From May 15 to 17, 2026, over 150 Rotarians, Rotaractors, Interactors, and community leaders journeyed to the stunning Yukon Territory for Unite in Whitehorse, the Rotary District 5370 Conference. Hosted at the welcoming Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre on the banks of the Yukon River, the event brought the theme "Teamwork makes the dream work" to life.
Led by District Governor Ramesh Ferris and the organizing team, the three-day conference challenged attendees to rethink accessibility, deepen global and local partnerships, advance the global fight to eradicate polio, and embrace peace in practice.
Here are the powerful takeaways, inspiring stories, and moments of radical connection that defined our time under the midnight sun.
Saturday, May 16 | From Ideas to Impact, Eradicating Polio, and Indigenous Grounding
Igniting Unity: The Ceremonial Fire
Before the formal proceedings officially began, the spiritual and cultural foundation of the weekend was laid with the opening of a sacred ceremonial fire. Led by Doronn Fox and John Sam, this powerful ceremony invited attendees to gather, reflect, and ground themselves on the traditional territory. The ceremony included a sacred smudging, offering a moment of purification and renewal for all present. The crackling flames served as a warm, living symbol of unity, clearing the way for open hearts and meaningful connections as the conference officially commenced.
From Ideas to Impact: Mobilizing Global Citizenship
The session kicked off with an inspiring keynote from Michael Sheldrick, co-founder of Global Citizen, who focused on the art of mobilizing collective action. Even as he shared high-level insights on driving global change, he grounded his talk in humility, advising the room to "never get tickets on yourself"—a classic Aussie reminder to never forget where you come from.
Sheldrick shared his own unique Rotary connection through David Goldstone and emphasized how digital tools like the Global Citizen platform can be powerfully leveraged to rally widespread community support.
To tackle the world's most daunting issues, Sheldrick stressed a dual strategy: we must look at a problem with our ultimate endgame clearly in mind, and seamlessly learn how to leverage the unique strengths of our partners. Even in a deeply divided world where structural progress can feel frustratingly slow, he left the audience with a powerful, grounding truth: "And yet we still care."
Standing Firm: The Fight to Eradicate Polio
Following the global citizenship discussion, the focus sharpened onto Rotary's signature cause: the global eradication of polio.
The segment was powerfully framed by the deep expertise of RI President Representative Aziz Memon, whose leadership added immense global weight to the conversation. With Michael Sheldrick transitioning into the role of moderator, a heavy-hitting panel featuring Aziz Memon, Mike McGovern, and Jackie Hobal took the stage to discuss the final stretches of this historic campaign.
During the dedicated Polio panel, the speakers echoed John F. Kennedy's historic quote about choosing to go to the moon not because it is easy, but because it is hard. The consensus from the panelists was clear—eradication is absolutely within reach, giving is contagious, and the global community is simply too close to the finish line to slow down now
When looking at the remaining challenges, the panel left the audience with an unshakeable mandate: "We can't walk away, we have to give it a go."
Fueling the Fight: The Miss Vicky Polio Challenge
Following the Polio panel, an exciting cheque presentation was done to celebrate the 2026 Miss Vicky Polio Challenge.
Led by the incredible dedication of Rotarians Winston Conyers and Lee Harman, alongside the legendary "Miss Vicky"—an historic 1931 Ford Victoria known for completing the grueling 10,000-mile Peking to Paris endurance rally and driving all the way to Cabo San Lucas—this initiative continues to raise massive funds and awareness to End Polio Now.
The Rotary Foundation: an Ever-evolving Entity
The afternoon program shone a light on the unique engine behind our service: The Rotary Foundation (TRF).
Rotary Foundation Trustee Marty Helman highlighted what makes TRF so remarkable: it is the only major foundation in the world where the board of trustees doesn’t dictate where the money goes. Instead, that power rests entirely with Rotarians at the club and district levels. Today, the foundation stands strong at $2.050 billion.
Helman defined Rotary as an NGO with a tangible plan for peace, fueled by the global network of over 1,900 Rotary Peace Fellows. She highlighted the immense success of TRF’s Programs of Scale award, pointing to the first-ever recipient against malaria in Zambia, which achieved a staggering 90% reduction in cases in the region.
Quoting Rotary founder Paul Harris, Helman reminded us: "If Rotary is to realize its proper destiny, it must be evolutionary at all times, revolutionary on occasion." We must constantly adapt to serve a changing world while maintaining our core identity as brothers and sisters in service.
Rotary Foundation Citation for Meritorious Service
Past District Governor Ingrid Neitsch was presented with the prestigious Rotary Foundation Citation for Meritorious Service. Facilitated by Emcee Brent Collingwood and Foundation Chair Libby Weir, the award honors a Rotarian who has demonstrated exceptional commitment and service in support of The Rotary Foundation, recognizing meaningful contributions that help advance Rotary’s mission of creating lasting change in communities around the world.
Redefining the Club Experience: The Membership Panel
Growing our network requires a major shift in mindset regarding how we engage new generations of change-makers.
Moderated by Andre Charrois, this dynamic panel tackled the issue from every layer of the organization, featuring Marty Helman bringing the Rotary International lens, DGE Jeanette Bancarz providing the district lens, and Susan Graves grounding the discussion with the club lens, as the Whitehorse Rendezvous Club President.
Together, the panelists noted that people don't join Rotary simply to sit in meetings; they join to get things done. The strategy moving forward is simple—stop just asking prospects to weekly lunches. Instead, show rather than tell, and invite them to see your club in action at a hands-on service project.
By blending these global, regional, and local insights, the discussion beautifully summarized the ultimate Rotary formula: "People come for service but stay for connection. Have fun!"
Listening, Learning, and Growing Together: Indigenous Voices
The last part of Saturday's program challenged attendees to look deeply at our culture, our community relationships, and our connection to the land. Building on the morning greetings from Chiefs Massie and Alatini, a panel of First Nations and Indigenous leaders shared valuable insights on connecting ecology, economy, and community wellbeing, stressing that they must all go hand in hand.
The conversation brought forward diverse, vital perspectives on modern Indigenous leadership and resilience. Dana Tizya-Tramm, Former Chief of the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation, spoke powerfully on the complexities and triumphs of self-government, while Joella Hogan of the Yukon Soaps Company shared her inspiring journey through the lens of Indigenous entrepreneurship, showcasing how business can honor heritage. Grounding the discussion in the future, Doronn Fox focused on youth culture, addressing critical intersections of health, justice, and community support.
Woven together by the core values of respect, sharing, and caring as essential pillars for partnership, the panel reminded us of a crucial truth: "cultures can't be static, otherwise they're gonna disappear." Continuous dialogue and shared learning are exactly how we keep our collective history and future relationship vibrant.
Unforgettable Yukon Energy: The Midnight Sun Social
On Saturday night, the energy reached an all-time high at Rotary's Midnight Sun Social. Hosted by the Whitehorse Rendezvous Club, the evening was a spectacular celebration of northern culture and pure fun.
The room erupted with energy as the famous Snowshoe Shufflers took the stage, followed by the dazzling Cancan dancers who brought the spirit of the Klondike gold rush to life. The dance floor stayed packed through the night as local musical favorites The Leesiders played incredible music that kept everyone moving. It was a perfect testament to the membership panel's advice earlier that day: people stay for the connection, so you have to have fun!
Read on:
Missed the beginnning? Part 1: Friday Program