International Women’s Day has been celebrated on March 8th for over one hundred years and is a public holiday in many countries. It’s a time to highlight the progress made in advancing women’s rights and the ongoing efforts to ensure their full participation in all aspects of society.

We are very proud of our Canadian women athletes. Their success at the 2026 Olympic Games was outstanding and an inspiration for our youth. Welcome home ladies! You make us proud to be Canadian.

Women made a significant mark on the culture of Kiwanis long before becoming full members in 1987.

In the early years women were the centre of many Kiwanis Social events with some clubs holding Ladies nights. At a Kiwanis Ladies Night in 1918, five women were inspired to form their own service club called Quota International. It ended in 2020 but some individual Quota clubs still operate as independent entities.

In May 1921, Leah Slaughter was named an honorary member of a Kiwanis Club for her success with the club’s musical and social programs. Some clubs were bending the rules around disclosing a new members gender. A registration might include the term Mr. an initial and a last name. Before women were full fledged members, they often took active roles serving side by side with the men.

In response to this, a new option was created. Any Kiwanis Club could sponsor and charter a Kiwanianne Club. Within the first year, 50 clubs were chartered and more than 1,500 women joined.

In 1973 Circle K International, the college-level branch of Kiwanis, opened its membership to women. By the end of the decade women held almost half of the International Board Positions. In 1975 Kiwanis Key Club Membership was opened to female students. Key Clubs are the high school level branch of Kiwanis.

By the 1980’s, many clubs began to defy the Kiwanis International Bylaws by inviting women into their membership. By 1986, an estimated 40 clubs had female members. When women officially joined in 1987, one woman was already her club’s Vice President.

In the first year, 1987-88, more than 8,500 women joined Kiwanis. By 1997, 40,000 women were Kiwanians. By the end of the first decade as members, women filled 17 % of the Lieutenant Governor positions and 16.5 % of Club President roles.

In May of 1995 Ann Lochead became the 1st female member of the Kiwanis Club of Manotick. In 2001, she became our 1st female President. We have had several very successful female presidents since including Claudette Periard in 2012-2013, Debbie Mulvihill from 2020 to 2025 and our current President Tammy Hulme. Approximately 40 % of our members are female and 40% of the board are women.

In 2015, Susan Petrisin was elected president of Kiwanis International, the first female to lead a major international service organization. Today, Kiwanis is a worldwide service organization of men and women who share the mission of improving our world one community and one child at a time.

The leadup to the Christmas Holiday Season is a very busy time for the Kiwanis Club of Manotick. We sell Christmas trees, fruit cakes and other holiday treats. We also organize the Annual Parade of Lights plus our November Blanket and coat drive for the homeless.

The Parade of Lights is scheduled for next Friday, November 28th. We are looking for volunteers from the community. New regulations from the city require at least 30 volunteers to man road barriers along the parade route. To make this annual event successful we rely on your support.

Our annual Christmas Cake Sale is already underway. In Manotick the cakes are available at Manotick Home Hardware, Manotick Office Pro, Paul’s Pharmacy and new this year, Rona Manotick.

The Christmas Fruit Cakes come in two packages, a 900g Dark Ring Fruit Cake for $20 and a 2 piece light/dark Pack for $18. Both cakes are made in Canada.

At Senior’s Residences and Craft Markets we sell, in addition to cakes, a 375g box of shortbread cookies from Scotland and a 250g box of chocolate truffles from southern Ontario. Both are quality products and at $10 each are a bargain. The cookies and truffles are also available at Manotick Office Pro until we run out.

Christmas Trees go on sale Saturday, November 29th at Manotick Home Hardware. The Wright Team of Royal Lepage Team Realty are giving away a free Dark Ring Fruit Cake to the first 40 customers.

The trees range in size from 6 to 12 feet. Our most popular type is the Fraser Fir. They retains their needles the longest.

We also carry Balsom trees. They are quite often preferred for their fragrance.

Manotick Home Hardware donates the space to sell the trees. The sale of trees and cakes is a major fundraiser that facilitates our work in the community.

All these activities require a lot of volunteer hours. If you can help, check out our website http://www.manotick-kiwanis.org/ or our Kiwanis Manotick Facebook page for the latest requests.

