Brief histories of Rotary's First 100 Clubs

Rotary Club of Halifax 81

Rotary International District 7820

"The Rotary movement reached Halifax in 1913.  John C. Gass and others became interested in Rotary and John was instrumental in securing a Charter for the Rotary Club of Halifax as the first Rotary Club in the Atlantic area of Canada.  Those who organized this Club met first on April 21st, 1913 in the Y.M.C.A. building on that date.  Nine were present and M. O. Crowell was secretary of this meeting.  On May 5th an organizational meeting was held and officers elected as follows:

                    President                    John C. Gass

                    Vice President            P. O. Soulis

                    Secretary                    H. L. Bethel

                    Treasurer                    W. A. Hart

 On August 1st, 1913, the Rotary Club of Halifax was elected to membership in the International Association of Rotary Clubs as No. 81."  There were eighteen members.   Bill McCurdy, PDG, Club Archivist

Our members contribute thousands of dollars annually to local and international charities, which we raise in various fund raising events such as our annual Vacation Draw. We also give our time to support such projects as the Remedial Seating Program at the IWK Hospital and Phoenix House for youth at risk. 

An early Halifax Rotarian, James Layton Ralston, was commissioned by Rotary International, along with Jim Davidson to open the part of Asia and the South Pacific to Rotary. You can read about Davidson's journey at www.rotaryfirst100.org/leaders.  Colonel Jim Layton Ralston became Canadian Minister of National Defense from 1926-1930 and again from 1940-1944. In between from 1939-1940 he was Minister of Finance.