Rotary Club of Goderich, Ontario, Canada

Building an Even Better Goderich!

Rotary brings together individuals who dedicate their time, energy, and passion to enhance the local community and beyond. As a non-profit service organization, our goal is to raise funds and do hands-on work to support and improve our local community.

Our History and Structure

The Rotary Club of Goderich, chartered on March 1, 1962, boasts a rich history. Today, we are a group of over 40 members, managed by an executive board of 10 members, who meet biweekly to bring our vision of a better Goderich and surrounding areas to life. Over the past 62 years we have raised and donated over $4.5 million to the community. Impressive, eh!

We are always in need of more expertise and helping hands. We hope you'll consider joining our efforts to help make our community and beyond even better.

Why Join?

Rotary is a diverse organization comprising professionals, students, and retirees. The benefits of membership are numerous, offering countless opportunities to make a difference. Here are just a few reasons to become a member:

• Friendship: Rotary was founded on friendships and opportunities for fellowship, which remain significant reasons for members to join today. Club members enjoy social events and often include their friends and family in club projects.

• Networking: Many of Goderich’s members are business owners or professionals. Rotarians meet to hear interesting guest speakers discuss local issues. You can expand your circle of friendships and meet business, community, and professional contacts at each meeting.

• Service Opportunities: Club members have numerous opportunities to lead community improvement projects. Rotary has seven areas of focus, providing a fulfilling experience of giving back to the community.

• Good Citizenship: Rotary programs keep members informed about local, national, and global events, motivating them to make a difference.

• Youth Support: Rotary sponsors one of the world’s largest youth exchanges, educational exchanges, and scholarship programs. We provide innovative training opportunities and mentoring for young leaders, involving family members in a wide range of social and service activities.

• Ethical Environment: Ethics are at the heart of Rotary. We emphasize doing the right thing in our profession and respecting all work. Rotary’s Four-Way Test guides our actions:

  • Is it the TRUTH?

  • Is it FAIR to all concerned?

  • Will it BUILD GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?

  • Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?

• Ending Polio Forever: Rotary continues its work to eradicate polio. After more than 35 years, our goal of ridding the earth of this disease is in sight. We began in 1979 with vaccinations for 6 million children in the Philippines. Today, Afghanistan and Pakistan are the only countries where polio remains endemic.

Expectations from Our Members:

• Pay annual club dues of $250 per year.

• Attend meetings and events.

• Volunteer your time, professional skills, and talents to make a difference when possible.

If you’re interested in contributing please contact us!

Just some of our local projects over the years:

1. Rotary Cove Development and Boardwalk

2. Rotary Cove Playground

3. AMGH Keeping Abreast Campaign

4. Maitland Recreation Centre/Library Addition - Major Donor

5. Maitland Sports Field

6. Service Club Building

7. YMCA Celebration of Youth - Major Donor

8. Maitland Sports Field Playground

9. Tree Planting at Rotary Cove

10. Maitland Valley Medical Centre

11. Children’s Aid Building Campaign

12. Maitland Sports Field Player Benches/Nets

13. Dialysis Unit - Major Donor

14. Rotary Cove Outdoor Fitness Trail

15. Healthy Hearts Treadmill

16. Goderich Gymnastics

17. Rotary Cove Wheelhouse and Beach Hut Operations

18. Tornado Relief Campaign

19. Chili Cook-Off - Winterfest

20. Annual Rotary Golf Tournament

21. Bolivia “Friends of the Orphans”

22. Refurbishment of Rotary Arch

23. Student School Scholarships

24. Grand Bend Literacy Container Program - Africa

25. Bannister Park - Major Contributor

26. Livery Renovations

27. Rotaract Club Sponsor

28. Floral Garden North Harbour Road

29. Butterfly Garden on G to G Trail

30. 523 Maitland Air Cadets

31. Polio Plus

32. Aqua Box for Disaster Relief

33. Shelter Box for Disaster Relief

34. Kingsbridge Community Centre

35. CMCA Strong Kids

36. YMCA AED Unit

37. Livery AED Unit

38. Maitland Trail Association

39. Walkerton Rotary Music Festival

40. Huron Coastal Conservation

41. Victoria Park Bottle Filling Station

42. G to G Trail - 2km designation

43. Victoria Park Court Refurbishment

44. Alzheimer's Society

45. Terry Fox Foundation Support

46. Ice Rink Boards

47. Sice Power Sweeper

48. Pete’s Hot Dog Wagon

49. IDCI International Conservation Research

50. Columbus Park Pickleball Courts

51. OSAID Support

52. Columbus Park Picnic Tables

53. Ukrainian Medical Supplies

54. Columbus Park Pavilion

55. Waterfront Ping Pong Tables

56. Huron County Search and Rescue

57. Maitland Sports Field - Bottle Filling Station

58. Zambia Sewing School

59. International Youth Exchange

60. Tree Planting at Bannister Park

61. Bannister Park Skateboard Park

62. Feed the Homeless during COVID

63. Out of the Cold Program

64. Garden at Waterfront Gazebo

Ongoing Initiatives:

1. Maintain Rotary Cove Beach at 352 Cove Rd.

2. Build and maintain the Goderich Interim Skateboard Park, now developed at Bannister Park Facilities at 180 MacDonald St.

3. Maintain the Jasper Gazebo garden at the waterfront.

4. Plant and maintain the Forget-me-not Garden across from the Huron Historic Jail each year.

5. Plant and maintain the native flower bed in front of the Wheelhouse.

6. Plant and maintain the pollinator garden on the G2G Trail.

7. Operate the Beach Hut and Wheelhouse each summer, mentoring and training 15-20 young people.

8. Collaborate with the Maitland Trail Association to increase the diversity of species in the environmentally sensitive area of the Maitland Woods.

Current Fundraising Efforts:

1. Chili Cook-off at Winterfest

2. Shred-it Event

3. Pete’s Hot Dog Wagon at various summer events

4. Book Sale at the Arts and Craft Festival

5. Charity Golf Tournament

6. Oktoberfest

7. Additional events based on opportunities and members' interests

Impressive eh!

Contact us to get involved.