Rotary Club of Cambridge (Preston & Hespeler)

08/21/2026

What a fantastic time we had at our Club summer picnic!

We enjoyed intense matches of co****le and bocce ball in the yard and had incredible food (thank you Drongkowskis Farm Market & Deli and Brantwood Farms St. George). It was the perfect reminder of what makes our Rotary family so special.

There is nothing better than coming together, getting to know each other better, and celebrating the community ties that bring us all together.

If you are to make a difference and connect with a great group of people, we are always looking for new members who are passionate about giving back, building friendships, creating a positive impact - and up for a game of co****le. Whether you are a long-time resident of Cambridge or new to the area, you are welcome!

We meet Thursdays at lunch and would love to have you come out to meet us and see what we are all about. Send us a message or comment to learn how you can join us for our next meeting!

08/18/2026

To mark our 100th Anniversary, the Rotary Club of Cambridge Preston-Hespeler is proud to launch our 100th Anniversary Post-Secondary Writing Contest for local students! 🎓✍️

We are looking for the next generation of changemakers whose studies, passions, and goals align with Rotary’s vision of "Service Above Self."

The Challenge
Write an original essay (500–1,000 words) sharing how your educational pursuits and future ambitions connect with one or more of Rotary’s 7 Areas of Focus:

🕊️ Peacebuilding & Conflict Prevention

🩺 Disease Prevention & Treatment

💧 Water, Sanitation, & Hygiene

👶 Maternal & Child Health

📚 Basic Education & Literacy

📈 Community Economic Development

🌱 Protecting the Environment

What You Can Win
One of ten $1,000 CAD Scholarships, an Official Certificate of Recognition and an invitation to be celebrated in person at an upcoming Rotary meeting!

Who Can Apply?
Residents of Cambridge, Ontario who are enrolled in an Ontario college or university for the 2026–2027 academic year

📲 Ready to submit or learn more? Visit our website link in the first comment for full details and submission instructions.

📅 Deadline: October 31, 2026

📩 Questions? Contact us at [email protected]

Get more information on our website:
https://portal.clubrunner.ca/120/page/essay-contest

Please help us spread the word! Tag a Cambridge student, parent, or educator! 👇

08/13/2026

Bringing loved ones home when every second counts. 💙

Today our club has a fantastic presentation from Victim Services of Waterloo Region.

We learned about a new program coming to the region later this year called Project Lifesaver. This is a specialized search and rescue initiative designed to quickly locate individuals who may wander due to cognitive conditions such as Alzheimer’s, dementia, autism, or Down syndrome.

Here is how it will work:
24/7 Protection: Participants will wear a small, lightweight radio transmitter wristband that emits a unique tracking signal.

Rapid Response: If a participant goes missing, trained emergency responders use tracking equipment to locate them.

Saving Lives & Time: Average search times are reduced from hours or days often down to less than 30 minutes, bringing peace of mind to caregivers and safety to those we love.

As Rotarians, we believe in Service Above Self, and we are proud to highlight initiatives that make our region safer and more supportive for every family.

Scaling important work like this requires funding! The Hearts & Heroes fundraiser coming up in November will benefit this organization. Check it out at www.heartsandheroes.ca

08/10/2026

Bingo! Find your local Charitable Bingo and Gaming centre today.

The Rotary Club of Cambridge (Preston & Hespeler) is a proud participant of Charitable Gaming! Through volunterism at the Cambridge Bingo and Gaming Centre, we can continue our important work in the community.

Charities across Ontario raise funds through the Charitable Gaming initiative so when you play, local charities win!

Bingo! When you play, local charities win.

