PDG Dr. Irwin Stewart (Lois)
District Governor 1993-1994
Irwin was born in Swan River, Manitoba and moved as a teenager to B.C. where he attended the University of British Columbia. Graduating in Medicine, he married Lois, a nurse, and did postgraduate studies in Ear, Nose and Throat in London and New York.
They have a son residing in Toronto and another son and daughter in B.C. They now have one grandchild.
CAREER
He has carried a Consultant practice in New Westminster for the past 28 years and served on the Executive of both Provincial and National Societies of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery. He also serves on the Executive Committee of the B. C. College of Physicians and Surgeons.
At the University of British Columbia, he has taught for many years in the Department of Surgery where he serves as Clinical Professor. In 1984 he was the recipient of the Mosher Award for outstanding clinical research in the field of Hearing Loss in Children and their Education.
ROTARY
Irwin joined the New Westminster Rotary Club in 1977 and became active in Youth Exchange both at the Club and District levels, serving as Chairman of the Youth Exchange Committee for Multi-District 5040/5050 from 1986-89. In 1990 he was elected Canadian representative to the World Council of Regional Advisors of Rotary Youth Exchange. He has served two years as President of the Michael Sandover-sly Memorial Fund for Youth Exchange students, and taught surgical skills for one year to a Fijian surgeon brought to B.C.through a Special Grants Project. He was awarded a Paul Harris Fellowship in 1983 and served as New Westminster Rotary Club President 1989-1990.
Irwin and Lois have travelled to Kenya twice as Rotary Volunteers to participate in "Operation Hearing", sponsored by Rotary's 3-H Program. As well, they have carried out extensive volunteer medical work in the Canadian North, in Thailand, and in the South Pacific.
DISTRICT GOVERNOR YEAR
The 1993/94 year was an excellent year. We did not start up new Clubs, but we consolidated newly chartered Clubs and had an increase in membership as a result. A new Avenue of Service was created for the year, called "Membership Development", and a great deal of attention was paid to this. During the year Dr. Stewart initiated assemblies with the Presidents and Secretaries in Terrace and Prince George, as well as the Vancouver area # increasing attendance overall.
The Conference: was a combined conference with District 5050 held in Victoria, British Columbia, and was a major success, attracting over 600 Rotarians.
Foundation: general contributions for the first time ever reached an average of $50.00 U.S. per member throughout the District.
Foundation Dinners: five dinners were held in the District, Vancouver, Prince Rupert, Terrace, Prince George and Quesnel. All were highly successful.
Interact: a new Club was formed in Powell River. We now have three Interact Clubs and the foundation for more.
Group study: a completely successful GSE, with District 1060 in England.
Irwin and Lois had an excellent year under the District theme "Share Rotary with new members", and it was rewarding to work with R.I. President, Bob Barth, with the R.I. theme "Believe in what you do, and do what you believe in"