November 5, 2025: What happens when high school students step inside Ottawa’s high-tech workplaces and meet the innovators shaping the future?
This October, the Rotary Club of West Ottawa sponsored two students to attend the 41st annual Adventure in High Technology, a three-day, in-person program hosted by the Rotary Club of Nepean-Kanata. Participants explored leading technology companies and educational institutions, gaining hands-on experience and insight into careers in science, technology, and innovation.
Thanks to RCWO sponsorship, each student received free accommodations, meals, activities, and materials—making this opportunity accessible to motivated learners.
October 25, 2025: The Rotary Club of West Ottawa is proud to launch the 2026 Rotary Cash Calendar Fundraiser!
This year’s calendar features stunning local photography by Rotary members and friends — and doubles as a lottery ticket for a full year of daily cash draws.
$20 per calendar
4,000 printed
$16,000 in total prizes, including two $1,000 bonus draws
Daily winners all year long!
Every calendar sold supports Rotary projects in the Ottawa area, including youth leadership programs, literacy initiatives, and community service projects that make a lasting difference.
LInda Roehrl, Larry Chop, and Rocco Disipio getting mums ready for delivery, 2025.
October 15, 2025: The Rotary Club of West Ottawa is delighted to share that our 2025 Mums for Thanksgiving Campaign was another tremendous success. Together with our community, we grossed over $88,000 in supporting youth, literacy, housing, and education, advancing Rotary’s mission of service both locally and beyond. This year, nearly 4,500 vibrant chrysanthemums were delivered across Ottawa—brightening homes and hearts just in time for Thanksgiving.
October 13, 2025: Last week, the Rotary Club of West Ottawa proudly donated $1,800 to Storybook Ottawa in support of students at Regina Alternative School. Through this initiative, each student selects a brand-new book to take home — their very own story to keep and treasure. This gift of reading helps foster literacy, confidence, and imagination for young learners who need it most.
September 29, 2025: On September 25, RCWO members visited The Ottawa Mission, with thanks to organizer Ron Doll. Jean Begin, Fred Christie, Ron Doll, Jean Holbert-Leighton, Jake Maarse, and Erin Ueffing joined the tour, which included the dining hall, kitchen, shelter, and laundry facilities. We heard about a tremendously successful training program - a four-month commercial kitchen program - with a 95% hiring rate post-completion. Members also purchased an excellent lunch from The Mission's catering service, Chef Ric’s, and a $1,500 donation was presented to CEO Peter Tilley.
September 24, 2025: The Rotary Club of West Ottawa dedicated a Peace Pole on September 21, 2025, in the Healing Forest Garden at All Saints’ Anglican Church. Bearing the words “May Peace Prevail on Earth,” it links Ottawa to a global movement while honouring Rotary’s commitment to peace, reconciliation, and Service Above Self.
Go Team Rotary! We managed the Ottawa Ironman Aid Station by Lansdowne Park and cheered on the amazing athletes while providing a variety of liquids and snacks their bodies desperately needed.
Our Prepared & Positive event in early May once again made quite an impact with the many parents and community organizations attending! If you're curious who spoke and their topics, check out the registration website at PreparedandPositive.ca.
Mathew House was the recipient of a $1,000 cheque from our Community Service budget presented by RCWO Treasurer, Dave Morton (on right). Your Rotary Cash Calendar purchase at work!
At our February 18th, 2025 meeting we paid tribute to an incredible Rotarian, Ken Murray, who we lost 2 weeks ago. A Tribute to Ken was read and a photo slide showwas presented.
Our Club members supported the Rotary Club of Kyiv-Balzac financially to provide Christmas concerts, entertainment and gifts for 500 orphans, refugees, and disabled children in 6 refugee centres during December and early January.
These are children aged 2-15 who were rescued from different parts of the war zone in Ukraine.
The situation in Lebanon continues to deteriorate and many Lebanese people face a catastrophic situation!
In response, the Rotary clubs of West Ottawa and Montreal Cedars are collaborating to ensure our donated funds meet immediate needs of people in the Beirut communities via local Rotary clubs in Lebanon.
ShelterBox Canada sent us a short video thanking us for our contributions and informing us that we had achieved their "Silver Hero" status.
About ShelterBox Canada:
ShelterBox provides shelter, essential items, and technical assistance to help some of the world’s most vulnerable people recover and rebuild their homes after disaster.
They listen and adapt their support to the needs of each community, working together with those affected by disaster, alongside their supporters and partners. Rotary is a key partner to ShelterBox both in Canada and globally.
The Rotary Club of West Ottawa (RCWO) partners with other Ottawa Area Rotary Clubs as well as non-profit organizations in Ottawa to sell and deliver over 5000 chrysanthemums for Thanksgiving. The club members sell, process the orders, map delivery routes, and actually deliver the Mums in time for Thanksgiving.
Real estate agents, car dealerships, brokerage firms, legal and medical professionals and other businesses and individuals take advantage of this program to thank their friends or clientele. Happy faces greet Rotarians and their partner organizations when deliveries are made!
The purchase of Mums allows RCWO and their partners to support both local and international organizations. Some are listed below.
Royal Lepage Shelter Foundation: Helping Women And Children Escape Violence And Rebuild Their Lives. The Shelter Foundation has raised $41 million to-date and currently supports 200 local women’s shelters and national partners. They are an active partner in this Mums campaign
Esiandumba Toilet Project: Hygienic Toilet and Sanitation project for a school in Western Kenya that built toilets for boys and girls at the Esiandumba Primary School. First of it’s kind.
