The 53-foot in diameter labyrinth provides an easy way for people to meditate and relax.
Former Stittsville Rotary members Theresa Qadri and Val Wright brought the idea to the club of installing a labyrinth in the W. J. Bell Rotary Peace Park. It was a wayto create an inclusive, non-denominational park space that could provide an easy opportunity for people to meditate and relax.
The official opening of Stittsville’s only labyrinth in a public park at 1751 Stittsville Main Street took place on October 8, 2015. The labyrinth itself measures 53 feet in diameterand was designed as a “contemplative path” for walking meditation. At the heart of the labyrinth is a blue and yellow wheel, the logo of Rotary International. See photo left from 2015.
Recent changes to the park include a new accessible picnic table which was added in 2021 thanks to funds donated to the club by Val and Tony Wright and matched by the City of Ottawa. Since then, commemorative bricks have been installed along the pathway to the labyrinth, a hosta garden has been added, and a pollinator garden has been created. www.stittsvillerotary.com
Visit Stittsville’s Only Labyrinth in a Public Park
One of the greatest obstacles to the provision of safe drinking water in First Nations in Canada is the lack of human resources and water operators.
Water First is a charitable organization that works in collaboration with First Nations to build capacity and help ensure sustained access to safe water through training and education. This approach ensures sustainable access to safe drinking water in Indigenous communities for the long term.
The Drinking Water Internship Program of Water First supports Indigenous adults in becoming certified water treatment plant operators. The paid internship provides 2,000 hours of training and hands-on work experience at local water treatment facilities and out on the land. Participants can obtain entry-level certifications recognized provincially. Intern to operator in just 15 months!
The engagement of community leaders with the expert team of Indigenous and non-Indigenous staff from the very beginning builds trust and helps to ensure that Water First programs are successful and the results are long-lasting.
Stittsville Rotarians are a link in the Lionhearts bread recovery program that feeds vulnerable neighbours.
The process goes like clockwork! At the end of each day, 190 COBS bakeries across Canada pay it forward by donating leftover baked goods to local charities. On Sunday evenings in Stittsville, Stittsville Rotarians pick up leftover baked goods at the COBS Bakery at the Terry Fox location for transport to Lionhearts Inc. at Iber Road.
At the Iber Road facility, Stittsville Rotarians and Friends of Rotary sort, slice and re-package the baked goods for delivery by other volunteers the following morning to charitable organizations according to a pre-determined schedule.
One Friend of Rotary volunteer described it like this: “The Lionhearts bread recovery program is a fun, hands-on and “feel-good” activity that helps people”.
www.stittsvillerotary.com
Contributing to the community is a day-to-day activity at COBS Bread
Rotarians carried out a wide array of successful community service events in 2026.
Dave’s Famous BBQ Ribs and all the trimmings were on the menu at the year-end celebration of the Stittsville Rotary Club on Tuesday, June 30th, 2026. Fortunately, the weather cooperated just long enough for the 30 people to have a great time, sharing memorable stories about the community service events organized by the club in the past year.
In the opening ceremony, the dedication and leadership of Annette Lindsay, Club President for 2025-26, was recognized, while Marion Mossman and Dave Rooke were welcomed as Co-Presidents for the new Rotary year 2026-2027.
In a surprise presentation, Wendy Adams received a Paul Harris pin and Paul Harris Fellow recognition. This recognition, named in honor of Paul Harris, the founder of Rotary, is considered an honor and a testament to the recipient for demonstrating the Rotary motto “Service Above Self”.
173 Canadian students gained a better understanding of Canada and its political traditions and institutions.
Stittsville Rotary Club sponsored Jayden Bernhardt, a student in the graduating class at South Carleton High School in Richmond, to join with 173 other students from across Canada in a unique experience in Ottawa.
In Jayden’s words: “The opportunity has enlightened me on how, as citizens, we have the chance to advocate for what we believe in. Especially when looking at my generation, who are just starting to become of age to vote, we have the right and responsibility to vote for what we believe in and make the change we want to see happen. We have the opportunity in front of us to make the change we want to see, to better the future for us and generations after, and to create a better Canada for everyone.”
Now that Jayden is back at home, completing his final year at high school, Jayden is able to share his newfound knowledge with his classmates. At Stittsville Rotary, we are proud to be part of this excellent program. www.stittsvillerotary.com
Rotary Adventure in Citizenship in Ottawa, a unique experience
Miniforests bring together the factors of climate change, biodiversity, conservation and resiliency.
Bruce Dudley, Founder and CEO of Silent Tree Service and Your Forest was guest speaker at the Stittsville Rotary meeting of May 26, 2026. Central to his presentation was the concept of miniforests whichbring together the factors of climate change, biodiversity, conservation and resiliency. This small, densely planted ecosystem restores biodiversity, enriches the soil, and reconnects people with nature, thereby building living systems that regenerate land, feed people, and grow hope - one 3x3m forest at a time.
This method has been used to green cities, restore degraded areas, and reintroduce biodiversity in over 40 countries - from schoolyards in India to parking lots in the Netherlands.
Bruce’s objective is to plant 24 Miyawaki Mini-Forests in Ottawa by 2030, and he has formed partnerships in Ottawa and area to reach that goal. www.silentreeservice.ca
Stittsville Rotarians celebrated Earth Day on Apr 22nd by Cleaning Up the Capital at WJ Bell Rotary Peace Park.
