Rotary Club of Milton Club History
Milton Rotary History
 
1946
Members of Oakville Rotary push in the fall of 1946 for a new Rotary service club to be formed in the Town of Milton.
 
1947
On January 22, 1947 the Charter meeting of the Rotary of Club of Milton is held at Milton Town Hall on Main St. Kenneth Dick, a veteran of World War II and a tank commander, is Milton Rotary's first club president. A noted lawyer, and son of the famed Halton Crown Attorney W.I. Dick, Kenneth would go on to become Warden of Halton County, and an Ontario provincial court judge for Oxford County many years later. Milton Rotary began with 14 members that night, all of them notable businessmen and community leaders in Milton. In October, the club launches an annual Halloween party to help keep kids off the streets. That same year, Milton Rotary is also instrumental in the formation of the Milton Minor Hockey Association.
 
1951
Rotarians purchase the land where Rotary Park is now situated in downtown Milton; 15 acres for $1,000  (nearly $10,000 in 2019 dollars). The park, located north of Mill St., is presently home to three baseball diamonds, tennis courts, a playground, splash pad, gazebo and the Rotary pool.
 
Begin hosting various groups at weekly meetings such as the annual high school graduation class. Initiate a rural / urban night to support clubs such as Dairy Herd Improvement Program and 4-H.
 
1952
Former local businessman Ken Elsley becomes the Rotary Club’s first student to participate in the Adventure in Citizenship Program, sending students from across Canada to Ottawa see to the government in action and to meet the Prime Minister and other officials. The Adventure in Citizenship Program continues to this day, with Milton Rotary continuing to send Milton students to Ottawa.
 
1954
Installation of a wading pool at Rotary Park; built at a cost of $1,800  (approx. $17,000 in 2019 dollars).
 
1955
Rotary Club of Georgetown established; born out of the success of the Milton Rotary Club.
 
1956
International entertainer Gracie Fields performs at Milton Arena under the sponsorship of the Rotary Club; six inches of ice had to be removed from the arena floor to facilitate the event.
 
Final payment made on the purchase of Rotary Park. Separately, a Carnival in the Park raises $500 for the installation of lights in Rotary Park.
 
Former Champion Publisher Jim Dills serves as Milton’s Rotary President, the youngest president in Rotary International, at around age 26 or 27.
 
1958
Rotary Club approves sponsorship of the Milton Figure Skating Club.
 
1963
New pool opened at Rotary Park, built by public subscription.
 
1964
New steps from James St. to the Rotary Park are installed with funding raised primarily through Rotary efforts.
 
1966
Now substantially complete, the Town accepts the presentation of Rotary Park.
 
1967
Milton Rotary contributes approximately $4,000, on top of the $10,000 they raised, to furnish the front lobby of the Milton District Hospital (nearly $105,000 in 2019 dollars).
 
1970
Under the leadership of Milton Rotary a Milton Music Society is established.
 
1973
Milton Rotary presents the first cheque for what would become the Credit Valley Treatment Centre for Handicapped Children (now known as ErinOak Kids.
 
1975
Rotorama Carnival was introduced to the community, raising over $7,000  ($33,000 in 2019 dollars) for the Credit Valley Treatment Centre (ErinOak Kids).
 
1977
Milton Rotary is instrumental in the opening of the Credit Valley Treatment Centre for Handicapped Children (ErinOak Kids).
 
1980's
Milton Rotary undertakes the restoration of John Martin House, making use of independently raised funds and grants from the Town, as well as a great deal of hands on commitment.
 
1988
Rotarians are instrumental in introducing the Handicapped Van to the community, designed to transport disabled individuals throughout the community.
 
1989
Initiate the Geared to Income Housing Project on Bronte Street. Followed through on this project to its completion.
 
1990
Former town councillor Blanche Hinton becomes Milton Rotary's first female member.
 
1994
In conjunction with other Halton Region Rotary Clubs, the Milton Rotary guarantees a four-year financial donation commitment to Halton Women’s Place Shelter.
 
1995
Milton Rotary supports the establishment of the Youth Drop-In Centre on Mill Street, which will later become known as The Deck.
 
1996
Instrumental in conjunction with other community groups in organizing Milton’s Canada Day festivities. Assist in the organization and running of the
Milton Santa Claus Parade.
 
1998
Milton Rotary begins a program awarding scholarships to Milton High School Students. From the 2002 to 2012 school years, $60,000 is awarded in scholarships and bursaries. The program continues to this day.
 
1999
Carolyn Keyworth becomes Milton Rotary's first female club president. (In 2019 Milton Rotary is now 50-50 female-male membership.)
 
2002
Rotary Club of Milton celebrates 35 years of exchanging a Milton high school student with an international student.
 
2006
Milton Rotarians send a container of 280 wheelchairs to Mexico to help give people more freedom. Rotarian Dale Devlin travels to Mexico to help with distribution.
 
2007
Milton Rotary donates $25,000 toward the purchase of a CT scanner at Milton District Hospital.
 
2008
Four Milton Rotarians travel to India at their own expense to help with four major projects the club had assisted funding – an accessible van in Bangalore, a tribal school north of Mumbai, a community library in Agra, and a school in Mumbai where 200 benches for classrooms were donated.
 
2009
Milton Rotary donates an accessible van to Community Living North Halton, a local organization who supports developmentally disabled individuals.
 
Milton Rotary sends a container of supplies to a Rwanda school for deaf children.
 
2010
Milton Rotary donates $11,000 to help build an accessible playground for Milton's Darling Home for Kids.
 
Two Milton Rotarians travel to India to help inoculate children against polio as part of Rotary’s Polio Plus Program.
 
2012
Rotarian Len Lee organizes the 20th Annual Milton Good Neighbours Community Day. Rotarians host barbecue to feed volunteers.
 
The Rotaract Club of Milton is chartered, a new club for professionals and students aged 18 to 35.
 
Rotary Club of Milton donates $5,000 to Big Brothers Big Sisters to support a Milton after-school homework program.
 
2014
Milton Rotary donates $10,000 for an outdoor electronic advertising sign for Community Living North Halton.
 
2015
Milton Rotary fundraises $10,000 towards the installation of a new gazebo at Rotary Park in downtown Milton.
 
2016
Milton Rotary commits $25,000 over five years to Milton District Hospital for the creation of a new paediatric waiting room in the new hospital expansion.
 
2018
Milton Rotarian Abiola Akinremi travels to run a one-week free medical clinic in Ibadan, Nigeria, along with an entire shipping container of medical supplies she collected with the help of Milton Rotarians in Canada.
 
2020
Despite reduced opportunities for fundraising, Milton Rotary responds to the COVID-19 pandemic by providing local funding to produce 3D-printed face shields for Halton health care workers, funding for the Milton Salvation Army Food Bank and immediate and continued funding for Milton District Hospital, as part of a five-year, $25,000 commitment.
 
2021
Milton Rotary launches the highly successful Milton Youth Summit, which sees several hundred local and international youth learn more about mental health, the environment and professional career development, through a host of high-profile local community and business leaders. The club also partners with the Italian Canadian Cultural Centre of Milton on a "Drive to Thrive" infant-feeding and care package program for MCRC Infant Food Bank families in need. Over 100 packages are distributed to Milton families.