Sarah Strother General Manager and Group Publisher for Lodestar Media, the new media division for Glacier Media, succeeded Matt Blair as publisher of the Delta Optimist. She is Group Publisher not only for the Delta Optimist and several other community newspapers, including the Richmond News, North Shore News, Pique Newsmagazine in Whistler and The Squamish Chief in Squamish. Strother brings with her more than 25 years of experience in news media operations across Canada and the U.S., in both sales and senior management roles for metro and com­munity publications. Sarah also served two terms as president of the BC & Yukon Community NewsMedia Association (BCYCNA) and continues to contribute as a board director. She also sits on the board of the National Newspaper Awards and has held director roles with both the Whistler and Squamish Chambers of Commerce. Read More
 

Whether you speaking to a board of directors, customers, co-workers, giving a toast at a wedding or preparing for a job interview, experienced professionals and beginning speakers alike benefit from the practical, face-to-face learning program at the Deltones Toastmasters Club in Ladner. It's about to becoming a better communicator, a better speaker and a confident, competent leader. Deltones members Richard Nash and Lorna Boyle spoke to Rotary Club of Ladner members on October 21st. Read More
 

A former Ambassador of Canada to the Philippines, during 32 years in the Canadian Foreign Service, John Treleaven is Chair of the Grumpy Taxpayer$ of Greater Victoria Grumpy Taxpayer$ is a non-profit advocacy group serving as a non-partisan, citizen advocacy group dedicated to ensuring better value for tax dollars, reducing waste, and holding municipal governments accountable for their decisions. Mr. Treleaven spoke to Ladner Rotary members on October 14, 2025. Read More

For over 30 years, Canadian Snowbird Association (CSA) has advocated on behalf of its members and the travelling public on a range of issues such as the preservation of health coverage, reimbursement for out-of-country medical emergencies, access to prescription medications, and much more. CSA Director, Western Canada Bud Conroy spoke to the Rotary Club of Ladner on October 7, 2025 about the 100,000-member, national not-for-profit advocacy organization. It is dedicated to actively defending and improving the rights and privileges of Canadian travellers. It was founded in 1992 when over 1,000 Canadian snowbirds came together in Lakeland, Florida to protest provincial cuts to out-of-country medical coverage guaranteed under the Canada Health Act.  Read More

Half of Canadians say they do not have a will, according to Angus Reid polling company. A further one-in-eight (13%) has one that is out of date. Speaking to Ladner Rotary members on September 23, 2025, Oliver B. Hamilton, of the Surrey and Delta law firm, Wilson Rasmussen LLP, says, "Don't leave a 'mess' behind for your family and loved ones!" Speaking on Wills & Estate Planning Oliver asked, "Why put off making a plan suitable for you and your circumstances?" He added, "Why pay more taxes and government fees than necessary?" In his presentation, he covered these topics: Intestacy, dying without a valid will; caution about do-it-yourself or online wills; the Wills and Estates Succession Act; when to review, revise or redo your will; contested wills; charitable donations (eg to The Rotary Foundation or the Delta Community Foundation); avoiding probate fees. Read More 

Eastlink's Manager of Consumer Sales Travis Goodman said the regional offices of Eastlink, a family owned telecommunications business based in Halifax, are in Delta, Sunshine Coast and Osoyoos, serving Delta and nine other communities in BC: Gibsons, Sechelt, Pender Harbour, Princeton, Oliver, Osoyoos, Golden and Chetwynd. The company as over 1,500 employees serving in communities across Canada. plus hundreds more across Canada. The company has invested over $50 million in BC to upgrade internet services most recently in Princeton. In addition to telecom services, Eastlink produces and showcases local, good news stories through Eastlink Community TV. Read More   

After running a successful online ebike business since 2014, with his business partner, Craig Perkins, Ladner Rotarian Chris Scurr opened an ebike showroom in May 2021 in the centre of Tsawwassen. The company, Ebike Delta, offers dozens of exclusively Canadian-designed models through their website as well as at its Delta showroom.  “E-bikes offer a great way for everyone to get healthy exercise,” says Scurr, as quoted in the Delta Optimist. “People of all ages love e-biking, but it can be life-changing for people who are a little older. It helps so much to have a little back-up assistance when you’re against the wind or needing to go up a big hill – just hit the accelerator or the assisting button and you’ll be whisked up there all without polluting.” Read More

A look at our economy in BC and Canada: Rosanne Horner, MBA is Vice President, Financing and Consulting for Business Development Bank and Chair of the Board of the Delta Chamber of Commerce. Since 2006, she has worked with hundreds of owners and management teams to help them scale their businesses. She has directly worked with companies across B.C. to secure senior debt financing, mezzanine capital, and management consulting solutions to help them grow, become more efficient and enhance their management capabilities. Prior to BDC, she held various positions in Operations Management.  She holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of British Columbia, a Management certificate in Human Resources from BCIT, and an MBA from the University of Hertfordshire (UH).  View Rosanne's presentation 

BC & Alberta Guide Dogs  is meeting the growing demand for professionally trained Guide Dogs, Autism Service Dogs, and OSI (Operational Stress Injury)-PTSD Service Dogs for citizens of British Columbia and Alberta. Each dog is provided at no cost to its human partner. To date the organization has graduated 361 graduates of dogs with partners, 191 currently in service. It has served people in 74 communities through the two provinces, with a staff and over 250 volunteers. BCAGD CEO Bill Thornton presented an update to Ladner Rotary members on May 27, 2025 and on the  new state-of-the-art Breeding & Training Centre—a first in Western Canada—will immediately increase the availability of Guide and Service Dogs across British Columbia and Alberta. Within the next five years, our Centre of Excellence will allow us to double the number of individuals we serve. 
 

Since 1959, REACH Child and Youth Development Society has served neurodiverse children and youth with support needs and their families in Delta, Surrey, White Rock, and Langley, B.C. REACH aims to ensure optimum growth and development for young people, empowering them and their families to make informed decisions that shape their futures, and enhancing their quality of life. Presented by REACH Executive Director Renie D'Aquila and co-Executive Director Camille Netherton.

Saving Lives at Sea. John Horton, commander of the Delta Lifeboat Station, presented on the Canadian Lifeboat Institution (CLI), which, for the past 44 years, has provided marine search and rescue and non-revenue marine services in the coastal waters around Richmond, Delta, Surrey, New Westminster, the Fraser River, Strait of Georgia, Vancouver, Victoria,  and elsewhere including Washington State. CLI is a valued part of Team Search and Rescue and serves in the City of Delta’s Emergency Services Program.

Dale Saip, Senior VP of Hockey, at the Vancouver Giants Hockey Club and a long-time Trustee on the Delta School Board, spoke about the Vancouver Giants Hockey Club, many years part of the Western Hockey League. Next season for the Vancouver Giants will be the Club's 25th. Players join the club on a scholarship then go on to other university or career options. Hockey and other sports and organizations, such Kid's Sport, change lives of kids in a positive way. Girls are important in hockey as are boys and everybody is welcome to play. A number of Vancouver Giant players gone to NHL and leagues in Europe. Others have become local fire fighters, police officers, teachers and coaches.