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The Rotary Club of Chilliwack is dedicated to improving the lives of people, both in our community and around the world.

Chartered in 1934 as the 3663rd club in the world, our club is the largest club in Chilliwack with approximately 100 members.

Our weekly club meetings occur at the Chilliwack Curling Club every Friday (except holidays) from 12:05-1:30 pm.

A typical club meeting begins with networking and a buffet lunch. After lunch, we move into the business portion of the meeting which includes club updates, community event awareness, and a keynote speaker to wrap things up.

And as an added bonus, lively music is provided throughout the club meeting by our very own in-house band, The Rotations. We are proudly recognized as the singing club, so feel free to enthusiastically join us as we sing a song or two.

In addition to our weekly club meetings, we also spend a significant amount of time volunteering within our community. Our club members are often found all around Chilliwack, giving back in many different ways.

Our Club History

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· 1st meeting Feb 23, 1934

· Chartered March 15, 1934

· 35 Charter Members, Bill Curle 1st President

· Provided children’s dental clinic

· Financed projects by annual auto show and carnival

· Took on district TB Seals Campaign ( 20 years )

· Sponsored Air Cadets

· Leadership for Chilliwack Arena campaign Farm Raffle

· Helped with hospital expansion 1938

· Encouraged good Urban Rural Relations

· Continued Air Cadet Sponsorship

· Undertook post war development study

· Started annual Carol Festival, continued until 1984

· Participated in “Flying” Interclub Meetings

· Continued to strive for Arena

· Started children’s Christmas Party, annual for 15 years

· Harold Hicks District Governor 1946 – 1947

· Started Radio Auction with CHWK ( 1955 ) for Community Chest Funds

· Helped community complete Coliseum 1958

· Sponsored 1st Ice Shows

· Started student bursaries – ongoing

· Helped with hospital expansion 1958

· Held 1st Harrison Dinner for hospital furnishings

· Initiated planning for Upper Fraser Valley Health Care

· Hold 2nd Harrison Dinner to fund start of Health Centre

· Prepared 1st Hope River Development Plan 1962

· Sponsored “Babe Ruth” Baseball

· Assisted Boy Scouts

· Hosted District Conference at Harrison Hot Springs 1961

· Financed and built Rotary Swimming Pool 1969

· Provided initial financing for “Homemakers”

· Added TV (cable) to Radio Auction and changed to Sweepstakes until 1990

· Started participating in ” Adventures in Citizenship” – ongoing

· Financed housing for ” Remand Receiving Home “

· Introduced Camp Hope Improvement Project (CHIP) 1972

· Participated with schools in Vocational Counseling

· Helped with hospital expansion 1972

· Started participating in ” Student Exchange ” 1972 – ongoing

· Helped furnish Evergreen Hall 1967

· Provided Pioneer Park and Nature Trails

· Hosted District Conference in Harrison 1968

· Contributed to Parkholm Lodge Facilities

· Provided fountain and planters for Salish Park

· Provided facilities for YM/YWCA

· Provided equipment for Opportunity Workshop

· Provided Chilliwack District with Emergency Vehicle

· Helped Re-cyclers

· Sponsored refugee family

· Helped outfit kayak team

· Assisted with meals on wheels – ongoing

· Assisted senior citizens – ongoing

· Provided assistance for persons with disability

· Started “Concours D’Elegance

· Participated in Adventures in Technology

· Started Chilliwack Roteract

· Started Chilliwack Booksale – ongoing

· Provided Chilliwack District with Coat of Arms and Mayors “Chain of Office”

