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Otago Daily Times
4 hours ago
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Investment adviser aiding the community
She's a woman on a mission to help others, whether through her job as a financial adviser or via service organisation Rotary. Business editor Sally Rae talks to April Eden. Meet April Eden from Dunedin — and yes, that really is her tagline. The rhyme is on purpose and this powerhouse is hot on her own purpose, particularly helping women build confidence with money and take control of their financial futures and flying the flag for service organisation Rotary as a vehicle to do good in the world. English-born but Dunedin-proud, her road to becoming an investment adviser might not have taken a traditional trajectory but she was determined to show her daughters she could achieve something and make her mark on the world. It was when her first child was young that Mrs Eden, 33, decided she did not want to be "another statistic". Having quit secondary school at the beginning of year 12, she worked in hospitality. At 19, she became pregnant and, while "not quite a teen mum", she felt she was still not a full mum in the eyes of society. With creative flair, she had initially thought she would pursue something like graphic design but at 23 found her aptitude in accounting. When she decided to return to study, backed by her supportive partner, she did not want to commit herself, knowing that secondary school and herself did not agree with each other. So, she did a certificate of business administration at Otago Polytechnic and discovered it was very different from secondary school — "you're in charge of yourself". Having enjoyed that, she later completed a Bachelor of applied management, switching majors from marketing to accounting, at the polytechnic. Those early years were a whirlwind which included getting married, having a second child and buying and selling several houses. While studying, she was one of three New Zealand-based students selected to take part in a student workshop held as part of an entrepreneurs' summit in China in 2018, coincidentally all three coming from Otago Polytechnic. But then she could not find a job as an accountant, despite "interviews galore" all over the country. She specifically wanted to get into audit and risk, with a desire to know how businesses worked, but interviews would indirectly raise the matter of her having two children, questioning how she was going to manage the travel. Also, she was getting blank looks when she asked what the career path looked like for her three years down the track. After potentially uprooting her husband, children and life, she did not want to be uplifting them again in three years' time and she wanted to show loyalty to a company — somewhere she could "grow with them". It was when she got an interview for a private wealth assistant at Craigs Investment Partners that she was shown exactly what a 10-year career path looked like. She started there in 2018 and has worked her way up, next January marking four years as an adviser. Bubbly, colourful and a straight talker, Mrs Eden admitted she loved her job. "It sounds really corny, but no two days are the same, there's so much variety in a day." Ultimately, it was a job that was all about relationships and, with a love of people, that flowed through to her extracurricular passion which was Rotary. She did not want to be seen as "just another investment adviser". And when clients or potential clients searched her name, she did not want it to solely come up with her business profile. She wanted it to come up with all the things she was doing in the community that she was passionate about, so they could feel like they were getting to know her a little before they came to see her — "an ordinary person with a pretty cool job, that I actually do care — and I do". President of Rotary Dunedin Central and on the board of District 9999, the Rotary district which covered the South Island, she said it was unfortunate the organisation had the perception of an "old man's club". Her club was 50% female, and the average age was late 50s. "There is still such a need for Rotary, arguably now more than ever," she said. This year, a team from Ignite Consultants Otago, the student-led voluntary organisation which offered free consulting services to not-for-profit organisations, worked with Rotary Dunedin Central. The team was charged with helping make the club more accessible and appealing to young professionals and worked closely with Mrs Eden. With only one of the students knowing what Rotary was before the project, they looked at it from a "completely outside perspective" with no preconceived ideas. Being able to take their suggestions back to the club and further afield was a chance to say "this is literally what young people are saying". For the younger generation wanting to do good in the world, Rotary — which has a seat at the United Nations — could be the vehicle to allow them to do that, she said. Mrs Eden was on a mission to help bring Rotary into 2025 and beyond by breaking the stereotypes, modernising the message and ensuring the organisation continued to do good for decades to come. It was a fine line to tread as she did not want existing members, who had so much wisdom and connections, to be alienated. But she was adamant the only tradition that Rotary had was that it "does good in the community". The organisation had lots of different club structures and options. While there were still some clubs which met weekly, there were also online clubs which did their project planning online, and some clubs which dealt specifically with one cause. "It's just that balance between reminding our existing Rotarians why you joined in the first place — because you wanted to do good in the community — and then telling the next generation that 'hey, we're here and we'll help you do these good things that are important to you now'," she said. Personally, Rotary had given her purpose, friendships, professional and personal development and the chance to make a real impact. Her club was very open to change and trying new things. It had three or four key fundraising projects a year; it helped with the Dunedin Brick Show, featuring all things Lego, at the Edgar Centre and the money raised went to a youth-oriented charity — last year it was Rock Solid. It has the Rotary book sale next month and it also sells pea straw. It bought a commercial washing machine for the Night Shelter and has helped re-establish gardens and an orchard at Bradford School and has also helped the astronomical society. "We recognise that the little guy needs help too. Buying a new laptop for an organisation ... could be the difference between them paying rent on a building they're using for a month or two," she said. Mrs Eden said, when asked how she managed to balance everything, that she worked very hard and she had a fantastic support system with her husband. When it came to resilience in leadership, she was inspired by her elder daughter, who was one of two children who went missing after a bush walk in the Mavora Lakes area in Southland in July 2023. They were found by a search party the following morning. Her daughter came out of that experience braver and even went skydiving for her 13th birthday. Watching her navigate that experience, Mrs Eden said she could not "be the scared person". "Leadership is not about how to avoid the storms, it's how you navigate them and how you bring the others through with you," she said.
