Shepherds of Good Hope

Ottawa is about to make history. On June 7, Shawarma Fest Ottawa 2026 will bring together some of the city’s top shawarma restaurants, live entertainment, cultural performances, and an official Guinness World Record attempt for the longest shawarma sandwich in the world.

Shepherds of Good Hope is proud to be a community partner of this incredible celebration. Through donated shawarma meals, 2000 people experiencing homelessness in our community will be fed.

A shared meal is more than food. It is comfort, dignity, and a reminder that people care.

What begins as a city-wide celebration will end with 2000 meals shared with people who need them most. ❤️

Calling all bartenders and aspiring bartenders!

Give the gift of time and support Shepherds of Good Hope at the HOPE Volleyball Tournament!

This summer, Shepherds of Good Hope has been selected as one of four beneficiaries of Ottawa’s annual HOPE Volleyball Tournament, and we need your support!

The tournament is taking place on Saturday, July 11, at Mooney’s Bay Beach, at 2960 Riverside Dr.

*Bar Services
10:30 AM – 3:00 PM
2:30 AM – 7:00 PM
*Smart Serve Ontario certification is required to work in a bar. HOPE will reimburse the cost of Smart Serve training for eligible volunteers. You must be 18 years of age or older to apply for this position.

The registration deadline is July 1st! Email [email protected] to sign up!

New Leadership Announcement!!

The Board of Directors of Shepherds of Good Hope Foundation is excited to announce the appointment of Allen LeBlanc as our new CEO effective June 1st, 2026.

Allen brings extensive experience in philanthropy, donor engagement, and community leadership, along with a strong commitment to mission-driven work, social impact, and community well-being.

We are also pleased to share that Meighan Hartley will continue in a new and key senior leadership role as Chief Development Officer.

Together, Allen and Meighan bring complementary strengths, shared values, and a collaborative leadership approach that will further strengthen the Foundation’s abilities to foster compassion and nurture trust in support of the critical mission to provide dignity and support to adults at risk of or experiencing homelessness.

Please join the Board in welcoming Allen and congratulating both Allen and Meighan on their new roles.

Shepherds of Good Hope is seeking passionate, community-minded individuals with leadership experience and diverse expertise to join our Board of Directors. This is a unique opportunity to support innovative housing programs while making a meaningful impact in our community.

As a Board Member, you’ll contribute to strategic planning, governance, and organizational oversight, while collaborating with fellow leaders dedicated to addressing homelessness, mental health, and social services.

We’re looking for individuals with experience in finance, HR, social services, housing, marketing, or people with lived experience, who are committed to equity, inclusion, and community impact.

If you are interested in applying, please send your resume to Stephanie Mora Garcia at [email protected]

Shepherds of Good Hope can’t do what we do without partnerships.

Jen is a mental health nurse working for Ottawa Inner City Health in the Targeted Engagement and Diversion (TED) program which runs out of our shelter on King Edward Avenue.

Every day, Jen, and her team, work outside of the public eye, helping some of the most vulnerable people in our community. They are Hope in Plain Sight.

Working as an emergency room nurse in a large local hospital, Jen always wondered what happened to her patients experiencing homelessness after they were discharged.

Jen soon came to find out that TED is what happens.

Patients who are experiencing mental health and substance use related health problems are brought to TED where trained healthcare professionals like Jen divert these individuals from overcrowded emergency rooms where they can get the support they need, without
prejudice.

If you see ambulance or police outside of the shelter, they are probably dropping clients off to a place where they can get the care they need.

“A lot of times, the clients we work with have had bad experiences with the healthcare system,” says Jennifer. “A lot of my job is to break those barriers and be there when they need me.”

“They are somebody’s son, daughter, somebody’s friend, and, though it may not look like it from the outside, they are recovering and change is happening.”

Jen is Care in Plain Sight.

Shepherds of Good Hope can't do what we do without partnerships.

Jen is a mental health nurse working for Ottawa Inner City Health in the Targeted Engagement and Diversion (TED) program which runs out of our shelter on King Edward Avenue.

Every day, Jen, and her team, work outside of the public eye, helping some of the most vulnerable people in our community. They are Hope in Plain Sight.

Working as an emergency room nurse in a large local hospital, Jen always wondered what happened to her patients experiencing homelessness after they were discharged.

Jen soon came to find out that TED is what happens.

Patients who are experiencing mental health and substance use related health problems are brought to TED where trained healthcare professionals like Jen divert these individuals from overcrowded emergency rooms where they can get the support they need, without prejudice.

If you see ambulance or police outside of the shelter, they are probably dropping clients off to a place where they can get the care they need.

“A lot of times, the clients we work with have had bad experiences with the healthcare system,” says Jennifer. “A lot of my job is to break those barriers and be there when they need me.”

“They are somebody’s son, daughter, somebody’s friend, and, though it may not look like it from the outside, they are recovering and change is happening.”

Jen is Care in Plain Sight.