services Posted on Jan 15, 2019 Rotary Club of Brantford-Sunrise is pleased to announce that we have selected our next Major Project for financial support! We will be giving $125,000 to Participation Support Services to purchase capital equipment needed to transform Stedman House into a permanent home for eight individuals with physical disabilities. The new residents are expected to move in this spring. Click on 'read more' for full story. In picture: John Huigenbos (left), chair of the Participation Support Services board of directors, executive director Sherry Kerr and Phil Race, 2018-2019 President of the Rotary Club of Brantford – Sunrise with Andrew and Amanda Neilsen, who will be moving into Stedman House in the spring. Read more...	$125,000 to be given to Participation Support Services	Teresa Schoonings	2019-01-15 05:00:00Z
Youth Exchange Programs Application	Youth Exchange Programs Application	Bernard Neziol	2018-09-21 04:00:00Z
Two Great Clubs, One Big Forest! Two Great Clubs, One Big Forest! This past weekend more than 200 Rotarians and their families from both the Rotary Club of Brantford Sunrise and the Rotary Club of Brantford participated in a successful afternoon of tree planting in the sunshine! A fantastic time was had by all and we look forward to many more opportunities to partner with the Friday Club!	Two Great Clubs, One Big Forest!		2016-04-18 00:00:00Z
High Flight Donor School Update High Flight Donor School Update From the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum: "In May of last year, the Brantford Sunrise Rotary club generously donated $1,250 to sponsor a Brantford school to attend the museum’s High Flight program. Due to the teacher’s strike last year which significantly impacted our booking program, we were not able to schedule your school until now. I pleased to report that, on Tuesday April 12th a class of 27 students from Graham Bell Victoria will be attending the Museum’s grade 6 program. We would like to invite any members of your club that are available and would like to see what your contribution is being used for to attend that day as our guests. If you can let me know who or how many will attend – I will provide a personal tour of the museum, an introduction to the students and staff of the sponsored school and an overview of the program. The visit from your club would be scheduled from 10:00 to noon." For more information please email perkinsfits@me.com	High Flight Donor School Update		2016-03-29 00:00:00Z
Fish Fry Social Around the Corner! Fish Fry Social Around the Corner!	Fish Fry Social Around the Corner!		2016-03-16 00:00:00Z
Mud, Mud and More Mud! Mud, Mud and More Mud! Planning and preparations for the Sunrise Rotary Roughneck Mud Run are in high gear! June is fast approaching and we're hoping to see as many as a thousand people up to their eyeballs in mud! What's shaping up to be the province's largest permanent, charity mud run is really taking shape. Digital billboard advertising, social media, boots on the ground with a region-wide poster campaign and today our first newspaper ad! This front page Expositor ad was proudly donated by Lucas & Laura Duguid of Octopus Red! For more information please visit www.sunrisemudrun.ca or on Facebook: Sunrise Rotary Roughneck Mudrun	Mud, Mud and More Mud!		2016-03-08 00:00:00Z
Mud, Mud and More Mud!! Mud, Mud and More Mud!!	Mud, Mud and More Mud!!		2016-03-08 00:00:00Z
It's All About The Mud! It's All About The Mud! A small army has moved mountains over the last eight weeks to get to today! The word of the day is mud ladies and gentlemen!! Saturday, June 4th the Sunrise Rotary Club of Brantford will be holding a full day mud run at the Southern Cross Equestrian Farm outside of Burford! The "Sunrise Rotary Roughneck Mud Run" will be the largest and only permanent charity mud run in the province. This year’s event will be bigger and better than ever! We have introduced more obstacles to get your fitness on with levels for all participants, including an elite division. Great food and prizes! And vendor booths on site day of the event! Bring a team or fly solo! For more information please visit www.sunrisemudrun.ca. Tickets are on sale for $75 inclusive until May 18th! Keep an eye out for promotional materials popping up everywhere, we will be painting this region MUD!!	It's All About The Mud!		2016-02-24 00:00:00Z
