Sonia Spekkens is someone who puts her skills and expertise into action. And over the years, she has garnered expertise in many different areas.
Originally from Quebec, she studied Recreation Administration at the University of Ottawa. Following graduation, she and her husband moved to the United States, where her husband was pursuing his Phd in Health and Hospital Administration. As Sonia wasn’t able to work, she lent her skills to design a playground at the university for the students’ children.
When they moved to Windsor, she decided to go back to school and received a furniture technician diploma which led her to starting a small business with a friend. With their drafting skills they both designed and built furniture for clients who wanted custom-made furniture. Sonia loved doing this but it didn’t last too long because they moved to Burlington.
There she went into banking, taking RBC’s management training program. However, by the time the training was done, the family was on the move again – to Guelph. Sonia was able to transfer to manage a branch in Rockwood. Her job was to focus on the administrative side of the branch and she had little interaction with clients. She missed the connection to clients and switched over to personal banking.
From personal banking she went into an investment brokerage and from there into financial planning. Sonia is someone who knows what she wants, and if the work is not what she needs or wants, she is not scared to change and move on to something more suitable.
She is also someone who is not afraid of getting her teeth into a big project. Asked by a friend to join Rotary, she was invited to become a member at large at the Hospice Wellington. “I was told that all I had to do was attend meetings and listen.“ advises Sonia.
Right. It wasn’t long before she became a board member, and then went on to become President. Under her watch, the Hospice bought a building for its current home. No small undertaking. While Rotary provided some seed money, it was the actual physical involvement of Rotarians that helped make the building a reality.
“I always thought that Rotary was a group of men with deep pockets.” confesses Sonia. After their involvement with the hospice, she knew better.
Perhaps Sonia’s proudest Rotary accomplishment however was the Paint your Heart Project through which club members transformed the house and garden for a family from Sierra Leone. “It was just before Christmas, and as news of the project spread it just snowballed, with Guelph residents also getting involved to help this family with six children.”
This type of hands-on activity is what Sonia loves about Rotary. “You get the opportunity to learn and see the difference you are making in the lives of others,” she adds.
Sonia is keen to create more hands-on activities, both here and overseas, and wants to involve young people so they learn the value of Rotary.
Watch this space.