 From Left: District Governor Virginia O’Reilly, District DEI Chair and Assistant Governor Shauna Moore, Pickering Rotary Past President and Executive Director of HIP (Honouring Indigenous Peoples) John Currie, District Governor-Elect Niecy Dillon-Tyrovolas and Pickering Rotary President Don Alton. |
The Rotary Club of Pickering’s August 18 regular club meeting became special with dignitaries from Rotary District 7070 joining in. Among the in-person visitors were District Governor Virginia O’Reilly, District Governor-Elect Niecy Dillon-Tyrovolas, District DEI Chair and Assistant Governor Shauna Moore and Assistant Governor Ferd Longo.
It was also a special event, as John Currie, past president and current member of the Club, was presented with this year’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Award by Rotary District 7070. It was in recognition of the work by HIP (Honouring Indigenous Peoples) and Currie, who is the organization’s Executive Director.
Presenting the DEI Award, District Governor Virginia O’Reilly highlighted the important work of HIP’s Youth to Youth (Y2Y) program, which prepares the next generation of leaders in Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities, through knowledge sharing, and educational and awareness initiatives.
"Our club is thrilled to see John's work through HIP connecting Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth is receiving the well-deserved recognition from our District. Congratulations to him and the Y2Y team that's making inroads in such a crucial area in the Canadian landscape," said Pickering Rotary President Don Alton.
Currie, thanking District 7070 for the Award, detailed how the youth program that aims to foster reconciliation, environmental stewardship, and cultural understanding has grown to be a national movement in a short time.
The DEI Award is part of the Imagine Rotary Yearend Awards and is presented to a club or Rotarians within the district, who made the “greatest contribution to the advancement of diversity, equity and inclusion.”