The Ottawa Rotary Home which exists to improve the quality of life of caregivers and individuals with disabilities through a family and person-centered approach that is responsive to individual needs and offered in a dynamic and flexible way. The Ottawa Rotary home improves quality of life by providing respite care and support to clients aging out of provincial programs..
Storybook Ottawa and the RCWO partner to give books to every student in Regina St. Alternative School. Last year, each of 181 students chose a book from a list of 4 choices for each grade. They were presented to the school by curbside drop off.
YouthforYouth Community – an organization established by an Afghan High School student here in Ottawa. The organization’s goal is to support an online platform for youth around the world to connect and help Afghan girls, aged 15-19, continue their education, specifically learning English, online. The Canadian and International tutors offer academic services virtually and at home for girls who are not allowed to attend school. Some of the tutors are themselves still in or just out of secondary school RCWO helps to fund internet access for the girls.
Jean Holbert-Leighton, member of our club's Community Services Committee presented $2,000 to Elizabeth Dekker of the Childrens' Aid Society.
They will spend half of the money on acquiring bathing suits, flip flops and more for children under 12 and the other half will go to the older teens who have aged out and need help with food gift cards.
The Club has established four pollinator gardens at the following locations: Broadview Ave. P.S. (2023); Regina St. Alternative School (2022); the Rotary Home (2022); and Rotel (2023). Club members maintain the gardens at Rotel and the Rotary Home and work with the students at Broadview and Regina during the school year and then assume the garden maintenance at the schools throughout the summer months.
On March 26,2024 a going away party was held for Ken and Glenda Murray. Graeme Fraser as MC led the "roasting" of Ken by saying only NICE things as per organizer Jean Begin's guidance. Lots of laughs as Graeme recounted some of Ken's history in our club. Joe Redhead followed with Peter Fisher to tell the tales of antics at the tennis club. And as a finale to the event Ken was recognized with not only a Paul Harris Fellow (now he is a PHF +3) but an Honoured Life Membership to our club. Click here to read the citations and here for the power point shown at the meeting.
Rotary Club of West Ottawa members Ginette Thomas, Jean Holbert-Leighton and Emilie Gendron joined Shaun Hopkins, Susan Hopkins and Ottawa Bytown members Linas Pilypaitis and Constance McLeese to prepare books for Regina Alternative School and Cambridge Public Schools students. Other helpers included Linda and Don Flynn. In total, 230 books were labelled and put in gift bags for presentation to each student with the book of their choice.
We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude for our members and their family's hard work and dedication during the river cleanup event. Our Earth Day activities included our 1) Great LakesWatershed cleanup including Rotary's Brewer ParkPlayground and 2) developing a sustainability information brochure.
The photo is of Benedict, the Principal of the school, Gladys, the Vice-Principal, Cecile and Rooney both in Grade 6. Photo was taken by Nancy, Graduate of Moi University in Literature. She is the daughter of Millicent the cook - below in photo on right. Suan Cross, member of RCWO, took 2 Dictionary4Life books to Project Chance Africa school.
Dictionary4Life Delivered to Project Chance Africa
The need to help food banks is critical this Christmas season. The Heron Emergency Food Centre gladly accepted our donation of $1,000 to help in addressing food insecurity in our city.
Heron Emergency Food Center Receives Much Needed Funds
Ever wonder how to pay your annual dues or Happy Dollars? Or perhaps you would like to make a donation to the RCWO Service Fund be it a general donation or to The Rotary Foundation (Annual Program Fund and Polio Plus Fund). Click on the "how to" guideto learn more.
How Do I Make a Donation or Pay Dues & Happy Dollars?
Once again - - Wow, some incredible award winners this year!
Here is a list of the awards given out at our June 28th final meeting of the Rotary Year 2022. Click on their name to discover their amazing contributions.
Our member, Bea Osome, again embarked on an African project. This time it was a pilot water & sanitation (toilet) project which received District Matching Grant funding.
Twelve years ago we had a great fundraiser which was a tour of B & Bs in Sandy Hill. Carol Waters was the main organizer. It was great fun and we raised over $10,000 if memories serve us correctly.
Would you like to learn more about how to navigate on our website?
If you are a RCWO member, Log in with your username & password and go to Member Area (top right hand corner) and click on "Register for a Webinar". If you can't remember your Log in information, contact Linda, Hadi, Brett, or Larry to help you get your Log In information.
The Rotary Clubs of Ottawa are coming together to help St. Vincent as it struggles to cope with La Soufrière Volcano eruptions.
The situation in St. Vincent is becoming a growing humanitarian crisis, with thousands of people now homeless and being primarily farmers, without land and a means of income. Rotarians on the ground are working selflessly to help feed the homeless, provide water and PPE to assist in minimizing the inhalation of ash and provide a measure of protection against a mass spreading of COVID-19.
In the longer term, Rotary will be involved in economic recovery efforts and in all likelihood, low-cost housing.
Leaders of volcano-wracked St. Vincent said that water is running short as heavy ash contaminates supplies, and they estimated that the eastern Caribbean island will need hundreds of millions of dollars to recover from the eruption of La Soufriere. Between 16,000 to 20,000 people have been evacuated from the island's northern region, where the exploding volcano is located, with more than 4,000 of them staying at more than 89 government shelters.