· Expanded scholarships and awards

· Sponsored YM/YWCA Indoor Soccer

· Continued Student Exchange

· Provided finds for Youth Activity Centre

· Conducted in-club Polio Plus campaign

· Undertook club car rallies

· Raised funds for hospital CT Scan

· Representation in Rainbow Housing Society

· Sponsored girls softball team

· Continued Camp Hope Development

· Provided funds for Music Academy Move

· Upgraded Rotary Pool

· Constructed Rotary Service building

· Started annual Bark Mulch Sale

· Major contributions to Townsend Park

· Major funding to Heritage Village

· Initiated QUEST program on local school district

· Contributed to UCFV Theatre Program

· Sponsored RCMP Bike Safety Patrol Program

· Contributed to Community Services to support Family Place

· Major Contribution to Rotary Trails

· Fund Breakfast Programs at 2 Chilliwack Schools

· Co sponsored Health and Wellness Conference

· Developed Great Blue Heron Nature Reserve and Rotary Interpretative Center 2002

· Rotary Garden Tour came to be

· Central Community Park 2005

· Harrison Dinner was moved to Minter Gardens and became Rotary Dinner

· Started Rotary Scholarship Golf Tournament – 2007

· Larry Stinson District Governor 2008 – 2009

· Hosted District Conference in Chilliwack 2009

· Provided seating for Rotary Hall at the Chilliwack Cultural Centre 2010

· Provided Major Funding to Chilliwack Hospital Emergency Expansion 2010

· Rotary Trails resurfacing 2010

· Rotary Trails Peach Road Expansion 2011

· Browne Creek Wetlands developed with partners

· Rotary Service Building on Wolfe Road built 2018-2020

· “Looped the Vedder” by creating a complete trail around the Vedder River Greenway using the Rotary Trail 2019

· “Feed the Kids” hamper program established 2020

· Brad Whittaker District Governor 2019-20

· Carol Tichelman District Governor 2020-21

· A dozen Peru school libraries established

· Purchased Hippo Rollers for women in Africa

· Sent cooling fans to schools in South Africa

· Upgraded accessibility to Browne Creek Wetlands with new “on ramps” in Yarrow 2022

· Held 1st annual Climate Fair 2023

· Distributed 205,000 cedar and fir tree seedlings throughout Chilliwack and surrounding areas – schools, First Nations, organizations, businesses, and individuals all received seedlings

· Rotary Dinner returns in 2023 after missing three years due to Covid-19

· Rotary Garden Tour returns in 2023 after missing three years due to Covid-19

REQUEST AN INVITATION TO AN UPCOMING CLUB MEETING

A Message From Our Club President

Ralph Jones
2025-26

I recently purchased a T-shirt at a Rotary convention. On the front is written “Believe there is good in the world”. BE THE GOOD is highlighted. On the back is written “Rotary at work”.

Rotarians believe there is good in the world, we contribute to that good by participation in local and international projects. Over the years we have partnered in many significant local and international projects. Among local projects we have contributed to are : Chilliwack hospital expansions and equipment. Evergreen hall, Salish park, Rotary pool, YMCA, Music Academy, Blue Heron nature reserve, Central community park & the Chilliwack Cultural Centre. The Rotary trail is a gem winding along the Vedder River & is well used by locals and visitors. We help feed hungry children by packing food hampers. We partner with WG Graham school and sponsor awards of excellence for young “leaders of tomorrow”. It is always inspiring to invite these exceptional young people to our meetings.

In 2015 we received the Order of Chilliwack, the city’s highest honor, in recognition of our extensive contributions to the community. This award acknowledged our long-standing commitment to projects and initiatives that have positively impacted Chilliwack. 

Internationally we have worked with fellow Rotary clubs in the Philippines, Uganda, Guatemala, South Africa, Mexico and Peru, on projects as varied as computer labs, water wells and our latest project continues to develop rural libraries in Peru. We will continue with our international service. However, these are difficult and anxiety-provoking times; with the challenges that international politics, finance and trade present us. At such times it is important to strengthen our local community resilience and concern for each other.

Rotary clubs are beacons of hope, community, friendship and fellowship in these difficult times. At our meetings we welcome inspiring speakers and even more inspiring youth who have gone abroad on Rotary youth exchanges. These presentations give us hope for the future and are restorative.

We are proud to be a part of an organization that believes “There is good in the world” and does something to support it.

Rotary