The Rotary Club of Sarnia Bluewaterland is in year two of a three year commitment with Habitat for Humanity Sarnia-Lambton. The commitment involves annual financial support of $5000 for each of the three years with the funds being directed entirely to the build activities. Club involvement includes build day activities on the site of a new home. The image above was taken upon completion of our first build day in Petrolia where our task was to install the siding on the home. It was a great day for the happy and tired Sarnia Bluewaterland Team. The neighbourhood knew our club was on site with our “Rotary at Work” signs and club banners.
Pictured above are Community Paul Harris Fellow recipients Marie Cebulski and Tammy Vandenheuvel.
Marie Cebulski – a volunteer for many causes, has spent close to 30 years volunteering in numerous areas including, helping children with severe physical disabilities, school reading programs, children’s baseball leagues, Canadian Girls in Training Leader, Big Sisters and St. Joseph’s Hospice. Marie was one of the founding members of The Sunshine Foundation of Canada Sarnia-Lambton Chapter over 27 years ago.
Tammy Vandenheuvel was nominated for this award as co-creator of Ohana Landing, on London Road. With husband Gary the previous ABC Day Care on London Road was transformed into a multi unit youth home. Youth up to age 24 apply for potential lodging in a hands-up program designed to develop life skills. Tammy experienced homelessness as a teen and has been successful in a 32 year career as a child and youth worker. Tammy has experience with Rebound and the Hub programs.
Marie and Tammy’s long service in volunteering is living proof that people can make a difference in the lives of others.
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Pictured above are Alison Mahon, Rotary Club of Sarnia, Janet Shrumm, Rotary Sarnia-Lambton After Hours and Henry Kulik Rotary Club Sarnia-Bluewaterland.
Handicapped Accessible Playground in Canatara Park
A popular gathering area in one of Sarnia’s premier parks is getting a facelift. Shovels are expected in the ground later this year to rebuild accessible playground equipment, and add an open gathering area into the existing, adjacent picnic shelter, said Ryan Chamney, Manager of Recreation and Planning with the City of Sarnia, in an email.
Dubbed the Rotary Accessible Playground and Community Hub, the estimated $250,000 refresh is the big-project payoff after four years of fundraising by Sarnia’s three Rotary clubs – Sarnia-Bluewaterland, Sarnia-Lambton After-Hours, and the Rotary Club of Sarnia. The clubs have supported each other’s initiatives in the past, but “this is probably one of the first times we’ve run a fundraiser jointly,” said Rob Collie, with the Rotary Club of Sarnia, and chairperson of the collective’s Trip of the Month Committee.
They’ve netted about $80,000 from four years of selling tickets for the monthly trip giveaway contest, he said. Ticket sales have closed for this year’s. The first draw was happening Friday. The clubs started accumulating the cache four years ago for some sort of big project, but didn’t settle on the Canatara upgrade until the city made its proposal last year, he said. The project was announced in the fall.
“It’s the place we felt Rotary could make an impact in the city and have something central and visual,” Collie said, calling it a good fit.