The main contact for this project initiative is President Caroline DeWitt. Please contact her if you have any questions at cdewittc@gmail.com
On Tuesday (March 23rd) Johnny Marquez, Awards Committee Chair, outlined awards available for members to nominate individuals or organizations. Nominations are due April 1st to any Award Committee member - Marquez, Murray, Armstrong, E., Christie, Harrison, Heyland, D., Moffett, and Rolph.
In order to submit a nomination one needs to fill out a form and have 3 supporting signatures (during Covid19 this can be done by proof of email consent if someone does not have an e-file of their signature).
Please think seriously about putting forth a Rotarian or non-Rotarian for an award. There are so many well deserving individuals and organizations that make our communities a better place. Put their name forward. Here are forms to help you enter their names. e-Avenues of Service Nomination Form and e-Nomination Form
You can still enjoy our amazing musical performance of October 24th click here.
World Polio Day – End Polio Now Variety Benefit
World Polio Day 2020 theme: Stories of Progress: Past and Present.
You can enjoy this eclectic concert in the comfort of your own home at a time convenient to you.
For more than 30 years @Rotary and partners have been working to#endpolio. We're #thisclose to ending the disease forever. Join us!" #endpolionow or visit endpolio.org
Rotary Club of West Ottawa member Bea Osome reported on her most recent trip to Kenya to work on providing more wells for villages in her home country. Bea is a 15 year RCWO member and a retired nurse who has a goal of clean water for all. Her most recent project is a well for the Madzou Primary School in Kenya to provide the students and the surrounding community with clean water. Digging the well required dynamite at times and required close supervision of the work force. The school will be responsible for well upkeep and will collect small payments from community users taking water for a fund to pay for vitally important ongoing maintenance
With the reduction of Covid-19 restrictions, we have been able to resume our 2020 Cash Calendar draws. We're working hard to get caught up as soon as possible.
There are so many to post, they won't fit in this box, click Read More... below to see the list of catch-up winners so far! Or visit the 2020 Rotary Cash Calendar Website to see the entire 2020 list. And thank you for supporting the Ottawa Rotary Cash Calendar!
On May 12, the Rotary Club of West Ottawa hosted a panel discussion on business practices and financial strategies during and after the COVID-19 crisis.
RCWO Panel Discussion: Business Practices and Financial Strategies During & After COVID-19
This year the annual Rotary Foundation Walk is taking place on May 9 or other nice day with YOU and your family/ friends/ Rotarians going on a socially-distanced walk.
Make sure you take photos and upload them to our Facebook page or send to Hadi Mortada or Susan Diening.
‘VIRTUAL’ FOUNDATION WALK 2020
DATE: MAY 9, 2020
TIME: 10:00 – noon
GATHER SEVERAL ROTARY FRIENDS, FRIENDS AND/OR FAMILY
WALK IN A ‘SOCIAL DISTANCING WAY’
TAKE PHOTOS
PLEDGE FUNDS and make cheques to:
THE ROTARY FOUNDATION (Canada)
note: ANNUAL FUND
followed by mailing cheques to Susan Diening for processing.
On Wednesday 19th February 2020, the Rotary Clubs of Central Port of Spain and West Ottawa (RCCPOS & RCWO) paid a special visit to the All in One Child Development Centre in Beetham Gardens, Port of Spain.
As we all deal with the novel coronavirus COVID-19 situation, we find ourselves in an environment where social distancing and/or isolation are currently the new normal, with almost all gatherings discouraged and facilities closed, and little ability to forecast when these restrictions may be lifted. Consequently, and with sadness, the RCWO has cancelled this year’s M4H concert.
As you can imagine, this will have a significant impact on our ability to contribute to the End Polio Campaign, when we are so close to eradicating wild polio viral infections - as of February, there were only two countries in which new cases of polio had been reported. And even when polio has been eliminated from Afghanistan and Pakistan, there will be a need for on-going monitoring and follow-up activities around the world to ensure that polio does not re-emerge.
If you, or your family members or friends, had been considering buying tickets for the April 18 concert, I would ask if you are still willing to contribute to the Rotary End Polio Campaign, even in the absence of our concert. For tickets already purchased. we will be processing refunds in the near future; however, I would ask that you consider donating the ticket refunds to the End Polio Campaign.
Any funds donated to the Rotary polio eradication campaign will still qualify for a 2-for-1 match from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, so every $25 we raise becomes $75 in the efforts to have a polio-free world. Donations of more than $25 will be eligible for a tax receipt.
There are three easy mechanisms if you wish to make a donation:
Donate via e-transfer directly to the Rotary Club of West Ottawa:
Donate by cheque (sent to Rotary Club of West Ottawa, 99-1568 Merivale Rd., Box 250, Ottawa, Ontario K2G 5Y7); please indicate PolioPlus donation in the memo line.
Contact Linda Flynn(lindaflynn@bell.net) to provide your credit card information, and she will process your donation.
If you wish to donate your ticket refund, please let, Linda Flynn or me know
If we are able to reschedule the 2020 concert for later this year, event regulations and performer availabilities permitting, every donation of $25 will be eligible for a no-cost ticket to the event.
I appreciate your consideration, and hope you will be able to help us make this a safer world, the current pandemic notwithstanding!
On the evening of Saturday, September 7, a contingent of 6 club members and two spouses travelled to Watertown, NY to participate in the September membership drive for WPBS-TV. The Rotarians answered calls and took pledges while President Pardeep was interviewed to give the viewership more information about Rotary, his club, and the Rotary Cash Calendar fundraiser in particular.
While WPBS is located across the border in the state of New York, over 70% of their membership is located in Canada.