Calgary Herald
8 hours ago
- Politics
- Calgary Herald
Opinion: A mini UN convenes in Calgary as Rotarians from around the world unite
Like many who grew up in Detroit, I crossed the Ambassador Bridge so often that Windsor and parts of southern Ontario became as familiar to me as my neighbour's backyard. Article content I've always wanted to visit Calgary, though not merely as a tourist. Nor did I desire to observe the recent G7 summit, where members of the global power club addressed the world's pressing trade and geopolitical issues. Instead, I will fly from Chicago to participate in a meeting of a different type of club. More than 15,000 Rotary members from Canada, the United States, and over 120 other countries and regions will descend on the city for a conference running Saturday to Wednesday, and turn the BMO Centre into a mini-United Nations. Article content Article content Article content In the past, G7 discussions have been characterized by disagreements as political leaders struggled to co-ordinate actions to handle upheaval and geopolitical tensions. Very different are the annual Rotary conventions, which bring together civic leaders of all cultural and political backgrounds and people from countries in conflicts. We rally around a shared goal of advancing goodwill and peace through fellowship and community projects. If the G7 summit operates as a top-down policy-making body, our gathering illustrates the bottom-up approach of a massive, global grassroots movement. Article content Article content The trend toward isolationism and looking inward is taking hold in many developed nations, with Canada standing out as a notable exception. Drastic shifts in governmental policies have led to significant cuts in humanitarian and development funding and programs. In these times, community-based organizations are stepping in to fill the gaps in essential social services created by changes in governmental priorities. Article content Article content Millions of ordinary people worldwide make up an extensive and well-established web of civic organizations — from service clubs to PTAs, faith communities and business groups. Below the radar of headlines, protests and global power politics, volunteers are quietly at work in their communities: feeding the hungry, tutoring disadvantaged children, maintaining parks and playgrounds, or baking cookies to raise funds for projects farther afield. These NGOs wield a kind of soft power and project their values onto global issues, affecting everything from global health and disaster response, to development programs and education. Article content In the case of Rotary, through humanitarian grants and volunteer projects, we help create an environment conducive to peace by addressing the underlying causes of conflicts, such as poverty, inequality, the degrading environment and the lack of access to education. Our global scholarships and youth exchange programs, key components of our people-to-people diplomacy, foster cultural understanding and collaboration.
Calgary Herald
a day ago
- Business
- Calgary Herald
Calgary begins welcoming first of thousands of Rotary International Convention delegates
Andre and Walter Marria can't resist a good Rotary International Convention. Article content They arrived in Calgary Thursday as some of the earlier arrivals of the 15,500 out-of-town delegates who will attend the June 21-25 event. Article content Article content 'Last year we were in Singapore and next year we'll be in Taiwan,' said a beaming Walter Marria, 78, who hails from Thomasville, Ga. Article content 'I'm expecting to be inspired to meet new people and make new connections.' Article content Article content Pushing a cart crammed nigh with luggage at the Calgary International Airport, his wife said there was little reason to skip Calgary. Article content Article content 'We heard about this and the Stampede,' she said. Article content Delegates from more than 120 countries began arriving last week for the gathering to be held at the BMO Centre on Stampede Park. Article content The massive convention is expected to pump $81 million into the city's economy and follows closely on the heels of another international event that put the Calgary area in the global spotlight — the 2025 G7 Leaders' Summit in Kananaskis, which wrapped up Tuesday. Article content It's been a record late spring-early summer season for Calgary's hospitality industry, said Alisha Reynolds, president of Tourism Calgary. Article content 'This is an opportunity to put Calgary on the world map and put Calgary on the world stage . . . this is an opportunity to share with the world that Calgary has its arms open,' she said. Article content Article content May was already a record-setting month for hotel occupancy in Calgary, up 7.7 per cent over the same month in 2024 due to the early impacts of G7 and the Rotary convention, said Reynolds. Article content She noted the last time Calgary hosted the convention was in 1996 and drew 25,000 people, which set a high bar in delegate satisfaction. Article content 'Pressure makes diamonds, we're ready,' said Reynolds, adding the city began lobbying to hold the event a decade ago. Article content Article content It's expected to be rainy and cool through Sunday, with the sun returning amid below-average temperatures on Monday, according to Environment and Climate Change Canada.