City Councillor Glen Gower, community volunteers and Stittsville Rotarians participated in the Clean Up the Capitalevent in WJ Bell Rotary Peace Park and area on Wednesday, April 22, 2026. For the past three years Stittsville has held the city record for the most participants and groups registered for the city-wide event.
It was a way to celebrate the April 22nd Earth Day held to raise awareness of the climate crisis and highlight the need to protect the environment. Earth Day is also about the health of forests, oceans, freshwater systems, soils, and biodiversity.
They collected an impressive amount of trash including wheel wells, empty bottles and disposable food containers. We thank all the participants who helped to make our community a better place to live. www.stittsvillerotary.com
Minwaashin offers a range of programs and services, including employment, culture, children & youth, counselling, housing, and transitional support.
On April 23, 2026, Jenna Spagnoli was the guest speaker at the meeting of the Indigenous Work group of the Stittsville Rotary Club. Celebrating over 30 years of honoring and supporting women, Jenna said that Minwaashin Lodge was the first non-profit to be established in Ottawa for Indigenous clients. It has expanded over time to include 40 full-time staff, 15 part-time staff and volunteers in 2 locations, with the main building on St Laurent Blvd and a 28-bed shelter as well.
Minwaashin Lodge provides a wide range of programs and services to First Nations, Inuit and Métis women and children who are survivors of domestic and other forms of violence, and who may also be suffering the effects of the residential school system. Programs and services include employment, culture, children & youth, counselling, housing, and transitional support. The programming exists because of the financial support from three levels of government, donations from the community and the efforts of volunteers and students who help make it all run smoothly. www.minlodge.com
Photo courtesy of Hello Lovely Ontario.
Minwaashin Lodge supports Indigenous women, and their families
Her secrets to success in the garden include pollinators, water, scented flowers and herbs such as basil and borage.
Master Gardener Judith Cox gave many concrete, practical and inexpensive examples of a common-sense approach to gardening in her presentation to Stittsville Rotarians on April 07, 2026.
After working for years as a gardener, Judith now works as a garden consultant during the growing season and volunteers at Master Gardener advice clinics at local farmer’s markets. She also writes an occasional column called Veggie Bites to encourage gardeners everywhere.As of 2020, She is President of the Stittsville Goulbourn Horticultural Society.
While Judith favors heritage vegetables along with roses and herbs and fairy gardens, she has always loved working with plants and enjoys sharing that love with others.
Stittsville Rotary organized a Trivia Night to support their community service projects.
It was the 19th annual Trivia Night for Stittsville Rotary, and the club offers a big thank you to all the keen and enthusiastic teams who came out to play in support our fundraising efforts at Trivia Night on Friday, March 06, 2026. The Quizzly Bears team in the photo was just one of 16 teams in the competition. The club appreciated the generosity of local businesses and individuals who gave wonderful prizes to make the night interesting for the players.
Rotarian Dave Rooke who organized the event had high praise for the club members, Friends of Rotary and volunteers who found sponsors, helped with the setup of the venue, donated prizes, or worked on the night of the event to make this year's Trivia Night a great success.
MINI TIPI’s aim is to address the lack of authentic Indigenous designs in the textile industry.
MINI TIPI is an Indigenous business created in 2016 by Melanie Bernard and Trish Pitura (members of Nipissing First Nation). This Canadian lifestyle brand blends authentic Indigenous storytelling with sustainable, high-quality textiles. Their products such as blankets and accessories are designed, cut and sewn locally in Quebec, reflecting their commitment to Indigenous culture.
MINI TIPI uses design to weave history into every thread without words. Their mission is to address the lack of authentic Indigenous-designed textiles and how they collaborate with artists through meaningful partnerships and royalty programs.
Stittsville Rotarians visited the MINI TIPI warehouse in Gatineau, Quebec on February 25, 2026 to see this business in action. www.minitipi.ca
Storytelling Through Authentic Indigenous-Designed Textiles
Stittsville Rotary has organized a Trivia Night to benefit community service projects.
Stittsville Lions Hall at 1339 Stittsville Main, is the site of a fun, competitive event organized by Stittsville Rotary on
March 06, 2026, at 6:30pm. Rotarians, Friends of Rotary and volunteers look after the details of this Trivia Night including free popcorn and pizza.
Many of the 16 teams of 8 have been participating every year and they come to the event for bragging rights and a good time for a good cause. Three judges keep track through 10 rounds each with 10 trivia questions that are needed to declare a winner.
Rotarian Dave Rooke, lead organizer of the event, confirmed that currently there is room for 1 more team. He commended the generosity of businesses and individuals in the community who have donated more than 50 prizes for the event such as gift certificates, gift baskets, small appliances and tickets to the Stittsville Rotary TIFF Winter Film Series.
Proceeds fund the Rotary’s community service projects such as the Stittsville Food Bank, Richmond Food Bank, Chrysalis House and high school awards.www.stittsvillerotary.com
Friendly Competition and a Good Time for a Good Cause.
Rotarians are People of Action who work together to make a meaningful difference in their communities and around the world.
"What is Rotary?" The answer is a simple one: “We are people of action who take collective actions that lead to a sustainable difference - globally, locally, and personally”. 1.2M committed volunteers in 45,000 clubs in 120 countries world-wide channel their skills and expertise into actions that improve lives in communities near and far.
