The Rotary Club Ottawa South held a BBQ on Saturday, June 25, 2011 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of ROTEL. Despite the clouds and intermittent showers, over 60 invitees attended the event, including Mayor Jim Watson.
ROTEL, situated at 511 Smyth Rd, is a 51-room motel for out-patients and visiting family members of patients, and serves all Ottawa Campus hospitals. It started over 25 years ago when Drs Roland des Groseilliers and Ian Warrack had an idea to help out-patients and family members who needed affordable accommodations for hospital visits. Both were members of the RCOS and it was adopted by the Rotary Club of Ottawa South as their primary project, and supported by Rotary Clubs and caring individuals and organizations regionally.
Dr. Ian Warrack organized the event to reflect on the project, and celebrate the great community support and enduring legacy. The BBQ was emceed by Max Keeping, who had been very involved in helping this initiative raise funds when it started. Laird Rasmussen, President of the Board of the Rotel Foundation for 20 years received a Paul Harris Fellowship. Mayor Jim Watson spoke of how ROTEL is an example of the community working together, and the great contribution that ROTEL continues to provide.
Also in attendance were current General Manager Suzie Harrison, and the original General Manager, who is now a RCOS member and helped to organize the event, Monique Warrack (yeah, she's Ian's wife too, talk about mutli-tasking!). See photos.