La version française suit

Skating is a great way to stay active during the winter months, and there are plenty of rinks in Stittsville to lace ’em up and get some practice. This year we have 17 outdoor rinks in our community, including new outdoor rinks at Mark Yakabuski Park (Fernbank),  Silas Bradley Park (Edenwylde), and Bradley-Craig Park (Abbottsville Crossing / Bradley Commons). Every rink is maintained 100% by community volunteers – so please say a big “THANK YOU” to your neighbours for their help.

If you’d like to help out with snow clearing, flooding, maintenance or programming at these rinks, please contact our team at glen.gower@ottawa.ca and we’ll connect you with the rink operators.

Etiquette: Stay off the ice during mild weather, and obey any signage posted. All skaters should wear a CSA-approved helmet while on the ice. Please respect the posted schedule, including any posted times for hockey. (Click here for a complete list of rules and regulations for City rinks.)

• Bandmaster Park (230 Mistral Way in Fairwinds)
• 🆕 Bradley Craig Park (331 Cranesbill Rd.)
• Bryanston Gate Park (23 Alon St.)
• Coyote Run Park (367 West Ridge Dr.)
• Crossing Bridge Park (27 Hobin St.)
• Fringewood Park (14 Fringewood Dr.)
• Joe Lewis Park (665 Eagle Crest Heights)
• Lee Boltwood Park (4879 Abbott St. E)
• Mary Durling Park (33 Brae Cres. in Cypress Gardens)
• 🆕 Mark Yakabuski Park (315 Haliburton Heights)
• Pioneer Plains Park (Jackson Trails) (1018 Stittsville Main St)
• Ralph Street Park (10 Ralphpark St.)
• Rouncey Park (590 Rouncey Rd.)
• 🆕 Silas Bradley Park (910 Orvieto Way)
• Trustee M Curry Park (85 Hartsmere Dr.)
• Upcountry Park (310 Upcountry Dr.)
• Village Square Park (6000 Abbott St. E.)

Liste des patinoires extérieures à Stittsville (2026)

Le patinage est un excellent moyen de rester actif durant l’hiver. À Stittsville, les endroits ne manquent pas pour enfiler vos patins et vous lancer sur la glace! Cette année, nous avons 16 patinoires extérieures dans notre communauté, dont les nouvelles patinoires des parcs Mark-Yakabuski (Fernbank) et Silas-Bradley (Edenwylde). Chaque patinoire est entièrement entretenue par des bénévoles de la communauté. N’oubliez donc pas de les remercier pour leur aide!

Si vous souhaitez leur donner un coup de main pour le pelletage, l’arrosage, l’entretien ou la programmation, veuillez envoyer un message à l’adresse glen.gower@ottawa.ca et nous vous mettrons en contact avec les exploitants des patinoires.

Convenances : Veuillez ne pas aller sur la glace par temps doux et veuillez respecter toute signalisation affichée. Tous les patineurs doivent porter un casque protecteur homologué par la CSA lorsqu’ils sont sur la glace. Veuillez respecter l’horaire affiché, y compris les créneaux horaires réservés au hockey. (Veuillez cliquer ici pour obtenir une liste complète des règles à respecter dans les patinoires de la Ville.)

• Parc Bandmaster (230, voie Mistral, à Fairwinds)
• Parc Bryanston Gate (23, rue Alon)
• Parc Coyote Run (367, promenade West Ridge)
• Parc Crossing Bridge (27, rue Hobin)
• Parc Fringewood (14, promenade Fringewood)
• Parc Joe-Lewis (665, plateau Eagle Crest)
• Parc Lee-Boltwood (4879, rue Abbott Est)
• Parc Mary-Durling (33, croissant Brae à Cypress Gardens)
• Nouveau! Parc Mark-Yakabuski (315, plateau Haliburton)
• Parc Pioneer Plains (1018, rue Stittsville Main – Sentiers Jackson)
• Parc de la rue Ralph (10, rue Ralphpark)
• Parc Rouncey (590, chemin Rouncey)
• Nouveau! Parc Silas-Bradley (910, voie Orvieto)
• Parc de la conseillère M.-Curry (85, promenade Hartsmere)
• Parc Upcountry (310, promenade Upcountry)
• Parc Village Square (6000, rue Abbott Est)

The post A list of outdoor rinks in Stittsville (2026) appeared first on Glen Gower | Councillor / Conseiller | Stittsville.

From the youngest helpers to entire groups, Stittsville residents are showing what it means to care for our community. Do like Levi Dias (4yo) and Arthur Monteiro (3yo), who joined family and friends at the Cleanup Day in W.J. Bell Rotary Peace Park. Or follow the example of Sebastiao Sala, who brought his family together for a cleanup along Harmattan Avenue and Maple Grove Road, focusing on sidewalks and sideroads — a meaningful way to give back to the neighbourhood they are proud to call home. Or take inspiration from the Stittsville Maple Colony Beavers, who rolled up their sleeves to clean Wyldwood Park, and by the Amberwood Village Recreation Association, whose members came together to refresh Paul Lindsay Park — a true reflection of community spirit in action.

Now it’s your turn! Registration for Fall Cleaning the Capital 2025 is open until tomorrow, September 30, and cleanup projects can be completed until October 15.

How to Participate: Choose your spot — parks, green spaces, roadsides, shorelines, or bus stops — and use the interactive map to avoid duplicate registrations. Pick up your kit with gloves and garbage bags, available until October 12 at participating City facilities (bring your registration code). Show your impact by sending photos to Glen.Gower@ottawa.ca and submitting your cleanup report by October 31.