Sustainable Rotary projects in seven different areas of focus solve issues and address such basic needs as providing water and sanitation, protecting the environment, improving maternal & child health, supporting education and more.
The sewing lab sponsored by Soaring Circle for Indigenous students at Algonquin College officially opened on January 16, 2026.
Up to now, Soaring Circle has created 22 sewing labs in remote indigenous communities at the intermediate and high school level, reaching about 5,000 indigenous students and teachers. With the addition of the sewing lab at Algonquin College, the program can now be available to hundreds more.
The new lab is equipped with state-of-the-art Janome sewing machines, sergers and an embroidery machine. Soaring Circle is also providing the program with textiles, curriculum support, and mentorship from Indigenous creators and global brand experts. Indigenous students who have grown with a sewing lab in their community high school will be able to feel at home and to see that the doors to college and to careers in fashion are open to them. The red parka worn by the girl in the photo is an example of the beautiful parkas made in the sewing lab.
Rotary Club of Ottawa-Stittsville has strongly supported Soaring Circle's sewing labs, especially the successful program in Kitigan Zibi, Quebec.
www.soaringcircle.ca
Soaring Circle Sponsors Sewing Lab at Algonquin College
From January to June 2025, Lionhearts recovered food and household goods valued at $10.3M for re-distribution.
Lionhearts Inc is a charitable organization that facilitates the logistics required for businesses to safely and efficiently donate surplus food and household goods to front-line local agencies who support vulnerable people.
Travis Blackmore, founder of Lionhearts, was guest speaker at the January 6th Stittsville Rotary Club meeting. He described its development from 2014 when he first thought of reducing waste and supplying much-needed resources in a partnership with Costco in Kingston, ON. Lionhearts expanded to Ottawa in 2017 with a partnership with Cob Bakery and now also operates in London.
Its success can be measured in numbers: $10.3M of food and household goods were recovered from January to June in 2025. Food and goods from 50 businesses were shared with 177 frontline agencies with the help of 800 volunteers in 3 cities.
Travis gave credit to generous donors, grateful partners and many dedicated volunteers who make it possible to address challenges in food insecurity, nutrition and housing assistance and vocational support. www.lionhearts.ca
800 volunteers in 3 cities are key to the success of Lionhearts’ support of vulnerable people
Stittsville Rotarians help in providing Christmas Food Hampers for needy families
The Running on Empties Fundraiser is an annual event that makes a significant contribution to the Sharing and Caring Exchange program, providing food hampers valued at $100 each for the needy during the holiday season. On December 20, 2025, Stittsville Rotarians collected empty bottles at the local Beer Store and donated proceeds directly to support the Christmas Exchange program which has been running since 1915. They would like to thank everyone who generously donated to this cause and offer best wishes in the new year. The club appreciates your support!
Working with Ottawa residents, organizations and businesses, Ecology Ottawa advocates for more vibrant green space, healthier watersheds, safer streets and stronger action on climate change.
William Van Geest is Executive Director of Ecology Ottawa
Founded in 2007, Ecology Ottawa is an environmental conservation & ecological organization in Ottawa. Executive Director William Van Geest was the guest speaker at the meeting of the Stittsville Rotary Club on December 09, 2025.
As the heartbeat of the ecological movement in Ottawa, Ecology Ottawa plans to be an educator, mobilizer, advocate, collaborator, watchdog, and thoughtful agitator. These roles play out across three program streams - Climate, Nature, and People - each of which responds to an ecological crisis.
Two well-known programs include Food and Habitat for Native Pollinators, and they planted three native pollinator gardens in partnership with community groups. For the past 9 years, Ecology Ottawahas focused on strengthening Ottawa's tree canopy with a tree giveaway initiative, distributing 60,000 native seedlings to over 10,000 Ottawans.
ShelterBox and Rotary provide emergency shelter and essential household items after a disaster happens in countries world-wide.
Shelterbox and Rotary International are project partners combining resources for disaster relief, with Rotary providing support and connection on the ground. They work with trusted local partners in disaster-affected communities to provide emergency essential items and training needed to support families in the process of rebuilding their lives. Ally Buck, guest speaker at the Stittsville Rotary meeting of November 25, 2025, is the Rotary and Community Fundraising Coordinator at ShelterBox Canada and Stittsville Rotary has contributed to Shelterbox annually.
She explained that every disaster and every community is different, so workers assess the situation and talk to affected families to make sure the right support is offered at the right time to help them recover. Shelterbox and Rotary assisted in such disasters as multiple large earthquakes in the Philippines and Afghanistan and flash floods Pakistan, etc. For more information check https://shelterboxcanada.org
Shelterbox offers survival, stability and dignity to disaster survivors
Rotary projects in Colombia improve the health of children, mothers and needy people.
Bruce Higgs of the Rotary Club of Gananoque was the guest speaker at the Stittsville Rotary Club meeting of November 11, 2025. He shared stories and photos about his club’s humanitarian projects in Columbia, South America. He personally met with Rotarians in the local clubs and planned projects with them. Stittsville Rotary supported these projects financially in 2024-2025.
The project at Buga Hospital in Columbia resulted in a significant reduction in birth deaths of infants, through the acquisition of incubators, echograph equipment and a new wing dedicated to maternity.
The most recent project costing $92,792US provides a mobile medical clinic with specialized equipment. It will offer basic and specialized health services to needy people in rural areas surrounding Buga, Colombia. A population of 240,000 will benefit.
