Gathering at our new Peace Pole, 2025

RCWO Members getting ready to distribute 4,000+ mums!

Volunteer Mums Drivers, fueling up for the big day

District 7040 Friendship Exchange participants (picture by RCWO member)

Hadi Mortada, RCWO Member, helping at Silver Springs Farm

RCWO Members preparing for a nature walk at Mud Lake

RCWO Member Bachir Bastien talks with participants at Adventure in Finance, 2025

District 7040 members welcome Friendship Exchange participants from Mumbai, 2025

RCWO Member Brett Brooking sending a message for World Peace Day, 2025

RCWO Members embarking on a nature walk, Mud Lake

RCWO Members and friends ready to volunteer at IRONMAN, 2025

The RCWO Team volunteering at IRONMAN 2025

Welcome to the Rotary Club of West Ottawa!

Are you an established professional who wants to make positive changes in your community and the world? Becoming a Rotarian connects you with a diverse group of dedicated people who share your passion for community service and fellowship.

For the Love of Rotary: Foundation Fridays in February

Health worker Melvina Tanze (right) checks on Nafisa Abubakar and her child, Halima Ode, during a Foundation-funded home outreach visit in Nasarawa, Nigeria

February 2, 2026: February is a time to reflect on care, connection, and commitment: values that sit at the heart of Rotary.

Throughout the month, RCWO is promoting For the Love of Rotary: Foundation Fridays in February, inviting members to consider Rotary Direct as an easy and effective way to support The Rotary Foundation and PolioPlus. By participating in Foundation Fridays, members help sustain Rotary’s work across its causes - from peacebuilding and education to clean water, health, and the ongoing effort to end polio - while choosing a method of giving that is simple, reliable, and personal.

The Rotary Foundation is consistently recognized for strong stewardship and transparency. It has earned the highest possible rating (four stars) from Charity Navigator for more than 16 consecutive years, placing it among the top 1% of charities evaluated for financial health, accountability, and transparency.

Rotary Friendship in Motion: District 7040 Arrives in India

January 28, 2026: After weather delays, missed connections, and more than a few “Are we really going to make this?” moments, Rotary friendship prevailed. Our District 7040 delegation has arrived safely in India, welcomed with extraordinary warmth, generosity, and care by our Rotary hosts. The Rotary District 7040 Friendship Exchange to India has begun, and it began exactly as Rotary so often does: with resilience, kindness, and People of Action stepping up when it mattered most.

Severe winter storms created cascading travel challenges for the Canadian delegation, with delayed departures, missed connections, and rapidly changing itineraries. Yet through every disruption, one thing remained constant: the unwavering support of our Indian Rotary hosts. When flights were missed, accommodations were needed on the fly, or plans had to be reworked at the last minute, Rotarians in India responded immediately: arranging places to stay, helping rebook flights, and ensuring our Canadians were cared for at every step.

Skating for Good: Jake Maarse Takes on 200K for the RCWO Charitable Foundation

UPDATE, 2026-02-09: Jake has passed 350KM! And he's still going…

January 23, 2026: Skating with purpose, Jake Maarse is taking on a 200-kilometre skating challenge this winter to raise funds for the RCWO Charitable Foundation — and inviting others to join him on the ice.

65 Years of Service: Congratulations to Rod Holmes

2026: Rod Holmes, at his 65th anniversary celebration

January 21, 2026: “Oh, I remember it well. The official date was January 21, 1961. That was the day that Rod Holmes joined the Rotary Club of West Ottawa and everything began to change.” Words from our District Governor, Graeme Fraser, as he congratulated Rod on sixty-five years of service, fellowship, and heart. The Rotary Club of West Ottawa proudly celebrates Rod on an extraordinary anniversary of Rotary service.

The Free Reading Program is our online English literacy platform designed to build strong reading, writing, speaking and comprehension skills.

With more than 260 units and over 3,600 fun, interactive activities in levels K to grade 6, the Free Reading Program (FRP) covers phonics, spelling, vocabulary, grammar, comprehension, and creative writing. Each person learns at their own pace, building skills through games, stories, and engaging exercises that are enjoyable and rewarding.

Great for those learning at home, those who want extra resources, those new to English or who have trouble learning, and to organizations who support literacy. By offering this accessible, professional solution, we help learners young and old gain confidence, open doors to opportunities, and spark a lifelong love of reading and writing.

Ask us for access!

It's completely free and private. There are no pop-ups or nags and your email address is never shared. Lots more info at www.bereading.org, or email freereadingprogram@rcwo.ca.

Attn. Rotary Clubs, Non-Profits, Private Sector - Get a Branded Campus

Get your own Free Reading Program (FRP) campus with your organization's name and logo on each activity!

Rotary Clubs: Apply here to get your branded FRP campus at no cost. Bring literacy learning to your community.

Non-profits, Private sector: Apply here to get a branded FRP campus with your organization name and logo on every activity. This not only gives your organization its own online professional literacy solution, it highlights the value of your organization to the community, and for non-profits, may lead to grant opportunities and donations.

With the Free Reading Program, we realize our commitment to basic education and literacy by making reading and writing free, fun, and available to all.