A look ahead to 2016 / 2017 A Look Ahead To 2016 / 2017 Sunrise Rotary President-Elect Justin Bester gave club members a detailed look behind-the-curtain of what's in store for the club in 2016 / 2017. President-Elect Bester touched on a wide variety of topics ranging from upcoming fundraising opportunities (Fish Fry, Canada Day, Trip of the Month, Mud Run) high-profile quarterly speakers as well as expanded membership drive efforts just to name a few. Vocation, Youth, Seniors, Community and International are among the major tent poles for this coming Rotary year. As always the team from The Sherwood provided an outstanding meal with excellent service. Thank you to all who attended and thank you to President-Elect Bester for your efforts and your vision!	A look ahead to 2016 / 2017		2016-02-01 00:00:00Z
2016 Trip of the Month Winners - January Trip of the Month Winners! The Trip of the Month is the Brantford Sunrise Rotary Club's biggest fundraiser and helps us to support many great causes in our community and the tickets make a perfect gift! For more information please email Allie VanDyk allie_vandyk@yahoo.com $100 - Ron Cowell $200 - Andrea Bidenti $500 - Craig Holden Trip to Costa Rica ($5,000 value) - Bob Peever	2016 Trip of the Month Winners - January		2016-01-13 00:00:00Z
Sunrise Rotary Realizes Completion of a Major Project On Monday, December 14^th 2015, the Adult Recreation Therapy Centre (ARTC) hosted the grand opening of their new building. ARTC provides physical and recreational therapy for disabled adults (e.g. stroke and accident victims). This new location allows them to better serve our community. The move was made possible in part by a $250,000 donation by the Rotary Club of Brantford Sunrise, which is the realization of a long-term fundraising goal of the club. This project was started by Rick Bullas and was completed in his memory. Rick Bullas was a found member of Sunrise Rotary and had a vision of the club creating a recreational centre that would serve seniors. The Club is proud that we were able to fulfill his vision and make a substantial difference in our community. Click on 'read more' for the original story and more pictures ... In picture, from left to right: Reg Schram (Architect and major donor to the project), Joe Persia (President of ARTC and Sunrise Rotarian), Ginny Bullas (Sunrise Rotarian and widow of Rick Bullas), Lori Santilli (ED of ARTC), Jeff Noble( Board Member Sunrise Rotary) and Kevin Davis (2015-2016 President of Sunrise Rotary) Read more...	Sunrise Rotary Realizes Completion of a Major Project		2015-12-21 05:00:00Z
A Packed House for the Sunrise Rotary Annual Remembrance Day Dinner A Packed House for the Sunrise Rotary Annual Remembrance Day Dinner Another successful Remembrance Day Dinner at the Canadian Military Heritage Museum here in Brantford. This dinner is a favourite among the club membership and tends to be a sold out affair. This year was no different as museum staff had to bring in extra chairs to accomodate. After a wonderful meal provided by Dennis Duce and the team from The Sherwood the club enjoyed speeches by local veterans and a performance from the Braemar House School Choir. The evening was concluded with a cheque for $2500.00 presented by the Brantford Sunrise Club President Kevin Davis to the museum on behalf of the December pod.	A Packed House for the Sunrise Rotary Annual Remembrance Day Dinner		2015-11-16 00:00:00Z
Skid Row to CEO - Joe Roberts Speaks at Sunrise Rotary Joe Roberts from the Push to Change Foundation attended the Rotary Club of Brantford Sunrise September 9th, 2015 to share his compelling story of his transformation from a Vancouver East side heroin addict, living out of a grocery cart, to MacLeans top 10 CEO. This was part of his promotion for his Cross-Canada walk completed in 2016 pushing a grocery cart in support of his Foundation, which assists street kids in making the same transformation as his. Click on 'read more' to see the original story ... Read more...	Skid Row to CEO - Joe Roberts Speaks at Sunrise Rotary		2015-09-13 04:00:00Z
