Author Archives: The Ottawa Mission

Gratitude.

It’s been a watchword for Shirley Rochon all her life. It’s a reason she supports the Ottawa Mission with annual gifts. It’s also why she and her husband remembered the Ottawa Mission Foundation with gifts in their wills.

Shirley has had a good life, and she knows it. Born in Quebec City and raised near Montreal, she trained as a secretary after completing secondary school. When she met her husband Reg, her life took a different but very exciting turn.

Reg worked as an accountant in the international division of a major bank. His responsibilities took the Rochons to Beirut, Paris, and Amsterdam. Shirley loved it. “It still astonishes me,” she says, “that such a shy little girl could have had all those wonderful experiences around the world.” When they settled in Ottawa, Reg continued his work with the bank, and Shirley joined the civil service. It was a highly satisfying time for them both. It was also when they began their association with The Ottawa Mission.

The Rochons started to support The Mission with annual gifts in 1999. They also decided to help at The Mission’s Christmas dinners. They didn’t exchange gifts themselves so they chose to give to the Mission instead — an experience they enjoyed and found most gratifying. They volunteered for several years until Reg’s health declined.

It was around this time that Shirley and Reg decided to remember The Ottawa Mission Foundation with a charitable gift in their estate plans. For them, it was simply the right thing to do. “We had no children, had been blessed with a good life, and both felt strongly that we wanted to give back.” They left their future gifts undesignated for use where the need is greatest. As Shirley comments, “Who knows what the future will bring, and we both know the staff do simply outstanding work.” Shirley also strongly encourages others to remember The Ottawa Mission Foundation with a legacy gift. “Just do it!” she says. “It’s a way to help others who have been less fortunate than we have been. Besides, The Mission can’t survive on a wing and a prayer!” How right she is.

For Shirley, life remains good. She exercises regularly, does aqua fit, and plays a mean game of darts. She fondly remembers her time with Reg— sadly, he died in September 2019 — and continues her association with The Ottawa Mission. And The Mission couldn’t be more grateful.

Won’t you join Shirley Rochon and remember The Ottawa Mission Foundation with a gift of any amount in your own estate plans? You may direct your gift to any area of the Mission’s work that you wish or leave it undesignated. The choice is yours. If you have already remembered The Ottawa Mission Foundation with a legacy gift, would you let us know? We would like to offer you recognition—or not—as you wish and ensure we use your future gift precisely as you like.

And to the Rochons, thank you for your generous support of The Ottawa Mission Foundation — past, present and future!

Ottawa’s Caivan Communities and The Ottawa Mission have joined forces to build a better tomorrow for individuals experiencing homelessness in our city. Caivan recognizes that a home of one’s own is a challenging dream for guests who come to The Ottawa Mission, which is why Caivan has partnered with The Ottawa Mission to create the Building Tomorrow Together initiative.

The Caivan team is proud that the sale of each new home represents a donation to The Ottawa Mission Foundation and the Building Tomorrow Together initiative.

For every new home sold, Caivan Communities will contribute a donation to The Ottawa Mission to support its life-changing services. Caivan has set a target of $150,000 by the end of 2020. For the remainder of 2020, Caivan is offering special incentives to get more families into the home of their dreams. The Building Together Tomorrow initiative with The Ottawa Mission is Caivan’s way of helping everyone achieve the dream of a warm and safe place to shelter.

Now more than ever, it is important to reflect, to be thankful, and to work collectively for a better tomorrow. Our homes and neighbourhoods form part of a broader community and help shape the City we love. To address those of us that are less fortunate and share the same dream of a warm and safe place to shelter, Caivan and The Ottawa Mission are pleased to announce the establishment of the Building Tomorrow Together initiative.

For every new home sold, Caivan Communities will contribute a donation to The Mission to support its life-changing services. Caivan has set a donation target of $150,000 by the end of 2020. The Building Tomorrow Together initiative creates a way of including everyone in the pursuit of a warm and safe place to call home.

“We are honoured to continue supporting the amazing programs and services that the Ottawa Mission provides to those in need. The Ottawa Mission is truly a world class organization making a difference here in Ottawa” Susan Murphy, Homebuilding Ottawa President.

The Ottawa Mission is the city’s oldest and largest emergency shelter and has been at the forefront of caring for the homeless and those in need since 1906. The Mission provides the basic necessities of life, including food, shelter and clothing as well as programs and services to help vulnerable community members rebuild their lives. Last year, The Mission served 495,360 meals and provided safe shelter to 2,121 people. Its programs include addiction and trauma treatment, mental health services, medical and dental care, education and job training, housing support, and care for terminally ill patients in its hospice.

“This generous partnership with Caivan Communities will truly make a positive difference in the lives of those in our city who really need a helping hand,” says Sean Wong, Executive Director of The Ottawa Mission Foundation. “A big, sincere thank you on behalf of The Mission community and its guests.”

Learn more about Caivan Communities

Here at the Ottawa Mission, “Our Vision is to become a collaborative leader and innovator in empowering those we serve in transitioning to wholeness,” and part of our core purpose is to “reflect Jesus’ love”. Jesus made it clear that one of the reasons he was sent by God was to “set the oppressed free” (Luke 4:18). In our commitment to transition those we serve to wholeness, here at the Ottawa Mission we are privileged to come alongside a wide diversity of people including an increasing number of Black individuals, who benefit from our services.

As an act of witness to God’s work of setting “the oppressed free”, we the Board of the Ottawa Mission denounce the systemic anti-Black racism that poisons our society and this world that God so loves. With humility and courage, we commit to praying and to learning how God would have us combat the systemic injustice that undermines the dignity, God-given rights and well-being, of human beings made in the image of God.

“Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me…whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.”    

• Jesus (Matt. 25:40, 45)

Here’s hoping that you and your family have been well, or as well as can be expected, during these unprecedented times. It is hard to believe that it was only months ago that the entire world, and life as we know it here in Ottawa, was ‘turned upside down’ by COVID-19. Rest assured that The Mission immediately implemented all necessary protocols and procedures – under the guidance and direction of Ottawa Public Health and Ottawa Inner City Health – to ensure the safety and protection of our guests, staff and volunteers.

Through God’s grace and direction, and your devotion and support, we were able to provide services under the most challenging circumstances. In particular, I wanted to highlight the ‘above and beyond the call of duty’ spirit of every single staff member who rose to the occasion and put in the extra time and effort to ensure that The Mission was a refuge for those who needed us.

It was only this past January that Ottawa City Council recognized that homelessness in our community had risen to levels never before seen in our time and, in spite of the City’s ten-year plan to end homelessness, declared homelessness to be in a state of emergency. Only thanks to the unwavering support of you, our loyal community, have we been able to continue to care for those in need.

On behalf of the Board of Directors, the staff, volunteers and, most importantly, the guests we serve under our roof here at 35 Waller Street, I wanted to extend our deepest appreciation to every one of you who was able to reach out – in one form or another – and provide the necessary assistance to support our guests through these unprecedented times. Your generosity has made all the difference in their lives, particularly during a ‘perfect storm’ of hardship for the homeless.

May you and your families be safe and well, and as the saying goes, may sunshine light your way, and may summer warm your hearts.

God bless and thank you!

Peter Tilley

Rob is a father of two in his late fifties. His addiction was devastating to both his family life and his physical health. It began at a very early age during a childhood damaged by two parents who suffered from alcohol and drug addiction. Rob became a shield of protection for his mother when dad was drunk and violent. Coping with such a horrible situation led Rob to develop his own destructive pattern of behaviour. It took until Rob was in his late forties to finally accept that he needed to get clean.

“I went to detox 32 times, and 3 rehab centres, trying to get clean. Each time I came home and used right away,” Rob admits, “and I thought I would never get it, and die an addict.” By the time he was 56, Rob arrived at The Mission where he admits to being puzzled by how kind and helpful everyone was towards him. He entered the Hope Wing and had successfully been off drugs for fourteen months when his heavy tobacco habit took its toll.

Rob was struck by a heart attack in January of 2020 and required surgery at the Ottawa Heart Institute. He considers it a great irony that he ended up back at The Mission, this time recovering from a double bypass in The Hospice. The Mission’s health care team is particularly adept at providing medical care and support to those who are also recovering from addiction. It is a unique and invaluable skill set, and makes all the difference to individuals like Rob. “I am very grateful to The Mission,” Rob shares, “and I am still not using drugs. I’m even quitting smoking!” He’s looking forward to enjoying sunshine and summer air.

The Ottawa Mission understands the unique medical needs of the homeless and how proper care can contribute to recovery and a better, healthier future. Our Dymon Health Clinic is made possible by the kindness and generosity of donors like you.

Rob is very grateful. “When I look at the last forty years,” he says, “I thought I would never be grateful. Now I am so thankful and happy that The Mission helped me change my life.”

Paul arrived at the blue doors on Waller Street in February 2018, and like so many who’ve passed through them, he did so because they represented his last hope. When those doors opened, Paul entered a community where faith and devotion serve to bring hope.

Paul was experiencing mental health and addiction issues. He had been off medication for bi-polar disorder for a long time, making a normal life next to impossible. The Mission’s addictions program was Paul’s first step in a broader recovery strategy. Every story is unique, but Paul’s was more complex than most.

As a result, his case worker determined that Paul qualified for the Direct Engagement program and began by building trust and a comfortable rapport. Medical care was first and foremost required to control Paul’s bi-polar condition. He received a subsidy from the City of Ottawa to help with housing. Once his mental health was stabilized, the search began for a place Paul could call his own.

Support services at The Mission and the Canadian Mental Health Association were in place to ensure a smooth transition. Paul moved in a day before the start of the new year and the new decade. It was a great time to begin a new life.

Personal success can be measured in terms of relationships. Paul re-connected with his parents, and his new home played host to the first meal Paul has prepared for his kids in over 20 years! An articulate man and an aspiring writer, Paul put words to paper for his children; a map, if you will, meant to share the lessons he’s learned.

Paul titled it, A BEAUTIFUL Life.

“Begin each day with a grateful heart, ready to embrace all that will unfold for you.Seek the wisdom and counsel of elders; their life experiences will help lead you on your path.”

“Know when to be still and recharge yourself fully, through embracing all that you’ve been blessed with. Open yourself to your higher power and be grateful for this beautiful life.” Paul moved into his new apartment in the midst of winter. “I was a first responder for the ski patrol,” Paul shares, “so keeping in shape really helps me stay strong.”

Luckily, he’s located close to plenty of green space, bike paths, and recreation, a real bonus for an outdoorsy kind of guy who can now enjoy all that summer has to offer in his new neighbourhood.

Paul’s advice to his children is a lesson for all. “Remember that this life is YOURS to live! Make it a BEAUTIFUL life!” Your generosity has made all the difference to Paul.

He is deeply grateful for your help in his journey to a new and beautiful life. The Mission will be there for Paul all the way, all thanks to kind-hearted donors like you.