Service Above Self: Ain’t it a kick?!

By Kitt Brand on January 28, 2026.

Rotary in Medicine Hat is full of friendship, activities and imaginative service, which is as it should be.

Rotary’s founder, Paul Harris, was a bit of a prankster. He was expelled from two different schools before finally starting at Princeton University and graduating with a Bachelor in Laws from the University of Iowa.

He didn’t exactly settle down after graduation, working his first five years as a newspaper salesman, and reporter, a farm labourer, an actor, a cowboy and a stockman on ships sailing to Europe.

Eventually he landed in Chicago as a lawyer in 1896, became more subdued, and was often described as shy. In 1905 he organized the first Rotary Club in “fellowship and friendship” with three clients and local businessmen but soon realized that the group needed a higher purpose.

In 1907, the group initiated its first service project, the construction of public toilets in Chicago. By 1910, there were 16 clubs in attendance at the first Rotary national convention. Soon Rotary was worldwide.

That’s how Rotary grows. In our fair city, there are now four Rotary clubs. The Rotary Club of Medicine Hat was chartered in 1918, incorporated under The Societies Act in 1937. This group meets at noon Mondays at CORE. It’s the grandfather of the other clubs.

Some Rotary-inspired people eventually found it better to meet in the evening. Thus, in 1977, The Rotary Club of Medicine Hat – Saamis was chartered and incorporated under the Societies Act in 1980.

You’ll recognize Saamis for its support of Wheelchair Foundation Canada and Real Humanitarian; its yearly Rotary E-Waste Recycling event; its annual Harley lottery (which we all secretly want to win); the Award of Excellence by the Premier for its Rotary Park with state-of-the-art, environmentally savvy, and fully accessible playground features.

Now, Saamis is spearheading the refurbishing and modernization of The Monarch Theatre, Canada’s oldest ever-unique movie theatre. Monarch’s popcorn is still legendary. Its entertainment offerings are expanding, and by the end of summer 2026, a new extended stage will open the venue to larger musical and theatrical ventures, to say nothing of weddings and theme parties.

Interested in finding out more about Rotary – Saamis? Join them at Ralph’s Thursdays at 6:15 p.m. (dinner at 5:30 for food and camaraderie before the meeting.)

The Rotary Club of Medicine Hat – Sunrise is the city’s early bird group, meeting the first and third Tuesdays of the month at 7:15 a.m. in the Chinook Village Board Room. Chartered in 1998, incorporated under the Societies Act in 2000, Sunrise has long been a leader in promoting the annual Terry Fox Run, the Rotary Alberta Youth Entrepreneur Camp, The Sunrise “Ride the Road to Reading” program, and the Miywasin Centre.

The city’s newest RI club is the Rotary Club of Medicine Hat – Ignite which started meeting informally in April 2020 as a satellite of the Sunrise club.

Concentrating on local projects, members have been part of the Rise Up hot air balloon festival fun, and Christmas Convoys. More info is available on their Facebook page. All the clubs are active in hospital beautification and flower bed plantings, city clean-up projects, support of the YMCA, the Root Cellar, Salvation Army and each other’s projects and programs.

There you have it, Rotary four ways at four times in Medicine Hat. But, wait! There’s more. If your schedule denies you the chance to attend regular Rotary meetings, consider checking out the Rotary E-Club of Canada One (RECCO) which offers Rotary where you want it, when you want it.

Meetings are on Zoom. Programs are accessible at any time of the day or night. A 30-minute coffee chat delights your Thursday mornings at 8 a.m. An hour’s assembly features Rotary work once a month for an hour.

Members might hop in from Mexico, England, Canada, Spain, Germany, Finland, Portugal … it’s a kaleidoscope of friends and service on educational projects, food sufficiency, medical rehabilitation help for Ukrainians, sanitation projects around the world, first responder equipment to Mexico or Ukraine … if you can conceive of a need RECCO can find a way to fulfill it.

Whatever your desire for meaningful association and doing good in the world, Rotary can help you find your place in the fun.