High school students: Cleaning the Capital is also a flexible and rewarding way to earn volunteer hours while making a difference in your community.

Let’s keep Stittsville clean and green — register your project today at ottawa.ca/clean.

L’inspiration est partout autour de nous — à vous de jouer!

Des plus jeunes bénévoles aux groupes tout entiers, les résidents de Stittsville démontrent ce que signifie prendre soin de notre communauté. Faites comme Levi Dias (4 ans) et Arthur Monteiro (3 ans) qui se sont joints à leur famille et à leurs amis lors de la journée de nettoyage au Parc de la paix du Rotary Club WJ-Bell. Ou suivez l’exemple de Sebastiao Sala qui a réuni sa famille pour nettoyer l’avenue Harmattan et le chemin Maple Grove, en se concentrant sur les trottoirs et les routes secondaires. Il s’agit là d’une merveilleuse façon de redonner au quartier où ils sont fiers de résider. Ou encore, inspirez-vous de la colonie de castors Maple de Stittsville qui a retroussé ses manches pour nettoyer le parc Wyldwood; de l’Amberwood Village Recreation Association, dont les membres se sont réunis pour revitaliser le parc Paul Lindsay. Il s’agit là d’un véritable exemple de l’esprit communautaire en action.

À vous de jouer! L’inscription au Grand ménage de la capitale de l’automne 2025 est ouverte jusqu’à demain, le 30 septembre. Les projets de nettoyage peuvent être réalisés jusqu’au 15 octobre.

Comment participer : Choisissez votre emplacement (parcs, espaces verts, routes, berges ou arrêts d’autobus) et consultez la carte interactive pour éviter les inscriptions en double. Passez à l’une des installations municipales participantes d’ici le 12 octobre pour récupérer votre trousse contenant des gants et des sacs à ordures (apportez votre code d’inscription). Affichez votre contribution en transmettant quelques photos à l’adresse Glen.Gower@ottawa.ca et en soumettant votre rapport de nettoyage au plus tard le 31 octobre.

Élèves du secondaire : Le Grand ménage de la capitale constitue également un moyen flexible et gratifiant d’accumuler des heures de bénévolat tout en contribuant à améliorer votre communauté.

Gardons Stittsville propre et verte — inscrivez votre projet dès aujourd’hui en visitant ottawa.ca/menage.

The post Inspiration is all around us — now it’s your turn! appeared first on Glen Gower | Councillor / Conseiller | Stittsville.

La version française suit

On Saturday, September 20 from 12:45 p.m. to 2 p.m., join Councillor Glen’s team and the Rotary Club of Ottawa–Stittsville at WJ Bell Rotary Peace Park (1751 Main Street, between Brigade Ave and Fernbank Rd) for our Fall Community Cleanup, part of the Cleaning the Capital program.

The post Fall Community Cleanup – Call for Volunteers! appeared first on Glen Gower | Councillor / Conseiller | Stittsville.

We are excited to share that Stittsville has once again achieved #1 in Ottawa for Cleaning the Capital during the Spring campaign, marking the third consecutive year! A huge thank you to all volunteers – families, neighbours, school groups, community organizations, and local businesses – for your continued dedication and contributions.

Join us for Fall 2025!

Registration is open for the Fall Cleaning the Capital campaign. Cleanup projects will take place from September 15 to October 15, and registrations are open until September 30. Let’s work together to make a difference in our community! 

Cleanup kits

This fall, Cleaning the Capital is making it easier to pick up cleanup kits. Standard cleanup kits will be made available for pickup at participating City facilities: 

• Pickup dates: September 2 – October 12, 2025 

• What’s included: Large gloves and garbage bags in a variety of sizes 

How to collect your kit: 

• Bring your registration code 

• Provide your first and last name 

• Indicate the number of volunteers in your project 

School groups: Custom kits will be prepared for groups of 100+ participants. You will receive a confirmation email when your kit is ready. 

How to participate

• Choose a public space to clean: Parks, green spaces, roadsides, shorelines, or areas around bus stops. Check the interactive map to avoid duplicate registrations. 

• Register your project: Save your six-digit registration code from the confirmation email. 

• Pick up your cleanup kit (if needed): Between September 2 – October 12. Keep your registration code handy – you’ll need to provide it to staff at the kit pick-up location.   

• Review proper disposal instructions: Cleaning the Capital does not provide curbside collection. 

• Follow safety guidelines: Share general safety tips with your cleanup team. 

• Leave leaves for pollinators: Leave fallen leaves in open city-maintained spaces and natural areas. 

• Submit your cleanup report: By October 31, 2025, using your registration code. Every report counts toward the Great Ward Cleanup Challenge! 

High school students

Need volunteer hours? Cleaning the Capital offers flexible opportunities to earn community involvement hours while positively impacting your community. Please review Student Volunteer Hours for more information.

Important dates – Fall 2025

• August 15: Registration opens 

• September 2 – October 12: Cleanup kits available for pickup 

• September 15 – October 15: Fall campaign 

• September 30: Registration closes 

• October 31: Deadline to submit cleanup reports 

Spring cleaning highlights in Ottawa

• 1,025+ registered cleanup projects across the city 

• 47,000+ participants contributing to a cleaner community 

• 200+ high school students completed over 590 volunteer hours 

• Stittsville achieved #1 in Ottawa for the most cleanup projects 

These highlights showcase the incredible community effort that made the Spring campaign such a success!

