Speakers

This week, President Russ will host a townhall for all club members.

Forests Ontario is a non-profit, registered charity that is dedicated to making Ontario’s forests greener. Their ambitious tree planting initiatives, extensive education programs and decades of community outreach have resulted in millions of trees being planted each year.

Their goal is to increase forest cover, restore forests impacted by natural occurrences and improve forest conditions in Ontario and across Canada.

We are pleased to welcome Valarie Wafer as our guest speaker.  Valarie retired in 2017 after a 27-year career at Tim Hortons.  In addition to owning six franchises in Toronto, she worked at the corporate office as a financial accountant.  Her restaurant operations were widely recognized for their inclusive hiring practices, particularly the employment of people with disabilities. "Rotary clubs are like our franchises in the community - innovation happens at the grassroots level.  When you are inclusive and innovate, people come and when they identify with you, they are likely to stay."

Valarie joined Rotary in 2005.  She has served as an RI training leader, 2018 Toronto Convention Host Organization Committee member, assistant regional Rotary Foundation coordinator and RI President's representative.  She has led a vocational training team focused on youth suicide and depression, audited Rotary Foundation grant projects in Tanzania and Kenya, and volunteered during a 2012 National Immunization Day in India.

Valarie and her husband Mark - who became a Rotarian after Valarie recruited him during her year as club President - are Paul Harris Fellows, Bequest Society members and Major Donors to The Rotary Foundation.  In 2012 Valarie received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in recognition of her leadership with the Economic Case for Inclusion in Canada, an inclusive hiring initiative that was adopted by provincial and federal governments.

Valarie is currently a member of Rotary Club of Collingwood-South Georgian Bay.