Category Archives: Blog

THE OTTAWA MISSION’S SPECIAL CHRISTMAS DINNER

Ottawa, ON – The Ottawa Mission helps hundreds of people who are struggling during the Christmas season. We hope to make the holidays a little brighter with the annual Christmas Dinner. The Ottawa Mission’s special Christmas Dinner will take place Sunday, December 17th from 11:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. in The Mission’s Dining Room.

Preparations are already underway in The Mission kitchen as it is estimated 2,500 plates of delicious turkey dinner will be served to those who are homeless, hungry, or alone.

Many special volunteer servers, including some from Ottawa City Hall, Queens Park, and various community leaders, will be dropping by during our special dinner event. They will join about 110 community volunteers that will be on hand to help out as well.

The menu for our Christmas Dinner consists of:

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  • 2,500 lbs of oven-roasted turkey
  • 50 gallons of giblet gravy
  • 450 tourtières
  • 600 lbs of mashed potatoes
  • 400 lbs of glazed baby carrots
  • 400 lbs of green beans almondine
  • 230 dozen dinner rolls
  • 3,000 cupcakes provided by ‘Cupcakes 4 Christmas’

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As always, generous donations of food and money from people in the community make this event possible, and The Ottawa Mission extends its heartfelt thanks to those who support this initiative.

FOR INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

Peter Tilley | Executive Director, The Ottawa Mission
613-234-1144 ext.226
ptilley@ottawamission.com

A SON’S INSPIRATION… A LIFE CHANGED

At 55, Chris is beginning a whole new life – one he could never have imagined even a year ago.

Chris’s adulthood was marked by addiction and trouble with the law. Although he was college educated and had a good job, a number of influences – including a troubled relationship with his father, the sudden death of his mother, and failed personal relationships – led him to a life of drugs.

Thirteen years ago, Chris became a father. As with most people, becoming a parent was lifechanging for Chris, but he was not equipped – mentally or physically – to really embrace fatherhood because of his addiction.

Then one day his young son came up to him, put his hands on Chris’s face, and said, “Please stop what you’re doing. I need my Dad in my life.” Chris vowed to himself to conquer his addiction, and he was successful. But Chris had a lot of difficulty finding work – he says not only because of his background, but also because of all his tattoos.

Last year Chris was on social assistance when his case worker told him about the Food Services Training Program at The Ottawa Mission. Chris had always had a passion for cooking, so he immediately applied and was accepted – tattoos and all!

Chris graduated from the five month program in June, and is working full time. As Chris says, “I am so grateful to my son for being such an inspiration to me, and to The Mission for the training and encouragement they have
provided. I have a career now, and I have hope for the future. And most importantly, I can provide for my son.”

VOLUNTEER CORNER – A KIND AND GRATEFUL HEART

As she approached retirement after 40 years as a counsellor and social worker, Jean Wylie was looking for volunteer opportunities. Thankfully for us, she answered the call one day to help make sandwiches at The Ottawa Mission. That was seven years ago, and Jean has become a familiar face to the staff and clients at The Mission where she never misses her Tuesday shift helping to prepare and serve meals.

Beyond this, Jean volunteers or participates in just about every community fundraiser that The Mission is involved in – including Coldest Night of the Year, WestFest and many more.

But for Jean, working in the kitchen and serving people in need holds a special place in her heart. She points out that many clients at first are reluctant to even make eye contact with the volunteers and staff. But, she says that over time they come to trust you. “Sharing a smile with someone who likely doesn’t get a lot of people smiling at them during their day is an uplifting experience. And the gratitude they express is overwhelming. I’m also very grateful.”

As Jean was returning home from the shelter recently, still wearing her Mission Volunteer t-shirt, she was approached at the bus stop by a young man. He wanted her to know that five years ago he was a client at The Mission, and his life has totally turned around. He is working full time and has a place of his own. He just wanted Jean to know that her work as a volunteer really matters.

It really matters to us too Jean! Thank you and God bless.

WENYIN – THE FACE OF INSPIRATION

When you meet Wenyin for the first time you are struck by his beaming smile and humble nature. And when you hear about his journey over the past year, you can’t help but be amazed by how much he has turned his life around in such a short space of time.

