Neighbours helping neighbours, near and far
Since 1972, Rotarians on the West Shore have turned good ideas into playgrounds, scholarships, clean water and hope. Every Seasons of Giving ticket carries that work forward.
Service Above Self
The Rotary motto, lived out by more than 1.2 million members in clubs around the world, and by your neighbours right here on the West Shore.
The Cst. Sarah Beckett Memorial Playground
Constable Sarah Beckett of the West Shore RCMP was a mother of two who was killed in the line of duty in April 2016. A few months later, one of our members proposed a lasting tribute: a place where West Shore children could play, in her memory.
Members sold engraved bricks, flipped burgers, and brought back Lobsterfest for one more year. The community answered: together we raised more than $260,000 for the playground's equipment and surfacing, and it opened at Westhills in Langford in August 2019.
A stone at the playground reads, "Constable Sarah Beckett – A life that made a difference."
The next playground, and a bigger dream
The work didn't stop in 2019.
Ruth King Accessible Playground
We're working with Ruth King Elementary's parent community, the City of Langford and other partners to build an accessible, inclusive playground in Langford, where children of every ability can play together. Like the Sarah Beckett playground, it's being built one engraved brick at a time.
Sponsor a brick ↗A long-term dream: an outdoor pool
Some of our members are working on early plans for an outdoor swimming pool for the West Shore. It's a big, long-term project, and we'll share more as it takes shape.
Read the CHEK News story ↗Helping near
From Colwood to Sooke, our members show up for the places we live, with time as well as money.
BEAR: Be Excited About Reading
Our members read with elementary students, in partnership with local schools and at our own events. BEAR grew out of the library we helped build at Beecher Bay in 2010. We've also supported the 1000×5 early literacy program and the Ruth King School library.
Youth sport
Our signature is running the tailgate at Victoria Shamrocks lacrosse games every season, and now at Victoria Grizzlies hockey games too. We also support local tournaments and teams in baseball, rugby and more.
Scholarships & youth leaders
Scholarships for students at Belmont and Royal Bay secondary schools and Royal Roads University, Interact clubs for high school students, and support for the Rotaract Club of Victoria.
Hands-on service
Beach and trail cleanups, the Goldstream Food Bank, Christmas in the Park with West Shore Parks & Recreation, community dinners and whatever else our neighbours need. Rotarians roll up their sleeves.
Parks & play
Playgrounds at the West Shore Child, Youth and Family Centre on Wale Road, Ruth King School and Alexander Mackie Lodge, plus a picnic shelter, playground and field lights at Juan de Fuca, the Veterans Memorial Park playground, and a basketball court on Triangle Mountain.
Fun with a purpose
Over the club's many years, a wide variety of events and initiatives have raised funds for the community, including Lobsterfest, the Chili Cook Off, HoopFest, golf ball drops, an art and wine festival at Fort Rodd Hill, pancake breakfasts and countless BBQs.
People of action
Aprons on, tongs in hand. This is what a Rotary weekend looks like.
Helping far
Rotary connects our small corner of Vancouver Island to the world.
Clean water & health, Malawi
We're wrapping up a Rotary global grant of about US$60,000 that brings safe water, toilets and proper waste disposal to several healthcare facilities in Rumphi District, Malawi, working with Rotary partners and the local organization DAMRA.
The power of Rotary, worldwide
Over the years we've led a number of water projects by leveraging the global power of Rotary: Rotary Foundation global grants, partner clubs, and charities like Transform International (Canada).
Girls on the Move, Malawi
Our first international project began with drought relief and a well for a Malawian village, and grew into Atsikana Pa Ulendo, a girls' secondary school founded in 2006. We supported students and school buildings for years, and helped bring deep-well water to the school. Today it serves about 360 girls and is self-sustaining.
Haiti
Kitchens and bathrooms, a secure fence and a moveable chicken coop for two orphanages, so the children have eggs to eat and to sell.
Wherever help is needed
A Langford fire truck for Belize, computers for a school in Thailand, preschool supplies for Darfur refugees in Chad, floors and textbooks for a school in Uganda, ShelterBoxes, and disaster relief from the Philippines to Ukraine.
Ending polio
Rotary has led the global effort to end polio since 1985, helping cut cases worldwide by more than 99.9%. Our members give to The Rotary Foundation to support PolioPlus and Rotary's work for peace, health and education around the world.
Our story
Two clubs, one community, more than 50 years of service.
- 1972The Rotary Club of Colwood is founded, bringing Rotary to the West Shore. Over the years it builds playgrounds and park facilities at Juan de Fuca, sends a Langford fire truck to Belize and runs an annual art and wine festival at Fort Rodd Hill. Around 2016 it becomes Westshore Sunrise Rotary.
- 2003The Rotary Club of West Shore begins as a second club for the growing community. In 2004 it starts Christmas in the Park with West Shore Parks & Recreation.
- 2005Its first local project opens: a playground at the West Shore Child, Youth and Family Centre on Wale Road, funded by the Chili Cook-Off. The same year, help reaches refugee preschools in Chad and a school in Thailand.
- 2010A new library at Beecher Bay, which grows into the BEAR reading program.
- 2010sInteract clubs start at Belmont (2012) and Royal Bay (2015) secondary schools. HoopFest begins in 2016.
- 2017The two clubs merge as the Rotary Club of West Shore.
- 2019The Cst. Sarah Beckett Memorial Playground opens in Langford.
- 2020–21Golf ball drops, trivia nights and online meetings keep the club giving through the pandemic.
- TodayWrapping up a WASH global grant in Malawi, building the Ruth King Accessible Playground with Langford partners, and exploring an outdoor pool for the West Shore.
- 2026Our first Seasons of Giving Calendar Raffle, supporting youth mental health and wellness on the West Shore.
All are welcome
Rotary is for anyone who wants to make a difference close to home and around the world. Make new friends, learn about our community and help decide where our next project goes.
Most of our meetings are Fridays at 12:15 pm at Cherish at Central Park in Langford, and once a month we get together for a Thursday evening social at a changing location. Guests are always welcome. Let us know you're interested and we'll send you details of our next meeting and upcoming events.
Come to a meeting
Tell us a little about yourself and we'll invite you to our next meeting or event.
Get in touch rotarywestshore.com ↗Curious about Rotary?
Whether you'd like to visit a meeting, lend a hand at an event or become a member, leave your details and one of our members will reach out. No pressure, no obligation.
Prefer email? membership@rotarywestshore.com