Collecting pop tabs for wheelchairs
Jacques Archambault hums a bright tune as he climbs the stairs of Ottawa’s 170-year-old French Canadian Institute in the ByWard Market.
Though his song is indiscernible, there’s joy in Archambault’s voice and heart.
He’s very pleased with today’s haul—four garbage bags brimming with empty pop and beer cans.
Within minutes, Archambault is sitting in a circle with two of his brothers and a close friend.
At a feverish pace, they wade into each bag, retrieving the aluminum cans to remove the tabs, flipping each one into a nearby jar.
Jacques Archambault, along with his brothers Paul, Jean-Marc and friend Claude Sauriol, remove tabs from cans Jacques has collected. They are members of the Institut canadien-francais d’Ottawa. Its Foundation has long collected tabs to help with the purchase of wheelchairs. (Joel Haslam/CTV News Ottawa)
“That aluminum’s very valuable,” said Archambault. “That’s what we’re after.”
He isn’t doing this to get rich. He’s collecting empties to fill lives with hope.
“If I can help somebody else out, I will,” he said. “It’s just the way I am.”
Archambault is collecting tabs to help purchase wheelchairs for children in need.
Organizations like Pop Tabs for Wheelchairs, supported by Easter Seals Ontario, help to buy wheelchairs and other vital accessibility devices. The March of Dimes has a similar program.
“I think it’s fantastic. I wish more would do it so we can get more wheelchairs out there for people who need them desperately,” said Archambault.
According to the website of Pop Tabs for Wheelchairs, the organizations has collected 76 million tabs, recycled more than 62,000 pounds of aluminum, helped purchase 13 wheelchairs and provide equipment for 19 children in need.
One estimate suggests it takes 5 million tabs to cover the cost of a single $5,000 wheelchair.
“I’m up to about 250,000 tabs,” said Archambault. “I have a long way to go.”
Jacques Archambault has collected 250,000 pop tabs. His goal is 5 million. (Joel Haslam/CTV News Ottawa)
Archambault removes the tabs at lightning speed.
“I’m getting very fast at it,” he laughed.
“I’ve done a lot. Personally, I think I’ve done over one hundred thousand cans alone,” he said, smiling.
His brothers and friends are happy to help the wheelchair cause.
“I think it’s great,” said friend Claude Sauriol.
“They’re so expensive, first of all, and a lot of people can’t afford them. I think it’s the right thing to do,” he said.
“We try to help as much as we can,” said Archambault’s brother, Jean-Marc.
“We know how much he’s dedicated to this. To do what he does is fantastic,” he said.
Archambault is a fixture in the ByWard Market. He continues to live in his family’s Lowertown home where he grew up.
“Everyone knows Jacques, or Jack, as he’s called,” said eldest brother Paul Archambault.
“He goes out of his way to help people.”
“I don’t even think twice,” said Archambault. “If I see someone who needs help, I just go ahead and do it.”
Local restaurants in the Market are helping Archambault reach his goal.
Establishments like El Taco de Oro and Fatboys Southern Smoke House save bags of cans weekly for Archambault to pick up.
Jacques Archambault collects cans donated to him by restaurants like Fatboys Southern Smokehouse in the ByWard Market. (Joel Haslam/CTV News Ottawa)
“They’ve both been very, very kind and helpful,” said Archambault.
At Fatboys, Archambault is a regular. He even has his own seat, marked with an engraved nameplate “Ambassador Jack” at the bar.
“It’s great because eventually we’re going to get a wheelchair for someone,” said Fatboys’ Michelle Melanson.
“It might take us some time, but we’ll get there,” she said.
Others, who understand Archambault’s determination, agree.
“He’ll do it. Trust me,” said Jean-Marc Archambault. “He’ll keep going on and on until he can’t get any more.”
Jacques Archambault's growing collection of aluminum tabs. (Joel Haslam/CTV News Ottawa)
And Archambault is asking for your help. Instead of recycling your cans, or returning them for a refund, he’s asking that you consider giving them to him.
“If you want to bring me the cans, bring me the cans. If you want to just bring me the tabs, give me the tabs,” he said. “I’ll take whatever you give me, and I appreciate it very much.”
You can reach Jacques Archambault at 613-883-1969.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
BREAKING Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
The Body Shop Canada explores sale as demand outpaces inventory: court filing
The Body Shop Canada is exploring a sale as it struggles to get its hands on enough inventory to keep up with "robust" sales after announcing it would file for creditor protection and close 33 stores.
Vicious attack on a dog ends with charges for northern Ont. suspect
Police in Sault Ste. Marie charged a 22-year-old man with animal cruelty following an attack on a dog Thursday morning.
On federal budget, Macklem says 'fiscal track has not changed significantly'
Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem says Canada's fiscal position has 'not changed significantly' following the release of the federal government's budget.