Wenyin is 36 and emigrated to Canada with his mother and sister from South Sudan fourteen years ago seeking asylum from persecution. Wenyin struggled for many of those fourteen years, and his self-destructive behaviour caused a rift in his family.

Things came to a head in the fall of 2016 when Wenyin lost his property management job and his apartment. He came to The Ottawa Mission in crisis and has not turned back. Right away he started attending our Day Program – a drop in session for men suffering from addiction. He also visited our medical clinic where he received treatment for depression, and strengthened his commitment to healing by attending our daily chapel service and participating in bible study.

When Wenyin learned about our Stepping Stones Learning Centre, he grasped the opportunity to improve his future job prospects by working on completing his high school education. At this writing, he is just a couple of months away from achieving this. But there’s more! Wenyin also completed a Custodial Training Program offered by St. Nicholas Adult High School, and this summer he is working every morning at Inspiration Village in the Byward Market as part of a maintenance team keeping the site in pristine condition.

As Wenyin says, “Before I came to The Mission, I had never completed anything I started, and I was wasting my life. Now, with the support and encouragement of everyone I have met at The Mission, I have accomplished more than I could have imagined. They keep me motivated and I still feel inspired every day.”

Congratulations, Wenyin. We are inspired too!

GLEN IS GRATEFUL TO BE HOME

Glen has spent much of his adult life in and out of shelters across Canada, including The Ottawa Mission, struggling with addiction and trying to find a way to stabilize his life.

Glen stayed with us for several months last year and says although life is pretty chaotic living in a shelter and sharing a dorm with others, he feels The Mission is one of the best shelters in Canada. He appreciates the volunteers and staff that work hard every day to keep the shelter clean and prepare meals for people staying here. Glen goes on to say, “Dealing with a serious addiction for most of my life left me on the streets for years. I’m a very private person and asking for help was hard – I always felt judged. But I didn’t feel that way at The Mission. A housing case manager worked with me to find a safe and affordable place to live which, in turn, stabilized my life. I live alone and still visit The Mission from time to time for a meal because it is a very welcoming place.”

Glen adds that even now that he has his own place he continues to receive support for practical things like how to pay bills and establish routine in his life. Glen has few friends and admits loneliness can hit sometimes. But he’s very happy to finally have a place of his own and grateful to The Mission and its supporters for their generosity.

GEORGE NAVIGATES TO A BETTER LIFE

On Canada’s 150th birthday, George celebrated one year of sobriety.  His journey to this milestone has been a long and winding one, but he’s thankful to you and The Ottawa Mission for his success.

George is 61 and was born in Cape Anguille, Newfoundland, once a bustling fishing village near Port aux Basques where he was a commercial fisherman for most of his younger years.  When the cod fishery collapsed in 1992 most people in Cape Anguille, George included, lost the only livelihood and sense of community they’d ever known.  Some turned to alcohol to ease their pain, and George was one of them.

Over the years, as George travelled the country searching for sobriety and work, he stayed in shelters in pretty much every major Canadian city.  He says it wasn’t until he arrived at The Ottawa Mission that he finally got the help he needed.

When speaking about The Mission, George will often say that it really is what it claims to be – “more than a shelter” – and that this is what makes a difference to people who often have to navigate the system without the support they need to get back on track.  He says, “At The Mission, no matter what challenges you are facing, there is always someone there to help.”

George’s own journey led him through the full range of addiction treatment available at The Mission, from the Day Program (a daily drop in session) through the Hope program, and Stabilization, and on to our five month residential LifeHouse program.  We also helped George access a Custodial Skills training program where he renewed his certificates in Health & Safety, First Aid and CPR.

Today George is living in one of our 2nd Stage transitional houses while he works part time, helps out his elderly neighbour with her yard work, and continues his recovery.  As George says, “I wouldn’t be here today without the wonderful staff at The Mission and the people who support their work.”  Fair sailing, George!

John Receives a gift of hope after 39 years!

