Sixty people from 16 Rotary clubs in District 5040 and two Rotaract clubs, including three children, came together for fun and fellowship, hamburgers, hotdogs and to catch up with fellow Rotarians and meet new friends at a good old fashioned summer BBQ at a park in the Vancouver, BC suburb of Delta on July 18, 2026. Rotary International Director, Zones 28 & 32 2026-28, Marty Helman was the honoured guest. Marty is on her Impact Tour to every one of the 40 Districts in both Zones over the 24 months of her term. District 5040 includes 48 clubs from the Greater Vancouver, BC area up the coast to Prince Rupert and inland to Prince George.
 

The 450 pupils and staff at Signal Hill Elementary School in Pemberton, BC now have a more reliable, hands-on outdoor learning space which has strengthened the school’s food-growing program thanks to a new CDN$20,000 greenhouse which adds to its garden program.

Rotary Club of Pemberton contributed CDN$11,000 to the greenhouse project and another $9,000 came from The Rotary Foundation through a District Grant.
 

In Uganda girls and young women face a significant barrier to their education and well-being because they are not able to afford safe menstrual hygiene products.

With CDN$5,765 from the Rotary Club of Burnaby Metrotown plus CDN$4,500 from a Rotary District 5040 Grant from The Rotary Foundation, the Club joined the Rotary Club of Kampala Kawempe in producing and distributing 1,585 reusable sanitary pad kits at three rural schools and one urban school.

100 vulnerable refugee women in Kampala, Uganda took the opportunity to gain education, English language skills, literacy, life skills, psychosocial support, and greater self-confidence to pull themselves out of poverty thanks to funding from the Rotary Club of Burnaby and a District Grant from The Rotary Foundation.

Through the Special Education for Vulnerable Refugee Women provided by the Uganda branch of the multi-nation Human Rights Defenders Solidarity Network the female refugees have been able to improve their English language communication skills.

Linda Low is a Rotary Peace Scholar who has dedicated her career to promoting peace through dialogue and community engagement. Having grown up in Kelowna and lived in Vancouver, while attending and graduating from the University of British Columbia and starting her career, Linda shares in this brief video how Rotary programs and membership have provided valuable opportunities to build connections, grow as a leader, and advance peace efforts globally.