CHMA sits down with Sackville Rotary president Bill Evans, to talk about two milestones for the club’s successful fundraising tradition: The Sackville Rotary Gold Mine. This Friday, February 14 marks 10 years since the local service club launched the lottery fundraiser, and this past November, the Gold Mine clocked past the $1 million mark in funds raised and given away.
“We take in about $1,500 a week, which is split half with the winner and half with the club to give away,” says Evans. “It is really our sole fundraising mechanism… That’s why we call it our gold mine. It funds everything.”
“Rotary Gold Mine proceeds have gone to everything from the various sports clubs in town, all the schools, the Tantramar Heritage Trust, the food bank, the hospital foundation, the citizens band… you name it, and we’ve helped fund it,” says Evans.
At a presentation to Tantramar council on February 4, 2025, Rotary member Louise MacKinnon shared a long list of projects funded through the Gold Mine, from the purchases of ukuleles for Salem Elementary to books for low income families to a new ATV for trail work by the Tantramar Outdoor Club.
“As you can imagine, there are too many projects over our ten years to present here tonight,” said MacKinnon, “and these are just a fraction of those to request funding for a project.”
The Gold Mine has also distributed over $500,000 to winners, some who’ve pocketed upwards of $4,000. Players claim a number and play $2 a week to play. When there’s no winner in a given week, the 50-50 jackpot keeps growing until someone wins.
“The biggest thank you is to the players who have supported us by playing their toonie,” said MacKinnon, “and who have collectively impacted our great community.”
Evans joined the Sackville Rotary Club about 12 years ago, and was attracted by the values of the service club. “What I like about it is that it’s not people who are complaining,” says Evans. “It’s people who say, ‘Hey, I’m doing all right, and I’d like to help other people.’”
Evans says that with changing times there’s been a decline in interest in service clubs like Rotary. “There used to be at least three other service clubs in Sackville,” says Evans, “and none of them currently exist.” Even the Rotary has seen a drop in membership numbers, with 20 members currently making up the Sackville club.
“A big part of Rotary is volunteering. It’s getting together in person. And I think a lot of community nowadays is digital,” says Evans. But for the former Sackville town councillor the in person element is part of the attraction with Rotary membership. “I wish more people were interested in this,” says Evans. “It’s fun to do good in the world.”
