Story & photos by Alexander & James Elliott, 1st Dunrobin Venturers

On Saturday, October 20, the 1st Dunrobin Venturers took part in the Kettle Island clean-up organized by the Ottawa Riverkeeper and in concert with other concerned local citizens. http://ottawariverkeeper.ca/events/fall_paddle_and_garbage_pick_up_1/


These dedicated people spent the day at Kettle Island (off the Rockcliffe Parkway, across from the ONEC (Ottawa New Edinburgh Club)) cleaning up the island and making a difference in our environment. They found enough garbage in one day to make a small island themselves!

Throughout the event, participants had to dig, wade and climb in order to collect garbage on the island. There was no end to the trash that had accumulated or been left by people who had enjoyed the island mostly during summer months. They found everything from Styrofoam cups, burnt mopeds, cushions, half-buried barrels and everything in between.

At the end of the day, we couldn’t count the number of plastic garbage bags filled to the brim along with big piles of scrap metal and other unrecognizable pieces of debris. All this from just about half the island.

Cleaning up the garbage was only half the battle. Everything then had to be ferried from Kettle Island back to the main land (Ottawa) to ONEC (Ottawa New Edinburgh Club). This service was done by the ONEC members, who not only supplied the volunteers with coffee and doughnuts but also ferried everyone to and from the island. Without their help and dedication, the day could not have taken place.

Even though everyone was having a good time, they were all working for a serious cause, to improve the Ottawa River for generations of both animals and the people who use the river and its islands.