Events

The legendary Peter Gorham will be providing us with a classification talk!

Among other milestones since Don’s last presentation, Durham College has established a number of new centres and are revitalizing the Whitby campus, having added some unique components to the Centre for Food and started on a new building to expand our skills training centre.

Sarah is the Director of Economic Development for the Town and will be able to provide us details as to the Town’s current and future economic development.

Richard was born in Toronto and grew up in Scarborough where he attended Public and Secondary school as well as University of Toronto Scarborough Campus.  Richard graduated in 1981 with a major in economics and a minor in computer science.  Richard married Elizabeth in 1985 and now lives in Newmarket.  Richard and Elizabeth have also hosted 7 international exchange students for a year at a time.

Richard is currently self employed as a licensed Mortgage Broker with Homeguard Funding Ltd. and primarily specializes in residential and small commercial financing.

Richard has always been passionate about community involvement serving as a member of the Scarborough campus Alumni association, worked on multiple political campaigns at all levels of government and taught the Boating Course for the Canadian Power Squadron in Newmarket.  Richard also served as the Ontario Regional President for AFS Intercultural programs facilitating International student exchange throughout Ontario. 

Richard has since served on many municipal committees and the community liaison committee for York Regional Police in District 1.  In 2004 Richard was asked to join the inaugural board of directors for INN from the Cold an emergency homeless shelter in Newmarket.  Through the support of the Rotary Club of Newmarket for Inn from the Cold Richard learned about Rotary and joined Rotary in 2007.  

Richard became President of the Newmarket club in 2009 and was an Assistant Governor for District 7070 from 2011 – 2014 and is currently the District 7070 Water and Sanitation chair 2015-present previously the District 7070 Literacy Chair for 2014-2015.  Richard has been asked to join the District 7070 Leadership team in 2020-2022 in the role as Action and Partnership Committees Coordinator to oversee and assist all Rotary Area of Focus Committees.  Richard has also participated with RADAR (Rotary’s AIDS action group).

In 2009 Richard made his first trip to Uganda and has returned to Uganda 24 times, most recently December 2019. This was Richard’s twenty fourth time to Uganda to continue implementing a unique rain-water collection system at Ongutoi Health Centre for drip irrigation in an orange orchard where the revenue generated will provide long term free health care for this community and region.   

Awards & Recognitions:

2005 – Town of Newmarket 125^th Anniversary - Community Volunteer Ambassador Recognition

2009 – Nelson Mandela Humanitarian Service Award

2011 – Rotary District 7070 – Council of Past District Governors Award

Vidal Chavannes, Ed.D., M.A.Ed., B.A., B.Ed., has advanced skills in education, training and development, community relationship building, Board/employee relations and strategic planning. He has worked with a variety of public, private and non-governmental institutions and organizations.

Wounded Warriors Canada is a national mental health service provider utilizing clinical best practices and evidence-based care to create an environment of compassion, resiliency and hope for Canada’s Veterans, First Responders and their families.

CLOC is a charitable organization offering opportunities for personal growth, community inclusion and empowerment to people with developmental disabilities, and their families.