Another way to support Kiwanis and the spirit of giving is to donate to our Blanket and Coat drive. We accept sleeping bags, blankets, coats, socks, warm hats and gloves. These are all donated to 3 homeless shelters downtown. You can drop off your donations at the Manotick Legion up to November 30th.

The New Member Information Night was held at the Manotick Legion on Anne St on Wednesday Oct 22nd from 7 to 9 pm.  The event was advertised in the Community Voice local newspapers in both Manotick and Barrhaven as well as on Facebook Community Groups in the surrounding areas including Riverside South, Greely, Metcalfe, Osgoode and Kars.  AS well, posters were also placed on local community bulletin boards in area stores and community centres.

The event was extremely successful with 13 individuals attending who were welcomed by our Membership Committee, offered complimentary beverages and snacks and learned about the many things that our Kiwanis Club does in the community.  At the conclusion of the evening, seven (7) of the attendees had registered to join the club and 2 others were took information packages home for serious consideration.

One of the attendees was so impressed with what he learned about our club, he posted the following on Facebook:

"Something I’m grateful for today — discovering another way to give back to the community.

I attended the Kiwanis Club of Manotick membership information session and was truly inspired by the incredible work they’ve been doing for decades — from youth programs and local events like Dickinson Days to senior outreach and community support initiatives.

What really stood out was the sense of purpose and connection — people coming together to make a difference right here in Manotick.

I’ve decided to join the Kiwanis Club of Manotick and get involved in their mission of service and community impact.

If you live in the area and are looking for ways to give back, they have some wonderful initiatives. You should definitely look into joining them."

Chromebooks are versatile laptops that have become a basic tool used in high school. Students receive their assignments through them and submit their work directly to the teacher. They have productivity applications which include word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, note taking and more. They enhance one’s ability to communicate with team members on group projects, using video conferencing, email and social networking. Students can do their own research through web browsing. In effect, they are learning using tools and protocols similar to what they will need in their careers. Chromebooks are reasonably inexpensive, secure and accessible, making them ideal for students.

Unfortunately, the cost can be a financial barrier. Not all families can afford to buy a Chromebook for each child. Some students spend their whole high school experience without ever owning one. They borrow from friends or share with siblings. Some schools have Chromebooks that students can borrow or rent. It’s not an ideal situation for continuity in a student’s ability to hand in assignments.

This year, the Kiwanis Club of Manotick, working with the Staples Canada’s “Back to School” program, is helping.

Within this program, the Barrhaven Staples store has collected $3,500 donated from their clients. The Kiwanis Club of Manotick has added $3,100 to the total. This enabled us to buy 20 Chromebooks with two-year warrantees. Each of the schools which support our Key Clubs will receive 4 to be given directly to a student. There is only one criteria: financial need. The choice of the recipient is up to Student Services.

This is made possible through the Staples Back to School program and the enthusiastic participation of the manager, Carlos Oliva, and staff at the Barrhaven store.

This is the 19th annual School Supply Drive to equip students sponsored by Staples Canada. In 2024 the program ran from August 4th until September 22nd. Thanks to donations from customers, the program has raised more than $17 million in Canada to date. One hundred percent of donations raised goes directly back to kids in the local communities. Staples Canada partners with charitable organizations who help determine the most urgent needs.

In Ontario, Staples has partnered with The Kiwanis Foundation of Canada for over 16 years to help distribute the school supplies. This collaboration brings support to countless students from low-income families.

The Kiwanis Club of Manotick works with the Staples stores in Kemptville and in Barrhaven. The Kemptville donations go to the Kemptville Salvation Army to support their Backpack Program. The backpacks are filled with school supplies and donated to needy families.

Over the past few years, the money donated at the Barrhaven store has been donated to local elementary schools or split between the Interval House and the Youville Centre. This year the need for Chromebooks became apparent. The Chromebooks are going to 3 High Schools in Barrhaven, 1 in Riverside South and 1 in Manotick.

The Kiwanis Club of Manotick is very thankful for the opportunity to participate in this program. We look forward to a continued partnership to help make a positive impact in the future of our youth.

The Kiwanis Club of Manotick is very proud of what we accomplish in Manotick, Barrhaven and the surrounding area. We have the financial stability to provide large donations for community projects while delivering annual support to many community-oriented organizations. This would not be possible without the support we get from the Bingoland Gaming Charities Association (BGCA).

