Guess who's coming for lunch!

Rotarians were all smiles Friday evening as they raised $20,876.00 for the Canadore Nipissing Learning Library. Pictured left to right are Rotary President Bob Sampson,Past District Governor Jack Lockhart, former Ontario Premier Mike Harris and Rotary Past President Chris Mayne.

Politicians of every stripe and level joined the Rotary Club of North Bay Friday to recognise former Ontario Premier Mike Harris for his years of service to the area with the Rotary Paul Harris Award.

“I am honoured to receive such an important award, the Paul Harris Award,” he tells BayToday.

“But the evening isn’t about me, it’s about Rotary and the important work that they do, such as sending funds to third world countries … if there is any benefit or cause happening in the city the Rotary Club is always there to support it … tonight it is about the Nipissing Canadore Learning Library.”

“And I am just proud to be part of it,” he adds.

Rotary President Bob Sampson is pleased that the evening raised $20,876.00 which will be applied to the club’s $125,000 commitment for the new Canadore College and Nipissing University Learning Library.

Highlight of the night however, was when former Premier Harris secured a winning bid of $600 for lunch with Nipissing MPP Monique Smith at Queens Park. Smith, in good nature, further agreed that after the lunch she would pose for a picture with Harris by his Portrait at Queen’s Park.

Harris continues to give back to the community as he is now the Honorary Co-Chair for the new Learning Library campaign with former Tembec CEO Frank Dottori, Olympian Kate Pace - Lindsay and former Ontario Lieutenant Governor James Bartleman.”