I’ve been at The Ottawa Mission for just over six months now, so this will be my first time experiencing Christmas at the shelter.  Even so, as I reflect upon the universal Christmas themes of comfort, hope and peace – I can say in all honesty that I see demonstrations of these special gifts that we can give one another around me every day.

When we are able to provide people with food, shelter, medical and hospice care, we are really providing them with the gift of comfort at a time when they have no other options.

When we help people battle long-term addictions, or offer those who are out of work opportunities for education and job training, or help those who have nowhere to live access affordable housing, we are providing them with the gift of hope for a better life.

And when we offer spiritual guidance, or the special counselling that goes along with our treatment programs, or just listen when people need to unburden themselves, we are providing them the gift of peace in their otherwise turbulent lives.

All of you who support The Mission, especially during the Christmas season, are helping us help the most vulnerable members of our community at an especially difficult time of year for them.  And you are giving hundreds of people the precious gifts of comfort, hope and peace.

God bless you and your family this Christmas season and all year round.

Peter Tilley
Executive Director
The Ottawa Mission

A homeless shelter is a place where no-one would choose to spend the Christmas season, but for 235 men who need to sleep in our beds every night, that is the reality they face. And for them and hundreds more people in our community who are living in poverty or on the streets, the meals and events planned over the holidays at The Ottawa Mission are all they have to look forward to.

That is why we work so hard to make this time of year as special as possible.

Beginning early in December, we set up and decorate a tree in the Chapel, and people are invited to have their picture taken – something they can then pass along to family and friends who may be concerned about their welfare.

There is also a morning set aside early in the month where people can come together in the dining room and write out Christmas cards to send to their loved ones.

A little closer to Christmas there is carol-singing (led by talented staff musicians and singers – see picture), bingo, movies and cookie decorating.

A highlight for many is our annual Christmas dinner – being held this year on December 22 – when we expect to serve more than 2400 turkey dinners with all the trimmings.

And, of course, on Christmas Eve there is a special Chapel service for anyone who would like to attend – and it’s always packed.

All of these activities are made possible by the heartfelt hard work of our staff and volunteers and the generosity of our donors. You all bring gifts of hope to those who often feel forgotten at this special time of year. Thank you.

Dave’s life of addiction began when he was barely a teenager. Over time he lost everything – his parents, his children, and any hope for the future. It was only when an overdose nearly cost him his life at age 45 that he decided to seek help, and he found it at The Ottawa Mission. That was six months ago, and the change in Dave has been amazing.

When Dave came to us he was angry, bitter, and filled with guilt. He spent a month in The Mission’s Stabilization Unit where he experienced his longest stretch of sobriety ever. With this came the understanding that he was not alone on his journey – that people cared about him. He also received medical care, ate properly for the first time in years, began exercising, and gained the strength he needed to continue his recovery.

Dave moved on to LifeHouse – our 5-month residential treatment program. The counselling he is receiving is allowing him to open up as he never has before. He says he has never cried so much in his life – but it’s a huge relief to do so. Dave’s life is back on course – he’s working towards his high school diploma and plans to go on to college. And he has reconnected with his parents and his three children whom he hasn’t spoken to in 13 years. He now greets each day with new-found optimism and hope. As Dave says, “For the first time in my life I feel at peace. It’s the best gift I have ever received.”

This year Christmas will be a joyful time for Dave because, along with the gift of peace, he is getting a second chance at life.

At The Ottawa Mission, we’re fortunate to have the support of some truly wonderful people in the community.  Some donate every month or hold special fundraising events in the community – others give the gift of their time as volunteers.  Recently we have seen many children reaching out to help The Mission – some of them through activities at their school.  We wanted to highlight a few examples of the amazing school initiatives that have supported The Mission this month alone:

• “Double Lunch Days” started at three Kanata elementary schools last year.  On the designated day, students at St. Gabriel’s, St. Isodore and Georges Vanier schools bring a lunch for themselves and a lunch for someone at The Mission. The students did three Double Lunch Days during the 2012 school year and have again committed to three for the current school year!  Last week, parent volunteers delivered 308 lunches to The Mission.
• Speaking of lunches, last week students at St. Joseph’s High School in Barrhaven set out to match their world record sandwich making attempt from last year. Dozens of St. Joe’s students got together to make almost 4,000 sandwiches for different organizations in the community that help feed people in need.  The Mission received 400 of those sandwiches.
• Students at Ottawa Christian School in Barrhaven took the time this month to gather items for people at The Mission – including school supplies for the men and women studying at The Mission’s Stepping Stones Learning Centre.  Packages of pens, paper and binders were among the donations brought in by a group of OCS students a few days ago.