Rotary Club of West Ottawa visits WPBS in Watertown, NY
The Rotary Club of West Ottawa is mourning the passing of long time club member Jack Troughton. Jack joined RCWO at the age of 39 and was active in the club for 50 years. He was a Past President of the Club and a Past District Governor who served Rotary with distinction having received some 8 Paul Harris Awards as well as the Avenues of Service Award. He was a mentor to many and a friend to all. He will be greatly missed. (Obituary, Ottawa Citizen)
In honour of Jack and in accordance with the wishes of the family, the RC West Ottawa will be hosting:
After joining the Rotary Club of West Ottawa as an Associate Member over three years ago, Roy Miller was inducted as a member at the August 6, 2019 meeting. Roy's partner is club member Inna Flyazhenkova, who joined the club back in 2014 after transferring her membership from the Rotary Club of Volgograd.
Roy Miller's Rotary Pin is presented by club member, his partner, Inna Flyazhenkova
So what exactly do the members of the Rotary Club of West Ottawa and their friends do when they visit the Shoe Bank Canada warehouse every month? The first answer is they sort shoes! The second answer is they strengthen fellowship through working side-by side.
The latest shoe sorting work party on July 6th for Shoe Bank Canada brought together members of RCWO, members of the Rotary Club of Stittsville, former RCWO members as well as family members and friends.
Big thanks to Caroline Clarke and Phil Bronsther of the Stittsville Rotary Club for coming out. And big thanks for Phil bringing his grandson Jake and his neighbour Nancy along, both veterans of the shoe sorting job. Big thanks to former RCWO member Alf for bringing his whole family out (Christine, Ally, Sophie, Mia and Kai) for a morning of sorting in the shoe warehouse, their first experience doing so. Thanks to Alex, Jade and Hazel of Shoe Bank for all their hard work. And thanks to the RCWO Rotarians, Ron Doll, Marilyn Letts, Merv Letts, Doug Heyland and Brett Brooking -- and his son Carter. See below for what they got up to.
Freshly returned from his travels abroad, President Pardeep Ahluwalia briefed the club on the proceedings of the 2019 Rotary Hamburg Convention.
His presentation included highlights of his convention experiences, lessons learned and a summary of the themes and messages to come out of this year's Rotary International convention. See below for more details and a link to download his Powerpoint presentation.
This past Saturday, June 15, members of the Rotary Club of West Ottawa gathered at the house of Ed and Anne-Marie Balys for a BBQ to celebrate the supposed coming of summer.
Rotary International’s service club for young people ages 12 to 18 is known as Interact. Interact exists to develop constructive leadership and personal integrity, and foster an interest in world fellowship, in high school students worldwide. The Rotary Club of West Ottawa sponsors an Interact Club at Woodroffe High School. That club is mentored by teacher Jaden Lairson, the Head of the Canada and World Studies Department.
When you deliver over 5000 plants in 3 days, navigation is critical!
In recognition of his assistance to the Rotary Club of West Ottawa, this week Geir Engdahl of Norway was awarded a Paul Harris Fellowship. The awards ceremony was performed at the Oslo International Rotary Club with club President Robert Laan presenting the award and reading the citation.
OIRC President Robert Laan presents Geir Engdahl with his Paul Harris Fellowship
Read on to find out how Geir's software helped enable teams of volunteers to organize the delivery of over 5600 chrysanthemums for RCWO's annual Mums for Thanksgiving fundraiser.
Eight members and partners from RCWO attended the 14th annual Stittsville Rotary Trivia Night at the Lions Hall in Stittsville on February 22, 2019. The competition was fierce with the hall heating up with the brain power of 13 teams of 8 battling for trivia supremacy. It was West Ottawa who eeked out the top score of the night by a mere 3 points and winning the $500 prize...which was promptly donated back to the Stittsville Rotary Club. Much thanks to the Rotary Club of Stittsville for an extremely well run event with thousands of dollars raised and a good time had by all.
Rotary Club of West Ottawa team members for 2019
Back Row: Gaye Moffett, Rosalynd Butler, Dave Morton, Brett Brooking, Erik Armstrong,
Front Row: Kim Ross, Cam Ross, Don Butler
West Ottawa Triumphs at Stittsville Rotary Trivia Night
On Tuesday, February 12 Dave Hallett presented to the club his experiences with the ShelterBox Response Team on the ground in places like Nepal, Columbia and Indonesia.
The Rotary Club of West Ottawa awarded Gurbanchan Singh Bedi, a founding member of the Pubjabi-Canadian Seniors Association, the Paul Harris Fellow Award.
Mr. Bedi, a natural leader, initiated interaction with the Ottawa Community Immigration Services and the Jewish Family Services. He played a leading role in facilitating communications among various faith groups promoting understanding between Hindus, Muslims Sikhs, Christians and other faiths.
A story-teller by nature, Mr Bedi entertains seniors with his own stories. On the World Wide Web, millions of people can now read1430 pages of Sikh scriptures and 6000 hymns thanks to the efforts of Mr. Bedi who transliterated ancient texts into Urdu script.
Mr. Bedi exemplifies the qualities of a good citizen, a role model of a community builder. Read citation.
Peggy Taillon
The Rotary Club of West Ottawa awarded Peggy Taillon the Paul Harris Fellow Award for outstanding community service.
Ms Taillon’s exhibited a commitment to helping others and to social justice through her executive leadership of the Bruyere Hospital Foundation, the Ottawa Hospital and leadership on the Canadian Council on Social Development.