Le Grand ménage de la capitale de l’automne 2025 – les inscriptions sont maintenant ouvertes!

Nous sommes ravis d’annoncer que Stittsville a une fois de plus atteint le premier rang à Ottawa pour le Grand ménage de la capitale lors de la campagne printanière, marquant la troisième année consécutive! Un grand merci à tous les bénévoles – familles, voisins, groupes scolaires, organismes communautaires et entreprises locales – pour leur dévouement et leurs contributions.

Joignez-vous à nous pour l’automne 2025

Les inscriptions sont ouvertes pour la campagne automnale du Grand ménage de la capitale. Les projets de nettoyage se dérouleront du 15 septembre au 15 octobre, et les inscriptions sont ouvertes jusqu’au 30 septembre. Travaillons ensemble pour changer les choses dans notre communauté!

Trousses de nettoyage

Cet automne, le Grand ménage de la capitale rend possible de se procurer des trousses de nettoyage. Il sera possible de se procurer des trousses de nettoyage standard aux installations municipales participantes :

• Dates de ramassage : Du 2 septembre au 12 octobre 2025

• Ce qui est inclus : Gants de grande taille et sacs à ordures de différentes tailles

Comment récupérer votre trousse :

• Fournissez votre code d’inscription;

• Fournissez votre prénom et votre nom de famille;

• Indiquez le nombre de bénévoles dans votre projet.

Groupes scolaires : Des trousses personnalisées seront préparées pour des groupes de plus de 100 participants. Vous recevrez un courriel de confirmation lorsque votre trousse sera prête.

Comment participer

1. Choisissez un espace public à nettoyer : Parcs, espaces verts, routes, berges ou zones autour des arrêts d’autobus. Consultez la carte interactive pour éviter les inscriptions en double.

1. Inscrivez votre projet : Enregistrez votre code d’inscription à six chiffres dans le courriel de confirmation.

1. Récupérez votre trousse de nettoyage (au besoin) : Entre le 2 septembre et le 12 octobre. Gardez votre code d’inscription à portée de main, car vous devrez le fournir au personnel du lieu de ramassage.

1. Veuillez consulter les directives pour l’élimination adéquate des déchets et détritus : Le Grand ménage de la capitale n’offre pas de collectes des déchets en bordure de rue.

1. Suivez les consignes de sécurité : Partagez des conseils de sécurité généraux avec votre équipe de nettoyage.

1. Ne ramassez pas les feuilles – les pollinisateurs en ont besoin : Laissez les feuilles mortes dans les espaces ouverts entretenus par la Ville et les zones naturelles.

1. Soumettez votre rapport de nettoyage : D’ici le 31 octobre 2025, en utilisant votre code d’inscription. Chaque rapport compte pour le grand défi du nettoyage des quartiers!

Élèves du secondaire

Vous avez besoin d’heures de bénévolat? Le Grand ménage de la capitale offre des possibilités flexibles d’effectuer des heures de service communautaire tout en ayant une incidence positive au sein de votre communauté. Veuillez consulter les heures de bénévolat des élèves pour en savoir plus.

Dates importantes – Automne 2025

Le 15 août : Début de la période d’inscription

• Du 2 septembre au 12 octobre : Des trousses de nettoyage peuvent être récupérées

• Du 15 septembre au 15 octobre : Campagne automnale

• Le 30 septembre : Fin de la période d’inscription

• Le 31 octobre : Date limite pour soumettre les rapports de nettoyage

Faits saillants du ménage du printemps à Ottawa

• Plus de 1 025 projets de nettoyage enregistrés dans la ville;

• Plus de 47 000 participants contribuant à une communauté plus propre;

• Plus de 200 élèves du secondaire ont effectué plus de 590 heures de bénévolat;

• Stittsville a atteint le premier rang à Ottawa pour le plus grand nombre de projets de nettoyage.

Ces faits saillants mettent en valeur l’incroyable effort communautaire qui a fait de la campagne printanière un tel succès!

The post Fall Cleaning the Capital 2025 – Registration now open! appeared first on Glen Gower | Councillor / Conseiller | Stittsville.

La version française suit

We are pleased to announce that Stittsville has once again achieved the #1 in Ottawa for Cleaning the Capital for the second consecutive year. We extend our sincere appreciation to all the volunteers, including families, neighbours, school groups, community organizations, local businesses, and more, for their valuable contributions.

Registration for the Fall 2024 Cleaning the Capital campaign is now open. Cleanup projects will be taking place between September 15 and October 15. We invite you to join us in making a difference once again!

To learn more about the campaign or to register your project, visit ottawa.ca/clean. The registration form populates an interactive map with pins that display the location, date, and time of all registered cleanup projects. Cleanup kits, which include garbage bags and nitrile gloves, will be made available for pick-up by registrants at one of 14 City of Ottawa facilities across the city.

As the new three-item limit for curbside garbage collection will come into effect during this campaign, participants are encouraged to review the instructions and options for proper disposal of collected waste/litter prior to their planned cleanup projects. This information will be communicated to participants via registration confirmation and ottawa.ca/clean.

Important dates for the fall campaign:
August 15: Registration begins
September 15 to October 15: Cleaning the Capital Fall campaign
October 1: Deadline to register
November 1: Deadline to submit online cleanup reports

Thank you for your continued support, and we look forward to seeing you at this Fall Cleaning the Capital campaign!

