MP John Aldag presented with ‘Polio Hero’ Award

March 11, 2024 – Langley, British Columbia

By Lilianne Fuller

Member of Parliament, John Aldag, was presented with two special honours at the Rotary Club of Langley Central’s March 6th meeting. He was presented with a Rotary Polio Hero award and a Paul Harris Fellowship.

Dean Rohrs, Chair of the Rotary Polio Advocacy Committee for Canada and the former Vice President of Rotary International presented Aldag with the Rotary Polio Hero Award. “John has been a polio warrior. He has supported our cause and been instrumental in setting up meetings and events in Ottawa for Rotary - over the past 5-8 years,” she said. “A few weeks ago, he rose to read a letter to the caucus advocating for more funding for polio eradication,” she added.

Rotary and Polio eradication go hand in hand and the government of Canada has played an active role in global polio eradication. To date Canada has contributed just short of a billion dollars and Canada was the first country to place polio eradication on the G8 (now G7) agenda when it hosted the 2002 summit. In 2010 and 2018, the G7 reaffirmed its commitment to global polio eradication. “Canada’s work to end polio spans decades and transcends party. Together we’ve used our collective strength to defeat this devastating disease in almost every part of the world,” said Past Rotary International President John Germ.

One of the founding principles of Rotary is the eradication of polio. Rotary members have contributed more than $2.1 billion and countless volunteer hours to protect nearly 3 billion children in 122 countries from this paralyzing disease. Rotary's advocacy efforts have played a role in decisions by governments to contribute more than $10 billion to the effort. In Langley, Rotary has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars through member donations, special fundraisers, and bequests from Rotarian member’s wills.

At the meeting, President Rudy Storteboom of the Rotary Club of Langley presented Aldag with a Paul Harris Fellowship award for his contributions to Rotary. In 1905, Chicago Attorney Paul Harris founded Rotary International, and the Paul Harris Fellowship recognition acknowledges individuals who embody Rotary’s ideal of Service Above Self and who contribute financially, or have contributions made in their name to the Rotary Foundation. “John is a friend and personal hero of mine. John is a champion for his constituents, and he demonstrates the Rotary motto of ‘Service Above Self’ in all that he does,” said Storteboom.

Contacts:

Megan Waddington
Constituency Assistant
Office of John Aldag, Member of Parliament
604-575-6595
john.aldag@parl.gc.ca

Dean Rohrs, Chair Rotary Polio Advocacy Committee for Canada 604-836-1454 Dean@cbrplus.com