100 Acts of Service
100 Acts of Service from our first 100 years
Celebrating the impact of St. Marys Rotary through local and global service since 1925
A selection of 20 diverse acts representing a century of service were chosen. Understanding that each act varies in scale and impact, an allocation system was used to more accurately reflect our service, ultimately recognizing 101 Acts of Service.
Quantifying the "Service" in Each Act
To fairly capture the scope and longevity of the impact, a clear system was developed where each physical act counts as one. The “Allocated Service” value assigned to each act reflects its broader impact:
- The four most impactful projects were each assigned 10 “Allocated Service” units to acknowledge their sustained significance.
- Other long-term projects were assigned 1 unit per year of operation, capped at five units.
- Single-year or one-time projects were assigned 1 unit of “Allocated Service.”
Each Act of Service listed on this page includes its “Allocated Service” value, quantifying not only the physical action but its enduring impact and community influence. This method honors both the tangible deeds and the lasting legacy of Rotary’s contribution to our community.
Chronological List - 20 Acts of Service
Cadzow Becomes a Public Park
1925 - 2005
Allocated Service - 10
The Rotary Club of St. Marys’ very first project gave the community a lasting gift — green space, gathering space, and a place to grow. Cadzow Park remains a cornerstone of life in St. Marys a full century later.
Cadzow Park Pool
1926 - 2017
Allocated Service - 5
What better way to serve the community than helping kids cool off and learn water safety? The children’s pool in Cadzow Park was a Rotary-built hub of summertime joy for generations.
Youth Sports
1940 - 2025
Allocated Service - 5
For more than 80 years, we’ve been dedicated to supporting youth sports throughout our community. By sponsoring local hockey, soccer, baseball, and ringette teams, we help give young athletes the chance to play, build skills, and create lasting memories. We’re proud to continue investing in the next generation—on and off the field!
Camp Woodeden
1946 -2003
Allocated Service - 5
The Rotary Club of St. Marys played a key local role in supporting Easter Seals beginning in the mid-1940s. Their work focused on helping children with disabilities through fundraising, advocacy, and partnerships with provincial initiatives such as Camp Woodeden and treatment centres.
Rotary Youth Exchange
1972 - 2025
Allocated Service - 5
We have welcomed 55 amazing exchange students from 25 countries—and sent 79 local students off to explore 21 different countries. Over 400 host families have opened their hearts and homes, turning strangers into family and building lifelong friendships around the globe. Connecting cultures and creating memories that last a lifetime.
Parkview West - Adult Life Lease Units
1988 - 2025
Allocated Service - 10
Parkview West offers apartment-style life lease housing for older adults, providing secure, independent living in a welcoming community setting. The project was entirely developed by Rotary and continues to benefit from ongoing Rotary involvement — a lasting contribution to the well-being of St. Marys residents.
Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
1994 - 2025
Allocated Service - 10
The Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame & Museum was awarded to St. Marys on August 25, 1994, following a competitive bid involving 12 Canadian cities. Early support from the Rotary Club of St. Marys helped secure the bid, along with a generous 32-acre land donation from St. Marys Cement Company.
The Museum officially opened on June 4, 1998, celebrating Canada’s rich baseball history dating back to the late 1700s and including an important game played in Beachville in 1838. Since then, Rotary has continued to provide volunteer support and contributions, helping develop the site into a baseball complex with four ballfields, including Rotary Field
Parkview East - Adult Life Lease Units
1994 - 2025
Allocated Service - 10
Parkview East features one-floor, townhome-style life lease units for older adults, each with a private entrance and many with garages — offering comfort, privacy, and independence in a quiet residential setting. Developed entirely by Rotary, Parkview East (like Parkview West) operates as a not-for-profit corporation, with ongoing Rotary involvement ensuring long-term community benefit and resident well-being.
Community Fireworks
1999 - 2025
Allocated Service - 5
For over two decades, Rotary has helped light up the skies in St. Marys! Whether celebrating summer at the Heritage Festival or ringing in a socially distanced New Year during COVID, our support for community fireworks has brought people together with joy and wonder.
Environmental Stewardship - Sparling Bush
2000 - 2025
Allocated Service - 5
Sparling Bush is a treasured natural space in St. Marys donated to the town by Rotarian Herb Sparling and is cared for through a cooperative partnership between the Town of St. Marys, the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority, and the Rotary Club of St. Marys.
Rotary coordinated the acquisition and planting of 300 trees along emerging paths with community volunteers, added shrubs and trees at the bush’s northwest corner, and supported the pollinator garden. The club also partners with local schools to promote environmental education and stewardship, and purchased identification signs for the main entrances.