Les inscriptions sont ouvertes pour la Grand ménage de la capitale campagne

Nous sommes heureux d’annoncer que Stittsville a de nouveau obtenu #1 à Ottawa pour le nettoyage de la capitale pour la deuxième année consécutive. Nous tenons à remercier sincèrement tous les bénévoles, y compris les familles, les voisins, les groupes scolaires, les organismes communautaires, les entreprises locales et plus encore, pour leurs précieuses contributions.

Les inscriptions pour la Grand ménage de la capitale campagne 2024 sont maintenant ouvertes. Les projets de nettoyage auront lieu entre le 15 septembre et le 15 octobre. Nous vous invitons à vous joindre à nous pour faire une différence une fois de plus !

Pour en savoir plus sur la campagne ou pour inscrire votre projet, visitez ottawa.ca/menage. Le formulaire d’inscription remplit une carte interactive avec des épingles qui affichent l’emplacement, la date et l’heure de tous les projets de nettoyage enregistrés. Des trousses de nettoyage, qui comprennent des sacs poubelles et des gants en nitrile, seront mises à la disposition des personnes inscrites pour être récupérées dans l’une des 14 installations de la Ville d’Ottawa à travers la ville.

Comme la nouvelle limite de trois articles pour la collecte des ordures en bordure de rue entrera en vigueur pendant cette campagne, nous invitons les participants à consulter les instructions et les options pour l’élimination adéquate des déchets ramassés avant d’entreprendre leurs projets de nettoyage. Ces informations seront communiquées aux participants lors de la confirmation de leur inscription, ainsi que sur ottawa.ca/menage.

Dates importantes de la campagne d’automne :
15 août : Début des inscriptions
15 septembre au 15 octobre : Campagne du Grand ménage de la capitale
1er octobre : Date d’échéance pour s’inscrire
1er novembre : Date limite pour déposer les rapports de nettoyage en ligne

Merci de votre soutien continu et nous avons hâte de vous voir à cette Grand ménage de la capitale campagne!

The post Registration is now open for the fall Cleaning the Capital campaign appeared first on Glen Gower | Councillor / Conseiller | Stittsville.

Ottawa – Nothing is more spectacular than the fall colours in and around Ottawa. This September, help make those views in your community even more enjoyable by registering for Cleaning the Capital.

Thanks to nearly 37,000 participants, the spring campaign was a big success with over 970 projects registered and approximately 30,000 kilograms of waste collected. Since Cleaning the Capital began in 1994, over 1.4 million volunteers have participated, and it is estimated that over 1,000,000 kilograms of waste has been removed from our public spaces.

Registration is now open until Sunday, October 1 and can be easily done online. You can choose from a variety of public spaces to help clean up, such as community parks, roadsides, and shorelines.

Here are some important dates for the fall campaign:

• Tuesday, August 15: Registration opens
• Friday, September 15 to Sunday, October 15: Fall Cleaning the Capital campaign
• Sunday, October 1: Registration closes
• Tuesday, October 31: Deadline to submit your online cleanup report

Starter cleanup kits are available upon request. To learn more about the campaign or register your project, visit ottawa.ca/clean.

For more information on City programs and services, visit ottawa.ca, call 3-1-1 (TTY: 613-580-2401) or 613-580-2400 to contact the City using Canada Video Relay Service. You can also connect with us through Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Le 15 août 2023

Début des inscriptions à la campagne d’automne du Grand ménage de la capitale          

Ottawa – Rien n’est plus spectaculaire que les couleurs d’automne à Ottawa et aux alentours. En septembre, aidez à rendre les paysages qui vous entourent encore plus agréables en vous inscrivant au Grand ménage de la capitale.

Grâce à près de 37 000 participants, la campagne du printemps a connu un grand succès, avec plus de 970 projets enregistrés et environ 30 000 kilogrammes de déchets ramassés. Depuis le début du Grand ménage de la capitale en 1994, plus de 1,4 million de bénévoles ont participé à l’événement, et on estime que plus de 1 000 000 kilogrammes de déchets ont été retirés de nos espaces publics.

L’inscription en ligne a débuté et se termine le dimanche 1^er octobre. Vous pouvez choisir parmi divers espaces publics à nettoyer, comme des parcs communautaires, des routes et des berges.

Voici quelques dates importantes pour la campagne d’automne :

• Mardi 15 août : début des inscriptions
• Du vendredi 15 septembre au dimanche 15 octobre : campagne d’automne du Grand ménage de la capitale
• Dimanche 1^er octobre : fin des inscriptions
• Mardi 31 octobre : date limite pour soumettre votre rapport de nettoyage en ligne

Des trousses de nettoyage de démarrage sont disponibles sur demande. Pour en savoir plus sur la campagne ou pour inscrire votre projet, rendez-vous sur ottawa.ca/menage.

Pour en savoir plus sur les programmes et services de la Ville, consultez ottawa.ca ou composez le 3-1-1 (ATS : 613-580-2401), ou le 613-580-2400 pour joindre la Ville en utilisant le Service de relais vidéo canadien. Vous pouvez également communiquer avec nous sur Facebook, Twitter et Instagram.

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The Stittsville Volunteer Awards highlight and celebrate the dedication of volunteers in our community.  The annual awards ceremony was held on Wednesday, May 31 at Johnny Leroux Arena.  You can watch a video of the presentations and see a list of nominees and recipients below.

All photos by Catherine Musgrove.

The Roger Griffiths Memorial Citizen of the Year

Awarded to an individual who best exemplifies community involvement and participation.

