Toronto Kiwanis

The Kiwanis Club of Toronto

Message from the President

Welcome to the Kiwanis Club of Toronto.

I was thinking about a quote from George Bernard Shaw that said “Imagination is the beginning of creation. You imagine what you desire, you will what you imagine and at last you create what you will.”

Over the years many Kiwanians have imagined changing the lives of many young people in our city.  We began that work many years ago embracing the philosophy of “We Build” – today the club still embraces that thinking.

This year in 2012 we are reopening the Toronto Kiwanis Boys and Girls Club on Spruce Street carrying forward the idea of “We Build” as well as the principles of “Serving the Children of the World”.  We do this as we up hold the values of the Club laid out by past generations of Kiwanians.  While we hold dearly to the past ideals of the Club, the newly renovated building on Spruce Street will serve the needs of children in the downtown area for many years.  Although we are not active in the day-to-day operation we have empowered the next generation leader of leaders to serve.  We have done this by giving them the tools they need to change the lives of many children.

Last year the Kiwanis Club of Toronto Foundation initiated the Community Achievement Award.  Once again we are giving tools to an organization that is changing the lives of at-risk youth.  

As we imagine the future it must be one of creation and not stagnation.  To hold the line on mediocrity would be an offense to the rich history of Kiwanians of past generations.  We must therefore imagine a future in which the Kiwanis Club of Toronto is seeking to be on the edge of new and creative thinking, both in how we conduct the life of the Club and in how we advance the cause of “Serving the Children of the World”.

It is an honour to be serving you as the President of the Kiwanis Club of Toronto.  It is a year of challenges and growth as we remember the 95 years the Club has served children in downtown Toronto and imagine the next generation of Kiwanians who will serve.  Let us prepare the way just as those before prepared the way for us.

Thanks,

Rev. Joe Elkerton