Reporter: Chris Davis (the regular 1st meeting of the month Rotary reporter…now reporter for the next three weeks - with acknowledgements to co-reporter “Gemini AI”)
Proving that there is “someplace other than home”, we are again at the Delta Hotel Calgary South on Southland Drive SE for this and our next (September 28th) meeting.Meeting attendance is down in numbers for a few weeks, with a good number of our members and partners in Morocco, for a fantastic visit captained by our own Sa’adat Keshavjee.I am sure they will have enough great stories for either a weekly program or an informal Thursday evening “fireside chat”.
We were also pleased to welcome several guests, including Melanie Todd, recently a member of the Rotary Club of Calgary Stampede Park; Bill Fric from the Rotary Club of Calgary Millennium; and Carey Taylor of Inclusion Alberta, who attended with Bill Quinney. It was great to have them join us for the meeting.
Guest Speaker
The Club welcomed Ilona Boyce, founder of the “Heartland Agency” and “EvenStart for Children’s Foundation”, for a moving presentation about the importance of giving young children the best possible start in life.
With a career spanning children's services, social work and advocacy, Ilona has spent much of her professional life working with children affected by trauma, abuse and poverty. Her message was clear: the earlier we reach children who are struggling, the greater the opportunity to change the course of their lives.
The Magic of Early Childhood
Ilona explained that her interest in early childhood development grew from years of seeing children enter the child welfare system (where she was a government staffer) as teenagers, when patterns of behaviour were already deeply established.She eventually left government service to create EvenStart, a Calgary-based program serving children between the ages of three and five who have experienced trauma, abuse, neglect or poverty.
The program currently serves approximately 225 children a year through three locations. Many of the children arrive significantly behind their peers from a developmental perspective. EvenStart works to close those gaps through early learning, therapy, play, nutrition and, perhaps most importantly, strong relationships with caring adults.
Play as a Language
One of Ilona's most memorable messages was the importance of play and imagination. She described play as a universal language for children and explained how imaginative play can help children work through difficult experiences and learn new ways of interacting with the world.Rather than relying on confrontation when a child is acting out, EvenStart staff use creativity, play and relationships to help children feel safe and regain control.
Food, Safety and Relationships
Ilona also stressed that children cannot learn effectively when they are hungry or feel unsafe.EvenStart provides breakfast and lunch, recognizing that some children arrive having gone without adequate food for much of the weekend. The program also works to create environments where children feel safe, accepted and valued.
For Ilona, however, the most important element is the relationship between the child and the adults around them. She also emphasized the importance of respecting children's parents, even when families are dealing with serious challenges. Parents need to be recognized as people who matter and, wherever possible, included in their child's progress.
Measuring the Difference
The program assesses children when they enter and again when they leave, allowing EvenStart to measure developmental progress. Ilona said that children who enter the program at age three with substantial developmental gaps can make remarkable gains by the time they enter Grade 1.
After 30 years, the program is also seeing evidence of its longer-term impact, including former participants reconnecting with staff and, in some cases, bringing their own children to the program.
Her presentation was a powerful reminder that early intervention, caring relationships and a safe environment can make a lasting difference in a child's life.
In appreciation for her presentation, the Club made a ShelterBox donation in Ilona's name.
Recognizing Farid Bedwany
President Don Edie also had the opportunity to recognize Farid Bedwany by presenting him with his Paul Harris Fellow +6 pin!
The Paul Harris Fellow recognition is one of Rotary's most meaningful honours, and the pin presentation provided a special opportunity for the Club to acknowledge Farid's contribution and commitment to Rotary.
Inclusion Alberta Partnership Update
Members also heard an update on the Club's partnership with Inclusion Alberta. Joyce Luke will be joining the Rotary steering committee, and Carey Taylor was introduced as the new Inclusion Alberta coordinator following Copelan Manzer's departure to return to school.
Carey, who is also a member of the Okotoks Rotary Club, spoke briefly about her background and her commitment to supporting people with developmental disabilities. Carey is originally from Devon, England but got to know Rotary through her professional connection as a Rotary Employment Coordinator.This quickly turned into a genuine love for the Okotoks Club.As she said when she joined the Okotoks Club - “Rotary has helped me feel more connected and grounded here.Seeing the positive impact Rotary has locally and around the world allows me to contribute in a way that feels purposeful."
Members were also advised that Inclusion Alberta has experienced significant funding challenges and that there will be a renewed effort to help find employment opportunities for people with developmental disabilities.
Club Announcements
Ogden Hub Visit – October 2 Members are invited to join a visit to the Ogden Hub on Friday, October 2, to see the community work being undertaken by last week's guest speaker, Connie Jakab. It promises to be an interesting opportunity to see her work in action.
Rosebud Theatre – November 19 Linda Anderson is organizing another Club outing to Rosebud Theatre on Thursday, November 19. The cost is $125 per person. Details will be circulated to members.
Youth Exchange & RAYEC – September 28 Next week's meeting will feature our latest Rotary Youth Exchange student, Maria Fernanda from Brazil, along with three participants from this year's Rotary Alberta Youth Entrepreneur Camp (RAYEC). Members will hear directly about their experiences.
Foothills Country Hospice Members were reminded of the Club's $10,000 contribution to Foothills Country Hospice, supporting furnishings for eight additional resident rooms. President Don Edie, Les Morgan and Gord Cox recently attended the dedication ceremony in Okotoks and represented Calgary West.
Rotary Remembers Members were reminded of the upcoming annual Rotary Remembers event. Wednesday November 11th at the Carriage House Inn. Tickets are $55.Doors open at 10 a.m., with the program from 10:30 am to 1:00 pm.Further details and registration information are available on the Club website.
Calgary West Rotary was represented by President Don Edie, Gord Cox, and Les Morgan at the Foothills Country Hospice Naming Ceremony on September 16.
Our club contributed $10,000 toward furnishings for the Hospice's new resident rooms as part of its expansion from 8 to 16 beds. The Calgary West representatives toured the facility and saw firsthand the impact of the furnishings on residents, families and staff.
Representatives from the Rotary Clubs of Stampede Park, Okotoks and High River also attended. Additional clubs contributing to the project were Heritage Park, Centennial and Sarcee.
Together, the participating Rotary Clubs contributed an impressive $95,850 toward the project—a great example of Rotary Clubs working together to support their communities.
Guest Speaker