08/09/2026

Great to see our fellow Rotarians out supporting the community at Cambridge RibFest! 👏

A special shout-out to Abby, their outbound Rotary Youth Exchange student, and her dad for volunteering. Wishing Abby an amazing year ahead as she gets ready for her adventure in France! 🇨🇦🇫🇷

We’re collecting donations at the Cambridge RibFest and Craft Beer Show this weekend, in support of Rotary and the programs we help out. Stop by to say hello and help make a difference in our community and the world. A big thanks to our outbound exchange student Abby and her dad, for volunteering their time. Abby leaves later this month for her year-long adventure in France 🇫🇷 .
Rotary District 7080

08/09/2026

Supporting Our Friends at the Rotary Club of Cambridge Sunrise!

If you’re heading to Cambridge Ribfest & Craft Beer Show today, keep an eye out for our friends from the Rotary Club of Cambridge Sunrise at the gates!

They’ll be welcoming guests and collecting donations to support the many great things Rotary does right here in our community. ❤️

No ticket is needed to enter, so stop by, enjoy Ribfest, say hello to some fellow Rotarians, and consider making a donation to support their work.

We’re always proud to support our fellow Cambridge Rotary clubs and the difference they make in our community.

Cambridge Sunrise Rotary

08/08/2026

Club President Russ welcomed Dr. Matt Strauss, Member of Parliament for Kitchener South—Hespeler, as the guest speaker at our recent Rotary Club of Cambridge (Preston-Hespeler) lunch meeting.

Drawing on his experience as a former critical care physician, ICU Chief, public health officer, and now Member of Parliament, Dr. Strauss shared his perspectives on healthcare, community well-being, public safety, and government accountability.

Some of the key themes from his presentation included:
🔹 The importance of informed consent and maintaining strong community connections.
🔹 The value of local approaches to addressing housing and public safety challenges.
🔹 The role of parliamentary oversight in promoting transparency, accountability, and responsible use of public funds.

His presentation sparked thoughtful discussion and gave members the opportunity to hear firsthand about the challenges and responsibilities of serving both in healthcare and in Parliament.

Thank you, Dr. Strauss, for taking the time to visit our club and share your insights. We appreciate the engaging discussion and your commitment to public service.

08/07/2026

Welcome to Rotary!

We were pleased to welcome Greg MacKay and Peter Tanner as the newest members of the Rotary Club of Cambridge (Preston-Hespeler) at yesterday's lunch meeting.

Rotary is all about Service Above Self, and we're excited to have Greg and Peter join us as we continue making a positive impact in our community and around the world.

Please join us in giving them a warm Rotary welcome!

07/30/2026

A huge thank you to Vicki Olatundun for an extraordinarily inspiring session today on the theme “Believe. Behave. Become.”

Vicki moved and challenged us with her incredible stories, including the story of a young orphan from Sierra Leone who went on to become a ballet dancer. Her story reminded us that when we encounter someone who doesn't believe in themselves, we need to think "Me dance"—and see their potential when others might not.

She also reminded us of the profound impact of teachers who see the spark in a child and help them say and believe, "I'm a leader."

It was a powerful call to take action right here at home and lift up the stories of those around us. We can all help others believe, behave and become.

We are so grateful for your time, Vicki, and we are thrilled and excited about your new mission with ILALI.

Thank you to everyone who joined us at the Galt Golf & Country Club today!

07/29/2026

We are excited to welcome Vicki Olatundun as our guest speaker this week!

Vicki is a former attorney, TEDx speaker, author, and non-profit Executive Director who has spent over 15 years using strategic business principles to drive real social change. A nominated Woman of Distinction and Canadian Living "Change Maker," she brings high energy and visionary leadership that challenges the status quo and inspires action. You don’t want to miss her talk!

Please join us at our Rotary Club Weekly Lunch Meeting
Date: This Thursday July 30
Time: 12:30 PM (arrive a few minutes early!)
Location: Galt Golf & Country Club
About Vicki: https://vickiolatundun.com

Guests and community members are always welcome! All guests are invited to order their own lunch directly from the Galt Country Club menu, so bring a friend along.

See you Thursday at 12:30 PM!

Executive Director, Award Winning Author, Keynote and Motivational TEDx Speaker