As an Inuk boy growing up in Nunavut, John did not have the opportunity for a high school education. The only son in a family of three children, he was obligated to work alongside his father hunting and trapping to help support the family.
While in his 20’s John managed to complete grade 10. This led to job opportunities with the water and sewage department in the Hamlet of Kugluktuk. But John always knew that more education would increase the chances of better work prospects. Sadly, John’s life was derailed over the years as he fell into addiction and trouble with the law.
While staying at the John Howard Society in Ottawa last year, John learned about The Ottawa Mission’s Stepping Stones Learning Centre, and began the final steps in a journey that had taken 39 years. Working 2 days a week for sixteen months in our small classroom, he received instruction from our teacher and also accumulated co-op credits from the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB). Throughout his journey, John has been grateful for the support and encouragement he has received from the three partners who were always by his side – the John Howard Society, the OCDSB, and The Mission.
John is also a regular volunteer at St. Margaret’s Church where he helps prepare and clean up before and after their weekly Inuktitut service.
All of John’s hard work and determination led to one of the most important days in his life – June 8, 2017 – when at a special ceremony at the OCDSB’s Continuing Education Building, he was among a group of adults who officially received their high school diplomas!
For John, seeing people from The Mission and from St. Margaret’s in the audience at his graduation was very special. “I never thought this day would come, and I feel proud and confident about the future. I have hope.”
Congratulations John!

Announcing The Ottawa Mission Foundation’s Young Professionals Network

There’s nothing better than being part of a team of like-minded people who are working together to achieve a goal. With that in mind The Ottawa Mission Foundation is excited to announce the formation of its Young Professionals Network (YPN).

This group of young professionals in Ottawa will offer members a unique opportunity to make a difference in our community and in the lives of so many people who are homeless, hungry and hurting. It’s about working together to make change happen through event planning, networking and fundraising.

The Ottawa Mission is a special place – and much more than a shelter. We guarantee that by becoming part of the YPN your life will be changed as you change the lives of others.

Learn more about the criteria for joining YPN here.

Happy Birthday Canada – And Thank You!

All across Canada – and especially in Ottawa – excitement is building for the official celebration of Canada’s 150th birthday.  At The Ottawa Mission we are proud and thankful that we have been helping the homeless in our community for 111 of those 150 years.

As part of the festivities taking place throughout the Nation’s Capital, we were honoured to be gifted with a display space at Inspiration Village in the Byward Market.  We took this opportunity to depict the  legacy of The Mission, and to show with a timeline how we have grown and evolved over the years to meet the changing needs of homeless and hurting people in the community.  Inspiration Village runs until the end of September.  We hope you have a chance to drop by.

For Canada’s 150th we also issued a Special Edition of our newsletter to mark the occasion – we hope you enjoy it.

As we all celebrate this great milestone in Canada’s history, and The Mission’s 111 years of serving people in need, we would  like to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who has supported our work over the years through donations and volunteering.  Your kindness and compassion is overwhelming, and we simply could not do what we do without you.

Happy Canada Day everyone!

A special graduation at The Ottawa Mission

June is ‘graduation’ season for many families in the community and one of the highlights of our calendar this month is a special graduation celebration we hold for the men and women in our Food Services Training Program.

10 people have completed the five month commitment to the culinary program. Chef Ric Watson oversees The Mission kitchen and started the program 12 years ago when he saw people on social services coming to The Mission for meals who expressed an interest in learning to cook for themselves. But Chef Ric maintains there’s much more involved in the FSTP than just teaching people to cook. In his words, “this program builds self-esteem and confidence, which are fundamental to success in any career.”

Monique can vouch for that. She has always loved to cook and has had some work experience in different types of kitchens over the last few years. “In my opinion, the Mission kitchen is the best ‘teaching’ kitchen,” says Monique. “The course is giving me the knowledge, purpose and confidence to apply for better types of jobs.”

Unfortunately Monique suffered a broken wrist during the latest session and had to take time away from the course. But she will return to finish her training commitment in the next session of the Food Services training program, which begins July 10. It’s not too late to apply if you or someone you know is looking for a new career.
For information, email the FSTP Coordinator at fstp@ottawamission.com or call 613-234-1144.