Last week the Prince Rupert Rotary Club celebrated 90 consecutive years of helping the community, making it the longest running service club in Prince Rupert. To recognize all the group’s efforts throughout the years, the City of Prince Rupert proclaimed that February 23 is now Rotary Day in Prince Rupert. “The motto of Rotary is service above self, and we’ve tried to live up with that,” said John McNish, who has been a member of the club for over 50 years. The club has been an outstanding help in the community over the past 90 years, helping with everything from community projects, like the children’s ward and new echocardiogram machine for the Prince Rupert Regional Hospital, to playing a key role in building the Friendship House to supporting construction of the 2nd Avenue Tennis Courts, joining with the Hecate Strait Rotary club to build the Rotary Waterfront Park, or supporting youth by sponsoring bursaries, and sending students on exchange trips, as well as countless other ways the club has assisted the community. The club finds the means to do all of its generous acts by holding fundraising events such as the annual Rotary Auction and sale of Christmas trees. As well, the club puts on non-fundraising events just for amusement such as the Polar Bear Swim, and in the past Bathtub Races during Seafest. At last Monday’s council meeting, Mayor Jack Mussallem recognized all of the club’s efforts during his speech and proclaimed February 23 as Rotary Day in Prince Rupert. During February, previous members and past presidents have been and will be continuing to attend meetings to share some of the club’s history and share their own experiences with the current members. Community contributions made by the Hecate Strait Rotary Club will also be remembered and celebrated on February 23. During the 1980s, when Prince Rupert was larger in size, the Hecate Strait Rotary Club was formed, and also provided assistance to the community, including the joint Rotary Waterfront Park project. Recently the two clubs decided to merge together to create one larger group, so members who were previously part of the Hecate Strait Club are also very included in the celebration.