Calgary Herald
a day ago
- Automotive
- Calgary Herald
New curbside pillars are under construction at Calgary Airport, doorway closures are expected throughout the summer
Construction began Monday, June 16, on new anti-ramming curbside columns at Calgary International Airport — joining locations around the city renewing focus on pedestrian safety. Article content The waist-high pillars are called bollards and will be placed in front of every door on both the arrival and departure levels. The Calgary Airport Authority described the construction in a statement as a proactive attempt to boost security, rather than a reactive response to any particular incident. They described the barriers as 'part of a multi-year initiative to further safeguard public-facing areas and align with evolving industry best practices.' Article content Article content Article content The Calgary Airport Authority did not answer when asked about the projected cost of the bollard construction, nor reveal details about future elements of the multi-year plan. Article content Article content The development will take place in phases, as an attempt to 'minimize disruption while work is underway.' Those travelling to the airport can expect reduced curb space in the domestic arrivals zone and 'higher-than-normal volumes,' during peak hours. Article content The airport previously estimated an average of 67,000 visitors each day over the course of the summer. While the construction just missed those travelling for the G7 summit in Kananaskis, it will be ongoing through both the Rotary International Convention and the Calgary Stampede. By the end of the summer, the airport expects to have seen more than 5.8 million visitors. Article content With less curb to share while construction is ongoing, the airport is attempting to mitigate the time drivers spend near doorways waiting for passengers. Signage will be posted to navigate any lane closures, and they suggest vehicles work their way to the 'cellphone lot', where drivers can stay up to 60 minutes, described as a great location for 'a bit of extra time to play Candy Crush.' Article content Article content Protection measures against vehicles have been a focus around the city in recent months. Ward 3 Coun. Jasmine Mian asked what precautions the city was taking during a council meeting days after the deadly vehicle attack in Vancouver. The incident led to increased security during Calgary's Lilac Festival, with police cars blocking additional roadways beyond the usual signage. Article content The Calgary Stampede has also become home to its own anti-vehicle equipment, opting for portable barriers over in-ground bollards. Six barriers are currently deployed in anticipation of this weekend's Rotary convention, emblazoned with custom Calgary Stampede Logos. Article content 'Each one weighs 695 lbs, so you can't push them around,' said Brad McCabe, Meridian's director for Western Canada.
Calgary Herald
2 days ago
- Business
- Calgary Herald
Peace pole, House of Friendship and more: What to know about the Rotary International Convention in Calgary
Article content Rotarians and community leaders from around the world will assemble in Calgary this weekend for Rotary's largest annual gathering. Article content The annual Rotary International Convention is returning to Calgary for the first time in nearly 30 years, taking place at the BMO Centre from Saturday to Wednesday. Article content Article content More than 15,000 Rotary members and participants from more than 120 countries will unite to celebrate humanitarian service, cultural exchange and global peacebuilding. Article content Article content As Rotary members take in the city, Calgarians should expect a vibrant wave of visitors in traditional dress exploring the city centre. Article content Article content To accommodate the event, CTrain service will be increased for the length of the convention, running every seven minutes during peak hours and every 10 minutes outside of peak hours. Article content Calgarians can also expect heavier traffic downtown, at Calgary International Airport and along the city's key routes. Article content To mark the occasion, the Calgary Tower will glow red and yellow on Saturday and Sunday to honour Rotary's fight to eradicate polio worldwide. Article content Then, the tower will be blue and gold from Monday to Wednesday in honour of the organization's broader mission to promote health, peace and prosperity. Article content Article content Established by Chicago attorney Paul P. Harris in 1905, its worldwide membership now exceeds 1.4 million. Article content According to its website, Rotary International's mission is to 'provide service to others, promote integrity and advance world understanding, goodwill and peace through our fellowship of business, professional and community leaders.' Article content Calgary falls under Rotary District 5360, which comprises 13 clubs in the city and more than 40 across the wider region. Founded in 1914, the Rotary Club of Calgary Downtown was one of its first clubs in the country. Article content Clubs in Calgary have contributed to projects such as the Rotary/Mattamy Greenway, a 138-kilometre urban pathway that encircles the city, Calgary Rotary Challenger Park and the Rotary Flames House.
