Current Projects

The Rotary Club of West Vancouver Sunrise has been serving the North Shore and International communities through active “hands-on” involvement and fundraising since 1989.

Here are some of our current and recent projects and activities:

Spring Fling Fund Raiser. The Rotary Club of West Vancouver Sunrise held a fundraiser, the “Spring Fling”, on Saturday, March 1st. Proceeds go to the Lions Gate Hospice fund and other Rotary projects. See Press Releases.

Re-opening the North Shore Youth Safe House. We participated as part of the North Shore Service Club Committee that worked with the community to get the North Shore Youth Safe House re-opened. It was re-opened in December 2007 thanks to some great consolidated community effort. Funding has now been committed both from the Federal and Provincial Governments. For more information, see NS Youth Safe House and Press Releases.

Ethics and Values Program. For the fifth year, Rotarians from many Clubs helped Grade X students at Rockridge and Sentinel Secondary Schools to consider ethics when dealing with difficult or complex life situations. They participated in the program at Rockridge on April 7, 8, 14, and 15 and at Sentinel on April 21, 22, 28, and 29. In the past four years over 1000 students have participated in the program. See Press Releases.

Operation Red Nose. In conjunction with the BC Crime Prevention Association, ICBC, and the Auto Brokers of BC, the four North Shore Clubs and many other volunteers provided 313 safe rides home on the weekends during the 2007 Christmas season. We will be doing so again in 2008. The service is free but donations are welcome. Our Club plans to use the funds raised to support two students from Ambleside Youth Centre who participated in their summer work experience project, to sponsor the annual West Vancouver Youth Week , and to support other leadership programs and scholarships. See Operation Red Nose and Press Releases.

Seniors’ Christmas Lunch. On December 8th, we hosted the 18th annual Seniors’ Christmas Lunch in conjunction with the Seniors’ Centre for 85 house-bound seniors. Thanks again for the assistance provided by students from the Ambleside Youth Centre and the Rockridge Interact Club and for the entertainment provided by students from Collingwood School. And thanks to the many community leaders who participated as table hosts. See Press Releases.

Shake Shacks on Community Day and Canada Day at Ambleside Park. We are renowned for our great milkshakes. Thank you to our 2007 sponsors Some Place Special for donating the ice cream and Juan Carlos Comacho of ICO Trading for donating the milk.

Enjoy the Arts Camp. The Rotary 'Enjoy the Arts Camp' is a project of the Rotary Club of Hofgeismar-Wolfhagen in Germany. In 2007 the Camp was held during the 'Documenta' exhibition in Kassel; this exhibition is the world's leading exposition of modern art and exhibition concepts. We were proud to sponsor a young local artist Ryszard Krukowski. Ryszard, a graduate of West Vancouver Secondary and the Art Institute of Vancouver. Richard is currently pursuing a degree at the Emily Carr Institute and is also a jeweler's apprentice and fire agate miner, apprenticing to his father who is also an artist. For more information see:
http://www.rotary1820.org/Hofgeismar-Wolfhagen/Camp-2007.php or Press Releases.

Supporting Youth on the North Shore. In addition to supporting the West Vancouver Youth Week and the Summer Work Experience project, in 2007 our Club provided four $500 scholarships to students at Rockridge School and an art book for an art student. Our youth Director is also very involved in working with students who are part of the very active Interact Club at Rockridge. Interact is affiliated with Rotary as an organization for high school students who provide community service and/or raise funds for international projects.

Youth Leadership Programs. In the spring each year the BC Rotary Clubs sponsor students for a weekend leadership program for students 15 – 18 years of age . For more information see:
http://www.rotary5040.org and select Youth Programs.

Klahanie Housing Project. Our Club participates on the Board of the Klahanie Housing project, a project that Rotary provided the initial seed money to establish this project. Over the years, we have assisted the residents by helping to cleanup the grounds, clean behind fridges and stoves, or host movie nights for the young children.

Traffic Circle at the foot of the Lions Gate Bridge. As part of the “Adopt a Highway” program, members from the four North Shore Clubs maintain the grounds in the traffic circle on a monthly basis.

Rotary World Help Network Program. Over 30 Rotary Clubs in BC support this non-profit, registered charitable organization that co-ordinates the shipment of used and donated educational, humanitarian, and medical supplies to countries in need throughout the world. The shipments are always co-ordinated with Rotary Clubs in the receiving counties. Clubs members frequently volunteer to help pack the containers. In 2004 our Club arranged for a container of clothing and supplies for an Orphanage and Technical School in Honduras. For more information see: http://www.rwhn.org

Group Study Exchange Program. As part of Rotary’s mandate to promote world peace and international awareness, our District participates in this program annually. The participants are non-Rotarian business and professional men and women aged 25 – 40 who spend four to six weeks here visiting various cities and spending time with people in similar professions. In 2007 our Club sponsored Rosanne Ng of SFU for the Exchange with Rotary Clubs in Thailand. The 2008 exchange is with Tanzania. For more information see:
http://www.gse5040.org or Press Releases.