The Rotary Club of Whitby's 75th Anniversary.

Planned Events

Celebrating with Class

Club's History

On February 16, 1933, fifteen Whitby businessmen met with members of the Oshawa, Toronto and Bowmanville Rotary Clubs to talk about establishing a Club in Whitby.  They left the meeting committed to do so, and 75 years later in 2008, the Club is very proud of its records of achievements and service to its community and the world.  The Club Members are going to celebrate this special year in a number of ways.

There will be 75 maple trees planted in various places around the town including parks and the gardens of the individual Rotarians who wish to celebrate in this way.  The Environmental Parks that the Club has sponsored in partnership with the Town of Whitby and the Durham Region School Board will have a bit of a facelift.  The travelling tribute quilt, that has paid tribute to those who have journeyed with HIV/AIDS as well as expressing, through fabric, the thoughts of various people and organizations, will be hung for display for the year.

Two major events focusing on the 75th anniversary will take place to mark the date of the Club’s charter night of May 2, 1933 and the location of that charter night at Trafalgar Castle School (known, in 1933, as the Ontario Ladies College).

May 2, 2008 – Celebrating with Class, a “fun”draising event to be held at the Class Act Dinner Theatre.  A fun night to mark the date of the charter night.  Tickets: $75 per person (and, yes, you guessed it---$1 for each of the Club’s 75 years!).  Why not consider joining us for a delicious buffet dinner followed by the play, The Love List, by Canadian playwright, Norm Foster.  For tickets or further information, please call Marion Irwin at 905-668-2283  (An income tax receipt for some portion of the price will be available.)

June 19, 2008 – Back to the Future, a gala occasion to be held at Trafalgar Castle School where the Club’s founders met for their charter night.  The menu of the 1933 Charter Night will be emulated with some reworking of its items to today’s cooking styles.  One must remember, too, that the depression years would have had an impact on menus of that day.

An Anniversary Committee of eight Club Members Co-Chaired by Joanne Ashley and Marion Irwin has been at work planning the activities to celebrate the 75th anniversary.  The Anniversary outline lists these various activities, and further information is available by calling Joanne at 905-571-4829 or Marion at 905-668-2283.

It is the hope of the Committee that former Rotarians will want to attend some or all of the activities as well as those who represent organizations that the Club has supported over the years.  The Club would welcome, too, any citizens of the Town who are aware of the work that Rotary does both in the community and around the world.