PDG R.L. Leigh Higinbotham (Filomena)
District Governor 1994-1995
Personal Background
Leigh Higinbotham was born in Vancouver and moved to Powell River with his family in 1950, returning to Vancouver in 1954. In 1961, he relocated to Victoria to attend Oak Bay High School. From 1970 to 1984, Leigh pursued continuing education at BCIT, earning a Business Certificate in Administrative Management, a Senior Management Certificate focused on strategic planning and organizational behaviour (Change Management), and in addition, completed their Advanced Management Program. Leigh's wife, Filomena, was born in Italy and emigrated to Vancouver at the age of 12. They have two sons and four grandchildren.
Career
Leigh dedicated thirty-three years to BC Tel/Telus. He was hired in Victoria and served a four-year apprenticeship as a lineman, then transferred to Powell River and subsequently to Prince George in the mid-1960s, where he worked as a lineman in charge and later as a switchboard repairman in charge. During his time in Prince George, Leigh earned a pilot's license with float and multi-engine ratings. In 1970, he was promoted and transferred to Vancouver, where he held several managerial positions until his retirement in 1995. Leigh was active in the company's transition from a monopoly to a competitive entity. After retiring, he established a consulting practice specializing in Change Management, working with large organizations.
Rotary Involvement
Leigh joined the Vancouver Arbutus Rotary Club in March 1984 and served as President during the 1989-1990 term, with the club earning the Rotary Presidential Citation. He has been actively involved in Rotary at various levels, including serving as District Secretary, Governor of District 5040 and Chair of PNW Presidents Elect Training Seminar. Leigh, and Filomena, home hosted six Rotary Youth Exchange students, Leigh has participated in numerous Rotary initiatives, including India's National Immunization Day for Polio and various training and leadership roles within the organization, some of which are listed below:
- Training Leader PNW PETS
- Sessions Provost PNW PETS (trains the Training Leaders)
- Representative to Council on Legislation, held in India - 1998
- RI Training Leader for the International Assembly 1998 & 1999
- Governors Elect Training Seminar (GETS) Leader at Zone Institutes (3 years)
- Trained the RI Training Leaders for the International Assembly, Regional Rotary Foundation Coordinators and RI Membership Coordinators (3 years).
- RI Environmental Concerns Task Force - Member 2000/01
- Interviewed on the training of Rotary leaders which is the subject of a feature story in the June 2002 issue of The Rotarian magazine.
- RI Education and Training Taskforce - Member 2001/02
- RI Education and Training Executive Steering Committee - Member 2001/02
- Vice Chair, RI Leadership Education & Training Committee 2002/04
- Chair, RI Club Leadership Development Committee - 2004/05 (Developed the Club Leadership Plan)
- Speaker, Rotary International Convention - topic “Club Leadership” - Chicago 2005
- RI Strategic Planning Committee - Member 2006/07
- RI President’s Representative to District Conferences at: Sacramento, CA (1997); Boston, MA (1999); Thunder Bay, ON (2000); Brandenburg, Germany (2001); Jefferson City, MO (2003); Dallas, TX (2005); Chapel Hill, NC (2007).
- Regional Rotary Foundation Coordinator - 2005-08
- Director, Rotary Foundation Canada - 2005-08
- Plenary Speaker, Rotary International Assembly at San Diego in 2008. - topic “Adapt or Perish”
- District 5040 Governance Committee Chair - 2020-23
- District 5040 Finance Committee Chair - 2023-26
Leigh's contributions have been recognized, including the Rotary Foundation Citation for Meritorious Service and the Rotary Foundation Distinguished Service Award. Leigh and Filomena are Paul Harris Fellows, Major Donors, and Rotary Foundation Benefactors.
District Governor Year
During Leigh's tenure as District Governor in 1994-1995, the Rotary International President was Bill Huntley, with the theme "Be A Friend." The District Conference was held in Whistler with 406 attendees, featuring the Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia, The Honourable David Lam, as a keynote speaker. By the end of the Rotary year, the district had 2,159 members in 45 clubs. Leigh and Filomena cherished their club visits and the opportunity to learn about club projects, making additional visits to most of the clubs during the second half of the year.
Other Community Involvement
Leigh has been actively involved in various community organizations, including serving as Director and Vice Chair of the BC & Yukon Board of the CNIB, Director of the Dunbar Community Centre Association, and Director of Junior Achievement of BC. He also served as an Assistant Cubmaster in Powell River.