Hundreds of Rotary members from across the United States and internationally were given a warm hug of western hospitality on June 19, as they disembarked from their flights for the Rotary International Convention.

Greeters from Tourism Calgary welcomed the Rotarians, dressed in the iconic Calgary white hat emblazoned with the Rotary logo, while a trio of stages set up throughout the airport had local musicians playing.

The effort was part of Tourism Calgary’s Road to Rotary efforts, which saw activations across Calgary with a focus on the downtown core and the BMO Centre. The event takes place in the city from June 21 to 25.

“This hosting of the Rotary International Convention is going to be the largest convention Calgary has hosted since the opening of the expanded BMO Convention Center. This is an opportunity to put Calgary on the world map and elevate Calgary onto the global stage,” said Alisha Reynolds, CEO of Tourism Calgary.

“We’re welcoming more than 15,500 rotary members who are delegates of this convention from over 120 different countries. This is our opportunity to showcase Blue Sky City and share with the world that Calgary has its arms open.”

Among those guests travelling to Calgary for the first time was Cynthia Dorsey Edwards, from Stone Mountain in Georgia, U.S.A.

“I’ve been in Rotary since 2009, and it’s always good to meet people from other parts of the world that are of similar minds that want to make a difference. I’m also in the line to be a district governor for our district in 2026–2027, so I’m here preparing for that assignment.”

She said a big part of attending the Rotary International Convention was to learn from and to replicate the successes of other clubs around the world.

Although her visit to Calgary was a first, Dorsey Edwards said she was looking forward to returning to Canada, a nation that left a lasting impression on her when she was in Toronto in 1968, just after the Canadian centennial.

“My high school band was invited to come here and partake in the celebrations. I’m from Texas originally, and our school came in and marched in the parade and did an outside concert in Toronto and found the people very, very warm back then. It left a lasting impression,” she said.

Pressure on Calgary to get the Rotary International Convention right

Reynolds said that it was extremely important for Calgary to get the Rotary International Convention right, and that the city was, in turn, absolutely ready to deliver.

“Tourism Calgary participated in the bid for this convention way back, almost 10 years ago. This community brings so much passion, and there are many natural champions in Calgary that are excited about showcasing the city getting this Rotary International Convention right, and ensuring that people have an amazing experience,” she said.

The 1996 Rotary International Convention drew nearly 25,000 convention goers. That convention has become legendary in Rotary circles for how successful it was.

Reynolds said that success makes it important to replicate that level of fondness from Rotarians.

“Pressure makes diamonds,” she said.

“We know that there were fond memories from Rotarians around the world that loved their time in Calgary and that have longed for an opportunity to come back, we’re building on all of that success and momentum, and we’re ready to showcase to the world that Calgary was an amazing city then and is even in a more incredible position now.”

Chris Miles, Chief Operating Officer for the Calgary Airport Operating Authority, said that months have gone into planning between YYC and the various airlines to make sure the arrival of Rotary members was a smooth one.

“We’re looking at European, North American arrivals, making sure we can arrange transit. There’s a whole bunch of logistics, as you can appreciate, to move 15,000 people,” Miles said.

“The large majority are coming through this airport and really making sure it’s seamless for them. So, when they come off, they arrive, they get their bags and they’re having a great time already, and they’re excited to see the city.”

He said the convention was a multiplier for the traffic to the airport, but with some 67,000 people transiting through the airport on any average summer day, and with 5.8 million passengers coming this summer, the airport is ready to handle the 15,000 Rotary visitors.

“It’s well within the norms of what we expect. With these passengers, really, we treat everyone exceptionally well, but with these people, we really want to leverage that they have a remarkable experience,” he said.