September 30, 2026: Rotary Club of West Ottawa members, families and young volunteers from our Interact club spent the morning of September 20 clearing litter along Strandherd Drive in Barrhaven, taking part in the City of Ottawa’s Cleaning the Capital campaign. Seven bags of garbage and one shopping cart later, here is how it went.
A morning on Strandherd Drive
On September 20, 2026, members of Rotary Club of West Ottawa, families, youth volunteers, and community members came together in Barrhaven to take part in the City of Ottawa’s Cleaning the Capital campaign.
The initiative gave our group an opportunity to roll up our sleeves and make a visible difference in our own community. Volunteers spent the morning cleaning along Strandherd Drive, working through bushes, trees, and along the nearby waterway to collect litter and debris.
Who turned out
What made the day especially meaningful was the number of people who came together to help. Rotary members from across West Ottawa participated alongside families and young volunteers, including children from our Interact youth club. Community members who saw what we were doing also stopped to lend a hand and support the effort.
For our younger volunteers, the morning was a great opportunity to see community service in action. They got their hands dirty, worked together, and helped make a difference in an area they pass by and enjoy every day.
Thank you to our contributors
And, of course, no volunteer event is complete without a little fun! A special thank you goes to:
- The Home Depot, for donating buckets to help with the cleanup
- ODS Marine, for their safety vest donation
- Fat Les Chip Stand, for treating our young volunteers to free ice cream after their hard work
Those small gestures made for a memorable way to celebrate everyone’s efforts.
We are also grateful to the City of Ottawa’s Cleaning the Capital Program and to our very own Environmental Committee for supporting community groups like ours and providing opportunities for residents to take an active role in caring for Ottawa’s public spaces.
Why it mattered
Events like this are a reminder that community service doesn’t always have to be complicated. Sometimes, it simply means showing up, bringing a pair of gloves, and working alongside your neighbours to leave your community a little better than you found it.
Thank you to everyone who joined us, encouraged our volunteers, donated supplies, or simply stopped to support the initiative. Together, we collected seven bags of garbage, one very unexpected shopping cart, and a whole lot of community spirit.
Rotary West Ottawa is proud to be part of a community that cares, and we look forward to getting our hands dirty again, Ottawa!
Published on: September 30, 2026
Prepared by: Rochelle Fleming