At The Ottawa Mission, people of all ages and backgrounds take time out of their busy schedules to help people in need. Some are fortunate to work for companies and organizations that foster the spirit of giving back, and they come in as a group to volunteer. This month, there are a couple of prime examples of how these volunteer groups make a big impact. Continue Reading…

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…

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…

The Ottawa Mission is fortunate to have several community partners that also help people who are homeless in our community. We are also a member of the Ottawa Alliance to End Homelessness, which brings together agency partners to inspire action, to generate knowledge and to inform a community-wide effort to achieve an end to homelessness. Continue Reading…

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…

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…

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…

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.

Dwight has been in and out of shelters for many years. He often managed to hold down a job but spent a lot of his earnings on his growing addiction. Now, at age 46, Dwight is turning his life in a new direction and says it’s time to look forward, not back.

At The Ottawa Mission Dwight is not only working hard on his recovery through our addiction treatment programs, but he also has his sights set on another long term goal.

Dwight is studying at The Mission’s Stepping Stones Learning Centre and hopes to soon be able to write the GED, or secondary school equivalent exam. With support from our teacher, he’s taking math and literacy courses and art workshops, where he’s creating pieces like the one in this picture. Once he completes his GED, Dwight says the next goal will be to take Theology courses at college to help him achieve his dream of being a minister.

Dwight knew at a very young age he wanted to be a minister even though he was raised in a family that didn’t attend church and wasn’t encouraged to pursue his goal. During his time at The Mission, he has finally received the caring and practical support he needs to help him realize his dream.

Dwight is determined to one day share his blessings with others who are suffering by providing spiritual guidance to people in a shelter like this one. God speed, Dwight.

This winter has been bitterly cold and long for everyone in Ottawa – but doubly so for people staying in shelters. Not only is it more difficult for those looking for housing or jobs to get around, but staying indoors in a shelter with limited public space and cramped bedrooms only adds to the stress for many people in crisis.
As we all anxiously await warmer temperatures, at The Mission we will be facing the weather head-on with a special event this Saturday, February 21.  The Coldest Night of the Year fundraising walk has been growing in many cities across Canada in recent years, and this is the first year The Ottawa Mission has taken part.   And we are very pleased to report that the response from the community has been amazing!  Not only will we have almost 200 walkers out on our downtown route this Saturday, but hundreds of others have also contributed pledges to show they care about those in need. It’s expected that more than $42,000 will be raised to help support the  The Ottawa Mission’s vital work for those who are homeless and hurting in our community.
As well, almost 60 volunteers will be on hand this Saturday to help us ensure the event goes smoothly – many of them standing outdoors in the cold to guide and cheer on those who are walking the route.
The wonderful support we have received for our 1^st Annual Coldest Night of the Year walk has warmed our hearts – and the hearts of those staying at The Ottawa Mission – even during one of the coldest winters in recent memory.  Thank You!