DISTRICT GOVERNOR NOMINEE DESIGNATE
Sandi Chard - 2028/29
Sandi Chard grew up in Simcoe, Ontario, and earned her Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting and Finance from McMaster University. After graduation, she and her husband Gary settled in St. Catharines, where they built and operated a successful retail business for more than 35 years.
Sandi is also an avid genealogist, exploring her family’s roots in Eastern Europe and Salem, Massachusetts, and preserving the stories of those who came before her. Rooted in Rotary’s core values, she believes in collaboration and fellowship across borders: “We are two nations with one goal — to do good in the world.”It was Gary’s leadership as Club President that first introduced Sandi to Rotary. She joined the Rotary Club of St. Catharines Lakeshore in 2014, and what began as curiosity quickly became a calling. The people, the projects, and the purpose of The Rotary Foundation inspired her to see how small acts of generosity could create powerful, lasting change.
Sandi’s passion for the Foundation has shaped much of her Rotary journey. She served as District Rotary Foundation Chair from 2021 to 2024, where she led with both professionalism and enthusiasm. Her leadership helped Rotarians across the district connect the power of giving to the impact it makes. Key achievements include launching the Best of Friends Heritage Endowment Fund and expanding access to District Grants to help more clubs participate.
A Major Donor, Bequest Society member, and multiple Paul Harris Fellow, Sandi continues to serve on the Zone 28 Foundation Team and as Chair of the District Finance Committee, ensuring transparency and stewardship in district operations. One of her most meaningful Rotary moments came through a grant that supported citizens in Ukraine, a project that, by chance, reached a village just 75 miles from where her ancestors lived, reaffirming her belief that Rotary truly bridges generations and continents.
Outside of Rotary, Sandi and Gary love travelling and exploring North America in their RV, often combining their adventures with Rotary conventions and gatherings through the Rotary RV Fellowship. Family remains central in their lives ,their son Jamie, daughter-in-law Rachel, and granddaughter Elliott all share their community spirit, with Elliott already joining in Rotary projects like the Great Lakes Watershed Cleanup and the Little Lending Library.
Sandi’s passion for the Foundation has shaped much of her Rotary journey. She served as District Rotary Foundation Chair from 2021 to 2024, where she led with both professionalism and enthusiasm. Her leadership helped Rotarians across the district connect the power of giving to the impact it makes. Key achievements include launching the Best of Friends Heritage Endowment Fund and expanding access to District Grants to help more clubs participate.
A Major Donor, Bequest Society member, and multiple Paul Harris Fellow, Sandi continues to serve on the Zone 28 Foundation Team and as Chair of the District Finance Committee, ensuring transparency and stewardship in district operations. One of her most meaningful Rotary moments came through a grant that supported citizens in Ukraine, a project that, by chance, reached a village just 75 miles from where her ancestors lived, reaffirming her belief that Rotary truly bridges generations and continents.
Outside of Rotary, Sandi and Gary love travelling and exploring North America in their RV, often combining their adventures with Rotary conventions and gatherings through the Rotary RV Fellowship. Family remains central in their lives ,their son Jamie, daughter-in-law Rachel, and granddaughter Elliott all share their community spirit, with Elliott already joining in Rotary projects like the Great Lakes Watershed Cleanup and the Little Lending Library.