Program

Gayle served as governor of District 5010 in 2006-07, following service to the district in numerous other leadership positions.  As governor of the largest geographic district in the Rotary world (Alaska, USA; Yukon, Canada; Siberia & Far East, Russia), she introduced a number of development initiatives and chartered six new clubs, for which the district was recognized with Zone awards for membership growth and new clubs.

A past Group Study Exchange team leader and Rotary Foundation volunteer in Latvia, Gayle has been a long-term member of the district Foundation committee.  She also served as grants subcommittee chair with a primary focus on implementation of humanitarian projects in Russia, in addition to hands-on work with Foundation projects in Russia and Latvia.

At the Zone level, she served as trainer for incoming district governors and on the organizing committee for multiple Zone Institutes. She completed terms as an advisor for the Open World program, and as educational chair for the nine-district Pacific Northwest President Elects Training Seminar.  She served as training leader for Governors Elect at Rotary’s 2012 and 2013 International Assemblies, is a delegate to the 2013 Council on Legislation and serves as the Rotary Coordinator for Zone 24 West.

Gayle is a multiple Paul Harris Fellow, a benefactor and major donor of The Rotary Foundation, a recipient of TRF’s Citation for Meritorious Service and Distinguished Service Award, and served TRF as an Assistant Regional Rotary Foundation Coordinator.

Her professional background is in marketing, sales and operations, with a specialty in strategic market development, working with start-ups, and companies introducing new products or entering new markets. She is the president/CEO of a market and business strategy firm working with companies in the U.S. and internationally in a wide range of industries.

Originally from Iowa, Gayle has lived throughout the United States, and currently resides in Anchorage, Alaska.



Daniel Germain
Founding President, Breakfast Clubs of Canada

 
Daniel Germain’s dream of giving all Canadian children an equal chance at success came to life after doing humanitarian work in Mexico and Haiti and witnessing the devastating effects of poverty on children.

When he came back to Canada, he wanted to find a way he could make a difference in the lives of Canadian children. Daniel found his cause through his belief that the simple act of providing a nutritious breakfast each school day, in a friendly and supportive environment, can help give Canadian children an equal chance of success, regardless of their circumstances.

In November 1994, with help from the Pratt & Whitney Canada Employee Charitable Fund, Daniel formed the Club des petits déjeuners du Québec (Breakfast Clubs of Canada)\. Since then, the Club has made a noticeable difference to the lives of children in Quebec. Using his proven Quebec model, Daniel founded Breakfast Clubs of Canada in 2005 in order to reach and help serve children breakfast all across Canada.

In recognition of his work, Daniel has most recently been appointed the Order of Canada, has received the Medal of the Quebec National Assembly, the Meritorious Service Decoration (civil division) from the Governor-General, and the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee medal among others.

Gary Hollick 
PDG Rotary District 5050

Gary Hollick is known for wearing many hats in the community. Gary currently serves as the Publisher of the Richmond News, President of Cornerstone Healthcare, as well as President of the South Surrey / White Rock Chamber of Commerce. Previously, Gary was appointed Publisher of the Surrey Now newspaper in 2002 after serving as the Now’s Director of Marketing for five years. Prior to that, he was a successful proprietor of numerous businesses in Kimberley, B.C. and a Realtor in Calgary, Alberta. He began his newspaper career in Calgary and later moved to Kelowna to publish a local weekly. He joined CanWest Publications and moved his family to the Lower Mainland 16 years ago.

Throughout his entire working life Gary has contributed to the local community. He is Past-President of the North Delta Rotary Club and sat as District Governor of District 5050 overseeing 53 clubs from Hope to Everett. As Rotary District Governor, he directed the 3000 member clubs to focus fundraising efforts on helping under-developed countries create sources of clean drinking water. Upon completion of his term as District Governor, Gary was appointed to “Rotary International Literacy Coordinator” for Canada, US and Russia.

