The people of Walkerton, Ont., are trying to ensure more Haitians have access to clean water, 10 years after the small town's own water supply was contaminated and killed seven people.

Students at Walkerton's Sacred Heart Secondary are performing the musical Fame, with proceeds going to earthquake-stricken Haiti. It's called the "Walkerton to Haiti" water project.

"It will be used to make wells and washroom facilities, anything like that to do with the water," said student Kristen Reutz, who plays Dorris in the musical. "We know how it feels not to be able to drink the water, so we want to be able to help them."

The play is one of several fundraising efforts to improve access to drinking water in Haiti, including business sponsorships and the sale of rain barrels.

Walkerton teenagers and their families remember what happened a decade ago, when half the town was sick from tainted water.

"We were all affected at a personal level many of us were sick," said student council member Bridget King. "There's a lot of bad memories we want to leave behind, so we're putting this project in a positive light and moving forwards."

That's welcomed by Chris Tidey of UNICEF, the agency in charge of providing safe water in Haiti.

"It's amazing," said Tidey. "And given the impact of the situation in Walkerton on those people in terms of water quality, it's obviously a very good fit."

Walkerton will hold a memorial service Sunday for those killed by the tainted water.