Internationally, Ms. Taillon founded the Hera Mission in the village of Asembo Bay, Kenya, raising more than $350,000 for development projects empowering women, children and grandmothers. This supported projects assisting to over 500 orphans, and hundreds of widows and grandmothers in an area ravaged by AIDS and malaria.
With this award, RCWO honours Ms Taillon for extraordinary community service in support of women, children and the elderly. Read Citation.
Gina St Amour
The RCWO presented Gina St Amour the Paul Harris Fellow Award.
Growing up in a small town in Northern Ontario made ‘Service Above Self’ natural for Gina St Amour. She went on to work with the Children’s Aid Society and a mobile crisis team in Northern Ontario. With this experience and a degree majoring in Family and Social Relations she became the Executive Director of the Ottawa Rotary Home.
In addition to excellent management Gina has overcome many obstacles in developing a centre of excellence for respite care for families caring for handicapped children and adults. She supports staff training with an online teaching program. With her leadership the Home offers leading edge care, attracting visits from near and far to learn about the provision of respite care.
Gina reaches out to the community, working with parent groups to facilitate respite care for their severely handicapped children and adults.
She fostered the development of the Ottawa Joint Advisory Group for client families of Rotary Home, the Ottawa Treatment Centre and Roger’s House. She supports fundraisers for the Home in association with the Rotary Home Foundation and the Angel Donor Campaign.
Gina goes above and beyond the call of duty in the facilitation of quality respite care for families in the Ottawa region. Read Citation.
We have a reputation of being the singing Rotary club and there is no better time to sing than at Christmas time.
Our annual Christmas music program is always a favorite. With guest vocalist, Garth Hampson, we have a lively sing song of all the old Christmas favorites.
Please note that our website is currently undergoing a facelift so at various times some of the links will not work or there is no information. Bear with us please.
A 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit outside the capital of Nepal, Kathmandu April 25, 2015. The death toll is in the thousands. This is the worst earthquake to hit the area in 80 years.
To encourage donations for our local literacy project, Dictionary4Life, the Rotary Club of West Ottawa (Service Fund) Inc. now has a profile on Canada Helps (www.canadahelps.org). Donating to this project has never been simpler! Simply click to make a safe & secure donation. A $20 donation will purchase at least 2-3 dictionaries! A tax receipt will be issued for donations.
These notes were presented to the Rotary Club of West Ottawa by club member Keith Fraser
YOU HAVE BEEN ASKED TO SAY GRACE
Meaning - to give thanks for our blessings and the opportunity to serve.
NO MORE THAN 30 SECONDS
We have been called to order. We have sung O Canada. We are all hungry. Keep it short. If you want to make it inspirational, humourous, topical or read a poem, OK. But keep it short. Definitely - keep it non-denominational, like Rotary.
These notes were presented to the Rotary Club of West Ottawa by club member Keith Fraser
YOU HAVE BEEN ASKED TO INTRODUCE THE GUEST SPEAKER
You have been given their C.V., you have read it over carefully, you have planned your introduction, you have practiced your intro several times and it should take
NO LONGER THAN TWO MINUTES MAXIMUM
There is a simple formula to help you in preparing your intro.
Oops. We goofed. Two weeks ago we reported incorrectly the following winners. Below is the correct information. We apologize for any inconvenience caused.
Number
Winner
City
Date
Prize
2258
Monique Kerr
Ottawa, ON
12-Mar-13
$50
1844
Audrey Ginley
New Minas, NS
13-Mar-13
$25
3689
Cathie Mundell
Nepean, ON
14-Mar-13
$25
4969
Edith Miller
Osgoode, ON
15-Mar-13
$50
4924
Patrick Shafer
Kemptville, ON
16-Mar-13
$25
Rotary Cash Calendar Winners, March 12 - 16 & March 26 - April 1, 2013
Welcome to the Rotary Club of West Ottawa. As Rotarians, we join with the 1.2 million other men and women Rotarians as a part of the world’s largest service organization.
We also follow the FOUR-WAY TEST on the things we THINK, SAY, or DO: Is it the TRUTH? Is it FAIR to all concerned? Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS? Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned? Read more
Mayor Jim Watson and newly inducted Police Chief Charles "Chuck" Bordeleau celebrated the success of ten years of the ABCs of Fraud program with members of our club. They clearly are very strong supporters and the Ottawa Police Service re-committed their endorsement of the program. Both noted how the club needs to continue to support the program particularly given our aging society. They see the club playing a key role in helping to "fraud - proof" seniors.
RCWO member Carol Waters and Suan Cross headed off to Kenya for Suan's Project Chance Africa but this year they also had 20 wedding dresses with them. Read more about why they took them.
The winning numbers and winners' names for the 2012 Rotary Cash Calendar will be posted here commencing early February. The daily draws for the month of January have been delayed to allow enough time for tickets to be submitted after the Christmas holidays.
We thank you for your patience and apologize for any inconvenience caused by this delay.
Did you know that in 2011 twenty-three numbers were drawn more than once!
Great news! Last year saw RCWO APF contributions rise to an amount equal to $209/member placing the club 2nd in the District. The Bill & Melinda Gates challenge club donation resulted in first place in the District. Read more...
West Ottawa Rotarians presented over 200 high quality illustrated dictionaries at Carleton Heights Public School, Pinecrest Public School and Agincourt Public School.