Rotarians Make a Meaningful and Lasting Difference
Stittsville Rotarians and family members attended the Remembrance Day ceremony at the cenotaph in Stittsville on November 11, 2025. Two members presented a commemorative wreath with a banner created by former Rotarian Lynda Brooks.
Originally, Remembrance Day honored the sacrifices of Canadian soldiers during the firstWorld War which ended “at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month” in 1918.”
Every year Canadians continue to mark Remembrance Day on November 11th. As Canadians, we have a shared responsibility to honor the service and sacrifice of every person who has served or continues to serve in our country's armed forces in times of war, military conflict and peace.
Equine therapy helps people of all ages who have special needs.
The Stittsville Rotary excursion to Hoofbeats and Heartbeats in Dunrobin was a great success. Owner Deb Carey-Knox welcomed us in a session about the history and development of the non-profit equine therapy business, then we went to the indoor barn to see the mini horses in action.
The 7 children warmed up quickly to the horses and very soon they were leading the horses around and up on the platform and riding horseback with the help of the adult volunteers.
It was easy to see how the animals would be great in therapy sessions with children and adults of all ages. One young person told me she felt more calm and she left her problems behind when she was with the horses.
The Stittsville Business Association connects, supports and promotes the businesses of Stittsville.
Jenn Wozny, Chair of Community Relations, Stittsville Business Association (SBA) was the guest speaker at the Nov 04, 2025 meeting of Stittsville Rotary Club. She described the history of the SBA and its development into a proactive organization that connects, supports and promotes the businesses of Stittsville. Currently, there are 90 members and a board of directors elected to provide oversight. The SBA is striving to increase awareness of the SBA and its membership through a wide variety of initiatives in the community.
Jenn confirmed that the SBA “envisions a future where Stittsville businesses thrive, driving sustainable growth and prosperity for all”. At a time when Stittsville is growing rapidly, the SBA is working to establish Stittsville as “a premier destination for business innovation, entrepreneurship, and economic prosperity.”
Rotary District 7040 Governor Fraser offers suggestions to clubs to make that happen.
District 7040 Governor Graeme Fraser was the guest speaker at the Stittsville Rotary meeting of October 28, 2025. He is amember of Rotary Club of West Ottawa who firmly believes in the Rotary family theme and that “Rotary Makes a Difference”. Shaped by his strong family background in Rotary, Graeme’s approach is one of supporting clubs to do their work.
Here are 3 of his suggestions that will ensure that Rotary clubs everywhere continue to be effective:
A successful Rotary club represents the community it is in.Increasing membership in Rotary is important for carrying out the Rotary mandate of “Service Above Self”.
A flexible club offers options to potential members including younger working people, e.g. variable meeting formats/times and a variety of interesting hands-on community service projects
An effective club’s activities including meetings and events are inclusive and accessible for all new and experienced members. www.stittsvillerotary.com
Graeme Fraser strongly believes “Rotary Makes a Difference”
The goal is to create a supportive environment for Indigenous youth to stay in school, to succeed and thrive in their communities.
The guest speaker at Stittsville Rotary Club on October 23, 2025, outlined Soaring Circle’s comprehensive program which empowers youth through education and enhances their access to career and entrepreneurship opportunities.
Josée Lusignan, President & Co-founder of Soaring Circle, a Canadian charitable organization, confirmed thatto date Soaring Circle has been in 125 remote Indigenous communities across Canada. Hands-on initiatives such SEWCASE have been successful in connecting youth to culture through the textile arts. It provides a pathway to employment and entrepreneurship careers in the fashion industry through the in-school sewing labs and the mentorship platform. The program which is supported by global brands and top Indigenous designers offers different levels of practical support, including full Janome sewing lab setups, equipment upgrades and/or material supplies, and educational resources.
Stittsville Rotary Club has financially supported Sewcase and saw it in action in a visit to the Kitigan Zibi School in April 2025. Check soaringcircle.ca for more information.
Soaring Circle Empowers Indigenous Youth to Succeed
The program of immunization, testing, and surveillance has been effective in ending polio in all but 2 countries.
World Polio Day on Oct 24th is a time for Rotary members and all who want a world free from polio to come together, recognize the progress in the fight to end polio, and the identify actions needed to end polio for good.
While we are close to eradicating polio world-wide, there are still 2 countries who have the wild polio virus. Your financial support for Rotary’s End Polio Now campaign will help Rotary and its partners reach every child with the polio vaccine. All donations are matched 2:1 by the Gates Foundation, tripling your impact. Together, we end polio. Check out this website: World Polio Day | End Polio
This special fundraiser supports Rotary Club community service projects.
Vibrant blooms of various colors have arrived in the last few days at the homes of 5,000 lucky individuals in Ottawa. Again this year with Thanksgiving just a few days away, Rotarians and non-profit organizations in Ottawa, in partnership with the Rotary Club of West Ottawa, have sold and delivered pots of chrysanthemums all across the city.
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.
Rotary clubs are grateful for the success of this special fundraiser as the funds support their community service projects such as local food banks, Dictionaries4Life, high school awards, women’s shelters and more.
Thanks to the many volunteers who made this MUMs project possible. Enjoy this beautiful, resilient flower considered by many to be the favorite flower of the fall season.
The event was a thoughtful way to remember past injustices to Indigenous peoples while looking forward to collaboration in building a better future for everyone.
