The Ottawa Mission

Love is on the menu this wedding season 💍🍴

Cara & Brian’s June wedding will be catered by students from The Ottawa Mission’s Food Services Training Program (FSTP), a FREE culinary training program helping people build skills and a fresh start.

Chef Ric's and one of the students, Connor, recently joined Ottawa in the Know to showcase some of the delicious appetizers guests will enjoy, including smoked salmon with cream cheese, capers, and fresh dill, plus interactive food stations served by the FSTP students themselves.

The couple is using their special day to give back by raising funds for The Ottawa Mission. They have almost reached their goal of raising $100,000!

Two Hearts, One Mission - help Cara & Brian reach their goal: https://donor.ottawamission.com/page/TwoHeartsOneMission

No-cost job training that opens doors and creates pathways to stability and independence.

Our Maintenance Services Training Program (MSTP) will graduate its third-ever class next week!

Over the past few months, 10 people have received instruction and hands-on training in:
- Housekeeping
- General Repairs
- Plumbing
- HVAC
- Electrical
- Property Operations

All students are about to start work placements within the building maintenance and super intendent field, taking the next crucial step in launching their new lives and careers!

Thank you for supporting such a vital program that lifts away from uncertainty, poverty, and homelessness.

Through the Power of Expression Arts Program, people experiencing homelessness are discovering creativity, confidence, and connection in a safe, welcoming space. ✍️🖌️

Offered free of charge through a partnership between The Ottawa Mission, Arts Court, and Ottawa Art Gallery - Galerie d'art d'Ottawa, these art sessions are about more than painting —they’re about healing and hope.

And with food provided free of charge by Chef Ric's, participants are nourished in more ways than one.

Learn more about the program and get the latest information about upcoming sessions here: https://ottawamission.com/power-of-expression-art-program/

Thank you for helping us create space for healing, growth, and transformation in our community. 🦋

Chef Ric's and one of our Mission food trucks were delighted to be on site at the Annual Traditional Pow Wow over the past weekend and witness such an energetic celebration of Indigenous culture.

It was also special to see Randy, a former client of The Mission, play a major role in the festivities as a dancer!

Indigenous cultures are strong and should be celebrated. We look forward to continuing to work with Indigenous communities as we refine our Reconciliation Framework for release this fall.

As we count down the 16 days until the closure of our city’s safe consumption and treatment sites, we need to look at what is actually at stake.

The Trailer 2.0, operated by Ottawa Inner City Health out of Shepherds of Good Hope, is one of the largest and busiest sites in the province. It has 14 service booths. It serves about 225 people every day. It reverses an average of 2.3 overdoses every single day it is open. Between 2020 and 2025, it recorded over 320,000 visits.

Sandy Hill Community Health Centre opened Ottawa's first safe consumption and treatment site in 2017. It has recorded over 92,000 visits since 2020. Its drug testing machine has detected animal tranquilizers mixed into local fentanyl supplies, information that has saved lives across the city.

Together, the two sites have done the work that the province now claims is unnecessary. They have kept people alive in a city where the drug supply is more toxic than at any point in our history. They have referred thousands of clients to housing, treatment, and primary care. They have reduced pressure on emergency rooms, paramedics, and shelters like ours.

After June 13, that infrastructure is gone.

Join us in calling on the province to reverse this decision. Email Premier Doug Ford and Health Minister Sylvia Jones today. Tell them that harm reduction and treatment are two parts of the same system. Take action: https://ottawamission.com/get-involved/advocacy/advocacy-cta-2026-scts/

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us for our annual Volunteer Appreciation Night last week! This year’s theme, “Mission to the Moon,” made for a fun and memorable evening celebrating the incredible people who give their time to support our community. 🌙✨

From tote bag making stations to moon cakes and more, we loved creating a night that showed our volunteers just how appreciated they are.

Simply put, the work we do would not be possible without our volunteers. They are the heart of The Mission, and we are so grateful for their dedication, compassion, and support. We were honoured to take the time to celebrate each and every one of them.

With summer just around the corner, our team knows how dangerous extreme heat can be for neighbours experiencing homelessness in Ottawa.

That’s why a group of generous donors is MATCHING gifts made to The Mission until the end of June. And new monthly gifts for June - August are TRIPLED, sustaining care all summer.

Last year, our team found Jerry lying in direct sun at 35°C. With water, an ice pack, and a safe place to cool down, a small moment of care became a turning point and a new beginning. ☀️💛

If you’re able, please give in June and help make it a Summer of Hope.

Donate now: ottawamission.com

Please note: Until further notice, our clothing room is closed. 📢

We will share once we are able to open our clothing room back up to all community members. Thank you for your understanding.

This is what community looks like in action.💙

It’s the Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend and the Desjardins Charity Challenge is bringing our city together in support of The Ottawa Mission and other wonderful charities in our city.

Thank you to everyone who fundraised and supported The Ottawa Mission! Because of your support, people in our city will have access to nourishing meals, a safe place to stay, and care that meets them where they are – with dignity and compassion.

There’s still time to support The Ottawa Mission!

Give today: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/ottawamissiontamarack