Author Archives: The Ottawa Mission

Seeing is Believing

Yesterday was a very special day at The Ottawa Mission as we welcomed close to 60 volunteers and donors to a special open house event at the shelter.

We called this event “Walking Together” because we know that the people we serve – the hungry, those recovering from addiction, and those looking for work and a place to live – share their journeys with the volunteers and donors who support them. We wanted to thank our supporters and give them an “up close and personal” look at all aspects of the programs we can offer because of their generosity. Continue Reading…

Bruce’s Odyssey of Hope

When Bruce arrived at The Ottawa Mission in 2014, at six feet tall he weighed just 140 pounds. His addiction had taken control of his life, and he felt that – after many years of struggling – he had reached the end of the road. What’s happened since then has awakened Bruce to a new life filled with sobriety, good health, and an abundance of hope. But it wasn’t easy… Continue Reading…

They Rebuilt Me

By Alex Robinson, Ottawa East News April 17th, 2015

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Ottawa Mission feeds the hungry on Easter

By Sebastien Burke, Orleans Star April 7th, 2015

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Article Summary

Ottawa Mission feeds the hungry on Easter

Published on April 07, 2015
By Sebastien Burke, Contributor

It took two weeks and 120 volunteers to transform the dining hall and prepare the food for this event. Attendants were treated to roast beef, baked potatoes, beans, Yorkshire pudding, carrots and lemon meringue pie.

Peter Tilley, Executive Director of the Ottawa Mission, stressed the importance of the event stating, “we get accustomed to holidays meaning something, and a lot of people coming out today have lost that in some way.”

“For us to give that to them, even just for a day, it’s the least we can do.” One way the Mission made the event special for the guests was opting for a restaurant style service instead of the traditional line ups. The effort does not go unnoticed by the guests.

Joseph Macdonald, one of those in attendance, said that he enjoys attending special occasions like Easter because of the positive energy in the room.

“You don’t see this every day, it’s a really happy moment,” said Macdonald, “Everyone’s smiling ear-to-ear and having a good time, it’s also a very nice meal.”

This Easter dinner is just one of the many things the Ottawa Mission does to help the homeless.

Since 1906, the Ottawa Mission has also provided essential items (like clothing and toiletries), medical treatment and job training.

The Ottawa Mission was very busy in 2014, serving on average 1297 meals a day. They also sheltered 1782 individuals with an average stay time of 51 days.

The Ottawa Mission is looking for donations of any kind. Those seeking to help can donate their time, money or essential items. For more information, go to https://ottawamission.com/

A Special Bouquet for our Wonderful Volunteers

This week is National Volunteer Week – a time to recognize, celebrate and thank Canada’s 13.3 million volunteers. Here at The Ottawa Mission, we simply could not help as many people in need without the dedicated support of our compassionate army of volunteers. Each week we are able to fill an amazing 250 volunteer shifts at the shelter. From preparing and serving meals to organizing clothing donations and helping out at our learning centre, our volunteers do so much to help people in need.

The husband and wife team of Mark and Holly Patterson are two shining examples. Mark and Holly have been volunteering with us since 2007. At each holiday meal they are front and centre. Mark greets and shakes the hand of every person who walks in the door, while Holly expertly works the tables and shows people to their seats. With an average of 2500 meals served in a 5-1/2 hour timeframe at these special dinners, Mark and Holly are kept very busy.

But their contribution to these dinners is much more than keeping things moving along smoothly. They believe that those who come to these dinners are our invited guests and they all deserve to be warmly welcomed, treated with respect, and made to feel special. From the happiness and fellowship felt throughout the dining room, Mark and Holly are truly adding their own wonderful magic to these events.

Thank you Mark and Holly, and everyone else who is part of our special “army”, for all that you do.

Taking it one day at a time

The Ottawa Mission’s addiction treatment services are able to meet men where they are at in their recovery. Some are just starting the journey; others may have many months of sobriety but have relapsed and need help to get back on track. It takes a lot of courage to ask for help and our supportive addiction services team is there for those who take the first step. Continue Reading…

Sharing the Blessings of Easter

Guest blogger – Chef Ric Watson, Ottawa Mission Manager of Food Services

Easter is almost here, and at our celebration on Monday, April 6 we expect to serve more than 2500 meals to people who have nowhere else to go. Unlike Thanksgiving and Christmas, when many special community dinners are organized, the Easter weekend seems to offer fewer options for those who are hungry. Our hope and our goal is that anyone who is in need is taken care of and provided with a special Easter dinner. Continue Reading…

Lent at The Mission

Every weekday at 10:55 a.m. a general announcement is made over the intercom at The Ottawa Mission by our Chaplain, Cosmas Ajawara: “Chapel service begins in five minutes. Everyone is welcome.”

People staying at the shelter, and people who live in the community join together to routinely fill the fifty chapel seats for this daily half hour of prayer, bible readings and song, and it’s always a special treat for staff and visitors to hear music and singing voices throughout the building. Continue Reading…

One Thin Dime

Guest blogger: Ottawa Mission Executive Director Peter Tilley

Every day at The Ottawa Mission we see people who are hungry, homeless and hurting. Although everything we do in our work is aimed at helping them, we know that despite our best efforts, we can’t “do it all”. This can be discouraging from time to time.

Recently we had a visit from a special guest who spoke to the staff about how we must never give up – that our work is important, and that we are changing lives, perhaps without always knowing it.

Frank O’Dea is known to many in the business world as a highly successful entrepreneur. Among other things, he was co-founder of Canada’s Second Cup coffee chain.

What many may not know is that, 43 years ago, Frank was homeless and panhandling on the streets of Toronto. He had developed an addiction in his teens, and although his family tried to be supportive, they couldn’t get him to turn his life around. One day, a passerby stopped to talk to Frank and offered him a dime and encouraged him to use it to call someone for help. Frank had recently heard an ad on the radio about a support service for people like him and, moved by this stranger’s genuine concern, he decided to reach out and call them.

Frank has been sober, successful, happily married, and giving back ever since.

Frank reminded me and the rest of the staff and volunteers at The Mission, and we would like to remind you in turn, that even the simplest gesture of kindness and compassion can make all the difference. 

Sometimes, all it takes is one thin dime.