Brantford Sunrise donates $4,000 to Canadian Nurses for Africa. As part of our vision, the Rotary Club of Brantford-Sunrise strives to make an impact internationally, as well as locally. We were pleased to donate $4,000 to Canadian Nurses for Africa. President Kevin Davis (2015-2016) and Rotarian Joanne Proctor are shown presenting the cheque to Jean and Gail. Please click on 'read more' for the original story and some background from CNFA (Canadian Nurses for Africa) Read more...	Brantford Sunrise donates $4,000 to Canadian Nurses for Africa.		2015-09-13 04:00:00Z
$35,000 Pledge to Save The Evidence Rotary Club of Brantford Sunrise Pledges $35,000 to 'Save The Evidence' Rotarians from Brantford’s Wednesday morning Sunrise Club are backing the #SaveTheEvidence campaign in a major way. The club is pledging $35,000* to be released in stages towards the repair of the roof and the repurposing of The Mohawk Institute as a museum. The Mohawk Institute Indian Residential School at 184 Mohawk Street operated in Brantford from 1827 until 1970 as one of over 130 Indian Residential Schools operating in Canada. Less than 10 stand today. The message to the community is clear: turning this place from what it was in the past, an instrument furthering a policy of cultural genocide, into a national museum of consciousness, is a worthy cause. The repurposing of this building into a national museum will help Canadians understand a regrettable part of our history, while at the same time honouring the students who attended the institute. It also recognizes that reconciliation is not possible without understanding the truth behind the history of the Mohawk Institute. “One of Rotary’s areas of focus is to promote peace and conflict resolution,” said Rotary Club of Brantford- Sunrise President Kevin Davis. “It is rare that we have an opportunity to work towards this goal so close to home.” “We hope other service clubs and members of the community join with us and contribute as well,” Davis continued. “This is a way to come together and repair and restore both this building and our the relationships between First Nations communities and more broadly Canadians across the country.” * A portion of this contribution is conditional upon approval from the OLG and City of Brantford Lottery Licensing Office.	$35,000 Pledge to Save The Evidence		2015-08-11 00:00:00Z
Happy Canada Day!!! Happy Canada Day!!! Canada Day at Lions Park. One more way Sunrise Rotary truly shines. More than 45 Sunrise Rotarians and their families emblazoned in blue & gold taking shifts and working hard to serve more than TEN THOUSAND cold beverages as part of the City's Annual Canada Day celebrations! Last year, with the help of a generous and thirsty crowd we raised more than $18,000 in a single day!! It's hard not to get excited about that kind of giving! Sunrise Rotary is all about putting the service back in service club. Happy Canada day from the Rotary Club of Brantford Sunrise! If you're interested in membership or just want to learn more about the Rotary Club of Brantford Sunrise stop by the Brantford Golf & Country Club Wednesday mornings at 7:15.	Happy Canada Day!!!		2015-07-07 00:00:00Z
Standing Tall Against Domestic Violence Standing Tall Against Domestic Violence What an incredible morning! The 5th Annual Men in Heels was a HUGE success!! Setting a new record with over $43,000 raised for Nova Vita!! We couldn't be more proud to stand tall against domestic violence with our fellow Sunrise Rotarians in an ocean of Rotary blue and gold! In less than a month we put together a team of more than 20 walkers and took second place in the team division raising more than $8000!! Not bad for our first year as a team... imagine what we can put together next year! A very special mention to our Club President Kevin Davis. Not only did Kevin win the Mr. Congeniality Award but was also responsible for almost $4000 of our team's total. You went hard Mr. President and you set the bar for next year!	Standing Tall Against Domestic Violence		2015-07-07 00:00:00Z
