CN Tower Lights Up for Rotary's 100 Years In Canada
Press Release
DATE: June 8, 2010
Toronto, Ontario --- On the evening of June 19, 2010, the world's tallest tower, CN Tower will be lit up in Rotary Blue and Gold to honour Rotary International's 100 years in Canada, it was announced today by Doug Byers, District Governor of Rotary International District 7070 , the Rotary District located right here in southern Ontario.
"We are very grateful to everyone at the CN Tower for honouring Rotary and all of the humanitarian acts of kindness that are accomplished worldwide by more than 725 Rotary Clubs with more than 27,000 members coast to coast in Canada", Mr. Byers added.
"It is also the evening before more than 20,000 Rotarians from over 200 countries will descend upon Canada in the city of Montreal for the Rotary International Convention June 20 through 23, 2010. Many visiting Rotarians and their families will be staying after the Convention and travelling throughout Canada and there is no doubt that Toronto will be high on their list", he said.
Rotary, the first service organization, established its first Club in Chicago in 1905. Rotary became international in 1910, when the first Rotary Club outside of the United States was formed in Winnipeg, Manitoba. And since that time, Rotary has grown.
There are some 1.2 million Rotarians in more than 32,000 clubs in 200 countries and geographical areas. Southern Ontario has more than 2,500 Rotarians in 54 Rotary clubs in District 7070 stretching from Toronto to Belleville in the east and north to Alliston.
The main objective of Rotary International is service, in the community and throughout the world. As volunteers, Rotarians build goodwill and peace, provide humanitarian service, and encourage high ethical standards in all vocations.
Polio eradication has been Rotary's top priority since 1985, with more than $1.2 billion contributed to the effort.
Rotary has provided the volunteers, advocates, and donors who have helped bring about a 99 percent decline in the number of polio cases.
Since 1985, two billion children have been immunized, five million have been spared disability, and over 250,000 deaths from polio have been prevented.
"We don't know exactly when the last child will be affected. But we do have the vaccines to wipe it out," Mr. Byers said. "Countries do have the will to deploy all the tools at their disposal.
If we all have the fortitude to see this effort through to the end, then we will eradicate polio."
If you would like to learn more about Rotary, go to www.rotary.org.
Written by:
David Andrews Chairman Rotary International District 7070 Public Relations Committee 55 William Street East, Unit 1010, Oshawa, Ontario CANADA L1G 7C9 Home Phone: 905-576-0187