Our members have participated as active volunteers at the Bingoland South Gaming Centre for over 25 years. Once a week 2 volunteers take a shift at Bingoland South Gaming Centre. While Bingo is in session, we pick up used bingo cards and debris between games. We generally keep the play area clean and help players with mobility issues i.e. get coffee etc. If Bingo is not in session one volunteer will greet players at the front door while the other player wipes down machines etc. We are encouraged to engage in conversation and thank patrons for their support.  It’s an enjoyable way to volunteer.

In return, we receive a portion of the funds raised which we use to support youth groups, students, seniors and community projects and events in Manotick, Barrhaven and the Ottawa area.

It’s a win / win / win situation.

The charities are the biggest winners. In the Ottawa Region alone, Bingoland South supports 29 charities and non-profit organizations. In fact, they have raised more than $2 million for charities in our community. Overall, BGCA has raised more than $500 million for more than 2,000 charitable groups. This grass roots approach to supporting charities provides financial support where it’s needed most.

The bingo players win. It’s an exciting form of entertainment. The fun of playing comes from pure chance, there is no way to predict the winning numbers. The atmosphere is different from the major casinos. It is a more intimate setting resulting in more comradery among regular players, staff and volunteers. Players have the satisfaction of knowing they are indirectly supporting a worthy cause. Some players use lucky charms as a fun way to personalize their play area.

The volunteers win as well. We greet and talk to the players. We proudly wear our colours. It’s a very sociable and enjoyable way to raise money for our charity while raising our visibility and branding.

The diversity of the charitable organizations served speaks to the many unique needs addressed by this initiative. For charities that wish to keep a low public profile, it is one of the few ways they can gain financial support. For a complete list of charities go to bingolandcharities.ca.

The following testimonials give credence of the value of BGCA’s commitment to local charity groups:

·        The Nepean Eagles Football Club: “All funds raised go to providing necessary equipment and play field access for both contact and non-contact programming. We have established a priority in ensuring no child is unable to participate due to financial challenges.”

·        The Kidney Foundation of Canada: “Funds raised in 2022 were directed to providing verified low-income kidney patients with financial assistance to cover costs related to their diagnosis – such as transportation to treatment, medications, medical equipment, etc. – and to pay for emergency living expenses. These funds are helping medically and financially vulnerable people in Ottawa and we are deeply appreciative of this support.”

·        The Distress Centre of Ottawa: “The Distress Centre of Ottawa and Region is able to use the funds donated by BINGO to assist in funding our Volunteer Program. The funds help us recruit and train 100 new volunteers every year to work on our phone, text and chat lines. It also allows us to provide continuing education, support and supervision of our volunteers.  We are beyond grateful for the support from BINGO!”

·        ABLE2: Able2 provides support for people with disabilities. This from a thank you letter to ABLE2. “In August 2021, Liv and I were very excited to hear from one of the social workers at ABLE2 who thought they had found a potential match for Liv. Her name was Anika and we quickly set up a time for Anika to come over to our house to meet Liv. They instantly hit it off! “ Anika and Liv have formed a bond and become true friends. Anika has really made an amazing impact on Liv’s life and social connections outside of her family. We are so happy that this program exists.”

The Bingoland Charitable Gaming Association makes a big difference. They are an efficient and effective way to help the organizations who work directly in the community. They in turn deserve our appreciation and support.

First published in the Manotick Messenger on September 20th, 2024

It has been said that music is a universal language. “Where words fail, music speaks”. With instant access to many forms of visual entertainment, music is still a central part of our daily lives.

Young people are often inspired by their favourite artists to develop their musical talents. Every year the Ottawa Kiwanis Music Festival (KMF) gives them the opportunity to perform for a live audience.

The 80th festival runs from March 23rd until May 2nd 2025, in various locations around Ottawa (see the link below). Approximately 8,000 young participants will perform in over 2,000 performances for a combined audience of over 15,000 people. This is possible due to the efforts of over 300 volunteers. Ottawa area Kiwanis Clubs, friends and families of the Music Festival organizers dedicate over 9,000 hours of their time.

There is something for everyone. Performances  include a wide variety of music from Jazz and Rock Bands to full orchestras. Competitions cover small and large ensembles, musical theatre, instruments including brass, guitar, piano, strings, fiddles, percussion, woodwind and voice. Solo performances are free for the public. There is a small charge for choirs, orchestras and bands, and for the trophy classes at the end of many of the disciplines.