A New Vision Same Great Club, Brand New Vision It was a packed house at the Brant Park Inn last Wednesday night for our Club's visioning exercises led by District 7090's Visioning Committee. President-Elect Kevin Davis opened the evening with the following remarks... "Our Club stands at a cross roads. We are just about to complete the 5 year ARTC major funding project. We are a well run club. Our membership, after dipping down to 47 members 4 years ago, is now back to 55 members. Our three major fundraising projects raise approximately $80,000 per year. We make significant contributions to a number of worthwhile organizations in our community. We have a number of hard working well organized committees." A great visioning process is a process that requires time and many hands. This is an exciting time for our Club!	A New Vision		2015-06-08 00:00:00Z
A New Vision A New Vision It was a packed house at the Best Western Plus Brant Park Inn last Thursday evening. Sunrise Rotarians filled the room and helped share in the visioning exercises led by District 7090's Vision Committee. Sunrise Club President-Elect Kevin Davis opened with the following remarks, "Our Club stands at a cross roads. We are just about to complete the 5 year ARTC major funding project. We are for the most part a well run club. Our membership, after dipping down to 47 members 4 years ago, is now back to 55 members. Our three major fundraising projects raise approximately $80,000 per year. We make significant contributions to a number of worthwhile organizations in our community. We have a number of hard working well organized committees." Any successful visioning process is a process that takes time and many hands. The coming weeks and months will be an exciting time for our Club!	A New Vision		2015-06-08 00:00:00Z
Sunrise Rotary club donates $250,000 to ARTC Sunrise Rotary Club Donates $250,000 An outstanding article from Vincent Ball of the Brantford Expositor! Local media standing shoulder-to-shoulder with our club is a pretty amazing thing! From the article... "The Rotary Club of Brantford Sunrise made a huge contribution Wednesday to a facility that will improve the lives of local seniors. The club is donating $250,000 to the Adult Recreation Therapy Centre's new home, which is scheduled to open in the fall at 58 Easton Rd. The donation was announced at the club's Wednesday morning breakfast meeting at the Brantford Golf and Country Club." "Most of the money for the club's donation to the centre's new facility was raised through an annual charity golf tournament named after Rick Bullas. A founding member of Sunrise Rotary, Bullas had a vision of the club creating a recreational centre that would serve seniors and the larger community. A past president of Sunrise Rotary, Bullas served as an assistant district governor and was a two-time Paul Harris Fellow, an award of distinction given to Rotarians for their service above self to the community. He was also a veteran of the Canadian Armed Forces who established his own business following his military service.Bullas died in 2009 and since then the club's membership has worked to fulfil his vision." vincent.ball@sunmedia.ca twitter.com/EXPVBall Click here for full article	Sunrise Rotary club donates $250,000 to ARTC	Lucas Duguid	2015-06-03 00:00:00Z
A Brand New Look! A Brand New Look! There is no better way to re-introduce yourself to your community than with a fresh new look for your organization! Club member Lucas Duguid of Octopus Red working with PR Chair Kristin Pass have developed a vibrant and contemporary new look for our club's branding. Over the coming months you'll be seeing a lot more of this logo! :) This is an exciting time to be a Sunrise Rotarian!	A Brand New Look!		2015-06-03 00:00:00Z
Trip of the Month Draw	Trip of the Month Draw	Bernard Neziol

Two Great Clubs, One Big Forest!

High Flight Donor School Update

Fish Fry Social Around the Corner!

Mud, Mud and More Mud!

Mud, Mud and More Mud!!

It's All About The Mud!

A Look Ahead To 2016 / 2017

Trip of the Month Winners!

A Packed House for the Sunrise Rotary Annual Remembrance Day Dinner

Rotary Club of Brantford Sunrise Pledges $35,000 to 'Save The Evidence'

Happy Canada Day!!!

Standing Tall Against Domestic Violence

Same Great Club, Brand New Vision

A New Vision

Sunrise Rotary Club Donates $250,000

A Brand New Look!