Thanks to everyone for their efforts to help people in need at The Mission.  Acts of kindness like these help lift their spirits and give them hope for a better future.

André arrived in Ottawa from the U.S. in 2012 alone, with no place to live, and without the right paperwork to allow him to work even though he was a Canadian citizen. Someone told him about The Ottawa Mission, so André came seeking shelter – and received so much more.

André was always focused on two goals – getting a job and living independently. With this in mind, he immediately sought the services available at The Mission’s Stepping Stones Learning Centre. He took a number of on-line courses including math and electronics, and gained the qualifications he needed to go to college. He also worked hard to get his Citizenship papers in order.

Early this year André was granted a bursary by the Ontario Ministry of Colleges. He spent six months at the Kemptville and Ottawa campuses of Algonquin College where he successfully completed the Motive Power Pre-Apprenticeship Program with some of the highest marks in his class. During this time, assisted by housing support staff at The Mission, he also found a place to live.

André’s personal Christmas wish this year was to be able to use his new skills on the job. We are thrilled to report that Christmas came early for André. He is now working full-time as an apprentice at Allright Automotive Repair – and the reports from his new employers, Bruce & Patrice Anderson, are glowing!

There’s nothing like hard work and determination to make wishes come true. Not to mention the generosity of a community that allows The Mission to offer programs that make such a difference in peoples’ lives.

Congratulations André!

Today marks Remembrance Day, and across Canada people will be pausing to reflect and to remember the tremendous sacrifices made – both past and present – to maintain our freedom and keep peace in our world.

Here at The Ottawa Mission we occasionally see men staying at the shelter or coming in for meals who have been soldiers themselves.  Many struggle with issues like Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder or addiction. Sometimes they share their military experiences, but many would rather forget.  Veterans Affairs has connected with The Mission in recent years and we can now refer anyone with a military background to the support programs available for vets in crisis.

People from all backgrounds seek help at The Mission, and some of them tell us that Remembrance Day has a personal meaning for them – even those without any military experience.   This morning we spoke with a few men willing to share their thoughts.

Mark and Christopher shared that their fathers served in World War II and both believe they suffered from PTSD as a result.  Mark says that back then it wasn’t something that was labelled or that his father spoke about or sought help for.  Instead his dad turned to alcohol, and the effect that had on his family was devastating. Christopher says his father never adjusted to family life when he got back from the war, and was more comfortable at the pub with his war buddies than at home with his family.

Another man at the shelter told us that his grandfather died in World War II. He never knew him but thinks of him every Remembrance Day.  He adds that for the past few years he’s made a conscious effort to watch the TV mini-series called ‘Band of Brothers’  around Remembrance Day and finds it very moving.

A minute of silence will begin The Mission’s daily Chapel service today, marking the 11^th hour of the 11^th day of the 11^th month.

Like others in our community, we will remember.

The third annual TELUS Mission Possible: Half Marathon and 5K event will be held this Sunday November 10^th at the Marshes Golf Course in Kanata. It’s an incredible show of community support for The Ottawa Mission – and you don’t have to be an experienced runner to take part!

After the run, participants can enjoy brunch in the Marshes clubhouse and participate in a silent auction.  We are also thrilled this year to have Afghanistan war veteran and competitor on CTV’s Amazing Race, Jody Mitic, as the special guest speaker!   Jody and his brother Cory placed an ‘amazing’ second in the inaugural Canadian competition, and Jody has a truly inspirational story to tell.

Last year, the 300 runners who participated in the TELUS Mission Possible event raised close to $7,000 for The Ottawa Mission. A portion of the proceeds from this event helps support a special program at The Mission that helps men who are homeless learn to run and gain access to activities that promote physical fitness.  The rest of the proceeds support  the other life-changing programs at The Ottawa  Mission, like job training, addiction treatment and a learning centre.