Captain Bedard receives the 2023 Roger Griffiths Memorial Citizen of the Year Award, presented by the Roger McKee and Lynn Griffiths, representing the Griffiths family.

Capt. Brian Bedard (award recipient)
Captain Brian Bedard has been a volunteer firefighter in Stittsville since 1977. He started with the Goulbourn Fire Department Station 1 (Stittsville) and then, after amalgamation with the Ottawa Fire Services Station 81. He has more than 45 years of service with the fire service and in the community. He rose to the rank of Station Captain where he held the position from 2013 to 2018. He was the parade ambassador for the Stittsville Village Santa Claus parade for more than 15 years. He has lived in Stittsville with his family for four decades on Liard Street, right around the corner from the firehall. When his children were younger, he used to coach his son’s minor hockey team for a number of years back in the 1980s and 1990s. He was also very involved in fundraising for Muscular Dystrophy. He organized (and manned) the fire station’s booth every fall at the Stittsville Flea Market to collect donations. Stittsville was usually the top – or one of the top – fire stations for funds raised.

Penny Horeczy
Penny can often be seen working in our park gardens, trails, and exchanging heartfelt, sound advice on planting protocol. She holds the position of Vice-President of the Stittsville Goulbourn Horticultural Society, and has been instrumental in the planning and volunteer maintenance of the gardens at Lee Boltwood Park. She takes great pride in the floral gardens and can be found there many Saturdays planting and weeding. Penny ensures the planters in Village Square Park are filled with seasonal flowers and plants every year, and visits regularly to water and weed. She has manned the barricades at the Parade of Lights and organizes crews for the Clean the Capital Campaign. She volunteers at the SGHS plant sales and their events. Penny helps ensure that Stittsville residents have beautiful parks to visit, clean trails to walk and ride along, and great garden advice.

Glynn Kneebone
As president of the Kiwanis Club of Kanata-Stittsville since 2019, Glynn has led many community initiatives aimed at helping youth in the community. Some of those have included Movie Nights in Village Square Park, the Annual Youth Talent Showcase, and Trivia Nights at ALE. In addition, he has been a leader in raising funds for Chromebooks that have been donated to local school boards to distribute to underprivileged youth in the community. Most recently, he has been instrumental in creating the Stittsville Youth Homework Club, which operated this Spring, and he is currently working towards a more permanent drop-in centre in the community.  He has always been interested in helping youth in the community and was involved from 1989 to 1995 as a Cub Leader and as Chairman of the Stittsville Scouts Group Committee. 

Adrienne Noble
Adrienne started volunteering with the Goulbourn Skating Club 20 years ago and helped with many of the Club’s special events and went on to become the Treasurer and Registrar. In her roles, she has been responsible for more than 10,000 registrations over the years, registering all members annually with Skate Canada. She has volunteered for the club’s ice shows, and the Special Olympics Competition. She has been on the hiring committee for coaches and helped to upgrade the club’s by-laws. In addition, she has cooked soups, baked desserts and hosted many board meetings. She was the Executive Member on-site for CanSkate sessions and the safety officer throughout the pandemic. Adrienne has volunteered for 20 years – in addition to her responsibilities as a mother of three and now in her 39^th year of teaching high school. She works with students who have exceptionalities, including those identified as ASD, Down Syndrome, and students with physical and learning disabilities. She has certainly inspired many skaters and their parents for her dedication to the community.

Chelsea Walton & Scott Muir
With a blended family of five girls, it is difficult to understand how they can accomplish so much outside of family demands. They have organized a local street party, movie nights, and the Halloween Skeleton snowsuit fundraising displays. They also initiated and organized the first annual Crossing Bridge Easter Egg Hunt. Chelsea and Scott have instilled in their children the importance of giving back to the community. During the summer months, the girls have lemonade and cookie stands to support local causes, including supporting a new Ukranian family. Their relentless drive and ambition to make the community a better place is a model for their children and everyone who knows them. The community has benefitted from their kindness, generosity, and passion for volunteerism.

The John Curry Memorial Youth of the Year

Awarded to a young person who exemplifies leadership, inspires their peers and has made a significant contribution to the community through volunteer service. Named in honour of the late John Curry, a long-time newspaper writer and editor, history keeper, school board trustee, and volunteer who served our community for nearly half a century with unwavering kindness and generosity.

Grade 12 student Kaitlyn LeBoutillier

Kaitlyn LeBoutillier (award recipient)
Kaitlyn is a grade 12 student at Sacred Heart High School, and she gives generously of her time for the benefit of others. Not only is she a sports enthusiast and plays on various teams, but she also volunteers many hours for the associations and leagues for which she played. She volunteers as a coach, a scorekeeper at special sports events, and has performed duties as a camp counselor during summer breaks with Luv2Groove summer camps. Every Thanksgiving she can be found at Sir Guy Carleton Secondary School serving hot meals for those less fortunate. At Sacred Heart she coached teams and organized and managed clubs. She is a member of the ReconciliAction Club where she assists in organizing Indigenous initiatives for the school. She is also the editor of the school newspaper, a team lead for the 2023 Relay for Life, a member of the prom committee, part of the wellness team, and a member of Student Council.

