Rotary Club of Strathcona Sunrise

Our CLUB MISSION is to promote and further the work of Rotary within the Comox Valley and internationally with projects that help people in need and to foster understanding among cultures, with a view to making our world a better place.

Service Above Self

What is Rotary?

Belonging to a Rotary Club provides one with the opportunity to give back to their community, be that local, regional or international, as well as networking with people who share similar values.

On an international level Rotary is involved in various pursuits.  Most notably, Rotary is dedicated to eradicating polio.  As a key player, Rotary pairs with the WHO, UNICEF, CDC, etc. to provide a staggering amount of polio vaccinations in the developing world. Rotary is so good at fighting polio that when the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation decided to tackle polio, they simply gave their money to Rotary, rather than building their own apparatus.  If you want to donate a dollar fighting polio, it makes the biggest difference when given to Rotary.   Rotary also engages in a number of other international projects such as providing medical equipment, building schools, digging wells, and so much more.

Rotary also promotes world peace and understanding by sponsoring exchange programs, being active in the UN, and actively working with universities around the world to offer programs and scholarships in peace, conflict resolution, statesmanship, etc.

On a local level Rotary clubs are free to take up whatever cause they want.  Our local clubs build playgrounds and trails, fund scholarships for worthy students, honour outstanding community members, and give money to other charities to support their activities.

The Strathcona Sunrise Rotary Club was formed in 1987. A small sampling of their projects since then includes:

  • Construction of the Rotary Outlook on Comox Road
  • Refurbishment of Scout Camp Gilwell on the Browns River
  • Construction of the Rotary Skypark in Courtenay
  • Provision of school buses and ambulances to Mexican Communities
  • Protection of more than 50 springs in rural Kenya
  • Granting of Bursaries to local high school graduates in the Comox Valley
  • Support to many local charities such as YANA and the Child Development Centre
  • Funds raised by Rotary Clubs are 100% spent on service projects – either locally or internationally.

Below you will find examples of some of these,

and other projects, the club has supported over the past years.