An enthusiastic group of volunteers came out to the Food Bank last week.  We helped with composting and sorting food donations.

 

On a cold Saturday morning our Edmonton West members were preparing and serving a hot meal for people at the Hope Mission.

 

 

 

Our 3rd Year of helping with the Simply Supper Helps May Meal Drive

When life takes an unexpected turn, the simplest of things can become daunting. It’s at those times in our lives when the comfort of home-cooked meal and the kindness of strangers can make all the difference.

Simply Supper’s owner, Monita Chapman’s life took one of those unexpected turns when her youngest child required the care of the Stollery Children’s Hospital shortly after she lost her Step-Father to cancer. She experienced just how hard a simple meal is to make for your family in the midst of life changing events.

That’s when the Simply Supper’s May Meal Drive was born. Every year Simply Supper puts out the call for nominations. It selects individuals or families who could use a helping hand and with an army of volunteers, Simply Supper delivers enough meals to fill their freezers.

Many thanks to Karen, Margaret, Sherman, Fred, J.P., Vic, Dave, Crystal and her husband Duane, and Lisa for giving their time for this worthy cause. Monita, the owner, told me that she loves the Edmonton West volunteers because they are very helpful and are willing to drive anywhere. You make me proud!!!

 

This motley crew spent time at Capital Care Grandview pruning trees. It looks like they had way too much fun. Thanks to Duane, Fred, J.P. and Al who braved the outdoor elements to help get the gardens in order at Grandview. The gardens are so wonderful to the centre and the residents truly gain from the beautiful gardens.

 

 

 

 

Jackie Hobal attended the Rotary Council on Legislation and gave us an update at the meeting. Here is a link to some facts:

 

 

Our meeting this week was hosted by Jeff at the Selkirk Hotel. We were treated to a lovely meal and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.

 

In 1966, the Downtown Rotary Club began work with City Council who subsequently set aside 160 acres of land in the river valley. This would become Fort Edmonton Park. Over the years that followed, a replica of the Fort Edmonton Fort was created from the original plans and the Park opened in 1974. It was the hard work of Rotarians that created the dream and invested their hard work and money to get this project off the ground. In the following years, various Rotary Clubs, including Edmonton West, participated in assisting the Park with many projects. The Fort Edmonton Foundation was formed in 1969 to provide ongoing funding for further development of the park.

 

A separate Fort Edmonton Management Company was formed in 2009 to manage the daily operations of the Park. A Board of Directors, appointed by City Council, provides governance and leadership to the management team. The original Master Plan for the Park was created in 1967 and updated in 2010, after the appointment of the new Management Company. It is this new plan that sets the direction for the next several years allowing the Park to add more exciting attractions. The Fort Edmonton Capital Expansion Plan was created to raise awareness and the $168.2 Million needed to develop the top four initiatives in this Master Plan. These four projects are:

 

      • The Indigenous Peoples’ Experience

      • The Expansion of the 1920s Midway

      • The Expansion of the Hotel Selkirk

      • A New Guest Services area reclaiming the Train Station