Rotary Club Awards Paul Harris Fellowship to Ken Eisner

Posted by Jim Goit

on Feb 13, 2012

The Paul Harris Fellow award is named after Paul Harris, who founded Rotary with three business associates in 1905. The award was established in 1957 to express appreciation for direct contributions by Rotarians to the humanitarian and educational programs of the Rotary Foundation. These programs are funded, implemented and managed by Rotarians and Rotary Clubs around the world.

Rotarians may also designate a Paul Harris Fellow to recognise another person who has contributed directly or indirectly to that shared objective and mission of the Rotary Foundation.

While we traditionally present Paul Harris Fellow awards at our Charter Night celebration - and there will be five such awards presented to Rotarians on the 20^th - the Rotary Club of Truro is pleased to have nominated Mr. Ken Eisner for the Paul Harris Fellow Award and to be able to present the award at our club meeting here today.

Born in Berwick Nova Scotia, Ken attended Acadia and went to TUNS, graduating in Industrial engineering. After graduation Ken worked with MacMillan Bloedel in British Columbia for 3 years before moving back to Truro in 1976 taking a job at Kent Homes.

In 1984 Ken started a new business as a building developer. His first his project was the construction of the condos on Prince St. In 1987 he began subdivision development which now includes the Saywood, Osprey, Archibald, Lexington and Wexford projects.

In partnership with several well-known and respected business people in Truro, Ken will purchase, build and develop properties of all types. Their newest projects include government buildings in Truro, Stellarton and New Glasgow. Ken even built a home for Ron Joyce in Fox Harb’r.

Ken is seen as the driving force behind the re-development of the old Centennial Theatre, turning it into the Marigold Cultural Centre.

Over the years Ken has served on many boards and volunteer groups including the Colchester Regional Hospital Foundation board, the Downtown Truro Partnership, the Marigold Cultural Centre, the Truro and District Chamber of Commerce, the Truro Golf Club, the United Way, the Nova Scotia Film Board, Maggie’s Place, the Christmas Index Program, and the CEC Scholarship Program.

Ken was named Truro’s Business Man of the year in 1998.

Ken and his wife Betsy, two children - Erin & Darcy and 3 grandkids all live in Truro. Ken’s very proud mom, Jean, still lives in Berwick. She is 91 years young.

For hobbies Ken golfs and curls, but he is perhaps best known as a competitive bridge player. He is a Gold Life Master with the American Contract Bridge League (ACBL).

For many years Ken has quietly supported many organizations including the Rotary Club of Truro. The club especially appreciates his willing support each spring in providing the space we need to run our fund raising auction. Without the use of this space the club would not be able to effectively raise the tens of thousands of dollars it does to put back into supporting the less fortunate in our community.

The Rotary Club of Truro is pleased to be able to name Mr. Ken Eisner a Paul Harris Fellow.