GUEST SPEAKER : Past President Dave introduced guest speaker, Mayor John Henry who gave his Annual State of the City Address to the Rotary Club of Oshawa-Parkwood. John was born and raised in Oshawa and has graduated from Mclaughlin CVI, Durham College, George Brown College and Panasonic's Corporate School. He has owned and operated his own business in Oshawa. He volunteers in many community endeavours including the McLaughlin Art Gallery and The Rotary Club of Oshawa. He is and always has been interested in the quality of life for persons living in Oshawa.He was a councillor here in Oshawa as has been Mayor since 2010. He sits on many committees: (an ex-officio member of all City Standing Committees: Community Services Committee, Corporate Services Committee, Development Services Committee, Finance Committee, and Member, Municipal Emergency Management). In the Region of Durham he is Chair, Durham Regional Local Housing Corporation, a Member, Regional Planning & Economic Development Committee and the Durham Region Transit Executive Committee. He is also on the board of The Association of Municipalities' of Ontario - Large Urban Mayors' Caucus of Ontario (L.U.M.C.O.) . He is happily married, and have two daughters who have graduated from Royal Military College and he is very happy to be the Mayor of Oshawa. John is also a 30 year Rotarian and a two-time Paul Harris Fellow. Mayor Henry talked about Oshawa's history and all of the things that make us all very proud: The name Oshawa originates from the Ojibwa term aazhaway, meaning "the crossing place". We are on the traditional lands of the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation The first settlers to the village in 1830 were surnames such as: Adams, Ashton, Roberts, Clark, Grass, Power, Perreman, Wilcoxson and others; of Irish descent were the Howden brothers. The community was first known as English Corners because most of the land was sold to people of some wealth, most of whom were English. When the post office was established in 1847, the community was named Columbus, possibly after the 15th century explorer Christopher Columbus. Its first postmaster was Robert Skirving. In 1853, the first council for the Township of East Whitby was formed, and the first reeve was John Ratcliffe. From this point in time on to 1870 the village grew to over 300 inhabitants. The village had: a township hall, 4 churches, blacksmiths, a post office, an Orange Hall, stores, carpenters, shoe shops, tailors, dressmakers, mills, haberdasheries, copper shops, a tannery, a furniture factory, a harness shop, and 4 hotels. In 1867 Oshawa had a population of 3500. Out first MP was T.N. Gibbs, a local businessman who became close friends of Sir John A MacDonald. Woolen underwear was produced here in Oshawa during WWI for soldiers serving overseas! Robson Leather played a vital role in WWI and WWII through the (70%) production of leather uppers for soldiers boots The Rolling Stones played at Oshawa’s Civic Auditorium in 1979. For hockey fans, in 1967 Oshawa hosted exhibition games featuring the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Minnesota North Stars. Did you know the Jubilee Pavilion is known to have one of the best dance floors in North America and they are celebrating 90 years!
Oshawa was home to some of Canada’ greatest leaders: R. S. McLaughlin and Family - automobiles McLaughlin Buick, GM and Canada Dry Ginger ale Taylor Family Argus Corporation brewing and Race horses Northern Dancer Pedler Family - metal stamping and fabrication Alger Family - printing Willams Piano Work - piano and banjo’s Hare Foundry - castings 116 Battalion Ontario Regiment
What Canada has brought to the world: Light bulb invented by Henry Wood ward and sold to Thomas Edison Cure for scurvy, Insulin Canoes and kayaks The Canada Arm Imax movie system, Walkie-Talkies Toboggan’s and snowshoes Ice Hockey, Basketball, Lacrosse 5 pin bowling and Trivial Pursuit Life jackets Maple syrup, Snowmobiles Electric wheel chairs, the prosthetic arm Garbage bags and the caulking gun The Roberson screw
The Mayor talked about the history of General Motors and its present day Engineering Centre of Excellence, the Wind Tunnel at UOIT, the 4 Universities in Oshawa, and the expansion of industry and commerce in Oshawa including the residential development in downtown Oshawa and at the north end of the city. He then fielded many questions . Sonja thanked the major for taking the time from his busy schedule to visit our club. L to R: Oshawa-Parkwood Rotary Club President Ted Morrison, Mayor John Henry ( also a Rotarian in the Oshawa Rotary Club and two time Paul Harris Fellow) and Terry Johnston. Meeting adjourned by President Ted. IF YOU CAN’T MAKE IT, MAKE UP : Go online at www.rotary.org go to the club locator and find a club or clubs near your destination. Or you can add the free App Rotary Club Locator to your phone for instant look up of any club in the world. Please mail or fax your make-ups to Secretary Robbie Larocque, or give your make-up card to the attendance/registration officer at the next club meeting. HERE’S A LIST OF SOME ROTARY CLUBS CLOSE TO YOU. Please check the club website to make sure their location and time has not changed: MONDAY: Belleville – Ramada Inn – 11 Bay Ridges at Hwy 2 - 12:00 noon Oshawa – Jubilee Pavillion Banquet Centre, 55 Lakeview Park Ave, Oshawa – 12:10 pm Markham-Unionville – Al Dente Ristorante, 39 Main St.N., - 6:30 pm Port Hope – Knights of Columbus Hall, 1 Elias St., – 6:00 pm Richmond Hill – Sheraton Parkway Hotel, 600 Hwy 7 East, – 6:00 pm Trenton – Holiday Inn – 99 Glen Miller Rd. at 401 - 6:00 pm TUESDAY: Whitby – Whitby Central Library, 405 Dundas St W - 7:00 am Pickering – Bollocks, 736 Kingston Rd, Pickering – 7:00 am Bowmanville – Trinity Church Hall, 116 Church St. – 7:15 am Picton – Royal Canadian Legion, 347 Main St., - 12:15 pm Scarborough Bluffs – Loblaw’s Superstore (upstairs) – 1775 Brimley at Progress – 7:15 am Scarborough – Scarborough Golf Club – Golf Club Rd. – 12:30 Scarborough Twilight – The Olde Stone Cottage – 3750 Kingston Rd. - 5:30 pm WEDNESDAY: Whitby-Sunrise – Royal Oak Pub, Whitby Shores, 617 Victoria St W – 7:00 am Markham Sunrise – Delta Markham Hotel – 50 East Valhala Dr., Hwy 7 east of 404 – 7:00 am Northumberland Sunrise – Ashbrook Golf Club – 7215 Dale Rd, Port Hope - 7:00 am North Scarborough – Delta Toronto East – 2035 Kennedy Rd, Scarborough – 12:30 pm Port Perry – Sunnybrae Golf Club, 1430 King Street, Port Perry, ON , – 6:15 pm THURSDAY: Ajax – (First Thursday of the month) at Public Library, 55 Harwood Ave S., – 12:15 pm Ajax – rest of the month - McEachnie Family Centre, 20 Church Street North, NorthWest Corner Hwy 2 & Church - 7:30am Agincourt – 6:30 pm at Rotating locations. Please contact Ron - rdhinchliff@gmail.com to verify location. Quinte Sunrise – Bay of Quinte Golf Club, 1830 Old Hwy 2, – 7:00 am Uxbridge – Wooden Sticks Golf & Country Club, 40 Elgin Park Drive off Concession 7 South of Uxbridge. – 7:00 am FRIDAY: Toronto – Royal York Hotel, 100 Front St, – 12:15 Cobourg – Best Western Cobourg Motor Inn, 930 Burnham Rd. at Hwy 2 – 12:15 Courtice – White Cliffe Terrace, 1460 Hwy 2 – 7:15 am
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