Xavier Oteiza
Xavier is a grade 11 student at Sacred Heart High School, and he likes volunteering for the experience of giving back to his community. In the bitter cold and snow, he could often be seen at the Joe Lewis Park Outdoor Rink, helping to clear the way for everyone in the community by shovelling and flooding the rink. It didn’t matter if it was freezing cold, a snowstorm or nighttime. He persisted when others would have easily given up because of the elements. Because of his hard work, rink organizers were able to provide the community with more than 30 days of outdoor skating in a year when many struggled to open at all. He is polite, hard-working, and a quick learner. He takes pride in this work and is a great example of volunteerism in the community.

Rebecca Cocchetto
Rebecca is a grade 12 student at South Carleton High School and plans to study Human Kinetics at Ottawa U this fall. Rebecca has been volunteering with the 11^th Stittsville Embers as a Junior Leader for more than five years. She has been instrumental in ensuring the continuation of the unit, despite the pandemic and other challenges. In 2021, the unit was facing closure when it lost all of its adult members. Rebecca stepped up and was instrumental in providing new volunteers with advice and sharing experiences. She has advocated for the importance of keeping youth physically fit and involving them in nature. For Rebecca, the best part of volunteering is watching the Embers develop and grow as people and seeing their excitement when doing something new or interesting.

Senior of the Year

Awarded in recognition of a senior citizen who has made a significant and long-standing contribution to our community.

Dave Rooke, recognized for his work with the Rotary Club

Dave Rooke (receipient)
Dave is a long-time Rotarian and served as Club President from July 2020 to June 2021. He embodies the Rotary principle of Service Above Self in all aspects of life. Dave is involved in projects with local and nearby indigenous communities. He is a driving force on the Rotary’s Indigenous Working Group. When there was a call for support to transport sewing supplies to remote indigenous schools, Dave answered the call. When there was a call to transport winter boots to indigenous youth participating in Back to the Land activities, Dave answered the call. He coordinates Stittsville’s efforts to deliver flowers to residents at Thanksgiving. He participates in most community outreach projects and is a driving force behind the club’s involvement in women’s shelter assistance, refugee settlement programs, and support for the Stittsville Food Bank. He has provided mentorship and leadership in supporting food banks, at-risk youth, new Canadians, indigenous communities, and environmental challenges. He is once again taking on the Rotary presidency for the next season.

Capt. Brian Bedard
Captain Brian Bedard has been a volunteer firefighter in Stittsville since 1977. He started with the Goulbourn Fire Department Station 1 (Stittsville) and then, after amalgamation with the Ottawa Fire Services Station 81. He has more than 45 years of service with the fire service and in the community. He rose to the rank of Station Captain where he held the position from 2013 to 2018. He was the parade ambassador for the Stittsville Village Santa Claus parade for more than 15 years.

Business of the Year

Awarded to an active Stittsville business that goes above and beyond to support the community and make it a better place in which to live.

Scratch Box Chef Reggie Olson receives the award

Scratch Box Gastro Truck (award recipient)
Scratch Box Chef Reggie Olson & Family opened their business during the pandemic. Chef Reggie and is family are committed to the community, which was evident during the derecho storm last May. They provided free meals to anyone who didn’t have power, and he did this again during the last ice storm. When there were break-ins at several food trucks, Reggie offered his support – even though his own had been broken into. He offered 160 free meals to volunteers during the Parade of Lights, supports Operation Come Home, and quietly helps to provide meals to families and individuals who are struggling in our community. Scratch Box is the kind of small business that makes a big positive difference in our community.

Amberwood Lounge and Eatery (ALE)
ALE is a family-run business that has operated out of the Amberwood Village clubhouse since 2016. They are more than just a restaurant and have supported the community through fundraising activities and special events. This includes the Trivia Master, which has raised $8,000 towards organizations such as a Breast Cancer support group, the Kiwanis Club, The Military Wives Group, and a special group that raises funds for disabled athletes. They also work with Algonquin College to mentor young adults seeking to enter the Food and Beverage industry.

Foley Peeters Home Team
Foley-Peeters has been a force for positivity, fun, and togetherness in our community, conducting food drives, pumpkin and yard bag handouts in the fall, and Christmas tree donations and letters to Santa during holidays. For the local Halloween event, they helped to collect more than 100 snowsuits for families in Ottawa. They volunteer their time for the community in many ways, including the popular “Party in the Park” that happens in just a few weeks at Jackson Trails and Fernbank Crossing. It includes bouncy castles, pony rides, BBQ, face-painting, and so much more. Most recently, they were valuable contributors to this year’s Easter Egg Hunt in Crossing Bridge. They are true role models that thrive on community engagement and support.

Volunteer Group of the Year

Awarded to a group of citizens who are actively working together to make a difference in the Stittsville community.

Volunteers from Hazeldean Gardens

Hazeldean Gardens Retirement Residence Volunteers (award recipient)
Hazeldean Gardens is fortunate to have more than 12 regular volunteers who donate their time to enrich the lives of more than 150 seniors living in the retirement residence. They help to ensure that residents are living in a vibrant and caring community. Many of these activities extend to events that are enjoyed by all of Stittsville. The range of volunteer activities include bus excursions and picnics, personal shopping, reading, painting, sing-alongs, fitness, bazaars, bingo, billiards, shuffleboard, fireworks displays, fundraising, celebrations and more.

Chelsea Walton, Scott Muir & Family
This family has done so much for the community, bringing us together in smiles, and laughter. Residents may remember their creative Halloween skeletons on Crantham Crescent last fall. They continued their involvement with the Easter Egg Hunt at Crossing Bridge Park. Or perhaps you’ve dropped by for a cookie or lemonade fundraiser for great causes. Both Chelsea and Scott are busy parents and busy volunteers in the community, and they make community service a fun family adventure. 

