THE ROTARY CLUB OF GUELPH WAS OFFICIALLY CHARTERED ON APRIL 9, 1920
Under the leadership of Alex Stewart (a Guelph pharmacist), the Rotary Club of Guelph was officially chartered on April 9, 1920 at the Royal Canadian Cafe.Planning for this charter event had begun a few months earlier when 25 local businessmen in Guelph met on February 23 to consider starting a local Rotary Club. The February 23rd date coincided with the birthday of Rotary International that had begun in Chicago 15 years earlier.
Over the years, the RCOG met at different locations for the weekly meetings. Moves from one location to another were usually prompted by changes in membership numbers.
The RCOG went on to sponsor the following nine clubs:
- Kitchener, 1922
- Orangeville, 1936
- Acton, 1947
- Drayton, 1950
- Georgetown, 1955
- Fergus, 1966
- Guelph Wellington, 1986
- Guelph Trillium, 1995
- Guelph South, 2003