Friends of Stittsville Wetlands receive funding from the Rotary Club of Ottawa-Stittsville during National Wildlife Week
Stittsville, ON – In 1947, the Canadian Government designated the week of April 10 as National Wildlife Week to encourage Canadians to participate in wildlife conservation efforts. This week was established to commemorate the birthday of the late Jack Miner on April 10, a distinguished conservationist who identified migratory routes of North American bird species and played a key role in saving the Canadian Goose from extinction.
In honour of National Wildlife Week, the Rotary Club of Ottawa-Stittsville presented a $1000 cheque to the Friends of Stittsville Wetlands (FoSW) in support of their ongoing initiatives to protect, restore, regenerate, and rewild the Goulbourn Wetland Complex.
Left to right: Annette Lindsay, President, Rotary Club of Ottawa-Stittsville and Dick Coote, Chair of the Environmental Work Group, Rotary Club of Ottawa-Stittsville and Janet Stavinga, President, Friends of Stittsville Wetlands.
Photo thanks to StittsvilleCentral.ca
The Goulbourn Wetland Complex, a provincially significant wetland within the Mississippi River and Rideau River watersheds, spans 906 hectares and is an ecological treasure on the doorstep of Stittsville. The wetland is accessible via the TransCanada Trail – Canada’s national trail and the world’s longest network of multi-use recreational trails.
Dick Coote, Chair of the Environmental Work Group of the Rotary Club of Ottawa-Stittsville said, “Last year the work group supported both the Friends of Stittsville Wetlands and the Ottawa Riverkeeper. Poole Creek, which is fed by the Goulbourn Wetland Complex, is an ecological and habitat focal point in Stittsville. It flows into the Ottawa River via the Carp River, so we benefit from the many studies that are undertaken by the Ottawa Riverkeeper within the watershed. Our connection with the Friends of Stittsville Wetlands provides an interesting 'symbiotic' link between these two important non-governmental organizations.”
Janet Stavinga, President of FoSW and former Mayor of Goulbourn and Ottawa City Councillor, expressed gratitude to the Rotary Club of Ottawa-Stittsville stating, “The funding from the Rotary Club of Ottawa-Stittsville, along with the grant provided in the fall of 2024, will be dedicated to an interpretative signage project proposed along the TransCanada Trail from Westridge Drive to Jinkinson Road. This project, pending further funding from other sources, will help raise public awareness and understanding about the importance of the Goulbourn Wetland Complex.”
Front to Back:
Dick Coote, Chair of the Environmental Work Group and Annette Lindsay, President, Rotary
Club of Ottawa-Stittsville, Janet Stavinga, President, Friends of Stittsville Wetlands, Bruce
Dudley, Vice-President, FoSW, FoSW Volunteers, Susan Waters, Terry Swaine, Past
Treasurer, Stittsville Councillor Glen Gower, Rudy Stavinga, Treasurer, FoSW, Charles
Mossman, Past President of the Rotary Club of Ottawa-Stittsville, Marion Mossman,
Community Working Group, Rotary Club of Ottawa-Stittsville, Volunteers of FoSW,
Ann Swanwick, Cally Abraham, Naginder Dhaliwal, Bob Halberstadt, Lynda Cronin,
Debbie Barr, and Catherine Clysdale.
Photo thanks to StittsvilleCentral.ca
The Goulbourn Wetland Complex is home to Species at Risk including Blanding Turtles, Snapping Turtles, and over 150 species of birds (eBird), including the American Kestrel – the smallest falcon in North America, the Wood Duck – one of the most colorful North American waterfowl – and Species at Risk, such as the Barn Swallow and the Eastern Whip-poor-will.
The Goulbourn Wetland Complex also provides habitat for the red-shouldered hawk, a provincially significant animal species, Ram’s Head Lady’s Slipper, a provincially significant plant species, and various other regionally and locally significant species. It also supports diverse species like the Spring Peeper, bullfrog, muskrat, raccoon, beaver, mink, red fox, coyote, white-tailed deer, and red squirrel.
Stavinga remarked, “Over the past year, it has become evident that many residents of our community are unaware of this unique natural heritage treasure. Part of this can be attributed to the significant growth we have experienced and will continue to see in our community. It is challenging to protect what we do not understand – raising public awareness and understanding is crucial to ensuring the long-term protection of the Goulbourn Wetland Complex and the wildlife that inhabit it.”
Stittsville Councillor Glen Gower said, “This funding from the Rotary Club of Ottawa-Stittsville highlights the continued support for the Friends of Stittsville Wetlands in our community and their advocacy for the protection of our wetlands.” Stittsville Councillor Glen Gower further added, “Thanks to volunteers at both of these organizations for supporting this important initiative.”
Councillor David Brown, Rideau Jock stated, “I’m proud to support the incredible work of the Friends of Stittsville Wetlands and the Rotary Club of Ottawa-Stittsville. This generous donation will help bring the beauty and ecological importance of the Goulbourn Wetland Complex to life for trail users through thoughtful signage and education. Partnerships like this highlight the power of community-driven conservation and the value of protecting our natural spaces for generations to come.”
Left to right: Rudy Stavinga, Treasurer, Friends of Stittsville Wetlands, Janet Stavinga,
President, Friends of Stittsville Wetlands, Dick Coote, Chair of the Environmental Work Group,
Rotary Club of Ottawa-Stittsville, Bruce Dudley, Vice-President, FoSW, and Stittsville
Councillor Glen Gower.
Photo thanks to StittsvilleCentral.ca
The health of the Goulbourn Wetland Complex and its dependent species continues to face threats from land conversion for development, invasive species, pollution, artificial modification of water levels by drainage and filling, climate change, and policy changes implemented by the Government of Ontario in the fall of 2022.
National Wildlife Week encourages Canadians to learn about our wildlife and support conservation at home and in our communities.
About Friends of Stittsville Wetlands
The Friends of Stittsville Wetlands are a volunteer, community-based, not-for-profit corporation with the mission to protect, restore, regenerate, and rewild the fragile and ecologically significant wetland, known as the Goulbourn Wetland Complex, in proximity to Stittsville. The wetland is accessible via the TransCanada Trail – Canada’s national trail and the world’s longest network of multi-use recreational trails. The organization became incorporated on January 1, 2024.
Through the development of collaborative partnerships with the private sector and non-governmental organizations at the national, provincial, and local levels, the Friends of Stittsville Wetlands are working to ensure the protection, restoration, regeneration, and rewilding of the Goulbourn Wetland Complex – for those species that call them home, for ourselves, and for future generations.
About the Rotary Club of Ottawa-Stittsville
Rotary Club of Ottawa-Stittsville brings together people across generations who work to make our community and our world a better place through on-the-ground action.
Rotary is a global network of more than 1.2 million neighbors, friends, leaders, and problem-solvers who see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change – across the globe, in our communities, and in themselves.
Solving real problems takes real commitment and vision. For more than 110 years, Rotary's people of action have used their passion, energy, and intelligence to take action on sustainable projects. From literacy and peace to water and health. The Rotarians are always working to better our world and stay committed to the end.
Rotary members believe in a shared responsibility to take action on our world’s most persistent issues.
For more information contact:
Annette Lindsay, President
Dick Coote, Chair of the Environmental Work Group
Rotary Club of Ottawa-Stittsville
Email: info@stittsvillerotary.com
Website: Rotary Club of Ottawa-Stittsville
Janet Stavinga, Co-Founder and President
Friends of Stittsville Wetlands
Email: FriendsofStittsvilleWetlands@gmail.com
Website: www.FriendsofStittsvilleWetlands.com