In 2002, Gary was recognized by the City of Delta as Business Person of the Year. He is currently a member of the Surrey Board of Trade where he is recognized as Past President. In 2009, he received the Community Ambassador Award from the Surrey Foundation where he served as Director. He is an adviser on SFU Business Council, sits on the Business Advisory Council with Surrey School District and took an active role on Surrey Mayor’s Crime task force as well as the Surrey Crystal Meth task force. In 2008, he chaired the Spirit Bear Program in Surrey raising over $350,000 for charity. He is recognized as the creator of the “I Love Surrey” program.



Julian von Martius
Youth Exchange student alumnus

Ten years ago, Julian was hosted by Rotary Club of Quesnel in the Youth Exchange programme and, like so many YE students, left a lasting impression.

Following his return home to Germany, he has embarked on a career in finance. Progressing from the London School of Economics & Political Science, where he was a co-founder of the Microfinance Society, he gained intern experience with the likes of Siemens, Metzler, and the European Parliament, before working as an Equity Analyst with Goldman Sachs, The Blackstone Group, and currently Bain Capital.



Karen Harrison
Rotarian

Karen has been a Human Resources professional for the past 30 years as a Training & Development Consultant. She designs & delivers professional development workshops for staff & managers of a diverse group of corporate &  non-profit clients.

As well, for 20 years Karen was  a part-time university instructor at SFU in Communication in  Business courses.

Ms. Harrison is trained and certified as a personal & professional coach and  has coached many managers and employees on their interpersonal /communication skills

Karen has been a Rotarian for 23 years and is a member of The West Vancouver Sunrise Rotary Club. Karen coordinates and presents a Rotary  Ethics & values Program for West Vancouver high school students.

Karen has held many other leadership positions in Rotary such Rotary Leadership Institute and PETS instructor



Leo Nimisck
PDG Rotary District 5040

A Rotarian since 1964, Leo has worked as a Provincial Court Judge from 1974 until retiring from full time work on April 30, 1997. He worked as a part time Judge until 2006.

A native of British Columbia, he attended University in Nova Scotia and British Columbia receiving his Bachelor of Laws in 1961.  He practiced law until 1973.

He was a member of the Rotary Club of Cranbrook, BC in District 5080 for 20 years and served as President in 1967-68. In 1984 he was transferred to Vancouver, B.C. where he joined the Rotary Club of Burnaby in District 5040. 

In 1990 he was the District Governors special representative to Charter the Rotary Club of Burnaby-Deer Lake and became a Charter member. In June of 2002 he transferred his membership to the Rotary Club of Ladner, in District 5040.

He has served Rotary in many Club, District and International capacities. He served as District Governor for District 5040 during the 1997-1998 Rotary year. He is currently Foundation Chair for the Ladner Rotary Club.

Leo is a multiple Paul Harris Fellow, a Major Donor, a Foundation Benefactor and a member of the Bequest Society. 

Leo has perfect attendance since July 1, 1967.



Monty Audernart
District 5360, Past Rotary International Vice-President 2008-09

Born and raised in Southern Alberta, Canada,  Monty received his Doctorate of Dental Surgery in 1977 from the University of Alberta. He has served as President of two Dental Societies, including a number of years serving on the Peer Review Committee for the Alberta Dental Association. He is a Fellow of the Pierre Fauchard Academy of Dentistry, and the International Academy of Dentistry. As a Rotary volunteer he has taken his professional skills to the less fortunate of the world, through Rotary sponsored projects; to such countries as Mexico, Jamaica, Bangladesh, the Philippines, Thailand, and Far Eastern Russia. He has served communities from the Amazon River in Peru, to the Arctic Circle in Canada.

In his Community, Monty has served as President of the Chamber of Commerce, a member of the Airport Commission, is a founding member of the Red Deer Symphony Orchestra, and has been an active volunteer for the Canadian Cancer Society. He served as a Director of Habitat for Humanity and is an honorary officer for Scouts Canada. He is a Director for ShelterBox Canada. In 2001 he received the Mayor’s Recognition Award for “Distinguished Volunteer Service.” In 2003 he was awarded The Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal.

