03-07-2025
Opinion: Calgary's X-Factor for global event bids: A passionate and dedicated volunteer force
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In an important time for international relations, it wasn't the G7, United Nations or NATO summits emulating peaceful fellowship among an overwhelming contingent of global representatives (140 countries to be exact). At least, not in the way the Rotary International Convention did last week in Calgary.
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Rotary is a global network of more than 1.2 million neighbours, friends, leaders and problem-solvers who see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change — across the globe and in our communities.
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The first Rotary Club of Calgary was chartered in 1914.
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This has evolved into an organization bringing together people with a multitude of social interest-led projects. From raising funds to support humanitarian programs, joining forces for economic development or providing global health and disaster relief, hundreds of thousands worldwide continue looking outward for ways to make this world a little brighter.
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Like Rotary's primary mission to eradicate polio and with an ambitious mission for peaceful multinational engagement — facilitated by a small but mighty bid committee — in 2017 a then newly formed Calgary host committee generated the bid for the 2025 convention, even before we knew there would be an expanded BMO Centre. Our goal back then was to put Calgary on the map to create a legacy for Rotary, Calgary, and Rotary in Calgary.
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This global network descended on our city last week with 16,000 delegates. In thanks to Rotary International, and Calgary and southern Alberta's Rotary Clubs, all involved view the convention — objectively and with the passion Rotarians are known for — as an extraordinary success.
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From the moment delegates landed at Calgary's International Airport, met by world-famous white cowboy-hatted volunteers, and made their way to way to the Stampede grounds, you knew something special was happening. There was no mistaking that Rotary was in town. And even less doubt the city was engaged alongside us.
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All involved shined, not only in the past week but over years of planning.
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This list starts with our friends from Tourism Calgary. Led by CEO Alisha Reynolds, a standard for how destination-marketing organizations interact with third-party conventions was set. Shelley Zucht-Shorter and Cassandra Graves set a clear tone, simultaneously ensuring every detail was attended to, every opportunity to raise our city's profile was capitalized on and every investment dollar leveraged the economic power of our convention.