Lionhearts Inc.
Under Travis Blackmore’s leadership, Lionhearts has worked in Food Rescue, picking up donations from businesses and farmers who donate their surplus food items for people in need. They are set to rescue more than $5 million worth of food this year. Travis works out of Chapel Ridge Church, coordinating more than 40 volunteers who help to rescue bread seven days a week.

Teacher of the Year

Awarded in recognition of an outstanding teacher who makes a difference in the lives of Stittsville Students. A teacher that goes above and beyond to support students and inspires the next generation of leadership in the community.

Matthew Davey is a Grade 8 teacher at Goulbourn Middle School

Matthew Davey (award recipient)
Matthew is a Grade 8 teacher at Goulbourn Middle School. He infuses his practice (and the school) with humour and a lot of care. After months of isolated, online learning, he turned his overgrown hair into an opportunity for his students to refine their persuasive essay-writing skills. The student who wrote the most effective essay selected his haircut and facial hair style. His homeroom facilitated a school-wide fundraising event to contribute to the school’s goal of creating an outdoor classroom. He teaches the students how to be people of strong character and active in community life.

Sandra Polito
Sandra is a Grade 6 teacher at Guardian Angels School and has been influential in helping new Canadian students become familiar and comfortable with a new culture and school environment. She is responsive, caring, and passionate about education.  She is a leader at the school and is involved in special activities and events that make school life special for her students.

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(originally published March 19, 2023)

Do you know a person, business or community group going above and beyond to make a difference in Stittsville? We want to hear about them! The Stittsville Volunteer Awards are an opportunity to highlight and celebrate the dedication of volunteers in our community.

There will be six categories of awards this year.

• The Roger Griffiths Memorial Citizen of the Year
  Awarded to an individual who best exemplifies community involvement and participation.
• Senior of the Year
  Awarded in recognition of a senior citizen who has made a significant and long-standing contribution to our community.
• Business of the Year
  Awarded to an active Stittsville business that goes above and beyond to support the community and make it a better place in which to live.
• Volunteer Group of the Year
  Awarded to a group of citizens who are actively working together to make a difference in the Stittsville community.

• The John Curry Memorial Youth of the Year
  Awarded to a young person who exemplifies leadership, inspires their peers and has made a significant contribution to the community through volunteer service.

• Teacher of the Year
  Awarded in recognition of an outstanding teacher who makes a difference in the lives of Stittsville Students. A teacher that goes above and beyond to support students and inspires the next generation of leadership in the community.

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Registration is now open for this year’s Cleaning the Capital Fall campaign, with clean-up projects taking place between September 13 and October 15.

We’re encouraging families, schools, community groups, and other organizations to register to clean up a park or natural area in Stittsville and keep our neighbourhood beautiful.

Registration forms are available online at Ottawa.ca/clean or by calling 613-580-2424, extension 13458. Also online is an interactive map that will show the locations chosen for clean-ups.

Clean-up kits will include garbage bags, gloves and – while supplies last – leaf and yard waste bags, and will be made available for pick-up by registrants at one of seven City facilities across Ottawa.

Il est maintenant possible de vous inscrire à la campagne automnale du Grand ménage de la capitale!

Les inscriptions sont maintenant ouvertes en vue de la campagne du Grand ménage de la capitale de cet automne et les projets de nettoyage prévus auront lieu entre le 13 septembre et le 15 octobre.

Nous invitons les familles, les écoles, les groupes communautaires et les autres organismes à s’inscrire pour nettoyer un parc ou un milieu naturel à Stittsville afin de contribuer à maintenir la beauté de notre quartier.

Pour s’inscrire, ils pourront remplir le formulaire en ligne au Ottawa.ca/nettoyage ou composer le 613-580-2424, poste 13458. Ils pourront également consulter la carte interactive en ligne qui indique l’emplacement des différents projets de nettoyage.

Les participants inscrits pourront passer prendre, dans l’un des sept établissements de la Ville, les trousses de nettoyage, qui comprendront des sacs à ordures, des gants et — tant qu’il y en aura — des sacs pour les feuilles et les résidus de jardinage.

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The City has continued to register participants for a modified Cleaning the Capital campaign while encouraging all participants to hold off on conducting clean-ups during the province-wide stay-at-home order. 

With 856 projects registered, we’re now preparing to resume our Cleaning the Capital campaign—hot on the heels of Environment Week!

Clean-up kits will be made available for pick-up by registrants beginning the week of June 7 via outdoor, COVID-Wise set-ups at seven City facilities. Registrants will be notified directly of their pick-up options, as well as of the City’s expectation that clean-ups adhere to health and safety guidance and pandemic-related restrictions (ie: the importance of self-screening, physical distancing, wearing masks, washing/sanitizing hands and limiting groups to the applicable outdoor gathering limits).

Our sincere thanks go out to our patient and dedicated volunteers and valued sponsors. The campaign has been extended until June 30, so let’s clean our Capital in time for Canada Day!

La Ville a continué de permettre l’inscription des participants pour une édition modifiée de la campagne Grand ménage de la capitale tout en encourageant tous les participants à retarder la tenue des projets de nettoyage pendant le décret ordonnant de rester à domicile à l’échelle de la province.

Avec 856 projets déjà inscrits, nous nous préparons maintenant à reprendre la campagne du Grand ménage de la capitale – juste après la Semaine de l’environnement.

