Long-standing Rotary Club legacy strong in Calgary

Just days after the dust has settled following the conclusion of the G7 summit in Banff, thousands more international guests have arrived in Calgary — this time Rotary Club members attending their massive annual international convention. With a total membership numbering more than 1.2 million, an estimated 15,000 people representing 120 member nations of the venerable service organization will descend on the city this weekend.

Of those local Rotarians who don’t have to travel to attend the convention are members of the Rotary Club of Calgary at Stampede Park (RCCSP), which has a 70-year history of its own. Over the years, the club has dedicated significant resources to supporting education through a variety of scholarships, including four at Mount Royal University.

In total, the RCCSP has provided $300,000 to fund 21 scholarships at four post-secondary institutions in the city, which also include SAIT, Bow Valley College and the University of Calgary. Many other Rotary Clubs have also made a major impact at MRU.

Members of the RCCSP believe that education is the foundation for opportunity, says president Gord Weicker.

“By supporting students, we’re not just helping individuals — we’re investing in stronger communities and a better future for everyone. We hope to help everyone have the chance to learn, grow and reach their full potential, no matter their circumstances.”

A tangible example of how that vision becomes a reality is the story of Zoë Say, who received the Rotary Club of Calgary at Stampede Park Gardie and Jeanne Shaw Scholarship in 2022.

The Gardie and Jeanne Shaw Estate Scholarship was jointly funded by the RCCSP and the Shaw family. It began in 2005 to honour Gardie Shaw, who was a prominent member of the club and a former district governor, explains Dorothea Schaab, chair of the RCCSP’s scholarship and bursary program and director of the new generations/youth program.

“As a mature, self-supporting student, the financial burden can feel overwhelming. This scholarship has made a huge difference to my peace of mind and gives me more ability to focus on my studies and creating the future of my dreams,” Say wrote in appreciation for the scholarship. She recently graduated with a Bachelor of Arts — Psychology (Honours) and was selected to receive MRU’s 2025 Centennial Gold Medal for the Faculty of Arts.

Other MRU-specific scholarships and bursaries funded by the RCCSP include the Rotary Club of Calgary at Stampede Park Business Scholarship, the Rotary Club of Calgary at Stampede Park Nursing Entrance Bursary and the Rotary Club of Calgary at Stampede Park Scholarship in Criminal Justice. Each of these aligns with at least one of Rotary’s global causes, which include supporting education, health and local economies while protecting the environment and promoting peace.

“Over the years, the club has dedicated significant resources to supporting education through a variety of scholarships,” Schaab says, including two $3,000 scholarships for leadership and community service that go to students at St. Mary’s High School. In addition, the Stay in School scholarship program created during past-president Bryan Targett’s term selects two Grade 8 students each year from  St. John XXIII School and Sherwood School. With the support of nearly 40 mentors, students are guided through high school and four years of post-secondary education. Each student receives a $32,000 scholarship, for which funding was raised through charitable golf tournaments. The result is a self-sustaining investment fund of more than $5 million. The annual budget for the program is approximately $120,000 and it is now also offered to students at St. John XXIII School.

“What is most gratifying to me is the relationship that grows between mentor and student. Our first graduate from the 20-year-old program still keeps in touch with her mentor,” Schaab says.

“We see students fulfilling dreams that may not have been possible without these scholarships.”

Terry Kellam, associate vice-president of Development and Alumni Relations and the Mount Royal University Foundation says, “The Rotary Club of Calgary at Stampede Park is a powerful force for good. It is not just funding scholarships — it is igniting potential, fueling dreams and shaping the future of our world through education.

“The Club’s commitment is a reminder that real leadership is rooted in service. We are thankful for this enduring partnership that lifts communities and transforms lives.”