Meeting: November 18, 2025
18 Members present. Rod led us in O Canada and Fred gave the Invocation.
Guests: Gillian Northwood, Norma Smith, Marcia Pike, Mary Holland, Vicki Parkhill, Gurtad Parmar, Kamal Parmar and Gurpreti Parmar.
Visiting Rotarians: Ata Malfuzi
Today's trivia question: which member came to Canada as a 3 year old from England? Answer - Bob Moss.
Rotary Minute (from Sheila):
It is still November and Rotary Foundation Month. All Rotarians are encouraged to donate to the Rotary Foundation and many do on a regular basis (every Rotarian Every year) and earn Paul Harris Awards.
Donations to TRF are invested for 3 years and the income is used to offset administration costs. But after 3 years the original funds are spent doing good around the world, and some is used to support Global grants.
However some of those original funds are returned as a District Designated Fund, to the District from where they were donated, based on the amount of DDF generated from a district’s Annual Fund giving three years prior.
The District then is able to issue grants to its individual clubs for small-scale, short-term activities that address needs in a club’s community and communities abroad. Each district chooses which activities it will fund with these grants. District 5020 grants for 2025/2026 include 16 grants to island clubs for local and international projects.
Announcements:
Past member Ian Ross died recently. The Celebration of life for Ian Niamath has been rescheduled to January 11.
The Beer and Burger night is next Sunday. If you intend on coming please buy your tickets soon.
Jim is trying to sell stuff left over from the Garage sale. and looking for ideas.
Don reported from the Area 40 partnership Committee. The Rotary Book Sale raised $150,000. Coldest Night of the Year Walk is scheduled for February 28 - we need a club co-ordinator.
Rotarians are members of the Chamber of Commerce and are encourgaed to attend meetings. December 4 is the Christmas event at the Coast Bastion.
Everyone is invited to go and help decorate the Hospital on November 22. 11am - 3pm. Meet at the main entrance. If you can help please register at: tina.moreira@islandhealth.ca
The District Conference will be held May 8-9 2026 in Victoria. $250 to register. Grand Pacific Hotel is holding rooms at $227 pn.
Our evening to sort at Loaves and Fishes is next Tuesday November 25. Please register if you want to help out.
Program:
Ed introduced Dr Hector Baillie
Dr. Baillie hails from Scotland, where he completed an undergraduate degree in mathematics and a Masters in biomedical engineering before completing his medical training at the University of Glasgow. He has worked in British Columbia , first in Mission (1987-2002), then Nanaimo (2002-2023). He retired on April 14, 2023 (sort of). Dr Baillie remains active in promoting a better heath care system for Canada. His talk was interesting, educational and anecdotal. One of our best speakers this year (Editor's opinion).
This one surprised most of us:
And the bad news of our changing population dynamics:
Dr Baillie finished by asking everyone to write to their MLA and demand change.
MEMBER PROFILE - ROD SMITH
Rod was born in Terrace where he enjoyed the freedom of living on 30 acres, spending most summers at the family cabin at Lakelse Lake with lots of water skiing and winters flying across fields and up mountains on a Ski Doo. A memorable job that he had was working at the local TV station. Duties included camera operation during news, sports and weather broadcasts which was live and could be very exciting at times. He also had shifts to play the late-night movies from film reels, shut down the station at
3 am and then walk 3 kilometers home in the dark – a little scary at times, but lots of fun too.
Rod headed south to the University of Victoria after graduating from Caledonia Senior Secondary School in Terrace. He spent a couple of years at UVic and then decided to travel to try to figure out a career path that he could enjoy. After consuming a jug of beer at a pub on Stewart Island, located off the southern tip
of New Zealand, the decision was made and he headed back to Vancouver and enrolled at the University of British Columbia in the Engineering Faculty.
After graduation he had many opportunities to remain in
Vancouver, but elected to take a position in Nanaimo which suited his preferred lifestyle compared to that of the big city. Rod spent his entire working career as a consulting civil engineer, which was challenging and rewarding. He retired in 2017 from a firm that he and a few colleagues had formed in 1994.
Ian Niamath (recently deceased) invited Rod to join the Rotary Club of Nanaimo North and he was inducted into the club in July of 1992. His father was a member of the Rotary Club of Terrace in the 60s, classification – coal sales & distribution. Rod was president during the 2007-08 Rotary year. He enjoys the community and international service aspects of Rotary along with the comradery provided at the meetings and during events.
Rod married Val, his high school sweetheart, and they continue to enjoy life together in Nanaimo along with exploring Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada and many warmer parts of the world. They have two children and three grandchildren. One family lives in Nanaimo and one in Squamish.
