Great turnout by our club today to recognize World Polio Day - and raising $1000 at the morning meeting!!
October 24 is World Polio Day, a time to celebrate progress and renew our commitment to a polio-free world. As Rotarians, we are part of a global effort to protect children through vaccination and help end this preventable disease. Together, we can keep the momentum going by raising awareness, supporting PolioPlus and sharing Rotary's End Polio Now message. Join us on Friday, October 23 and be part of the movement to End Polio. Wear your Moose t-shirt and/or bring your Moose.
At our last meeting, we recognized members who achieved Every Rotarian Every Year (top photo), Paul Harris Fellow +7 (middle photo) and PolioPlus Society (bottom) recognition. Congratulations to all! Your generosity and continued support of the Rotary Foundation help strengthen communities, advance humanitarian service and move us closer to a polio-free world. Thank you for putting Service Above Self in action!
What a glorious day October 4th was for our annual tree planting at Rotary Park. With a total of 19 volunteers, comprised of Rotarians and family members, the group planted 230 trees and bushes in record time. Thank you to everyone who came out to help us continue this annual tradition. Our club has been involved with this Naturalization Planting program since 2014 and it was great to see so many committed to see it continue.
October is Rotary's Economic and Community Development Month, highlighting our commitment to helping people build secure livelihoods and stronger communities. At the heart of this work are people: a young person seeking their first job, an entrepreneur starting a business, a person with a disability seeking greater independence and a sense of belonging, or a family working toward financial stability.
Our annual celebration of Small Business Week with the St. Albert and District Chamber of Commerce reflects this commitment. Each October, our joint Rotary and Chamber meeting recognizes the contributions of local businesses and strengthens the connections that support our community. Thank you to the many local businesses that create opportunities, support community initiatives, and help strengthen our community. Together, we can turn service into opportunity and opportunity into lasting change.
Congratulations to President Cathy Heron, who was honoured by the Alberta Municipalities Association with lifetime membership in recognition of her 15 years of service to communities across Alberta. Well done Cathy, BZ!!
Our final parking lot sale for the year is a go for Saturday October 17, 2026. Click THIS HYPERLINK to sign up for a shift. Parking lot sales have been a fantastic fundraiser for the club and very popular in the community.
Cathy Heron
As I begin my year as President of the Rotary Club of St. Albert, I am both honoured and excited to serve alongside such an extraordinary group of volunteers. Together with an exceptional Board and countless committed members, we are ready for another year of service and fellowship.
This Rotary year, our theme is Create Lasting Impact, and that theme will guide everything we do. My focus will be on strengthening the membership experience by creating meaningful opportunities for every member to connect, serve, and lead. Rotary is far more than attending weekly meetings—it is about belonging, purpose, friendship, and making a difference. We also hope to increase member engagement by ensuring everyone has the opportunity to contribute through both service and fundraising initiatives that support our community and our projects around the world.
The second priority for the year is environmental stewardship. As Rotary's newest Area of Focus, the environment is deeply connected to all of our work. Climate change disproportionately affects the world's most vulnerable people and impacts health, education, economic development, and peace. Throughout the year, our club will introduce practical initiatives to reduce our environmental footprint while encouraging members to consider how small actions can create meaningful, lasting change.
Rotary has had a profound impact on my own life, giving me purpose, friendships, and a sense of family. My hope is that every member experiences that same sense of belonging and fulfillment. Together, we have the opportunity to create lasting impact—not only in our world and our community, but within our club and in ourselves. I look forward to an exciting year of service, fellowship, and making a difference together.
Cathy Heron
President 2026/27
Rotary Club of St. Albert
Are you a young adult and want to find ways to get involved in your community? Welcome! Rotaract is a branch of Rotary International for those over the age of 18. We focus on local projects in our community as well as international projects! Stay tuned by checking us out on social media below!
Are you a high school student and want to find ways to get involved in your community? Welcome! Interact is a branch of Rotary International for those in grades 10-12. We focus on local projects in our community as well as international projects! Stay tuned by checking us out on social media below!
