Local

Category: Local

Apple Dumpling Baking Contest: A Delicious Way to Support Literacy and Win Big!

The Rotary Club of Barrie is thrilled to host our annual Apple Dumpling Baking Contest this holiday season, celebrating the spirit of giving, community, and literacy. This fun-filled contest is open to families of Grade 2 students who received a copy of Andy & Elmer’s Apple Dumpling Adventure. It’s a chance to get creative in the kitchen, bake up delicious apple dumplings, and support literacy in Simcoe County. With a Google Chromebook up for grabs, this contest is about more than just baking—it’s about making memories and making a difference!

We’ve already received so many amazing submissions, and we couldn’t be more excited about the creativity and enthusiasm pouring in from our talented bakers! Each photo we receive not only showcases fantastic culinary creations but also highlights the strong community spirit we’re so proud of. From beautifully crafted apple dumplings to fun family baking moments, the submissions so far have been inspiring, and we can’t wait to see even more before the contest closes on December 22, 2024.

Picture of Apple Dumplings and Their Young Bakers

This contest is more than just a chance to win—it’s an opportunity to engage with the important work we do at the Rotary Club of Barrie. Every year, we distribute over 1,350 copies of Andy & Elmer’s Apple Dumpling Adventure to Grade 2 students in Simcoe County, teaching vital lessons about truth, fairness, and community partnerships. Your participation helps raise awareness about our mission to support literacy and make a positive impact on the lives of local students.

As we count down the days until the contest closes, we encourage you to keep those creative submissions coming. Whether it’s a beautifully plated set of dumplings or a fun family photo, we want to see your Apple Dumpling creations! Don’t forget—the winner will be contacted on December 31st 2024, and that lucky contestant will walk away with a brand-new Google Chromebook!

Picture of Apple Dumplings and Their Young Bakers

Keep your eyes peeled, we’ll have more fantastic submissions on our Facebook page. And a HUGE thank you to everyone for being part of this sweet, meaningful tradition! 🍏✨

That’s a Wrap on Kempenfest!

We loved connecting with everyone at our Beer Tent and hope you enjoyed it as much as we did. A huge shoutout to our amazing volunteers—your hard work and dedication were key to making the event a success. We can’t wait to see you again next year!

Boots & Hearts Barn Burner Charity Hockey Game 2024

Boots & Hearts Barn Burner Charity Hockey Game 2024

Thank You from the Rotary Club of Barrie!

We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who attended and supported the Boots and Hearts Barn Burner charity hockey event! Your presence and generosity made the event a huge success, and we’re incredibly grateful for your commitment to our community. Together, we’re making a real difference.

Thank you for being a part of this special day!

Free books for students on Rotary Book Day

Again this year the Rotary Club of Barrie with the Simcoe County District Board gave a free book to grade 2 students at 25 Barrie and area schools to promote literacy and goodwill. At the event called “Rotary Book Day” readings were held by influential community members from politicians to police officers to principals.

“Andy & Elmer’s Apple Dumpling Adventure” is a story of a young entrepreneur who starts an apple dumpling business guided by the Rotary worldwide moral code which uses four questions to test the voracity of both personal and business relationships. They are…

  1. Is it the truth?
  2. Is it fair to all concerned?
  3. Will it build goodwill and better friendships?
  4. Will it be beneficial to all concerned?

 

Rotary Book Day 2018Rotary Book Day 2018Rotary Book Day 2018Rotary Book Day 2018Rotary Book Day 2018

Rotary Book Day 2018

65 years of “greening” Barrie

BREAKING NEWS ( Mar17 2018 ): R.C.O.B. is providing $5,000 to Fruit Share Barrie to purchase, plant & maintain 50 fruit trees at various locations including schoolyards in Barrie!

Serving in the armed forces can make a man think about his mortality and legacy. Upon leaving the Royal Navy and returning home in 1953 Charlie Wilson involved his Rotary Club of Barrie, 30 other veterans and the Boy Scouts to plant 3600 trees near West Gwillambury by the 400 as his legacy and gift to his community. Today these trees are a forest.

The trees weren’t Charlie’s only legacy though. Our club was the first and very few Rotary clubs to form an “Environmental Committee” that would ensure the continuation of the yearly tree planting projects as well as facilitate and encourage other green projects in Barrie. The Rotary Club of Barrie created the “Charlie Wilson Environmental Award”, an annual award given to a person or group within the City of Barrie that demonstrates environmental activism and consciousness.

Since that start Charlie Wilson, the Environmental committee and our club have planted about 5,000 trees and shrubs at schools, public spaces, parks, and more around town at a cost of $5,000/year.

Seven years ago the tree project went a different direction as locations for tree planting became scarce. The School Tree Planting Project was born. Schools wanted outdoor classrooms shaded by trees on their schoolyards but didn’t have the budget required to do them. Rotary stepped in bringing $4,000 / year, the people and tools to plant 6 12-foot trees each at 2 schools a year. This project continues today.

The greening of Simcoe County

The original military roots motivating the greening of Barrie were reflected again when 360 trees were planted to commemorate Canadian Afghanistan veterans whose service cost them their lives.

Most recently more than 25 oak trees from the famous World War 1 battlefield “Vimy Ridge” where the Canadian Core suffered 10,602 casualties securing victory over the enemy were planted at the Military Heritage Park on Lakeshore Drive.

Spanning 65 years and thousands of trees, the Rotary Club of Barrie’s Environmental Committee also contributes to the greening of Simcoe County with projects from our “Spring Tonic” fundraiser with the Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority, contributions to the Friends of Fort Willow, 9 Mile Portage, the Royal Victoria Hospital “Healing Bush” and more. And they’re just one of numerous committees in our club whose purpose is to make Barrie ( and the world ) better!

Families Facing Difficult Times Given A Perfect Christmas

Each year Rotary Club of Barrie Members’ personal donations enable our Club to help several families have a happy Christmas. Through the Barrie Food Bank families are identified, and Rotarians get to work shopping all the gifts are wrapped and distributed to the families. Each family receives gifts like winter jackets, boots and clothing, a couple of fun personal gifts, and a No Frills gift card to stock their fridge. This year we raised $3,400 and helped 5 families totalling 18 people.