Rotary Club of
Ottawa: 1916 to the Present
The charter of Rotary Club of Ottawa is dated May 1st, 1916. It was
the 221st club in Rotary International out of 247 Rotary Clubs
established by June, 1916. There were 27,000 Rotarians worldwide at that
time.
In a message to our Club in 1916, Paul P. Harris, the founder
of Rotary said:
"Rotary is a result of evolutionary processes of
civilization. It's coming was more than opportune; it was
necessary. The forces contributing to the making of Rotary have
been gathering themselves together during generations past.
Rotary has long been inevitable."
1916 -- The establishment of the first Service
Club in the City -- the Rotary Club of Ottawa -- with 67 charter
members. Meetings thereafter continued to be held weekly at the
Chateau Laurier. War-time fund-raising activities were mainly devoted
to supporting the Overseas YMCA
1921 -- The Rotary Club of Ottawa hosted the
first District Conference of Rotary Clubs, with delegates attending from
other Rotary Clubs in Eastern Ontario, Western Quebec and Northern New
York State. The president of Rotary International was the principal
guest speaker.
1922 -- The Rotary Club of Ottawa formed its
Crippled Children's Committee, thereby commencing its principal on-going
focus of activities designed to meet the needs of those who are
physically disadvantaged.
1931 -- The Rotary Club of Ottawa co-sponsored
the formation of the Eastern Ontario Council for the Society for
Crippled Children so as to expand support activities outside of Ottawa.
1939 -- The Rotary Club of Ottawa established
its War Services Committee. Among its subsequent contributions were a
mobile canteen and clothing to war-torn civilians in England. A
"Victory House" was built on Madawaska Drive and raffled off for the
Club's charities.
1947 -- A site for a summer campsite for
crippled children was purchased on the Big Rideau Lake by the Rotary
Club of Ottawa and other Rotary Clubs in the district. "Camp Merrywood"
was opened in the following year.
1948 -- The Rotary Club of Ottawa became the
agent for the Ontario Society for Crippled Children and initiated and
operated the annual Easter Seal Campaign. This arrangement continued
for 50 years until 1998.
1951 -- The Rotary Club of Ottawa established
its annual "Adventure in Citizenship" Program whereby some 220 senior
High School students from throughout Canada spend four days in Ottawa
and experience an intensive program of tours, lectures, discussions and
social events designed to enhance their understanding and appreciation
of Canadian citizenship. Public figures including Governor General
Adrienne Clarkson, Right Hon. Joe Clark and Hon. Ed Broadbent
participated in the program as students.
1964 -- The Rotary Club of Ottawa established a
fund leading to the creation of the Ottawa Children's Treatment Centre.
1981 -- The Rotary Club of Ottawa built the
Ottawa Rotary Home, a respite care facility for families and severely
disabled children.
1983 -- The Rotary Club of Ottawa initiated and
operated the annual Easter Seal Telethon.
1986 -- The Rotary Club of Ottawa inaugurated
special fund-raising activities in support of the Rotary Foundation's
"Polio Plus" program to eradicate polio and five other
vaccine-preventable diseases throughout the world. (Eradication is
expected to be achieved this year).
Note: -- Over the years the Rotary Club of
Ottawa has sponsored the formation of some 20 other Rotary Clubs,
including a number within Ottawa. In recent years it has also sponsored
the following clubs operating locally:
1999 -- The Probus Club of Ottawa, offering a
series of lectures and discussions for retired people.
2000 -- The Interact Club, a service club for
students attending Lisgar Collegiate Institute.
2001 -- The Rotaract Club, a service club for
students attending the University of Ottawa.
