GORE BAY—The Gore Bay Rotary Club has been in operation since its founding charter back in 1954. The club has been a fixture on the Island scene for nearly 70 years and one of the most anticipated events of the autumn season is the Rotary Fall Harvest Auction.
“Harold Hilliard introduced Rotary to Gore Bay,” noted club member Dave Rogalsky. “He was the branch manager at Bank of Montreal in town at that time.”
Although the exact date of the start of the fall action may be lost to the mists of time, judging from historical photos it must have been shortly after.
“I don’t know what year the produce auction actually started, but based on the images we have it must have been in the late 1950s or very early 1960s— that would mean it’s been operating for at least 60-plus years.” In fact, the auction has only been cancelled once, notes Mr. Rogalsky, and that was in 2020 due to Covid-19.
Oliver Runnalls joined Rotary in the early 1970s and he recalled that the Fall Auction had already become a long-standing fixture at that point. Mr. Runnalls recalls that in the early auctions the Gore Bay arena floor was not even poured concrete at that time.
Mr. Runnalls recalled one year when the auction organizers forgot to contact the auctioneer to arrange for his services. Luckily, as it happened, a certain Lauchlan (Lauchie) McCannell from Ice Lake, who had been anticipating the call, just happened to be outside on the main street that morning so he jumped into action on the spot.
Down through the years several other auctioneers have stepped up to wield the gavel, including the inimitable Norm Morrell—and even a few amateur auctioneers such as current Rotary members Jack Clark and Keith McKeen have taken on a stint. “This year the auctioneer is Robbie White, to whom the club members are very grateful,” said Mr. Rogalsky.
Rotary member Jack Clark recalls that in early auctions held at the Gore Bay arena live chickens were part of the mix. Mr. Clark recalls the auction was all produce when he was a kid, but that other items were added over time.
These days, the Rotary Fall Harvest Auction is held at the Gore Bay Community Hall. Doors open at 9 am on October 7 for bidder registration, while the auction itself starts that same day at 10 am.
The mission of Rotary International is “to provide service to others, promote integrity and advance world understanding, goodwill and peace through its fellowship of business, professional and community leaders.”