On the fifth annual National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30, 2025, Canadians across the country gathered together for ceremonies to reflect on the tragic legacy of residential schools and to honor the children who never came home.
Locally, the Stittsville Rotary Club and The Legacy of Hope Foundation worked together to create a meaningful ceremony for Stittsville residents in the WJ Bell Rotary Peace Park. Also known as Orange Shirt Day, the event was a reminder that Every Child Matters.
Following an introduction by Rotarian Michael Dixon, Teresa Edwards, Director of The Legacy of Hope Foundation, led a commemorative ceremony on the labyrinth. A reflective walk provided an opportunity to place hand-painted orange river rocks along the trails in the park. Thank you to the many community volunteers and Stittsville residents who participated in this event. Thanks also to our sponsors: Pat Nikolovski, DJ Powrhaus Music Entertainment, Leanna Bunner Gil, Water and Earth Supply Co., Ambrotek Printing and Barker Funeral Home & Chapel Inc., Carleton Place.
Stittsville residents joined together in a meaningful Indigenous-led ceremony in WJ Bell Rotary Peace Park on September 30th.
The Indigenous-led ceremony is at W J Bell Rotary Peace Park in Stittsville.
Your family is welcome to attend this Truth & Reconciliation Event at W J Bell Rotary Peace Park located at 1751 Main Street in Stittsville. Stittsville Rotary and The Legacy of Hope Foundation are the sponsors of the event and together they have planned a meaningful commemorative event on the labyrinth and trails in the Park from 5:30pm to 7:30pm. Activities include a craft table, a reflective walk along the park trails, and the laying of painted rocks.
Thanks to our sponsors for supporting this event including:
Pat Nikolovski from DJ Powrhaus (sound equipment and music)
Leanna Bunner Gill from Water and Earth (river rocks)
CUTC on Sep 20th at WJ Bell Rotary Peace Park in Stittsville was the kickoff event for the city-wide campaign.
The Rotary Club of Ottawa-Stittsville is grateful to the community for participating in the Clean Up the Capital event held on Saturday, September 20, 2025 in W.J. Bell Rotary Peace Park.
We had the opportunity to hear speakers from the United Nations and Estonia as well as our Mayor and MP about the history and significance of Clean Up the Capital and in our city and around the world. We were reminded that while it is great to remove trash, it is even better to think about it before disposing of packaging and other items in public spaces.
Then Rotarians and community participants cleaned up the park and surrounding streets, collecting an impressive amount of trash. It was a very pleasant afternoon, and once again, we thank the participants who are helping to make our community cleaner and a nicer place to live.
Stittsville Rotary and volunteers welcomed donations in a food drive on Sep 6th at Brown’s Independent Grocer, in support of Operation Come Home, a centre for needy youth in Ottawa.
Executive Director of Operation ComeHome John Heckbert declared: "This great initiative is a huge help for our youth and the donations of $1,018.00 in cash and $1,404.00 in food items will make a a big difference this fall. Thank you!”
Operation Come Home offers programs and support for homeless and at-risk youth.
Mark Saturday, September 06, 2025 on your calendar! Rotarians encourage Stittsville residents to come to Brown’s Independent Grocer to donate food items or cash at the food drive for Operation Come Home. Look for the big blue Rotary canopy at the entrance to the store between 10:00am and 2:00pm.
Thanks to the generosity of Stittsville, last year’s Rotary food drive gathered $1,000 in cash and about 300 pounds of food items and we hope to surpass those totals in this third year of organizing the event. What a big boost for the center’s programs and services for youth coming into the fall months!
Operation Come Home which serves as a center in Ottawa for homeless and at-risk youth aged 16-29 is dedicated to providing employment, education, and support services. The programs which prioritize the needs and aspirations of youth, foster personal growth on an individual level to make positive changes in their lives.
Motivated volunteers can make a huge difference in the community.
At the Changeover social event on June 17th, 2025 at Rotary year-end, the Stittsville Rotary Club thanked Co-President Dave for his dedication to the club in the past year. He commented: “Our club continues to make a huge difference in the lives of a large number of people, in our community, across Canada and globally. I continue to be amazed at just how much can be achieved by motivated volunteers like our Rotarians. Their selfless efforts give us a better world for everyone.”
* Paul Harris awards were presented to 3 individuals to recognize their outstanding commitment to the Rotary motto, Service above Self.
* Name badges were presented to Friends of Rotary, a new volunteer group within the club established this year, to express the club’s appreciation for their volunteer efforts in support of the club’s activities.
* Co-President Annette Lindsay moves to the Club President’srole beginning July 01, 2025.
Stittsville Rotary has a new President for 2025-2026
Stittsville Rotary congratulates one of our members, Marion Mossman, who received the Stittsville Senior Volunteer Award for 2025.
The award recognizes a senior citizen who has made a significant and long-standing contribution to our community. Since moving to the community in 2017, Marion has played a leading role in the Rotary Club of Ottawa-Stittsville, organizing fundraisers, community cleanups, garden projects, and support initiatives for organizations like Operation Come Home, Lionhearts, and Chrysalis House. As Club President during the pandemic, she kept members engaged through innovative virtual events. She also volunteers with the Stittsville Library, the Probus Club of West Ottawa, and various social and fitness groups.
Rotary's global network of neighbors, friends, and leaders unite & volunteer their skills and resources to solve issues and address community needs.
