Hope Rotary re-dedicated the historic Centennial Park to the community, Thursday evening, with the cutting of the ribbon by the great grandchild of a former Hope Rotarian and Yale-Lillooet MLA, Irvine Corbett.

Holding tight on a pair of Birks silver scissors that had been held in the hands of her great-grandfather during the ribbon cutting ceremony for the opening of the Alexandra Bridge back in 1962, a young Esther Schafer was happy to share the ribbon cutting honours with Hope’s mayor, Laurie French.

The Hope Rotary Club has been a decades long supporter of the linear park which runs along the Fraser River and the TransCanada Highway in downtown Hope.

Recently, the service club, assisted by the Chamber of Commerce president Victor Smith, Ministry of Highways and the District of Hope public works crew, over the last few years installed a full public lookout, lobbied for a pedestrian crossing light, updated the original wishing well, installed garden fencing and flower beds, and most recently installed a massive Sturgeon and Fisherman carving by renowned carver, Pete Ryan.

The ribbon cutting was followed by the Club’s formal installation of the new 2009-2010 executive and directors, by Chilliwack Rotarian and former District 5050 Governour, Larry Stinson.

“The Future of Rotary is in Your Hands,” reminded Stinson of this year’s theme as coined by Rotary International President, John Kenny.

“We are part of an organization that has real power to make a difference” in the world and “it all starts at the club level,” added Stinson, recognizing the Hope Rotary Club for being recognized by the district for its recent surge in membership.

Installed into office by Stinson were:

Bob Erickson, Hope Rotary Club President

Robin Burnette, President elect

Hank DeMeulder, Past President

George Rice, Club Secretary

Juanita Alexander, Club Treasurer

Directors include:

Ross Dupuis, Sergeant at Arms

Rick Leitch, Community Services Director

Jim Sinclair, Vocational Service Director

Al Reusch, Club Service Director

Hank DeMeulder, International Service Director

After dinner, Erickson recognized his predecessor, Hank DeMeulder, for his tremendous volunteer efforts for the club in serving as president of the Hope Rotary Club for three years. DeMeulder was recognized with the presentation of a Rotary clock for his years of dedicated service.

Franny Thomas, wife of long-standing Rotarian, Charlie Thomas, was also recognized by the new president for her years of support of Rotary and bringing joy to each Rotary event.

The five new members of the club were also recognized by the new president for also bringing new life and light to the over 50-year-old service club.

“I ask you all to take the Rotary motto of ‘Service above Self’ and bring it into our homes, our businesses, and our lives and we will have a great year in this community,” said Erickson, in closing the formal installation ceremony.