Rotary Club of Sun Peaks celebrates community impact and looks ahead to global event

The Sun Peaks Rotary Club has been serving the community for eight years — and despite its size, president Katherine Campbell calls it “small but mighty.”

Apart of the global service organization with over two million members in more than 200 countries, each rotary club identifies local needs and helps address them through fundraising, volunteering and partnerships.

Now, Sun Peaks Rotary is calling on the community, seeking a new secretary.“

We want people to know rotary is here, we’re always looking for ways to make Sun Peaks a better place,” Campbell said. “If someone sees an area of our community that needs attention, we want to hear about it.”

The club meets biweekly and frequently hosts guest speakers, from business owners to healthcare professionals, to help residents stay informed about local initiatives. It also organizes fireside chats with municipal leaders and business networking events for local entrepreneurs.

At its recent annual general meeting and strategic planning session, members confirmed the new board of directors and set priorities for the year ahead. One of the club’s biggest upcoming projects will be hosting the International Skiing Fellowship of Rotarians in March 2026.

“We’ll be welcoming about 75 Rotarians from around the world, including from Japan, Sweden and Germany,” Campbell said. “It’s an incredible opportunity for our community and for our local Adaptive Sports program, which will benefit from the event’s fundraising gala.”

Last year’s fellowship gala in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, raised over $50,000 USD for adaptive sports programs. The Sun Peaks event aims to do the same.

Aside from annual fundraising events, much of the club’s impact comes from its management of the community Bottle Depot, which the club took over five years ago.

“Since then, we’ve collected around three million bottles. That’s about $300,000 put directly back into the community,” Campbell said.

The proceeds from the depot are split three ways between Sun Peaks Rotary, Adaptive Sports at Sun Peaks and the Sun Peaks Education Society. The funds the club retains are reinvested into local initiatives, including grants to community groups and emergency services.

The purchase of a mobile trailer for Sun Peaks firefighters, funding for the Whitecroft playground and contributions toward adaptive playground equipment in the village are among the projects Sun Peaks Rotary has supported. The club also supports local trail maintenance, community events and student programs.

“We’ve been able to contribute close to $30,000 to the Whitecroft Community Playground project,” Campbell said. “It’s really rewarding to see how much of a difference the Bottle Depot has made.”

Beyond funding, the rotary club organizes several community programs throughout the year, including the annual Trash Bash cleanup, the Volunteer Firefighters Appreciation Dinner and the Remembrance Day service, which will take place this year at the Sun Peaks Community Plaza.

The club also supports residents facing food insecurity through its Community Care Kits program, which provides food boxes in partnership with Ohana Deli and Market.

“We distributed 36 food boxes last year and expect to give out even more this year.” 

Each year, rotary also presents a $1,000 student award to a graduating local student and recognizes younger students through its Service Above Self Award for volunteerism and community spirit.

“We’re proud to support the next generation,” Campbell said. “We may be a small club, but our impact is big.”