John Gustafson is joining HIP as a District Coordinator for 5020 in the Western Region. He is a member of the Harbourside Rotary Club of Victoria, BC. and has served as Vocational Services Director and Chair of the Indigenous Relations Committee.
The history of Rotary in Victoria goes back over a century. Rotary and its motto of “Service above Self” came to the capital with the establishment of the Rotary Club of Victoria Nov. 15, 1913. Sponsored as a joint initiative of the Vancouver and Seattle Clubs, the 90th Rotary Club in the world was established less than ten years after businessman Paul Harris founded the organization in Chicago. For many years Rotary in Victoria contributed to the region and the world. One highlight was hosting a District Conference in 1941.
In early 1980 a small group at the Rotary Club of Victoria felt it was time to form a new Club in the city, specifically a Breakfast Club. The club was launched with 25 prospects. In early August 1980 the debut meeting of Canada’s first breakfast club (provisional) was held at the Laurel Point Inn (thus the name Harbourside) chosen by Founding President Fred Bartlett).
Having worked in personal trust, pension trust and personal wealth management, John retired in 2020 after 34 years in the financial services industry. HIP looks forward to working closely with John!