Judging is done by registered teachers, many with degrees from schools like Julliard. These world class adjudicators have come from all over Canada, and other countries to evaluate and advise students on how to improve their skills.

For many years the Kiwanis Club of Manotick has been in charge of the Musical Theatre section. Children as young as 8 dress in costumes from their chosen musical and sing songs that illustrate the best of their voices. The young participants are encouraged with helpful comments from the adjudicators. Musical Theatre alone requires a volunteer commitment of over 30 Kiwanis members.

On May 15th at 7PM, the Festival Highlights Concert will be held at the Algonquin College Commons Theatre. The show will feature some of the most entertaining performances and highlights of this year's festival. Entry is $30 per person or $10 per student.

Winners at this year’s festival will be eligible to move on to the Ontario Musical Festival Association’s Provincial competition. This year the “Provincials” will be held from June 9 to the 14th in Kitchener-Waterloo. Winners at this competition can go on to the Nationals in July.

Many successful artists have started their musical career in Ottawa. KMF alumni include world renown pianist Angela Hewitt, soprano Julie Nesrallah, jazz composer DD Jackson, and conductor Daniel Taylor.

Everyone is welcome to attend the competitions as well as the Festival Highlights Concert. For current information on individual competitions and venues go to https://www.ottawakiwanismusicfestival.com/festival and select Syllabus from the menu.

The Kiwanis Club of Manotick has been serving our community for more than 64 years. We meet the second Tuesday of each month at the Manotick Legion. Meet and Greet is at 6:00 PM, dinner is served at 6:30. For more information contact us at president@manotick-kiwanis.org.

First published in the Manotick Messenger on April 4th, 2025

The Kiwanis Club of Manotick is very proud to support the Kemptville District Hospital (KDH) Foundation’s Crossroads Campaign to acquire a Computed Topography Scanner (CT Scanner). Last winter we donated $10,000 to the project. This fall we donated an additional $10,000. The campaign’s goal is $2.2 million, and the generosity of the community has been outstanding. The vast majority of the $2.2 million is coming from individuals, service clubs and community fund raising events. Local businesses have pitched in. We are not alone in our local support of the Kemptville hospital. Half of all donors to the hospital are from outside Kemptville. Of those, more than 60% are from Manotick, Osgoode, and the surrounding area, surely proof of how important this hospital is to our community health.

A CT scanner is a critical diagnostic tool an ER department requires to make efficient and effective diagnostics. Currently patients requiring a more detailed analysis are sent to Ottawa or Winchester for potentially life saving diagnostic tests.

Having a CT Scanner at KDH benefits patients and their families, the hospital’s operations and the regional health system. ER patients get their scans done quickly and conveniently. Inpatients who require a CT scan to monitor their condition or diagnose a new one can do it locally. A faster diagnosis in an emergency means treatment can begin sooner. The availability of this equipment helps attract and retain physicians and nurses. It ensures that the ER remains fully operational 24/7. It will free up ambulances and paramedics who may be urgently needed elsewhere. It allows better use of nursing resources as they no longer need to accompany patients being transferred. And it opens opportunities for new medical and surgical programs and services at KDH.

Fantastic news! The Crossroads Campaign is coming to a successful completion. Implementation of the CT Scanner is scheduled for early in 2025. Why does this matter? It’s a game changer for the entire KDH community. And we are part of that community! The KDH is closer to Manotick than either the Ottawa Hospital or it’s Civic campus. We are in its catchment area.

December 31st was the original date to meet their fundraising goal. That has been postponed a bit by the mail strike and donations are still coming in. Success is anticipated in the very near future. The KDH foundation expects to announce the results soon.

That hasn’t stopped progress. Construction on the site to house the equipment started in September. The addition itself is modular, and its arrival for installation is expected this week. The scanner’s arrival is anticipated later this month.

The KDH Foundation is also building a fund to ensure all costs associated with technology refresh, and on-going maintenance is funded for the 10-year lifespan of the Scanner.

For more information, or to donate go to www.kdhfoundation.ca or call 613 408 0086.
The Kiwanis Club of Manotick has been serving our community for more than 64 years. We meet every second Tuesday at the Manotick Legion. Meet and Greet is at 6:00 PM, dinner is served at 6:30. For more information contact us at president@manotick-kiwanis.org.