Division 2:

North Bay, Ontario

Governor Gary with North Bay Past President John Osburn and Lieutenant Governor Jim St. Jules

First explored by Samuel de Champlain, the city we now know as North Bay was incorporated in 1925. Twenty-one years later the community's first Kiwanis club was formed. Today, both the Kiwanis Club of North Bay and the Kiwanis Club of Nipissing service the 54,000 residents, and "service" they do.

We learned of a number of excellent fundraising and service projects that the two clubs partner in. They work together on their ever-popular Music Festival, a playground at Lee Park, the Million-Dollar Hole in One and most impressively on the creation of the Kiwanis Pediatric Wing at the North Bay General Hospital. A whopping $750,000 was raised over a short 5 year period to establish this most needed community project.

Saturday evening the two clubs held their Charter Night. Kiwanians came to celebrate continued service and Kiwanis leadership in the northern community. Here, presidents and secretaries are being thanked and congratulated by Governor Gary. Kiwanians, the world over, continue to make a difference one child and one community at a time.

Of special note was the honouring of 63 year Kiwanis veteran Dr. Max Back. A Kiwanis Charter Member, Dr. Back has given tirelessly in the name of Kiwanis. Immediate Past President and Past Lieutenant Governor, John Osburn congratulates Dr. Back.

On Sunday we held a Division 2 Caucus meeting. Clubs from the Sault Ste. Marie area who were unable to join us in person, did so via the Internet. This was LG Jim's first caucus meeting. All those in attendance expressed their appreciation for LG Jim stepping up to the leadership place for what will be his third time.

The spirit of volunteerism is alive and well in Northern Ontario. The morning air was frosty but the warmth of the area Kiwanians was warm and inviting.