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

Thanks to Rotary Club of Whistler, with support from the Rotary Club of Whistler Millenium, and The Rotary Foundation through a District Grant, a new bike park has just opened at Bayly Park to provide a community gathering space for Cheakamus Crossing residents. The renovated park builds on the former facility operated by Whistler BMX, which closed in 2024. The Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) has since taken over operations and revitalized the bike park. – Story courtesy  of Liz McDonald, Pique Newsmagazine, Whistler; photo by Ken Martin

Guatemala has one of the most extreme combinations of poverty, illiteracy and inequality. 4 out of 5 indigenous Guatemalans live in poverty and 1 in 3 cannot not read or write. In Guatemala’s Western and Central Highlands, the most illiterate part of the country, during the 2023 Guatemalan school year, primary school literacy training expanded in 30 communities, serving 5,711 students and training 243 teachers thanks in part to a Global Grant from The Rotary Foundation, US$1000 from the Rotary Club of Quesnel and 154 separate funding contributors. 

The US$57,000 project aimed to strengthen both traditional and technological literacy in the communities supported in four key areas. This project was part of the Guatemala Literacy Project (GLP), a network of Rotarians and the nonprofit organization, Cooperative for Education (CoEd), to improve education for underserved students in Guatemala.

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.

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.

The District Nomination Committee is pleased to announce Assistant Governor Peter Roaf of the Rotary Club of Ladner as District Governor Nominee Designate to serve as District Governor in 2028-2029.