This Rotor can also be found on the FRONT PAGE OF OUR WEBSITE,
on the right side (where it used to be).
ANNOUNCEMENTS
March isWater, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH)Month in Rotary
Mar. 22 – is World Water Day - more informationbelow.
Mar. 26 – Regular Regina Eastview ZOOM meeting at noon.
Apr. 2 - No Regina Eastview meeting.
Apr. 9 – Regular 12 noon Regina Eastview ZOOM meeting – join us to hear Guest Speaker PDG Eva Vida, President of The Rotary Foundation Canada.
Apr. 13 - In person 12 noon meeting at the Delta hosted by the RC of Regina.
Apr. 16 - 4:00 P.M. RC of Regina Service opportunity at Souls Harbor.
Apr 30 - 5-30 pm Regina Eastview’s Spring Fling Fundraiser at the Salvation Army location on 13th Avenue. More details will follow. If you have a collectible item for the Silent Auction let Allen Hillsden or President Jayna know.
GOVERNMENT HOUSE HISTORICAL SOCIETY WITH PRESIDENT SHIRLEY PATERSON!
President Jayna Amadasun called the March 19, 2026 Regina Eastview gathering to attention at 12:05 and invited Gilda Treleaven-Graham to lead us in singing our appreciated national anthem. Peter Peters was invited to share and invocation/blessings for our meal. This was followed our President sharing the Club’s Land Acknowledgement Statement.
Following lunch Jeanne Alexander was asked to introduce Guest Speaker Shirley Paterson, current President of the Government House Historical Society (GHHS), and a Volunteer with the Vintage and Collectible Committee. Our Guest expanded on Jeanne’s introduction by admitting to being a volunteer her whole adult life starting when she volunteered by helping her late husband with his activities a 35 Lions Club member and ended up as Lioness Club becoming its youngest President. Shirley’s mantra became, there are no problems, only opportunities. From the time of her grade school education in Saskatoon, she recalled class trips to Regina where they visited Government House, the Legislative buildings and the RCMP training Depot. She dreamed of becoming a Volunteer at Government House, and door opened when she won a prize at the Government House Booth at the Cathedral Arts Festival, and had to go to Government House to pick up her prize.
Shirley then wove a story of her experience and understanding of the history of GHHS, which functions as a team with Government House staff who manage the Museum and staff the Office of Lieutenant Governor, Her Honour Bernedette McIntyre’s Office. GHHS is an incorporated charitable non-profit organization whose stated mission is to, ’preserve, promote and enhance Government House as a public heritage site’, which melds well with the Government House museum’s mission.
GHHS grew from a 1969 rumor that Saskatchewan House, completed in 1891, and served as the home of Lieutenant Governor, was to be demolished because of its sad state of repair. Shirley spoke of some of the features of the original house which boasted of running water, flush toilets and a telephone. In 1898 Amédée Forget became Lieutenant Governor of the Northwest Territories and until 1910 he and his wife Henriette, their French speaking parrot and chandelier swinging monkey set the tone for Government House social events. In 1901 the conservatory was added to the south end of the house and became the highlight of the 1902 Levée at which the first time a luncheon was served and was opened to include male members of the public. On September 1,1905 Saskatchewan became a province making His Honour Amédée Forget the last LG of the Northwest Territories and the first LG of Saskatchewan.
In1928 the old conservatory was demolished and replaced with the present ballroom, which hosted the first dance on February 1, 1929. These must have been ruckus events because, ‘in the interest if preservation’, dancing in the ballroom is not longer allowed. In 1944 Premier T.C. Douglas decreed that Government house was too expensive for one family and all furnishings were sold at public auction and since 1945 Government House has not served as the L.G. residence. However, it did serve as a rehabilitation centre for returning service men in 1946 and as an adult learning centre in 1958. In 1977 the cabinet of Premier Blakney decided to retain and restore Saskatchew an House in accordance with a plan which saw the creation of a public museum. There was however no provision that the renovated facility would house the Lieutenant Governor. However, lobbying by various groups, including the GHHS it did see the return of the LG Office in 1984, which until this time was housed in the Hotel Saskatchewan.
GHHS has taken on the role of a ‘friends’ community and has raised funds to support Government House. President Shirley Paterson explained how GHHS Volunteers, from the original group to current members, have consistently supported the mission to preserve, promote, and enhance Government House as a valued public heritage site.
Thank you, Shirley Paterson, for sharing the GHHS story with Rotary.
Shirley Paterson, President
Government House Historical Society
WORLD WATER DAY -
SPECIAL EVENT
I am a member of the Wash, Sanitation and Hygiene Rotary Action Group (WASH RAG). It is important for our members to appreciate the health and welfare benefit of our Club's WASH Projects in Guatemala with our partners, the RC of Retalhuleu. Below is information selected from WASH RAG Newsletter which underscores the impact of WASH. PHP
On internationally recognized days dedicated to Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene, such as World Toilet Day and World Water Day, the eClub of WASH is hosting virtual screenings of films that highlight ongoing issues in this sector.
World Water Day is Sunday, 22 March 2026, and the eClub of WASH will be screening virtually the award-winning documentary - 'FLOW: For Love of Water.' The film explores how politics, pollution, and corporations are impacting the world's water crisis. Beyond identifying the problems, FLOW provides practical solutions.
The film will be officially shown on a high-quality custom video link on 22 March 2026 - 2 pm Eastern / 6 pm UTC. The film runs 90 minutes. (NOTE: the video link will be available for viewing for a 24-hour period, to allow viewing throughout all time zones.)
After the movie and a short break, viewers are invited to join a Zoom call starting at 4 pm Eastern / 8 pm UTC for a Question-and-Answer session to discuss the film and the water crisis. This session will be recorded and posted to the eClub of WASH Vimeo site.
Tickets are $10 to attend the movie screening and Q & A. Purchase tickets here: Link
FAMILY OF ROTARY
Allen Goudie slipped into our meeting like the quiet, gentle Rotarian we know from the RC of Regina. Please know he has a role in our District and serves as an Assistant District Governor (ADG), and of special importance to us is that he is our ADG - Congratulations, Al.
President Jayna acknowledged March Birthdays - Peter Peters (1st), Ted Kent (4th),Doreen Pankewich (5th), Oyiboka George (19th), Jeff Barber (22nd), Doug Archer (23rd), and Toshi Shinmura (30th) - CONGRATULATIONS, Everyone! The singing was a special treat - Thank you
Also, CONGRATULATIONS to Pat Dell who we applauded for her 25 years of service through Rotary. Thank you, Pat for being part of our Rotary Family
Always good to have the longest standing Honourary Member of Regina Eastview, at our meeting. Now Ralph Goodale is recognized with "Honourable" status in various places around the world and it is really nice when he 'comes home' - very good to have you in our room.
Rebecca Otititoju. Jeanne Alexander & Shirley Paterson
Left to Right
Philosopher's Corner
"The best way to find yourself, is to lose yourself in the service to others."
Mahatma Gandi
Today's guests
We were honoured to be joined by guest speaker Shirley Paterson and her guest, Rebecca Otititoju, GHHS Volunteer Coordinator. In addition we were pleased to welcome visiting Rotarians from the RC of Regina, Al Goudie, Stewart Graham, Gilda Treleaven Graham, and Adeyemo Adewale in person and Doug Keam via ZOOM. Thank you all for choosing to be part of our Rotary day.
Next Meeting Responsibilities
March 26 is a the final Zoom Meeting for March and responsibilities will be defined and assigned.