Des trousses de nettoyage seront mises à la disposition des personnes inscrites pour qu’elles passent les ramasser à compter de la semaine du 7 juin dans l’une des sept installations extérieures COVID avisées de la Ville d’Ottawa. On communiquera directement avec les personnes inscrites pour les informer de leurs options de ramassage ainsi que pour leur rappeler que la Ville demande que les projets de nettoyage respectent les directives en matière de santé et de sécurité et les restrictions liées à la pandémie (c’est-à-dire : l’importance de l’autodépistage, de la distanciation physique, du port de masques, du lavage et de la désinfection des mains et du respect des limites de rassemblement de personnes applicables).

Nous souhaitons remercier sincèrement de bénévoles patients et dévoués ainsi que nos précieux commanditaires. La campagne a été prolongée jusqu’au 30 juin, nettoyons notre capitale à temps pour la fête du Canada! 

UPDATE (April 8):

Cleaning the Capital’s spring campaign is underway, with 675 projects registered. Our sincere thanks go out to the thousands of incredible volunteer participants who, like every year, take the initiative to help keep our city clean and green with the support of our staff and valued sponsors. 

In keeping with the Ontario-wide shutdown and in line with recommended public health measures and safety guidance, the City is pressing “pause” on the spring Cleaning the Capital campaign until further notice. 

Registration remains open until May 15; however, registrants who have already received clean-up kits are asked to hold off on scheduling clean-ups until public health guidance indicates it’s safe to do so. Further, clean-up kits will not be made available for pick-up until City facilities are able to safely accommodate their distribution.   

La campagne printanière du Grand ménage de la capitale progresse bien; 675 projets ont été inscrits. Nous remercions chaudement les milliers de merveilleux bénévoles qui, comme chaque année, prennent l’initiative d’aider à garder notre ville propre et verte avec le soutien de notre personnel et nos précieux commanditaires.

Conformément au confinement à l’échelle provinciale et aux mesures de santé publique et directives de sécurité recommandées, la Ville suspend la campagne printanière du Grand ménage de la capitale jusqu’à nouvel ordre.

L’inscription demeure ouverte jusqu’au 15 mai, mais nous demandons aux participants qui ont déjà reçu une trousse de nettoyage d’attendre d’organiser un ménage jusqu’à ce que la santé publique annonce qu’il est sécuritaire de le faire. En outre, les trousses de nettoyage ne pourront être ramassées que lorsque les installations municipales seront en mesure de les distribuer de façon sécuritaire.

March 15, 2021 / le 15 mars 2021

La version française suit

The City of Ottawa’s 2021 Cleaning the Capital Program returns for the spring campaign, from April 15 to May 15. Early registration begins today.

Registering is quick and easy:

• Visit ottawa.ca/clean or call 3-1-1 (TTY: 613-580-2401) to register your cleanup. Our interactive map will show you which locations have already been claimed, and our online registration form will allow you to choose your own project site and indicate the cleanup supplies that you need.
• Select a location, such as a park, ravine, shoreline, bus stop or pathway – any public area that requires litter pickup or graffiti removal.

 The campaign is a citywide event that brings together communities, neighbours and friends to help keep Ottawa clean and green.

Cleaning the Capital is also an excellent way for high school students to earn their community volunteer hours.

New guidelines due to COVID-19

Please keep in mind that all participants must follow public health guidelines to reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19. This means your cleanup plan must be COVIDWISE and include the following:

• Keep a physical distance of at least two metres (six feet) from anyone who is not from your household
• Wear a mask whenever physical distancing is not possible
• Wash and/or sanitize your hands as early and as often as possible
• If you are feeling unwell in any way, please stay home

See Ontario COVID-19 Response Framework for more information.

Inscriptions hâtives pour le Grand ménage de la capitale

Le Grand ménage de la capitale est de retour pour le printemps 2021, du 15 avril au 15 mai. Les inscriptions hâtives commencent aujourd’hui.

L’inscription est rapide et facile :

• Rendez-vous sur la page ottawa.ca/menage ou téléphonez au 3‑1‑1 (ATS : 613‑580‑2401) pour inscrire votre projet. Vous pourrez voir les lieux déjà réservés sur notre carte interactive, et indiquer vous-même le site de votre choix et le matériel de nettoyage dont vous aurez besoin dans notre formulaire d’inscription en ligne.
• Choisissez un endroit tel qu’un parc, un ravin, un rivage, un arrêt d’autobus ou un sentier – bref, tout endroit public où il faut nettoyer des graffitis ou ramasser des détritus.

Le Grand ménage de la capitale, c’est une activité qui se déroule aux quatre coins de la ville et qui rassemble les communautés, voisins et amis pour garder Ottawa propre et verte.

C’est aussi une excellente façon pour les élèves du secondaire de réaliser leurs heures de bénévolat communautaire.

COVID-19 : nouvelles directives

N’oubliez pas que, pour limiter la propagation de la COVID-19, tous les participants doivent suivre les directives de santé publique. C’est pourquoi votre projet de nettoyage doit être COVIDavisé. Les participants doivent :

• garder une distance minimale d’au moins deux mètres (six pieds) des personnes qui ne vivent pas avec eux;
• porter le masque dans tous les cas où il est impossible de pratiquer la distanciation physique;
• se laver ou se désinfecter les mains aussi souvent que possible.
• rester à la maison s’ils ne se sentent pas bien.

Vous trouverez de plus amples renseignements dans le Cadre d’intervention pour la COVID-19 de l’Ontario.

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