The Rotary Club of West Vancouver

History of Our Club

Fifty Year History of the Rotary Club of West Vancouver

The Rotary Club of West Vancouver was inaugurated on Monday, March 30, 1953 at The Drum (currently the Beach House). Sponsored by the Vancouver Rotary Club, the first President was Rupert Harrison, Municipal Clerk of West Vancouver. Other officers elected were: Russell Richards, Jim Brown, Jack Clowes, Harry Gregson, and the new Directors were Victor Blanchflower, Roger Gauthier, Frank Barnard, Don McMillan. In the last 30 years we have met at the old Frank Baker’s Restaurant, the Ambleside Inn and the Hollyburn Club, each for approximately 10 years. 

Rupert Harrison was still an active and a valuable member of the Rotary Club of West Vancouver when the club celebrated it’s Golden Anniversary in 2003, and maintained a perfect attendance for over 50 years. 

During its 50+ years of operation, the RCWV has maintained its International Motto “Service Above Self”. With this in mind, the Club has always played a major role in the community affairs. They provided the first West Vancouver Ambulance in 1954 and the members were volunteers who were required to acquire a first aid certificate and took turns on call around the clock as ambulance drivers who operated the vehicle. 

The Capilano Senior Citizens Housing Unit on Esquimalt Avenue was built through the efforts of the Rotary Club of West Vancouver who were instrumental in raising the necessary funds to complete the building. After 40 years of service and careful maintenance the Club is advised that the present market value of this facility is over $10,000,000.00. Five members of the Club continue to serve on the executive committee of this Society.

The Rotary Club of West Vancouver is also responsible for the founding of the West Vancouver Historical Society in 1980. As part of Community Day, 1981, the Club charted the last operational West Vancouver Ferry for a “Memory Cruise” and hired a brass band and a piper for entertainment and signed up the Society’s first 100 members before they got off the boat. Although the Club later stepped aside after the election of the first officers, three members, Doris Lewis, Hugh Johnston, and Rupert Harrison served on the executive committee of the Society for several years. 

Other activities that have resulted in the benefit of West Vancouver have included funding for the Lions Bay Sea Scouts, the West Vancouver Boy Scouts, “Jaws of Life’ for the West Vancouver Fire Department, the Girl Guides Activity Center, the Horseshoe Bay Propeller Fountain, Rotary Lane, Klahanie Park Housing Society and the picnic/lookout area at Rotary Bluff on Hollyburn Mountain. We also have a joint effort with the other three North Shore Clubs in maintaining and enhancing the traffic circle at the north end of the Lions Gate Bridge.

Up to the present time, the Rotary Club of West Vancouver’s direct contribution of nearly $300,000.00 has succeeded in leveraging over $25,000,000.00 in housing amenities and other facilities within the community. 

In addition to the Community benefits, the Rotary Club of West Vancouver continues to assist in projects for the International Community. These have included efforts in Swaziland, Liberia, Kiev, Tanzania, and El Salvador. 

Major funding for the Rotary projects comes from our annual Sea Wall Run/Walk on the last Sunday in May, the annual Wine/Food Festival at Park Royal Shopping Centre and the Gaming Commission of the Province of British Columbia. 

 The Rotary Club of West Vancouver meets every Tuesday at the Taso’s Restaurant on Marine Drive at 6:15 p.m. Visitors are welcome.