Sinai Surgeon - The Adventures of an RCAF Medical Officer with the UNEF is the gripping tale of RCWO`s own Dr. Merv Letts during his time peacekeeping in the Sinai Peninsula during the 1966-67 lead up to the Six Days War.
0816 Rick Sargent of Ottawa, ON on 19-Jul-11: $25 2233 David & Sandi Pyett of Nepean, ON on 20-Jul-11: $50 2903 Murray Hughes of White Lake, ON on 21-Jul-11: $25 2214 Mrs. E. Shirley of Nepean, ON on 22-Jul-11: $25 2653 Carol Woodrow of Kanata, ONon 23-Jul-11: $100 0204 Daniel Seller of Nepean, ON on 24-Jul-11: $125 4187 Ted Eldridge of Savannah, GA, USA on 25-Jul-11:$50
As Shelter Box Canada's first year of operation under new leadership draws to a close, we are pleased to announce that the Canada Revenue Agency has approved ShelterBox Canada as a registered charity in Canada (#84628 3208 RR0001)
OTTAWA WEST - The older generation in KwaZulu Natal in South Africa couldn’t write their own names. They couldn’t add or subtract, read, or open a bank account.
Our club celebrated the outstanding efforts of those who are club members and those who contribute to our local community and are external to our Rotary Club. We also celebrated the accomplishments and activities of this past year. We then welcomed Graeme Fraser as our 55th President. Here are the photos by Jean Begin.
Click here to see the pictures of our award winners. For a description of our awards click on the Committees drop down menu item above and then select Awards, Information Note. All photos by Jean Begin.
# 2380 Staffing Royal Ottawa Hospital of Ottawa, ON on 14-Jun-11: $25 # 4374 St. Timothy's Presbyterian Church of Ottawa, ON on 15-Jun-11: $50 # 3156 Donna Graves of Cherry Valley, ON on 16-Jun-11: $25 # 1864 Gary Richardson of Kemptville, ON on 17-Jun-11: $100 # 3137 Monty McGuire of Nepean, ON on 18-Jun-11: $50 # 4225 Ilde Pascucci of Kanata, ON on 19-Jun-11: $25 # 2402 Vera Murray of Weyburn, SK on 20-Jun-11: $50
Ten students from Pinecrest Publc School were selected to take up the challenge to train for the Boston marathon weekend and participate in a relay event and 5K run. Bushtukah Inc., outfitted the students for this challenge (Dave Morton Chief Financial Officer and a member of RCWO worked with Bushtukah management and staff to arrange this aspect) Our club helped by underwriting the cost of the running shoes (a local community project). The project was a great success! To see the story to learn more.
We were greeted today by Don Butler and Carol Waters. Guests and visitors were the responsibility of George Chaiban and Russ Hicks had the PP Draw tickets. Having just returned from The Rotary International Convention in New Orleans, President Linda Flynn, wearing a Mardi Gras mask and filled with enthusiasm, greeted us. After O Canada, Jack Troughton said grace.
Tuesday, June 14
Joe Dale:Rotary at Work – LiveWorkPlay
Greeters:Alan Bowles / Steve BlondeauGrace:Tom Belton
Speaker: James Bissett, former Ambassador to Yugoslavia on The truth of what happened in Bosnia
Intro:AndrewYoungThanks:tba
Greeters:Gaye Moffett/Carol Waters
Grace:Jack TroughtonReception:George Chaiban
PP Draw:Russ HicksSpinoff:Jack Troughton
Greeters & Huggers (I insisted...): Doreen Ide & John Martin. Past President's Lucky Tickets from Doug Heyland,
prizes were TWO shower-water restrictors and a timely board of
reminders that we all should be more responsible about unthinking,
careless use of water. Hadi Mortada was on duty for Reception but no visitors arrived till neo-member Rich Fisher (downtown RC) came in a bit late.
Past President Joan Heyland opened the meeting with a cheerful "Isn't it GREAT to be Rotarians?!" and many cheered back "Yes!" and "Oui!". To Rod Holmes' rollicking keyboard artistry, we sang God Save the Queen in honour of yesterday's Victoria Day, followed by our usual O Canada. Sarvesh Upadhyaya's sombre grace reminded us to be thankful for all that we receive.
Next Week
Tuesday, June 7
Speaker: Dr. Ian Lee: US Debt Crisis & Other Thoughts
Ticket # Name City Province Win Date Amount 3611 Anne-Marie Murka Gatineau QC 17-May-11 $25.00 2419 George Papadopoulos Ottawa ON 18-May-11 $25.00 2155 Pat Renaud Kanata ON 19-May-11 $125.00 0042 Marlene McDougall Kanata ON 20-May-11 $25.00 2631 Pat Russell Ottawa ON 21-May-11 $50.00 2628 Graeme Fraser Ottawa ON 22-May-11 $50.00 0569 Anne M. Finlay Mount Pearl NL 23-May-11 $25.00
Greeted by Stuart Picozzi and Mark Sherboneau and supplied with PP Draw tickets by Joan Heyland, we sat until President Linda Flynn welcomed us and, after O Canada, called on Chris Wanna to say grace.
Following an early reminder of the June 18 Club BBQ at the Balys’ (tickets $20/person) and the circulation of a BBQ folder, Bill Morris introduced guests Jessica Blair Armstrong and Betty’Don Armstrong, respectively granddaughter and wife of Blair.
