The History of Our Club

The Burlington Lakeshore Rotary Club est. 1972

Determined to make a change both in our community of Burlington Ontario and around the world.

Oct 1972 Club Was Chartered
Club Was Chartered

The Burlington Lakeshore Rotary Club was chartered on Oct 27th, 1972 at the Estaminet Restaurant. This is where the Club of just 23 members would meet until a brief foray at the Holiday Inn and finally to their present location at the Art Gallery of Burlington.

Jan 1976 Car Raffle
Thunderbird / Cadillac Raffle

One of our club's first fundraisers was the car raffle.  Starting out in 1976 with a Ford Thunderbird, the raffle grew in popularity which enabled the club to eventually raffle off a Cadillac.  

Late 80's to Late 90's Pancake Fiesta
Maple Syrup Festival Pancake Fiesta

The RBG Maple Syrup Festival ran from the late 80s until the late 90s with our Club making pancakes and bacon at the event (we even built a open sided building beside the sugar shack. The pancakes and bacon making move to Bronte Provincial Park (after the RBG) for their Maple Syrup Festival for about three years.

Mar 1991 Charitable Foundation Established
RBL Charitable Foundation Was Established

Rotary Burlington Lakeshore was established in 1972 and Rotary Burlington Lakeshore Charitable Foundation was  established in 1991 to with a goal of providing in excess of  $50,000 in student awards, annually.

Sept 1995 First Ever Rotary Ribfest
Ribfest Was Born

The Rotary Club of Burlington Lakeshore held the first Ribfest in 1995, then simply called the Ribfest. It rained most of the weekend but people from Burlington and the surrounding area came out to support and make the event a success.

July 1997 Canada Day
BBQ hotdogs in Spencer Smith Park


Sept 2003 Fire Truck Projects
Donated a Fire Truck Sabinas Mexico

In 2001 and 2003 The Rotary Club of Burlington Lakeshore purchased, refurbished, and donated fire trucks to small towns in Mexico. The first went to Matamoros and the second one ended up in Sabinas Mexico.    

Dec 2005 4 Club Centennial Project
Rotary Pond / Skating Rink Spencer Smith Park

Want to join in on the fun? Contact us and learn more about becoming a Rotarian.

Contact our membership committee.