Rotary Zone 22 Donald MacRae Peace Award

The Rotary Zone 22 Donald MacRae Peace Award is an annual award presented by Rotary Zone 22 to recognize and honour an individual or organization for outstanding achievement consistent with the ideals of Rotary as expressed in the Fourth Object of Rotary.

            The award commemorates the contribution of Halifax Rotarian Donald MacRae, who in a speech to the International Convention in Kansas City in June 1918 proposed that Rotary become an agent for the promotion of goodwill and peace among nations – the first time that this vision of Rotary was expressed publicly. In 1921, as chair of Rotary’s Constitution and By-laws Committee, MacRae had an opportunity to incorporate this vision into the constitution of Rotary. He presented a resolution to the International Convention in Edinburgh, Scotland, that amended the constitution by adding the Fourth Object of Rotary. The Fourth Object became the engine that drives Rotary’s international service; indeed, it has become the watchword of the Rotary Foundation.

Reflecting the vision created by MacRae, the award focuses on advancing international goodwill, understanding and peace through peace-making efforts or humanitarian activity of international significance. The recipient of the Donald MacRae Peace Award receives an inscribed glass plaque and a commemorative certificate, presented at the annual Zone Institute.

Award Criteria

Any rotary club or district in Zone 22 is entitled to submit the name of one candidate for the award directly to the Canadian Director of Rotary International. The Director will turn the nominations over to a selection committee. All nominations are to be kept confidential.  The individual or organization nominated must be one whose life, mission, or work demonstrates outstanding achievement consistent with the ideals of the Fourth Object of Rotary International, having made an outstanding contribution to this cause through international efforts. Awards will not be made posthumously.

Selection Process

The selection committee is composed of five members of the Zone 22 Institute, named by the Canadian Director. The winner will be expected to accept the Zone Institute’s invitation to attend the Institute’s annual meeting, with all expenses paid by the Institute.

The Fourth Object of Rotary

“The advancement of International understanding, goodwill and peace through a world fellowship of business and professional people united in the ideal of service”