The annual installation of the new Rotary Club of Willowdale officers was celebrated with much enthusiasm by its members and guests on June 30, 2022, at the Thornhill Golf & Country Club. The outgoing President, Chungsen Leung, passed on the Rotary gavel to the incoming President Heather Graeme.
 
It was a night filled with celebrations and accomplishment, as the first in-person President’s night since the Covid-19 Pandemic, with the appreciation of remarkable members of the Rotary Club of Willowdale, acknowledgment of successful completion of ongoing community and/or international projects, and recognition by Assistant District Governor 700, Khorshed Khan, as one of the significant clubs of District 7070.
 
 
 
The evening was guided by IPP Stephen Phillips, and initiated by the outgoing President, Chungsen Leung’s live rendition of the National Anthem on bagpipes. PP Peter Vanek recited the Land Acknowledgement. After a savoury dinner, outgoing President Chungsen Leung acknowledged the challenging Rotary year 2021-2022 due to the Covid-19 pandemic and mentioned how proud he is that the club still performed magnificently with local and international projects. He expressed gratitude to his board members for going above and beyond the call of duty.
 
 
 
Together with PP Howard Back, President CS presented a Paul Harris Fellowship to Douglas K. Ward for his exceptional contribution to the club’s educational project, the J. K. Nyerere Primary School in Arusha, Tanzania. The evening continued by celebrating Chungsen Leung, Peter Vanek, Vern Barney, and Courtney Doldron for their Paul Harris Fellowship Major Donor Award.
 
 
 
The Presidential induction ceremony was the highlight of the evening, with Immediate Past President CS handing over the Rotary, pin, and gavel to the incoming President Heather Graeme. This was followed by her inspiring speech, presenting her vision for the 2022-2023 Rotary year, and then the installation of the 2022/23 Board of Directors: 
President Heather Graeme, President-Elect Jobson Easow, Secretary Stephen Phillips, Treasurer Margaret Adat, Past President Chungsen Leung, Community Service Jobson Easow, International Service Jobson Easow, Foundation Chair John Simpson, Membership Chair Al Warren, Club Administration Bill King, Assistant Treasurer Howard Back, Assistant Secretary Mike Butler, Public Relations Uka Marchena.
 
 
The icing on the cake was the presentation of the Rotarian of the Year Award and a Paul Harris Fellow plus 1 Award to Mike Butler for his extraordinary shouldering of the office of Secretary of the Rotary Club of Willowdale spanning over two decades.
 
 
The fantastic and very well attended evening concluded with IPP Stephen Phillips ringing the Rotary bell.
The Rotary Club of Willowdale would like to thank everyone, organizations, sponsors, businesses, and Rotarians in Rotary District 7070 for their valuable contribution and efforts during the past year.