Together, these partners help ensure Sparling Bush continues to thrive as a healthy, accessible space for nature and community.
St. Marys Public Library Reading Garden
2005 - 2025
Allocated Service - 5
Established in 2004 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Rotary International and the St. Marys Public Library, the Rotary Reading Garden offers a welcoming outdoor space for reading, learning, and community connection. This garden reflects Rotary’s commitment to literacy and fostering vibrant public places where people of all ages can gather and grow together.
Rotary Park
2013 - 2025
Allocated Service - 5
Rotary Park is a cherished community green space, created through the partnership of the Rotary Club, the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority, and the Town of St. Marys. Named in honour of the late Eric Taylor, a respected community leader and co-founder of McLean Taylor Construction, the park features the accessible Taylor Trail made from local stone screenings, enhanced natural gardens planted largely by local schoolchildren, and benches and picnic tables sponsored by generous community members. Rotary Club volunteers continue to care for the gardens and maintain the park alongside town staff, ensuring Rotary Park remains an inviting and environmentally friendly place for residents and visitors.
PolioPlus Crocus Planting
2014 - 2025
Allocated Service - 5
To mark Rotary’s global campaign to eradicate polio, 12,000 purple crocus bulbs were planted in Cadzow Park — a vivid reminder each spring of what’s possible through collective action. The purple bloom reflects the same color used to mark the pinky fingers of children vaccinated against polio.
Nile River Skillings Institute - Uganda
2017 - 2025
Allocated Service - 5
Rotary’s recent donation of computers is helping expand digital literacy and vocational access for the growing student body—now 49 strong, up from 15 the year before. We’re also applying for a District Grant to provide bunk beds, making it safer and easier for students to attend school and training programs.
Backpacks for Global Literacy
2019
Allocated Service - 1
Backpacks for Global Literacy was a community-wide initiative that collected new and gently used backpacks, computer bags, school supplies, and children’s books to support students in need around the world. With the enthusiastic help of Little Falls Public School’s Me to We program, the Global Voices group at DCVI High School, community partners, and volunteers, more than 180 backpacks were filled with school supplies and prepared for shipment to schools in South Africa, Guyana, and other regions. This project not only provided essential learning tools for students abroad but also showcased the generosity and global-minded spirit of the St. Marys community.
“Strong as Stone” - COVID
2020 -2021
Allocated Service - 2
The Rotary Club of St. Marys was honoured to receive the Town’s Strong as Stone Award in recognition of our efforts during COVID-19. Rotarians stepped up by supplying gowns, masks, caps, and face shields to healthcare teams and nursing homes and assisting at vaccination clinics. We partnered with local restaurants to deliver more than 1,800 meals over seven months to residents and frontline workers, including seniors, those with disabilities, and families facing hardship through our Community Meal Delivery program. We also supported community spirit with the 2020 drive‑by Halloween and New Year’s Eve fireworks.
Better Sanitary Conditions Strengthen Children - Colombia
2022 - 2025
Allocated Service - 4
The "Better Sanitary Conditions Strengthen Children" project was proposed in 2020 by Club Rotary Medellin-Nutibara in Medellin, Colombia, and marked our club's first international project. It was approved in 2021 and completed in 2022. Focusing on a local school serving 125 children in each of two daily shifts, the project involved fully renovating the facility by introducing indoor plumbing, constructing two student washrooms, a staff washroom, a functional kitchen, and installing new flooring to promote improved hygiene and safety for students and staff
Hygiene Supplies in Kenya
2024
Allocated Service - 1
Students at Mugoiri Secondary School in Kenya received hygiene kits. Without access to these supplies, girls are unable to attend school consistently.
All Wheels Skate Park on James Street
2024 - 2025
Allocated Service - 2
Rotary All Wheels Park on James Street—a vibrant space where riders of all ages, talents, and skill levels come together. From community partnerships and volunteer efforts to generous support, this park is a true testament to teamwork and inclusivity. The dedication of everyone involved has transformed the space into a welcoming and safe spot for fun, connection, and active living.
Sparling Bush - Invasive Species
2025
Allocated Service - 1
Students visited Sparling Bush to learn about invasive plant species and their impact on the environment. After the walk-and-talk session, they helped remove non-native plants.
Total Allocated Service -101
Our Acts of Service by Category
The infographic below offers a visual overview of how 20 distinct Acts of Service are distributed across major categories impacting our community. Each Act is placed in the category best representing its primary focus, although many contribute to multiple areas.
This view highlights the breadth of Rotary’s community impact, showcasing the many ways our members serve—ranging from major community projects and youth programs to international initiatives and valued partnerships.
