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The Rotary Club of Calgary Downtown

Delivering meaningful community service and positive impact for more than 110 years.

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The Big Book Sale

May 8–17, 2026 | Calgary Curling Club

Every May, thousands of Calgarians come together for the Big Book Sale, a beloved celebration of stories, community, and impact. Featuring nearly 200,000 books, this volunteer-driven event makes reading affordable and accessible for children and families across our city. Proudly stewarded by the Rotary Club of Calgary Downtown, the Big Book Sale is more than a sale, it's a movement for literacy.

 

When and Where to Join Us
For over 110 years, the Rotary Club of Calgary Downtown has brought people together. We meet in person at 12:00 PM on alternate Tuesdays at the historic Palliser Hotel. Visitors and guests are always welcome to join us for meaningful dialogue, fresh insights, and opportunities to strengthen community connections. Visit our Events page for upcoming dates and program details.
Club Meetings & Events
Calgary Downtown
Take Action With Us
Join a global network of over 1.4 million dedicated to creating lasting change. Rotary members are people of action, addressing challenges through shared values of integrity, service, and leadership.
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Global Impact: Be part of 45,000+ clubs committed to peace, health, and education worldwide.
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Local Focus: Drive change in your community through initiatives in literacy, mental wellness, and more.
Long-Term Relationships
Leadership & Fellowship: Connect with like-minded leaders who share your passion for impact.

Together, we tackle the world’s toughest issues, from clean water to education, promoting goodwill and a brighter future for all.

Get to Know Rotary

What We Fund

Rotary Club of Calgary Downtown is a community of dedicated individuals committed to service and creating lasting impact. Locally, we focus on supporting early childhood literacy, education, food security, and mental health. Many of our international projects have a broader scope. Together, we strive to strengthen communities and improve lives, both close to home and worldwide.

(Use the arrows on the left to explore our areas of focus)

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International

Rotary supports international aid by funding clean water, health care, education, and disaster relief, empowering communities worldwide to build sustainable futures and improve quality of life.
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Early Childhood Literacy

Calgary's children, from birth to age 8, have caring reading role models and books of their own to learn to read, experience the pleasure of reading, and achieve literacy by the end of Grade 3.
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Education

All Calgarians have the necessary personal and community supports to learn, graduate from high school, and pursue post-secondary education.
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Food Security

Calgarians have consistent, reliable access to sufficient, safe, nutritious, culturally appraised food.
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Mental Wellness

Calgarians feel a sense of belonging, acceptance, and safety, have the skills to cope with challenges, and can access mental health and addiction support when, where, and how they need it.
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Why Rotary? Make a Real Impact