Monty joined the Red Deer East Rotary Club in 1987.  He served as Club President in 1990-91, a District Governor’s Special Representative to help charter the Rotary Club of Red Deer Sunrise in 1999, and then as District Governor 2000-2001, where he worked with his District to receive RI’s 21^st Century Membership Challenge Award for Zone 22. Since then he has served as a Zone Task Force Member for Disaster Relief, a member of RI’s Fellowship Committee, a Zone Leader for the Polio Eradication Campaign, and a Representative to the Council on Legislation. He has served as District Trainer, and both Zone and Regional Membership Coordinator. Monty served as an RI Training Leader to the incoming Governors, 2004 and 2005, and Zone Training Leader 2006. He served as Rotary International Director from Zone 22 for the Rotary years 2007-2009 and as Vice-President for Rotary International in 2008-2009. He has served on the Montreal, Bangkok and Sidney Convention Committees, the International Assembly Committee,  and served as  Moderator for the International Assembly and as Chair and advisor to RI’s Membership Development Committee.  He is the Aide to the President of Rotary International 2013-2014.

Monty is the Founder of the Rotarian Action Group of Dental Volunteers.   

A certified instructor for shotgun sports, and an avid fisherman, Monty is married to Liz, who has also been honored as a volunteer in her community, and they are the parents of 6 children, and have eighteen grandchildren, all of whom are Paul Harris Fellows. They are active members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- Day Saints where Monty serves as Public Affairs Director. Monty and Liz are Major Donors to the Rotary Foundation, and are Charter members of the Rotary Foundation Bequest Society.



Prof Mark McLachlan
UBC Department of Chemistry

Dr. MacLachlan grew up in Quesnel, BC and completed his BSc degree at UBC. He then completed his PhD at University of Toronto (I. Manners & G. Ozin; inorganic materials, polymers, and molecules) and a post-doc at MIT (T. Swager; organic materials). Dr. MacLachlan has taught Chemistry 121 (General Chemistry), 202 (Coordination Chemistry), 427/527 (Materials Chemistry), and 414/525 (Adv. Coord. Chem.). His research is in the area of supramolecular materials. He loves the world of materials chemistry - organic, inorganic, porous materials, crystals, polymers...

Dr. MacLachlan was awarded a 2012 E.W.R. Steacie Memorial Fellowship, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) honour that recognizes some of the nation's most promising scientific talent.

According to NSERC, “few working in the field are more imaginative or innovative than the University of British Columbia’s Mark MacLachlan, whose research breakthroughs have produced truly novel materials”. Mark MacLachlan has made significant contributions to the field of supramolecular chemistry, which focuses on molecules whose shape and properties allow them to self-assemble into new materials.

Alongside some of Canada’s top researchers in science and engineering, Dr MacLachlan received his award at a ceremony in Ottawa, hosted by the Governor General of Canada.

When not in the department, Mark enjoys drinking coffee, running, mountain biking, and spending time with his family.

 

Ramesh Ferris 
Rotary Club of Whitehorse-Rendezvous, YT; polio survivor

Ramesh Ferris was born in the Southern State of Tamil Nadu in India. He contracted polio at only six months old which resulted in paralysis of his legs. With no means or access to rehabilitation for him, Ramesh's mother placed him in a Canadian-founded orphanage, a year later.

Soon after, he was adopted by a Canadian family who brought him to Canada, making him the first international adoption in the Yukon Territory. With the support of his new Canadian family and after several operations at the Vancouver's Children's Hospital, Ramesh learned to walk with crutches and braces for the first time at the age of three and a half years old.

After graduating from college, Ramesh has been active in his community, working with at-risk youth, social assistance recipients and people of varying abilities. He assisted in the creation of accessible communities in the Yukon through sport and recreation including wheelchair basketball, and hand-cycling programs in the north.

With a personal connection to polio survivors, Ramesh's determination to make a positive difference in the lives others took the form of Cycle to Walk Canada, a program designed to raise money towards polio quality of life and prevention programs. He continues to make a difference in the lives of youth and is a shining example of overcoming adversity and becoming a source of positive change.