The westerner

Meeting was held at Delta South.

Mike Carlin started the meeting by welcoming everyone including our guest speakers, Aalyn Doherty and member Raju Hajela. 

After the singing of Canada, Mike led us in an invocation and Land Acknowledgement.

To help celebrate Canada Day, Mike introduced our first speaker, Aalyn Doherty, a young Canadian, a future leader and granddaughter of Dan and Marlene Doherty.  Aalyn is part of HIP  short for Honouring Indigenous Peoples which is a Youth-to-Youth group.  It is an initiative supported by our Club which brings indigenous and non-indigenous youth from across Canada for a week of shared learning, dialogue and cultural experience, help to build understanding, relationships and future leadership.  Aalyn related her experiences and thoughts after attending the week long gathering at Six Nations of the Grand River, near Brantford, Ontario in March of this year. Activities included learning from Indigenous Elders, taking part in traditional land-based teachings and engaging in collaborative dialogues about reconciliation and environmental stewardship. Aalyn is an engaging and passionate speaker, extremely interested in exploring her Indigenous heritage with the Brave Dogs Clan at the YMCA.

Our second speaker  was Dr. Raju Hajela, a respected Calgary physician with more than four decades of experience in family medicine, public health and mental health.  Raju was proudly attired in his Canadian Peacekeeper uniform. He related his experiences at his various postings as a physician both in Canada and abroad.  He was critical of the attempts of colonizing governments to eradicate first nations’ culture wherever they went, whether it be India, Australia or Canada.  He however was hopeful that the future generations would find grounds for mutual respect and reconciliation.  His remarks reflected his deep commitment to the well-being of others – regardless of race, creed or religion.

At the end of our speakers, Don Bevis thanked them both and advised them of donations to Shelter Box on their behalf.

Mike handed out a Canada Quiz for each table to complete.  We did not do well.

Linda with Malcolm’s help presented Chris with the past president’s pin and gavel, thanking him for his service and leadership as President - Remarks that were echoed by Malcolm with much more elegance in his thanking of Chris.

Chris then addressed the meeting, thanking his Board and the Club, for the support and reiterating his goals that he had hoped to accomplish during his term. Mike followed Chris’ remarks with a presentation of the “Red Hat” which Chris wear at the first meeting as President.

There was then a special presentation to Flavio – He was White Hatted and graciously repeated the White Hat oath.

The meeting was adjourned at 1:10

Linda Anderson

Reporter