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
Expand each section to learn more
1934 - 1943
· 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
1944 - 1953
· 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
1954 - 1963
· 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
1964 - 1973
· 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
1974 - 1983
· 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
1984 - 1993
· 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
1994 - 2003
· 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
2004 - 2013
· 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
2014 - 2023
· 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
2024-2033
A Message From Our Club President
Jared Mumford
2026-27
A Message From Our Club President
Jared Mumford — 2026–27
I’m honoured to serve as your president for 2026–27, and extend a heartfelt thanks to my friend and Outgoing President Dr. Ralph Jones, whose steady leadership this past year reminded us all to “be the good,” and to every member of our club who shows up, week after week, with sleeves rolled up and a song ready. (Yes, we really are the singing club. Come to a Friday lunch and you’ll hear The Rotations for yourself.)
What struck me most when looking into rotary years ago, was both the enormity and anonymity of the impact. Seeing how much of Chilliwack has Rotary’s fingerprints on it – Rotary Trail, Rotary Pool, Central Community Park, thousands in scholarships, literacy programs, hospital expansions and equipment, waterway rehabilitation, community project grants, and the list goes on – and never credit going to any one member. Service for the sake of service. 92 years of service above self.
The theme for this Rotary year is Create Lasting Impact, and our club intends to do just that. This year, our cornerstone project will deepen our partnership with the Great Blue Heron Nature Reserve, where Rotarians will be working alongside the Society’s staff and conservation partners to restore salmon habitat and build new ways for families and school groups to interact and experience it. It’s our favourite type of project because it doesn’t just require cutting a cheque: expect to see us out there with shovels in our hands and smiles on our faces. You’re welcome to join us.
We’re about one hundred members strong, we meet Fridays at 12:05 at the Chilliwack Curling Club for lunch, and there is always a seat at the table for someone who wants to put their hands to work for this community. Our club is forward thinking, inclusive, thrives and champions co-ed leadership and has a great sense of humour. Stop in, lunch is on me.
Until then, Believe there is Good in the World.
Jared Mumford
President, Rotary Club of Chilliwack, 2026–27
