SGT AT ARMS REPORT: Conducted tonight by our Sergeant at Arms Chidinma Igboanugo (Thank you very much, Chidinma, always fun !!!)
ACE OF SPADES DRAW:
Past Pres Terry Coyne of the Port Perry Club drew his own number and then drew the 7 of Spades and won a consolation prize - a gift bag from Janice from DeStefano Funeral Home Services.
HAPPY TOONIES
Chidinma - summer is almost over and her classroom is set up and ready to go on Sept 5
Sue – Thanks to everyone who helped her on Saturday at Woodbine. She is okay (a fainting spell) . Thanks to Dr Kris, Janice, Sonya. Sorry she did not get her dessert.
Past Pres Hilda – Thanks to Janice and Tim for a great day at Woodbine and she is ver glad Sue is well.
Past Pres Bok K - And Happy to be playing golf with his grand daughters 10 and 13 yrs old. So much energy was spent playing 5 holes. More than Bob uses up in 5 games of golf.
Kim – Sorry she missed Woodbine on Saturday but very glad to have had her grandson's first Birthday
Linda B - “The Eclipse lady” for short. After a horrendous drive south to Kentucky and Tennessee, the eclipse was spectacular. As totality occurred, the temp went down and street lights came on. Amazing. And to think we will have one right here is a few years (2024?).
Sonya – Thank you to Devon and Linda for a wonderful BBQ and thanks to Pres Ron for the great time volunteering at Ribfest.
Past Pres Kris – enjoyed last weekend, at the races and then celebrating at a dinner with his son in law, on his Birthday and Janice cooked. Tremendous meal.
Pres Ron Dick – so happy that our two clubs are working together onRotary Friendship Day at Parkwood
and Oct 3 for our second joint meeting with Oshawa, Oshawa-Parkwood and Bowmanville Rotary Clubs for our District Governor Neil Phillips Official Visit.
Past Pres Devon – so happy to have received some money back from Al Finnigan who assisted Devon on his wagering at Woodbine. The money is going to The Rotary Foundation.
Past Pres Terry Coyne – happy to be with us tonight from Port Perry and to have won the consolation prize in our draw
Sonya – an extra happy twoonie and special thanks to Terry Coyne and Aubrey Oppers for their help informing the Youth Service Committee about RYLA
Pres Ted- Happy to have Sharron doing better after seeing a second doctor for Sharron's hives. Ted was very worried about her. So far so good. And also happy for a great BBQ and special thanks to Devon and Linda for hosting and thanks to Janice and Tim for organizing Woodbine
Past Pres Dave – Thank you so much to Linda and devon for the BBQ and thanks to Hilda for organizing. We do have fun when we get together.
ROTARY MOMENT
None tonight.
GUEST SPEAKER :
Past Pres Dave introduced guest speaker, Roger Anderson, Chair of the Regional Municipality of Durham, who gave his “State of the Union” address on the State of the Region of Durham.
Roger Anderson is Durham Region's first publicly elected Regional Chair and CEO, a position he has held by Council appointment since 1997. From 1978 to 1988, Roger served as a constable on the Durham Regional Police Service. For 22 years, he also owned and operated a local real estate company, employing 40 people.
Roger's political career began when he was first elected as a Councillor in Ajax in 1985. From 1991 to 1997, he served as Regional Councillor and Deputy Mayor for the Town of Ajax. He has been the Chair of the Durham Region Transit Commission since its inception on January 1, 2006, and is the Chair of the Durham Regional Police Services Board. As Chair of Durham Region he is also a member of all Regional Standing Committees.
From 2004 to 2006, Roger was President of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario and continues to serve on the AMO Board. He is also a Director of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and is a member of several FCM Standing Committees. Roger sits on the Board of Directors for the Durham Strategic Energy Alliance, Windreach Farms, and on the international Board of United Cities and Local Governments. He served for several years on the GO Transit Board and on the founding Board of Metrolinx.
Roger is also a recipient of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee medal. As the longest serving Regional Chair, Roger's top priority is encouraging businesses to locate in Durham Region to create high quality local jobs.