The theme of Rotary International for 2025-2026, Unite for Good, serves to inspire 1.9 million volunteers in 46,000 clubs in 200 countries world-wide and the public with a call for us to work together to ensure a brighter future for all.
Rotary projects bring together people of all races, religions, genders, ideologies and economic backgrounds, uniting everyone in a shared purpose to do good in the world.
One such project is the eradication of polio, one of Rotary’s longest standing and most significant efforts. Working with partners, Rotary has helped immunize more than 2.5 billion children against polio in 122 countries. Polio cases have been reduced by 99.9% worldwide and Rotary won't stop until the disease is ended for good.
“Working with Soaring Circle allows me to motivate youth from across Canada, help them believe in themselves, find their passion, and live life with purpose.”
The Goulbourn Museum has over 10,000 artefacts in its holdings as well as a collection of more than 40,000 objects unearthed during an archaeological dig in Richmond.
Rotary members and program participants work together to improve lives in communities around the world every day through thousands of community service projects.
Rotarians connect with others to address challenges affecting our community and communities around the world. They unite to learn about issues, network, make lifelong friendships and take action to help others.
It is a time to thank Canadian Armed Forces veterans and soldiers who have served or are currently serving, for their honour, courage, valour and sacrifice.
Recipient Colleen Gray, an Indigenous artist, strives to make a difference for indigenous youth in remote communities through hands-on projects in schools.
Rotary youth leadership programs aim to develop leadership skills, instill a lifelong commitment to service, and empower young people to make the most of their lives.
Sew & Sew program equips remote community schools with quality sewing machines and supplies for sewing labs so they can teach a valuable life skill through traditional projects.
Land-based learning is a vital component of Indigenous education that connects youth to traditional language and Indigenous ways of knowing at the hands of skilled and experienced Educators
Crisis intervention provides counseling in establishing safety plans, transitioning to shelters, and providing information on affordable housing and legal services
Rotarians share a desire to connect with others to address the challenges affecting our community and communities around the world. They unite to learn about issues, network, make lifelong friendships and take action to help others.
Flipping through pages of a dictionary and discovering the meaning of a word opens up unexpected learning opportunities for kids - and ultimately plays a big part in their success in school.
Stittsville Rotarians volunteered to clean up garbage in WJ Bell Rotary Peace Park and along streets in the area ensuring that Ottawa stays clean, green, and litter-free.
“I had an amazing time at RYLA, and I’m hoping to pay it forward to the next generation of young leaders by returning next year as a camp facilitator.”
Every Rotary club in Ottawa and in the Ottawa Valley is making a donation to their local food bank or food initiative, donating a total of $10,000 to this worthwhile cause.
The Stittsville Rotary International Film Series is thrilled to be heading back to Landmark Theatre Kanata for in-person film screenings, and we are launching a new four-film series with The Worst Person in the World at 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. on May 30th.
Good things happen when Rotary Clubs around the world work together to help the less fortunate have better health, education and economic opportunities.
The current situation for women in Afghanistan is critical. Women face food insecurity, limits on freedom of speech, human rights violations, an economic crisis in the country, and rising crime rates. In response, Canadian Women for Women in Afghanistan is delivering online learning, distributing emergency aid, providing scholarships for girls and women for overseas studies, and working on evacuation efforts.
Land Keepers is an environmental group that is dedicated to nature education, conservation projects, and the protection of Stittsville's most important ecosystems.
Every year, at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, Canadians gather in memorial parks, community halls, workplaces, schools and homes to stand in honor of all who have fallen.
Dutch Rotarians have led the world in using tulips to benefit the critical polio eradication project, and the intitiative has spread from Holland to Switzerland, Germany, France and the USA. It is now in its second year in Canada.
The pandemic significantly disrupted the lives of postsecondary students in many ways and new modes of delivery for programs will emerge in the future.
President Marion Mossman believes the Rotary motto “Service Above Self” implies taking an “outward” approach and helping those in need who are less fortunate than oneself.
Civil servants emulate the Rotarian motto, Service Above Self, and Drs. Anthony Fauci and Deborah Birx have been living that motto more than others during this pandemic.
This free mental health webinar on Mar 30th offers participants practical strategies for meeting the loss, stress and traumas that have become common place in 2021.
We are pleased to announce the 2021 launch of the Stittsville Rotary International Film Series, now in it its 9th year. Our first film of the 2021 season is 'Some Kind of Heaven' and will be available Sunday March 21st to Saturday March 27th.
Rotary members have contributed more than $2.1 billion and countless volunteer hours to protect nearly 3 billion children in 122 countries from this paralyzing disease.
Flipping through pages of a dictionary and discovering the meaning of a word opens up unexpected learning opportunities for kids — and ultimately can play a big part in their success in school.
On World Polio Day, Sat Oct 24th, Rotary members around the world will come together to raise awareness and provide support to end polio, a vaccine-preventable disease that still threatens children in parts of the world today.
The Art for Aid project gives art supplies to schools in remote Indigenous communities to help youth express their stories and personal messages and expand upon their creative skills with ample tools to choose from.
It was a bright sunny day, perfect weather for this first in-person gathering of Stittsville Rotarians since March when the coronavirus pandemic was declared. All the restrictions for Covid-19 were in place including 6’ distancing, masks and gloves.
Rotarians are people who care about our world and want to make it a better place. With 1.2 million Rotarians around the world, we are in a good position to make a big difference.
