Community Contributions

Rotary Donations From July 2021 - To Now

Serving People in the community

Rotary in this town has always made a commitment to citizens in need of support. The Eagle Park Long Term Care Home has been given contributions for its program of long term care. Rotary has also made a $8000 donation to purchase sleeper chairs for palliative care at Trillium Lodge.

Over the years Rotary has made regular contributions to community programs such as the Family Resource Centre, Forward House, SOS and the Salvation Army. During the Holiday Season Rotarians are usually “on the kettle” assisting the Salvation Army with its annual appeal.

When the Salvation Army required a vehicle to continue its work in the community, Rotary made a sizeable donation to purchase a van which was donated.

Rotary contributed a major donation to the building of affordable housing by the Kiwanis Club of Qualicum Beach. Qualicum Park is now a very successful project in our town.

Rotary has contributed to others in times of disaster and need. In 2022 members sent funds to assist with the BC flood relief. The Canadian Flag program of one club and the Field of Crosses program of the other help people in our community recognize important dates when we remember our national heritage.

Our club is particularly proud of our contribution to the building of the Qualicum Beach airport.

The notion of building a Qualicum Beach airport was first raised by Bert Welch in accepting his election as President of the Board of Trade in November 1942. Then in 1954 the Rotary Club of Qualicum Beach was looking for another worthwhile project and the President of the club, Garney St. Germaine, along with now Rotarian Bert Welch and club members tackled the volunteer effort to build an airport. So many Rotarians and friends of Rotary donated time and materials, cleared the current site, and drove heavy equipment to establish the landing field.

The Qualicum Beach Airport with a 2000 foot gravel runway was officially opened on September 17, 1957. It continued to operate until 1971 when Rotary Club members worked on increasing the width and length of the runway. Then in 1976 the Qualicum Beach Council decided to retain control of the airport appointing an Airport Committee. From that point many improvements were added and what began as an ambitious Rotary project now serves the entire community.

The Civic Centre and Local Landmarks

Rotary members led the push to build a civic centre. In 1986. Rotarian Sandy Horsland coordinated the building of a house and club members sold tickets to raffle it and direct the funds to the civic centre project. Rotarians Ian Lindsay and Ken Walker kept the entire project moving until the provincial government came on board to finance the Qualicum Beach Civic Centre completion.

The Qualicum Beach Civic centre opened in 1993 and since its opening this facility has hosted a variety of events from elections to symphony concerts. The District of Nanaimo followed up with the addition of a beautiful swimming pool, and once again Rotary became involved by donating funds to this major community edifice.

Years prior to the new civic centre Rotarians had installed a maple floor at the Community Hall and repainted its interior. This work was actually done in 1949-50; other major repair work to the community hall was completed in 1958.

Rotary House was established by Rotarians and it has been used by many groups in town. This building had a long history of community use and Rotarians refurbished the facility to make it an attractive meeting location. On a number of occasions Rotary offered the facility at no charge to certain non-profit groups.

The Qualicum Beach Fire Department has offered a camp for young people who have an interest in the fire service and being a community volunteer. Rotary has made major financial contributions to that program.

Milner Gardens has operated a popular “Roots and Shoots” program for young people and Rotary has been actively supporting that program.

Rotarians have recognized the KSS fine arts programs by supporting the annual Premier Performance evening. Where possible Rotarians have supported students travelling to music festivals and Rotary programs such as Adventures in Citizenship where students are hosted by Rotarians in our nation’s capital.

The Rotary Club of Qualicum Beach proudly gives back to our community in a number of different ways. In 2020, we initiated he Field of Crosses Memorial project, in partnership with the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 76. Located at the train tracks on Memorial Dr., across from the Curling Rink, this visual memorial represents the young soldiers of Qualicum Beach, Parksville and area who so bravely gave their lives in war, never returning home. A white cross with each soldiers’ name, military decorations, age at death, rank, regiment or unit and date of death, adorned with a single poppy and a small Canadian flag is erected for each soldier who is listed on the local cenotaphs.

It is the goal of the Rotary Club of Qualicum Beach to include local students in a meaningful way in The Field of Crosses project. We invite local schools to participate in a research project for students to explore the story of the soldiers’ represented at the Field of Crosses. By gaining a better understanding of the sacrifices so many made, these students will have a greater appreciation of the significance of Remembrance Day.

