Thank you for joining South Eastman Rotary November 7th for our Annual Luncheon. Your contribution supports educational projects including the Drug Abuse Resistace Education (D.A.R.E.) Program, Rotary Youth Leadership Assembly (RYLA) and the Ripple Effect - building schools in Guatemala.
Emcee Michelle Bezditny will introduce Special Guest Presentations from Hanover School Division students, RCMP Staff Sergeant Guy Landreville, and Rotary District 5550 Governor Sonya Susut.
Stay for this year's Keynote Speaker: Gerry "THE BIG BEAR" Barrett:
A proud status Ojibwe from the Saugeen First Nation, Gerry joins us to share his experience as a "Sixties Scoop" survivor, adopted into a non Indigenous family. Gerry overcame bullying and racism throughout his youth, and went on to become a successful entertainer, comedian, Elvis tribute artist and musician. Learning to incorporate humour into every situation led him to a career in stand-up comedy and entertainment. When he is not performing as "Ojibwe Elvis", or with his band "Vegas Thunder", he is writing country songs or or offering his inspirational workshop for youth "YES I CAN".
Gerry has performed on the Comedy Network, CBC Television, CBC Radio, the Aboriginal People's Television Network and the Winnipeg Comedy Festival. In 2013, he performed at an Inaugural Ball for President Barack Obama. In 2004 he made television history by performing on North America’s first, all Indigenous, stand-up comedy, television special; Welcome to Turtle Island. Gerry also wrote and produced his own television stand-up special for the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network, titled, The Big Bear Comedy Show.