Ottawa Mission celebrates 20th anniversary of its renowned Food Services Training Program
Shelter also announces the Maintenance Services Training Program, a new job training program to train vulnerable community members to obtain employment as building superintendents
Ottawa, ON – Today The Ottawa Mission celebrated the 20th anniversary of the shelter’s renowned Food Services Training Program (FSTP), which provides students the education, skills, certifications, and confidence needed to work in a commercial kitchen. Launched by Director of Food Services Chef Ric Allen-Watson in 2004, the program has grown from a handful of students during its early years to now graduating more than 70 students per year, approximately 90% of whom go on to new careers in the food service industry.
Allen-Watson started the FSTP to pay forward the kindness shown to him by a mentor, who showed him the possibility of a better life through cooking. “Unfortunately, my mother suffered from mental illness, so when I was 14, she asked me to leave our home. I was homeless and lived a pretty rough life. Despite that, I managed to get a dishwashing job at a Queen’s University dining hall. A coworker, who knew I was struggling, saw my potential. Encouragement and guidance saved my life and gave me a future.”
Originally the program was designed to support people who were homeless and also at risk of being homeless. Now, it also helps newcomers. “Regardless of your background, you only need one thing to be accepted: a strong desire to change your life. Students receive certifications in food handling, occupational health and safety, and First Aid/CPR. And if they have additional needs, such as housing, support to learn English, or anything else, we provide that support to them to be successful,” Allen-Watson added.
One of these graduates is Sammy Amponsah. Seeking political asylum, he came to Canada in 2007 determined to build a better life. After graduation, he spent many years working for a local food services company, returning to The Mission in 2021 to assume the position of Kitchen Manager at Chef Ric’s. In addition to what he learned through the FSTP, the shelter helped him to improve his English and obtain his grade 12 equivalency, as well as supporting his efforts to bring his wife to Canada. “No other organization could have given me the support that the Mission did. For that, I’m very grateful.”
Today, there are many FSTP graduates working in some of the best food establishments all over our city. One of these is Thyme & Again, owned by Sheila Whyte a long-time partner and supporter of the FSTP. “I first met Chef Ric at a University of Ottawa leadership program in 2008. Once he told me about the program, I was keen to get involved. It wasn’t long before we began taking on some students for their work placements, and over the years, we’ve hired numerous FSTP grads who’ve gone on to be long-serving members of our team. These students have come well-trained, well-prepared, and with a wonderful attitude of wanting to make things work. It’s easy to hire them after their work placements have ended with us,” Whyte noted.
Based on the growth and success of the FSTP, The Mission is embarking on piloting a new job training program called the Maintenance Services Training Program (MSTP) to provide instruction and hands-on training for people to become building superintendents upon graduation. “It’s modelled on the FSTP, providing theoretical knowledge, practical skills, and certifications for people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness to secure employment in this sector. As with the FSTP, students will pay no costs and only need one criteria to be accepted: a genuine desire to improve their situation,” stated Andy Higgs. Manager of Maintenance at The Mission and the lead for this new program, which is expected to start in November 2024.
Neither the FSTP nor the MSTP receive any government funding. “None of this could have happened without the support of both our amazing and generous donors, but also the Mission’s Board of Directors, who strongly support both these great programs,” Ottawa Mission CEO Peter Tilley concluded.
About The Ottawa Mission
Since 1906, The Ottawa Mission has been serving the homeless, the hungry and the lost by providing food, clothing, shelter and skills. In 2023-2024, The Ottawa Mission provided emergency shelter to an average of 187 men every night and served an average of 3,103 meals every day. The Ottawa Mission also provides to men and women health services, mental health and addiction treatment programs, hospice care, dental services, housing services, educational support, job training, spiritual care, and clothing to thousands in need in our community. In September 2020, The Ottawa Mission marked the one millionth hour that the shelter has been in existence since its founding in 1906. In 2019, the Mission became a housing-focused shelter reflective of its commitment to a home for everyone as a human right with the launch of a new housing department.
FOR INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Aileen Leo
Director of Communications
T 613.234.1144 x 305
C: 613.712.3092
E-mail: aleo@ottawamission.com