Rotary Club of North Bay presents Paul Harris award recognizing Dr R I Harris for establishing Rotary's Crippled Children's Clinic in 1926. 

 

The Harris family has deep connections with Rotary.  Reg Harris served as our 16th club president in 1938.  A pharmacist and valued community leader. 70 years ago, Reg headed the drive to secure our splendid airport and championed the campaign for the King Street arena.

 

Reg's older brother Robert played an equally vital part in our community.

 

Soon after formation, our club became interested in Crippled Children's Work. 

 

The first Crippled Children's Clinic was held in the summer of 1926 with Dr. R. I Harris of Toronto the surgeon in charge. 

 

Dr Harris accepted this assignment willingly.  His North Bay roots and friendship with Rotarian Dr Duncan Campbell sealed the arrangement.

 

The clinic recommended 40 boys and girls for treatment. At that time, the Club numbered 40 members so it was decided to assign to each member one child.  The designated Rotarian saw to it that his boy or girl received the treatment recommended. 

 

The big men in town responded admirably - they sought out needy children, assumed a responsibility and delivered caring, quiet assistance and support to families who had run out of options.  Their remarkable efforts established Rotary's community service profile and shaped our major charitable project. 

 

Year after year, the clinic continued to treat the untreatable.  

 

Rotary made a difference. Dr Harris made it possible.

 

He was wounded in WWI and awarded the military cross. 

 

A healer and a teacher - professor of surgery at U of T. -- where numerous awards still bear his name.

 

The Harris's raised three sons. Irving, Donald and Dr Robert who followed his father in medicine --- again, a gifted physician and U of T professor.

 

R I Harris - a world-class orthopaedic surgeon. 

 

Rotary and a grateful community salute Dr Harris.