May 31 2011Partner’s Day
Speaker: James Bissett, former Ambassador to Yugoslavia on The truth of what happened in Bosnia
Eric Armstrong--Rotary Curling Tour – Canada to Scotland 2010
Intro:Brett BrookingThanks:Shawn Zahrawi
Greeters:Stuart Picozzi / Mark SherboneauGrace:Chris Wanna
Reception:
Bill MorrisPPDraw:Doug HeylandSpinoff:Don Butler
President Linda Flynn
announced it was National Nurse’s Week and congratulated all the nurses
and especially RCWO nurses - Bea, Jean and Gaye. She was also happy
Spring was here. Our Speaker today: Bea Osome – Luanda Happy Day School
Well Project. Intro by Bob Harrison and Thanks from Doris Braslins. Our Greeters today wereKen Murray and Suan Cross. Reception duties were handled by Jack Troughton.Clive Talbot sold tickets for the PP Draw and Gaye Moffett (first time) took notes for Spinoff.
FollowingO Canada,Suren Gupta toasted Canada as the best country in the world.
Early Announcements & Folders Circulating
-Doug Rowlands – Foundation Walk, May 14th, Doug thanked Doris Braslins for her extraordinary efforts
-Linda Flynn – welcomed Drew Antrobus, Assistant Governor who was visiting us
Tuesday, May 24
Greeters: Doreen Ide / John Martin Grace: Sarvesh Upadhyaya
Reception: Chris Wanna PP Draw: Joan Heyland Spinoff: Denzil Feinberg
On Friday March 11 one of the largest earthquakes the modern world has ever known struck off the north east coast of Japan. The earthquake triggered a massive tsunami that, when it reached Japan's coast, was more than 10m high and travelling at speeds close to 500km per hour.
Canadian ShelterBox Response Team (SRT) member Ron Noseworthy recently returned from volunteering in the hardest-hit regions of northern Japan, providing ShelterBoxes to families that lost their homes and all their possessions. He spoke about his experience in Japan.
Bea
Osome -- Well project at Luanda School in Kenya
Greeters:Ken Murray / Suan CrossGrace:Suren Gupta
Reception: tbaPP Draw:Keith HalpennySpinoff:tba
The Greenery hosted our first meeting in May where we were warmly
greeted by Andrew Young and Ken Murray. Jack Troughton welcomed our guests, recording their visit for our archives.
Suren Gupta sold us raffle tickets for the Past President’s draw for a unique
prize, a large Brie cheese.
Since the previous day was the Canadian Election,
President Linda allowed a little extra time for us all to rehash what happened in
our respective ridings and whether we were involved in the “Blue Tide” or the
“Orange Crush” or the “Red Demise” This lively discussion was held over a
particularly tasty buffet of whitefish and rice with a tasty array of salads and
desserts. Overheard at my table, populated by 4 of our members of the fairer
sex, “Politicians are like diapers, they need to be changed regularly, and for
the same reasons!” From the adjacent table: “I never vote for the best
candidate, I always vote for the one that will do the least harm!” and from the
Head Table, “Fuddle Duddle”
At 12:30 President Linda called us to order to sing O Canada and those of us who
didn’t lose our vote sang with gusto while those members who lost their vote
sang with even greater gusto in an attempt to shore up their confidence in the
country, the stock market having fallen 242 points! Rocco Disipio then elevated our spirits with a Grace we could all relate to and be
thankful for, following such a momentous election day.
Next Meetings
– What’sComing
up…
May 17, 2011 - Eric Armstrong
Rotary Curling Tour – Canada to Scotland
2010
Greeters:Stuart Picozzi / Mark SherboneauGrace:Chris Wanna
Some of the children of the Luanda Happy Day School wrote a letter of thanks to our club for the well project that Bea Osome, a club member, oversaw this past year.
Greeters: Ken Murray / Suan Cross Grace: Suren Gupta
Reception: Keith Halpenny PP Draw: Keith Halpenny
Spinoff: Bud McGinnis
On this last Tuesday in this showery month of April, we were warmly greeted by Brett Brooking and Len Baird while Susan Goddard dispensed Past Presidents’ draw tickets. Keith Fraser registered the visitors and, following O Canada, Mary Wattie offered a thoughtful Grace. President Linda, noting
this was the last week of Rotary Magazine month, reminded us about this
monthly publication that serves to promote Rotary by making Rotarians
around the world aware of Rotary projects, programs, events worldwide,
and the people who play a pivotal role in Rotary. Since 1911, The
Rotarian has grown and is now available in 25 languages and 130
countries, with a circulation of 780,000. The quarterly Canadian
supplement has an additional circulation of 28,000. This past January a
special edition of The Rotarian (a collectors edition for many)
commemorated a century of Rotary activities.
Greeting us were Norm Thomas and Mike Traub. Doris Braslin
s noted the visitors and guests, while Frank Cranton sold us Past Pres draw tickets. President Linda opened the meeting and, after O Canada, Barry Wetter said a thoughtful grace.
Lifesaving aid from ShelterBox is helping families in Japan as they begin to rebuild their lives after the earthquake and tsunami that hit the country on March 11, 2011.
The most vulnerable is being welcomed by officials in Japan's Prefectural government system who say ShelterBoxes will be used to provide emergency assistance to The charity's work.
Brian Hartley -The Ottawa Rotary Home: The First 35 Years
Greeters:
Doug Heyland/TBAGrace: Nigel Lever
Reception: Andrew YoungPPDraw: Peter Fisher
Editor: Merv Letts
Pre-lunch WCS and Membership committee meetings were proceeding as we gathered, greeted by Jean Begin and Ken Sparks.Sharp at 12:15 President Linda called us to order and, after the national anthem, George Grande said a thoughtful but witty grace, appropriate to the day and recognizing the sombre news from Japan.
