While Rotary and its World Health Foundation and government partners in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative have eliminated annual polio cases worldwide by 99.9% since 1988, preventing paralysis and even death among 20 million children, many children suffer from this incurable disease throughout the developing world, suffering deformed and paralysed limbs as well as breathing difficulties for their entire lives.

Hospitals such as Cheshire Services Ethiopia in Addis Ababa provide essential surgery to the limbs of children with polio to prevent further deformation. These surgeries also allow children to wear and walk with leg braces instead of being forced to crawl on the streets, as has been the case for many years. Cheshire Services Ethiopia, an international organisation that serves as the primary caregiver for children and youth with disabilities in Ethiopia, manages rehabilitation hospitals in Meganeshe, Hawassa, and Dire Dawa.

Rotary Club of Burnaby Metrotown continued distributing Coats for Kids to families needing a hand up with winter coats (photo). Here are many of the other achievements and activities of some of our clubs in Rotary District 5040 in the past two months.

On the United Nations "World Polio Day", October 24th, a group of Rotarians and friends of various ages participated in the annual Walk for Polio. The walk started at Vancouver City Hall, where Councillor Rebecca Bligh presented the City's Proclamation in support of the worldwide day, to mark the success, but journey ahead, in ridding the world of polio

Polio (poliomyelitis) is a paralyzing and potentially deadly infectious disease that most commonly affects children under the age of 5. The virus spreads from person to person, typically through contaminated water. It can then attack the nervous system. Rotary started the global campaign to end polio about 40 years ago, when there were 350,000 cases a year in 120 countries. Since joined by world health organizations, foundations and governments the number of cases has dropped to tens of cases in two remaining countries. Our goal of ridding the world of this disease is closer than ever. -- photos by Ken Choy, Rotaract Club of Richmond

As World Polio Day approaches on October 24th here is a video of Bill Gates, at the 2025 Rotary International Convention in Calgary, renewing the longstanding partnership with Rotary International in our joint commitment to rid the world of polio through the Gates Foundation's commitment to match US dollars raised by Rotary 2 to 1 raising up to US$450 million over the next three years. This renewed commitment is more than funding. It’s a promise to future generations, and proof that when we work together, we achieve the extraordinary.

Rotary Club of West Vancouver Sunrise held its annual Ride for Rescue fundraiiser to support North Shore Search and Rescuse (photo). Here are many of the other achievements and activities of some of our clubs in Rotary District 5040 in the past three months.

Since 2020 the cost of groceries alone has increased by 47% along with other cost increases such as rent, household expenses and childcare. Now 29% of children in BC face food insecurity including 44% of children in single parent families. For those who depend on school meal programs throughout the week, each weekend brings stress, fear, and empty cupboards. Then there the months when children are not in school.

Starting in 2012 Back Pack Buddies has engaged local schools, donors, social workers and other non-profits to deliver food to hungry children. Today it supports over 6,000 children every week in 73 communities across BC. At the Backpack Buddies food storage warehouse in North Vancouver problems had arisen with vermin accessing the stored food.

Children and families in Powell River have had limited access to public spaces that encourage both physical play and creative musical expression. Research shows that musical playground equipment not only enhances cognitive and social development but also promotes physical fitness and emotional well-being.

Rotary Club of Powell River purchased and had installed for the hundreds of children and families musical playground equipment in a local regional park. The $15,000 installation, funded by the club and $7,500 from The Rotary Foundation District Grant, is creating a vibrant and inclusive play environment that combines the joy of music and physical activity for children and families as an opportunity for creative expression, learning, and community engagement.

Powell River Rotary partnered with the qathet Regional District for maintenance and upkeep and ongoing support.
 

Below are links to transcripts and videos of Rotary International leaders who gave inspirational speeches to 16,000 Rotary members from 140 countries attending the June 21 to 25, 2025 Rotary Convention in Calgary. 

For those with busy personal and work lives and not able to read the full transcripts or view the videos, through the links below, excerpts from the presentations are also offered below.

"Phoenix”, the first of nine fire trailers to be donated to the Siska First Nation community near Lytton and eight other BC First Nation communities, is now complete and ready for service. The fire trailer, which can be towed or airlifted to operate in hard to reach areas and provide rapid response to smaller fires before they become big ones, can also serve to fight fires right in the community. Rotary Club of Steveston and Rotary District 5040 leaders and a representative of Disaster Aid Canada, a Rotary organization based in Ladysmith, which contributed $350,000 to the project, dedicated the prototype, at a ceremony in March, but the final version has greater capacity and is decked out in full livery.
 

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) has been under attack in this recent era of increased polarization. "The Challenge of DEI in a Divided World" was the topic of the third in a series of Positive Peace Conversations our District 5040 sponsored along with Rotary partner Mediators Beyond Borders International (MBBI) on May 28th.

Chair of the former Rotary International Task Force on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and current Chair of the RI DEI Advisory Council Valarie Wafer spoke during the session about DEI and Rotary's commitment to it, by that name or another name which might avoid provoking negative reaction by some.