An award-winning publication, The Rotarian is the link that connects 1.2 million women and men who are Rotarians in more than 200 countries, offering inspiring articles, great innovative ideas and practical problem-solving advice.
Stittsville Rotarians met in-person on July 21, 2020 for the first time since the pandemic was declared in March 2020. Following Covid-19 guidelines, together they cleaned up the W.J. Bell Rotary Peace Park at 1751 Stittsville Main Street, pulling weeds and making the park like new again.
Rotary International President Holger Knaack is encouraging Rotarians to seize the many opportunities Rotary offers to enrich their lives and the communities they serve.
Wednesday, June 24, 2020 was the last meeting of the 2019-2020 Rotary year for members of Stittsville Rotary. It is known as the Change-Over Meeting as outgoing President Charles Mossman handed over the gavel to incoming President Dave Rooke, a symbolic gesture for this important transition.
Through Orkidstra, children from under-served communities have the chance to acquire important life skills through playing free musical instruments and working together.
Rotary Youth Leadership Academy (RYLA) is a unique opportunity for high school students (ages 15-17) to gain insight and knowledge in life and leadership skills.
Ottawa Mennonite Refugee Assistance (OMRA) is a small non-profit organization that allows 25 refugee families in Ottawa to have safe, affordable housing.
Rotary is a service organization with more than 35,000 clubs and 1.2 million members world-wide. At times, Rotary clubs join together to carry out worthwhile international projects to meet specific needs in communities.
Monique Béginwas a Canadian role model for Sandra. Mme Bégin is perhaps best known for bringing into law the Canada Health Act (1984) with its underlying principles of universality and accessibility.
Rotary is keeping a close eye on the pandemic of COVID-19, the illness caused by the novel coronavirus and continuously assessing the potential impact on Rotary operations, events, and members.
In order to decrease transmission of COVID-19 (coronavirus) in Ottawa, Stittsville Rotarians have cancelled in-person meetings on Wednesday, March 18 and Wednesday, March 25, 2020.
As part of our effort to address the COVID-19 (Corona Virus) pandemic, the Rotary Club of Ottawa-Stittsville has decided to suspend our film series, at least for the month of March. Our plan is to screen Portrait of a Lady on Fire in the month of June, conditions permitting, and simply continue with our series as planned in April. If we need to suspend for an additional month we will simply roll our movies forward for an additional month.
Both Landmark Cinemas and TIFF are very supportive of our decision and will be there to support resumption of our series at the very earliest opportunity!
We hope this will be a very short interruption and it is our intention to show the excellent films yet to be screened when it is safe for us to once again come together on movie night.
Please take care of yourselves, keep well and we will keep you posted of developments as they arise.
Stittsville Rotary International Film Series suspended
Impact starts with our members - people who see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change - across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves.
16 teams came to play in the Stittsville Rotary Trivia Night and show their knowledge of little tidbits of information. Everyone went home happy feeling like a genius and they were richer for the experience.
Rotary International President-elect Holger Knaack is encouraging Rotarians to seize the many opportunities Rotary offers to enrich their lives and the communities they serve.
Newly-appointed District Governor Lambert intends to visit all 75 Rotary clubs in District 7040 in this year to share practical suggestions for strengthening and energizing clubs.
Glen Gower, Councilor for Stittsville Ward 6, is a life-long volunteer in public service who firmly believes in the importance of building a healthy environment in a community.
Guest speaker Rotarian Peter Labelle spoke to the Stittsville club about Cornwall Sunrise’s project in Ghana to combat Buruli Ulcer, a tropical flesh-eating disease caused by a bacterium from the same family as leprosy and tuberculosis.
When Britannia was threatened by rising flood waters, Rotarians Frans and Charles from the Ottawa-Stittsville club joined hundreds of other volunteers from across Ottawa to fill and place sandbags. People of all ages did what they could to hold back the water. It is amazing what a community can do when it comes together and takes action.
The mission of the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) is to ensure in a variety of ways that Canadians have access to a world-class communications system.
“Random acts of kindness" are selfless acts performed by kind people to help or cheer up a stranger for no other reason than to make people feel better. Ultimately, such acts promote empathy and compassion and make people more likely to be kind to others.
Members of the Stittsville Rotary Club offered their services at the Food Bank on January 30, 2019 to inventory and stock generous donations from the community.
John Curry, writer and producer of the documentary, Richmond: The Movie along with Sandy Durocher, screened excerpts from the movie for the Stittsville Rotarians on Jan 23 2019.
Christmas is the season of giving and that is what we did when we gathered last Monday night. In addition to exchanging gifts, we collected new socks, slippers and toiletries for the women's shelter.
On October 24th, Stittsville Rotary Club members distributed Dictionaries to grade 3 students at St. Elizabeth (a sister school of Holy Spirit school in Stittsville).
Mark Arnold (MSW, RSW, Hons. Economics), Executive Director of Youth Now spoke to us about the mission of Youth Now -- to assist children and youth to succeed by enhancing their own strengths and resiliency.
At this weekend's International Service Meeting, Brad and Carolyn presented a cheque to Larry Gaunch and Bette Miller of the Cornwall Sunrise Club for their distribution of medical equipment to Ghana.
Our guest speaker today was Josée Lusignan, founder of I Love First Peoples, a charity that helps Indigenous children and youth through education and projects that foster reconciliation.