The Field of Crosses originated in Calgary where 3500 crosses are erected each year along Memorial Drive in remembrance of the soldiers from the southern Alberta area that were killed in action. The Rotary Club of Kelowna followed and displays about 250 crosses in City Park each year.

In the past 100 years, nearly 2 million Canadians have served in the military. About 117,000 were killed or died in action. In World War I alone, 66,000 Canadians gave their life with almost 20,000 of those buried in unmarked graves overseas. We strive to ensure that present and future Canadians do not forget those who gave their lives, providing us with the freedoms that we enjoy today and in the future.

Rotary Donations From July 2021 - To Now

Aldea Maya
Aldea Maya is a non for profit organization working in the Lake Atitalan area of Guatemala. Their focus is assisting the Indigenous Mayans to help themselves. We have helped for many years in many ways. Most recently we have been supplying families with water filters so they can have clean water to cook and drink with.
Mindfulness in May-The Art of Nurturing Nature
This is an annual student art exhibition in Qualicum Beach. It showcases art for local students age 13-18. Look for our next Festival in May 2025.
Mt. Arrowsmith Salvation Army Food Bank
Qualicum Beach Rotarians donate time ringing bells at Christmas and made $5000.00 cash donation in 2023 to help offset the high food inflation rate and need in the community
Kwalicum Secondary School Premiere Performance
Rotary has supported showcasing Fine Arts at Kwalicum Secondary School for 30+ years! Join us for the next performance in April 2025 at the Qualicum Beach Civic Centre.
Qualicum Beach Film Festival
Inaugural year for this event run by Saffron Bisiker. We donated prize money.
Qualicum Beach Fire Rescue “Fire Camp”
We have been a major sponsor of the bi annual event ($3000 in 2023) that immerses local students in all things related to becoming a Firefighter and other helping professions such as RCMP, Ambulance and Search and Rescue. Students leave with new founds skills in leadership, first aid, swift water rescue and much more.
Mamas for Mamas Oceanside
A $1,000 donation was made to this worthy group that is mothers helping mothers during these difficult times.
Soap for Hope Canada
We supplied 500 hygiene kits to Ukraine refugees.
Kids Cancer Care Ride for a Lifetime
For the past couple of years, we have sponsored a local friend of Rotary with her ride for cancer.
Ghana Project with Rotary Mid Island Group (MIG) Phase 1 and 2
We donated $1,000 to provide the Nwawasua School with flush latrines and a security wall to keep the girls safe to go to school. There is also education and training funding provided for the students and staff.
El Refugio Suchitlan Teacherage
It is located in the village of El Refugio Suchitlan, Cabo Corrientes, Jalisco, Mexico, about 40 km northwest of El Tuito, the seat of the Municipality of Cabo Corrientes, which is about 50 km from Puerto Vallarta. In this area the teachers sleep and live in their classrooms. Therefore, teacher retention is low and education suffers. Our $2500 donation will get the teachers a place to live and hopefully they will stay longer and offer continuance of education for the children of the area.
Kwalicum Secondary School lunch program
There is a huge increase in students with food insecurity. We donate every year to this worthy cause. Students cannot learn on empty tummies.
Kwalicum Secondary School Scholarships
Over the past 30 years the Rotary Clubs of Qualicum Beach have generously donated well over 50 thousand dollars towards advanced education for local students!!
Vancouver Island University Bursaries
We have donated monies towards mature students from the Oceanside area to help continue their studies.
Nanaimo Regional Hospital
Arrowsmith Search and Rescue
We helped with a district grant, a huge bottle drive and money from the Sunrise Rotary. This $9,000 + in 2022 helped them open their new facility on the airport land in Qualicum Beach.
Kwalicum Secondary School Mountain Bike Club
Our donation enabled more children to enjoy the great local sport of mountain biking.
Parksville Youth Curling Club
Our donation helped a team go to the Provincials! Helping Youth is a priority for us!
Rotary Club of Lviv Ukraine
We donated cash directly to Rotary Ukraine through friends at the Rotary Club of Bremerton.