September 4, 2026: WIN (West Ottawa Interact) is a youth-led Interact Club connected to the Rotary Club of West Ottawa, now recognized by Rotary International and RCWO. Here is what WIN is, what its members have done so far, and how young people in West Ottawa can get involved.
What is WIN?
WIN (West Ottawa Interact) is a youth-led Interact Club connected to the Rotary Club of West Ottawa. We created WIN to give young people a place where they can connect, create, serve their community, explore their futures, and have meaningful conversations about the world around them.
Our goal is to create an environment where young people feel comfortable bringing their ideas to the table. We want WIN to be more than another club or extracurricular activity. It is a place where youth can discover their strengths, build leadership skills, meet other young people who care about their community, and turn their ideas into action.
Why did we start WIN?
Young people have incredible ideas and a unique perspective on the challenges facing their communities. We wanted to create a space where they aren’t simply told how to make a difference; they are given the opportunity to decide what matters to them and figure out how they can make a difference.
WIN encourages creativity, leadership, volunteerism, friendship and open conversation. We want members to leave each meeting feeling like they contributed something, learned something, or were inspired by someone else.
What are we hoping to accomplish?
We want WIN to become a thriving youth community in West Ottawa, one that gives young people ages 8-18 opportunities to:
- Develop confidence and leadership skills
- Volunteer and make a tangible difference in the community
- Create and lead their own service projects
- Build friendships and connections
- Have honest, open conversations about life and the world around them
- Explore creativity and new ideas
- Connect with Rotarians and other community leaders
- Learn that even small acts of service can create meaningful change
Ultimately, we want WIN members to understand that they don’t have to wait until they’re adults to make an impact!
What have we done so far?
Although WIN is a new club, we are already growing and putting our ideas into action. This youth club held a meeting and voted in members as a committee to become an official club, now recognized by Rotary International and RCWO.
Some of our activities and initiatives have included:
Community service
- Creating cards for seniors
- Creating Birthday Bags for families provided to the Barrhaven Food Cupboard
- Volunteering at Silver Springs Family Fun Day (OCAPDD Ottawa-Carleton Association for Persons with Developmental Disabilities)
Creativity & fundraising
- Collecting broken crayons and turning them into handmade, upcycled crayons
- Hosting crayon-making sessions where members could work together creatively
- Selling the handmade crayons at community events, with proceeds supporting WIN and its youth initiatives
These projects have given our members the opportunity to experience the entire process: from identifying a need, brainstorming an idea, creating something, working together and ultimately seeing the impact of their efforts.
And we’re just getting started.
Come meet us!
WIN meets on the first Wednesday of every month
From 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Ottawa IKEA Restaurant, at the same time as the Rotary Club of West Ottawa’s meeting.
That creates a really unique opportunity for Rotary families: come to IKEA together, have dinner, and let the adults and youth each have their own space to connect.
Bring your kids. Bring your grandkids. Bring your nieces and nephews. Bring a young person you think might enjoy being part of something new.
Come enjoy some conversation and explore life, futures, creativity, community and what it means to make a difference.
WIN is growing. WIN is thriving. And we want West Ottawa’s young people to be part of it.
Published on: September 4, 2026
Prepared by: Rochelle Fleming