Rotarians Jas and Carolyn presented dictionaries to Grade 3 students at St. Rose of Lima Elementary School on November 07. Dictionaries were also presented to Grade 3 students at St. Elizabeth School on October 04.
Our guest speakers today were Colonel (Retired) Dominic McAlea, former Canadian Defence Attaché to Afghanistan and current Board member of Perley Rideau Foundation and Delphine Haslé, Development Officer with the Perley Rideau Foundation.
We sang Christmas classics with the residents of the Stittsville Villa, with Rotarian Leo leading us. As always, we had a lot of fun and it was a great way to start the holidays.
Stephanie MacGregor, Executive Director of the Dave Smith Youth Treatment Centre Foundation, updated the members of the Club on the progress made towards achieving Dave’s Dream, a $5 million fundraising campaign to support the construction of a new 30-bed youth residential treatment facility in West Ottawa.
Stittsville Rotary sorted and organised donations at the Stittsville Food Bank this morning. Fellowship and helping others was a great way to start the day!
Our guest speakers were Cindy Smith and Heather Fraser representing the Caring and Sharing Exchange, a registered
charity in Ottawa (https://www.caringandsharing.ca/).
Our guest speaker was Linda Hay, a graduate from Ottawa University with a Bachelor of Nursing Science and a Certified Hypnotist with the National Guild of Hypnotists. She gave a very interesting talk on how hypnosis can be used to ease pain and suffering and gave personal examples.
We met this week at Grace's cottage for an evening of fellowship. Thanks to Wendy for organising it, to Grace for hosting it, to Leo and Steve for working the barbecue, and to every one for making it a great evening!
Rob Searle spoke to Rotary about Braden's Law, which focuses on immediate, appropriate treatment of cardiac arrest using a defibrillator in emergency situations in hockey arenas.
The Rotary Club of South Nepean is hosting the "Taste of Barrhaven" on Monday, May 30th, at the Longfields-Davidson Heights Secondary School from 6 to 9 PM.
Our club members Leo Maiorino and Brad Spriggs enjoyed the Wild West Jamboree hosted by Dave Smith to support the Dave Smith Youth Treatment Centre. Leo and Brad gave Dave Smith our final cheque to complete our $30,000 commitment to their capital fundraising campaign, and presented him with a Paul Harris Fellow for his work.
Instead of our usual morning meeting, we met in the evening at the Unrefined Olive for some fellowship and to taste olive oil and balsamic vinegar from around the world. Owner Elisabeth began the evening with a presentation about her business and her passion.
The Lake Placid and Saranac Lake Rotary Clubs are hosting the District 7040 RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Academy) at Paul Smiths College in Paul Smiths, NY on June 25-27, 2016. RYLA delegates are given a unique opportunity to gain insight and knowledge on the following life skills: Leadership Basics, Business Ethics, Communication, Problem Solving, Decision Making, Conflict Management, Personal Strengths & Weaknesses and Community & Global Citizenship. The Ottawa-Stittsville Rotary Club is looking to sponsor one student to attend.
The age range is 15-17 (currently in grade 10-12). Candidates should apply by May 1 with email submissions to jas.michalski@rogers.com. The selected candidate will be invited to attend a Rotary Club meeting before and after RYLA. More information is available at http://portal.clubrunner.ca/50214/Page/ryla. Please click on the links to the right to download the application forms.
Club member Steve Hunter gave a very informative talk on the value of Financial Planning and the importance of working with a CFP professional and making informed choices.
Karen Luker and Gogo "talk" about The Ottawa Therapy Dogs (OTD), a registered charity which has been active in the Ottawa area since 2000. Currently 100 members regularly visit over 1000 clients.
D'arcy Lunn recently travelled to Luweero, Uganda to visit the library that was opened in 2012 with the help of the Rotary Club of Ottawa-Stittsville. Here is his story -
Minutes from the most recent members meeting - July 3rd, 2012. There was no speaker this week - it was a club business meeting with the new President and Board.
A look back at a few of the projects the Stittsville Rotary Club has been involved in since our inception on July 1st, 2004, and what we are currently doing.
Polio Eradication is the largest project Rotary International has invested in over the past 20+ years.
The Stittsville Rotary Club held an event at the Goulbourn Recreational Center April 15-17 displaying an Iron Lung and partnering with Health Agencies. This was done to increase the awareness in the community and fundraise to assist Rotary in the final push to eradicate this crippling disease from the earth.
Several members of the Stittsville Rotary club attended the Stittsville Villagefest 2010 festivities to help highlight the ShelterBox program, designed to provide disaster relief worldwide.
The Rotary Club of Ottawa-Stittsville is grateful to the community for participating in the Clean Up the Capital event held on Saturday, September 20, 2025 in W.J. Bell Rotary Peace Park.
Stittsville Rotary and volunteers welcomed donations in a food drive on Sep 6th at Brown’s Independent Grocer, in support of Operation Come Home, a centre for needy youth in Ottawa. 
Mark Saturday, September 06, 2025 on your calendar! Rotarians encourage Stittsville residents to come to Brown’s Independent Grocer to donate food items or cash at the food drive for Operation Come Home. Look for the big blue Rotary canopy at the entrance to the store between 10:00am and 2:00pm. 
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Our new Rotary President - Rosemary Brummell is inducted by outgoing President Alfredo Patrício Jr. 
