A woman living in Thornbury has found her calling through her work with Rotary International and starting in July, will become vice president of the organization.
For this week’s edition of People of Collingwood we spoke with Valarie Wafer, director with Rotary International.
Q: For how long have you lived in Collingwood?
A: Right now, I live in Thornbury. I moved to the Georgian Bay area five years ago, and moved to Thornbury in August.
Q: What brought you to the area?
A: I was a Tim Hortons franchisee in Scarborough for 25-plus years. We sold our business three years ago. Toward the end of that, we lived in Whitby.
We have a lot of friends in the Collingwood area, and a relationship with the Collingwood Rotary Club that I currently belong to.
In 2007, I went on a service trip with them to Africa.
Q: Where did you grow up?
A: I grew up in the Oakville/Burlington (area). I took a corporate job at Tim Hortons’ head office in Oakville.
Q: For how long have you been involved with Rotary International?
A: I’ve been involved with Rotary for about 15 years. It’s been a pretty short time I’ve been involved in Rotary to take on some of the positions I’ve had.
I, like many people, didn’t know what Rotary was. When I found out the scope of work they do both globally and in our communities, it was exactly what I was looking for. This was an opportunity for me to give back in a larger capacity.
Q: What kinds of work have you done with Rotary over the years?
A: In my second year of Rotary I went on that trip to Africa, and it was the first time I really saw the global perspective of the service organization that Rotary is.
I started volunteering at committee levels within my district, I was my club president in 2008-09 with the Rotary Club of Whitby. I became the district governor for one year in the Greater Toronto Area.
I also had the opportunity to lead a team to Australia in 2010 where we were in Sydney on a vocational service trip on the subject of youth suicide and depression. It was a really great team and we were in hospitals in Australia learning best practices from each other.
I also went to India in 2012 to administer polio drops to children, and to see the results of the work of Indian Rotarians. It was absolutely incredible. It was a highlight of my travels.
In 2020, I became a director with Rotary International. There are 17 directors from around the world. Normally, I would be on the road and travelling a lot, but that’s not happening this year.
My life is Zoom.
For my second year, I’ve been appointed to be vice president for Rotary International. My term starts July 1.
The next president is Shekhar Mehta of the Rotary Club of Calcutta-Mahanagar in India. He called me just before Christmas and asked me if I would be his vice president.
Q: How did you feel when you got that call from Shekhar?
A: I was absolutely blown away. Normally it would happen at an in-person meeting in January. We’re having it this week virtually.
To get the call before Christmas was unexpected, not only the call but certainly the offer for the role. I was overwhelmed. The Rotary world has kind of blown up. I’m so humbled to serve that role. My Facebook page went absolutely bonkers this week. (laughs)
Q: What kind of work will you be doing as vice president?
A: The vice president position doesn’t really have a job description. Each president of our organization utilizes the vice president in varying ways.
I will probably be asked to represent Shekhar when he can’t be places. It could be anywhere around the world. I have a really great relationship with Shekhar and he’s a wonderful man. I know we’ll work really well together. I’m looking forward to the ways he can use me in this position.
I also sit on the executive committee, and that’s a really busy committee as well.
Q: What was one of your most rewarding experiences with Rotary?
A: We have an annual convention every year around the world. Last year it was supposed to be in Honolulu. This year is supposed to be Taiwan. We’ve made the decision to go virtual with that too.
One of my past experiences that really showed me the global reach was in 2008 when I went to Los Angeles for the convention.
I saw our delegates in their traditional costumes, and it was really overwhelming and gratifying that I had joined an organization that had such global reach and culture.
This work is really important to me.
It’s so gratifying and honourable to be part of an organization that touches everyone. It’s been so impactful to my life. It’s changed who I am.
Q: What kinds of things do you do outside of Rotary?
A: One of the reasons for moving up here, like many people, was the extensive trail systems. I love to go out hiking or skiing. I’m an avid reader and I’m trying to get back into sewing, which I haven’t done for years. I just bought a sewing machine. (laughs)
I’m trying to find the spare time to get back to that.
My husband and I normally travel extensively. We have two daughters, and one of them lives in Ireland. We haven’t been able to see her since her wedding which was a year ago in November.
COVID has pivoted us and made us realize that we can meet differently, online.
Thank God for technology!
For our feature People of Collingwood, we’ll be speaking with interesting people who are either from or are contributing to the Collingwood community in some way, letting them tell their own stories in their own words. This feature will run on CollingwoodToday every Saturday. If you’d like to nominate or suggest someone to be featured in People of Collingwood, email [email protected].