Joe Timmins, volunteer with the Canadian Cancer Society Greeters: Mark Sherboneau / Susan Goddard Grace: Chris Wanna Reception: Bea Osome PP Draw: Fred Christie Spinoff: Don Butler
Tuesday, March 15th, 2011 Keith Fraser: “How I spent the Summer of 1948”
Greeters: Ken Sparks / Jean Bégin Grace: George Grande Reception: Don Butler PP Draw: Peter Gilman Spinoff: Brian Langill
Ted Silver, The Jewel – Challenges of today’s radio and how RCWO can
get more exposure Greeters – Linas Pilypaitis / Dougie PritchardGrace – Wilmer Pulido Reception – Bill MorrisPP Draw – George ChaibanSpinoff – Alan Bowles
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Thursday, December 9, 2010 President Linda Flynn and George Chaiban, a Past President presented a cheque for $1,500 to Peter Tilley, Executive Director of the Ottawa Food Bank on A-Channel morning show.
A-Channel Morning Show Drive for The Ottawa Food Bank
During the month from February 19th to March 19th please think seriously about putting forth a Rotarian or non-Rotarian for an award. There are so many well deserving individuals and organizations that make our communities a better place. Put their name forward.
October 13, 2025: Last week, the Rotary Club of West Ottawa proudly donated $1,800 to Storybook Ottawa in support of students at Regina Alternative School. Through this initiative, each student selects a brand-new book to take home — their very own story to keep and treasure. This gift of reading helps foster literacy, confidence, and imagination for young learners who need it most.
September 29, 2025: On September 25, RCWO members visited The Ottawa Mission, with thanks to organizer Ron Doll. Jean Begin, Fred Christie, Ron Doll, Jean Holbert-Leighton, Jake Maarse, and Erin Ueffing joined the tour, which included the dining hall, kitchen, shelter, and laundry facilities. We heard about a tremendously successful training program - a four-month commercial kitchen program - with a 95% hiring rate post-completion. Members also purchased an excellent lunch from The Mission's catering service, Chef Ric’s, and a $1,500 donation was presented to CEO Peter Tilley. 
September 24, 2025: The Rotary Club of West Ottawa dedicated a Peace Pole on September 21, 2025, in the Healing Forest Garden at All Saints’ Anglican Church. Bearing the words “May Peace Prevail on Earth,” it links Ottawa to a global movement while honouring Rotary’s commitment to peace, reconciliation, and Service Above Self.
Once again the 2025 award winners do amazing work in our community (non-Rotarians and Rotarians)! Read more...
Elizabeth Dekker (CAS) and Jean Holbert-Leighton (RCWO)
Jean Holbert-Leighton had the pleasure of presenting Alexandra of the Childrens' Aid Society with a cheque for $1,000.
The situation in Lebanon continues to deteriorate and many Lebanese people face a catastrophic situation!
Once again the 2024 award winners do amazing work in our community (non-Rotarians and Rotarians)! Read more...
Lepage Shelter Foundation: Helping Women And Children Escape Violence And Rebuild Their Lives. The Shelter Foundation has raised $41 million to-date and currently supports 200 local women’s shelters and national partners. They are an active partner in this Mums campaign
YouthforYouth Community – an organization established by an Afghan High School student here in Ottawa. The organization’s goal is to support an online platform for youth around the world to connect and help Afghan girls, aged 15-19, continue their education, specifically learning English, online. The Canadian and International tutors offer academic services virtually and at home for girls who are not allowed to attend school. Some of the tutors are themselves still in or just out of secondary school RCWO helps to fund internet access for the girls.
Jean Holbert-Leighton, member of our club's Community Services Committee presented $2,000 to Elizabeth Dekker of the Childrens' Aid Society.
The Club has established four pollinator gardens at the following locations: Broadview Ave. P.S. (2023); Regina St. Alternative School (2022); the Rotary Home (2022); and Rotel (2023). Club members maintain the gardens at Rotel and the Rotary Home and work with the students at Broadview and Regina during the school year and then assume the garden maintenance at the schools throughout the summer months.
Thanks to many Ottawa Area clubs for their donations to rebuild the pergola at Rotel.
We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude for our members and their family's hard work and dedication during the river cleanup event. Our Earth Day activities included our 1) Great Lakes Watershed cleanup including Rotary's Brewer Park Playground and 2) developing a sustainability information brochure.
Freshly returned from his travels abroad, President Pardeep Ahluwalia briefed the club on the proceedings of the 2019 Rotary Hamburg Convention. 
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We have a reputation of being the singing Rotary club and there is no better time to sing than at Christmas time.
To encourage donations for our local literacy project, Dictionary4Life, the Rotary Club of West Ottawa (Service Fund) Inc. now has a profile on Canada Helps (www.canadahelps.org). Donating to this project has never been simpler! Simply click to make a safe & secure donation. A $20 donation will purchase at least 2-3 dictionaries! A tax receipt will be issued for donations.
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Welcome to the Rotary Club of West Ottawa. As Rotarians, we join with the 1.2 million other men and women Rotarians as a part of the world’s largest service organization. 
On Friday March 11 one of the largest earthquakes the modern world has ever known struck off the north east coast of Japan. The earthquake triggered a massive tsunami that, when it reached Japan's coast, was more than 10m high and travelling at speeds close to 500km per hour.
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