Want to run and help make our mission possible?  Register today at https://www.events.runningroom.com/site/?raceId=9778#starttimes to join in the fun!

Registration closes at midnight on Thursday November 7^th, so don’t delay!

We extend our heartfelt thanks to our sponsors TELUS, our presenting sponsor, and to Mizuno, The Marshes, and the Running Room for their wonderful support.

Thomas is 56 years old and in palliative care at the Diane Morrison Hospice at The Ottawa Mission. He was living alone in a subsidized apartment in Ottawa when he became terminally ill.

Thomas is one of six children in a family with roots in a small farming community in the Annapolis Valley in Nova Scotia.  His family, although living far away, travelled to Ottawa to help him find a place that would care for him. His options were few and eventually he was referred to The Mission’s Hospice. Thomas is now thankfully in a place that meets his needs for food, shelter, care, comfort and companionship.   He is looked after 24 hours a day by compassionate professionals and as Thomas says, “The people here are the best – even when I’m at my worst.”

Staff at the Mission Hospice encourage residents to keep in touch with their families and friends. Thomas is able to speak to his 83-year old mother in Nova Scotia nearly every day and also recently had a visit from his sister and brother-in-law who made a special trip to spend some time with him.   These family connections mean the world to Thomas, as do the many friends he has made at the shelter and the Hospice.

Thomas, and so many others like him, are so thankful that the Mission’s Hospice is there for them in their time of need, and are comforted because of the generosity of all those who support it.

Brian Lafleur and Julia Shillolo say they have a lot to be thankful for. As avid runners and hikers, they are healthy, happily married and have wonderful friends and family in their lives. Several times a year, including Thanksgiving, they drive to Ontario’s beautiful Muskoka area to see Julia’s parents.  That’s just over 385 kilometers from Ottawa.

They’ve talked in the past about one day doing the trek on foot. So this fall they teamed up with a group called ‘Good Guys Tri’ and decided they would run/walk to their family for Thanksgiving Dinner – and help others while doing it. They chose to raise awareness about how many meals The Ottawa Mission expects to serve over the Thanksgiving fall season – 95,000. They asked supporters to turn their attention to the need for donations and in the process raised more than $3700 for The Mission!

It took them 4 days of running and walking, but they made it. We asked Brian & Julia about the toughest part of their journey. They described Day 2 as the low point. They were in a thickly forested stretch of central Ontario and they lost each other on the road. Julia took a wrong turn and then couldn’t contact Brian on their two way radios. It would have been easy to throw in the towel but they didn’t. They eventually found each other, re-grouped and continued on. Brian says they have learned something about themselves on every journey like this that has challenged them.

Many people that come to The Mission are going through tough journeys too. Life has dealt them a set of circumstances that has led them to a homeless shelter. With the services and programs at The Mission, they too can re-group, learn and continue on just as Brian and Julia did – one step at a time.

Guest Blogger:  Chef Ric Watson

 As the Manager of Food Services and Head Chef at The Ottawa Mission for more than 10 years, I have experienced many Thanksgivings here.  It is always a special time, and yesterday was no exception.

I always do a “plate count” at the end of the day to see precisely how many meals were served, and yesterday’s tally was right up there at 2,885.  This means that we dished up 2300 lbs. of turkey, 400 lbs. of mashed potatoes, 50 gallons of gravy, and all the trimmings.

But for me it’s not about the big numbers – it’s about the impact of these special celebrations on the individuals we serve.

For people like Robert, these meals are a big deal.  He lives alone in a rooming house, and not only does he not have the money to buy the fixings for Thanksgiving, he doesn’t have a place to cook them.  He’s been coming for this meal, and many others, for as long as I can remember – and he always leaves with a smile on his face.  For him it’s like coming home to family.

We see young families who are living in poverty.  We see the men who are staying in our shelter and those from other shelters, and people who are living on the streets.  We see people with disabilities, and those who are mentally ill.

For each of them, this Thanksgiving meal is a sign that someone cares about them – that they are not forgotten – and their deep gratitude for this gift is so heartwarming to experience.

To our generous donors who send money, to those who donate turkeys and other food, and to the more than  125 volunteers who give their time to serve on this day alone – thank you for making Thanksgiving at The Mission such a blessing for everyone – including me.