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 couldnt 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.