Harold Rogers

Harold A. Rogers was a Canadian founder, humanitarian, and veteran. He was born in London, Ontario, on January 3, 1899. He enlisted in the Canadian Army at the age of 17 and fought in the First World War, where he was wounded and gassed. He returned to Canada in 1919 and worked as a salesman in the plumbing industry. He sought to join the Rotary Club, but was rejected because of his occupation. He decided to create his own club for young men who wanted to serve their communities. He founded the first Kinsmen Club in Hamilton, Ontario, in 1920, and soon expanded the network of clubs across Canada. He also initiated the formation of the Kinettes, a women's branch of the organization, in 1942. He served as the national president of Kin Canada from 1924 to 1925, and remained active in the club until his death. He also chaired the Milk for Britain campaign during the Second World War, which sent over 50 million quarts of milk to British children. He was a trustee of the Forest Hill Board of Education and received the Lamp of Learning Award from the Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation in 1950. He established the Kin Canada Foundation in 1964 to support charitable causes and education. He was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1977 and an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1980. He died in Toronto, Ontario, on September 15, 1994, at the age of 95. He is widely regarded as a national hero and an icon of service.