Rotarians award Paul Harris Fellowships

Five local residents earn the top honour

The Rotary Club of Peterborough bestowed its Paul Harris Fellowships on five local people Monday night.

Named for the founder of Rotary, the award is the club’s highest honour. The recipients were chosen in five categories; Vocational, Youth, Community, International and Club.

The club donates $1,000 in each recipient’s name to Rotary International.

Vocational Service: Paul Bennett of Ashburnham Realty was recognized for his professional and volunteer roles in the community, particularly PRHC,

DBIA, 100Men Club, Economic Development, Community Futures and Junior Achievement. In various capacities, he has supported and contributed to Five Countries Children’s Centre, Youth Unlimited, The United Way, The Warming Room and various sports and the arts.

Youth Service: Vincent Abrahamse is widely recognized for his award-winning teaching career as head of the music program at Thomas A. Stewart Secondary School. Over his 32-year career, bands at TASS have won 30 gold and 28 silver standards at the national level and over 50 gold at the provincial level. When not teaching, he is organist and choir director with the Lakefield United Church.

Community Service: Carolyn

Mills retired from the Peterborough and Kawarthas Association of Realtors and works to improve the lives of children in the area through the YWCA, Children’s Aid, the Youth Emergency Shelter (YES), Crossroads Shelter, Bras Around the Building Peterborough, Five Counties Children’s Centre, Brock Mission, Peterborough Family Counselling Services and others.

International Service: Leigh Ramsay is a dedicated longtime volunteer who works to improve the quality of life for girls and women internationally. From sponsoring international foster children, to projects in Cuba supported by her church and efforts in Tanzania and Honduras, she has supported the purchase of supplies for schools and health clinics and worked on efforts to make life easier for the homeless.

Club Service: Rick Storey has served in many Rotary leadership roles, most recently as assistant governor for the southern part of District 7010 including Peterborough, Lindsay and Fenelon Falls. He’s a key organizer of the club’s annual spelling bee and Carl Oake Swimathon, the Polio Now campaign and Annual Easter Seals/ Five Counties Christmas Party, and is a dedicated participant in Musicfest, polar plunges, swim events and other fundraisers.

The Rotary Club of Peterborough was established in 1921 and currently has just under 80 members.