Roger's remarks:
It was about a year after Roger visited our Rotary Club when he developed stomach cancer, received treatment in Oshawa and is now recovering . He thanked Janice Coupland , for ensuring that our meal tonight was what the doctor ordered. He also thanked our Rotary Club , the 10 Rotary Clubs in Durham Region, and Rotary clubs world wide for our service. Our message is consistent and we help people we don't even know. He will be back on October 24 , World Polio Day to give out proclamations to each Rotary Club in Durham Region thanking them for their efforts to help eradicate polio through our PolioPlus Program of the Rotary Foundation.
One of his goals has been to make the businesses in Durham more accessible and moved that vision forward. He talked about the redistribution of seats on Durham Regional Council to become more in line with the population; the code of conduct established for Council, the appointment of a Regional ombudsman and integrity commissioner for the Region, and the establishment of a committee of the whole to reduce councilors' time at committee meetings.
He talked about the advancement of technology to get more connected with the people of Durham Region.
He also noted his displeasure with Rogers TV to stop televising Durhan Regional and the local citiy council meetings and has written a letter to the CRTC maintaining that local content is part of Rogers TV mandate and not just televising Toronto council meetings. An internet based airing is not the same as a televised meeting, especially in an upcoming election year.
Roger also talked about the quality of life in Durham Region and in particular, the “age friendly” strategies that the Region faces now and in the future as the population continues to age, with increasing numbers. He wants to see resilient communities in Durham Region.
He criticized the Province for putting tolls on the highways , only in Durham Region , to get ON to the 407 Highway (namely Hwy 412 and soon to be Hwy 418 east of Bowmanville). Highways 404, 403, the DVP and other major north-south routes having access to the 407 have no tolls and cannot understand why 412 costs $5.85 from one end to the other, just to gain access to 407 (only here). He is hoping to touch base with all of the politicians in June 2018 when the contract is signed to get the GO Train rails across the 401, in Whitby. He even noted that the access from 401 to 412 is terribly bumpy and is already in need of repair. He asked us to let our Provincial politicians know when they come calling, asking for our vote.
He also criticized the funding formula for the second phase of infrastructure money from the Province to our Region. He, like the other Regions (Peel, Kitchener-Waterloo, and York) have to apply for the funding, unlike the “big city” mayors of Toronto and Ottawa.
He also talked about the need for money to improve bus service in the Region which comes from the Federal and Provincial governments. The bus service every 8 minutes going east-west is one thing but there is a 30 to 45-minute north-south service, particularly in period other than rush hour. He maintains that the infrastructure money formula of 40% from the Federal Government, and 33% from the Province and the balance of the projects paid for by the Region must be maintained. Again, when the Provincial politicians come calling for your vote, ask them if they will maintain this formula.
He also touched on the Provincial Bill 139 which will do away with the Ontario Municipal Board and push that activity to the Regional Councils. If Council hears a grievance and says “no”, the grievance is over. No recourse. A Council decision is final. For example, the Province density guidelines is a major issue. The more density the better. Gone are the days of new 50 or 60 foot lots. A 20 story building will be the norm. And this will change the face of our Region forever.
The Region today has a population of 640,000 and by 2031, that will grow to well over 1 million.
Roger also touched on the need for skilled jobs in Durham Region and praised Durham College, UOIT and Trent University for working with businesses in Durham Region to offer courses that will fill the needs.
He is upset with the Province mandate for Durham region to say that we should have one job for every 3 people in the Region. If you have 3 children in your family, consider which of the 2 children will have to move out of the Region to find a job. Just not good enough.
He also talked about the need for the Pickering airport which would create 40,000 new permanent jobs in Durham Region and still maintain our airport in Oshawa. He has called upon Prime Minister Trudeau to once and for all, make the call one way or the other: start the project or give back the land for other development - a project his father started 43 years ago. He talked about the airport being ideal with all of the Highways and rail lines accessing downtown Toronto.
We look forward to Roger's visit with us on October 24, World Polio Day and again next year for his “State of the Region “ address to our Rotary Club.
Roger was thanked by Sonya Thompson for his excellent talk .
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.
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