The Ottawa Mission

Your morning coffee or salad with dinner can help change a life.

We're excited to share that Chef Ric's coffee beans and Italian vinaigrette dressing are now available at Farm Boy stores across Ottawa!

Every purchase supports the work of Chef Ric's, a social enterprise of The Ottawa Mission that helps fund our Food Services Training Program (FSTP). Through this life-changing program, individuals experiencing or at risk of homelessness, poverty, addiction, and other barriers can gain the skills, certifications, and confidence they need to build a career in the food service industry.

Since 2005, more than 500 students have graduated from the FSTP, with approximately 90% finding employment after graduation.

So the next time you're at Farm Boy, grab a bag of Chef Ric's coffee or a bottle of dressing. Every bag and bottle helps create opportunities, restore hope, and transform lives.

✨ Big news, Ottawa Chef Ric’s Market Selections has started arriving at Farm Boy . ✨

Our launch is officially underway, with Mission Blend Coffee and Italian Vinaigrette beginning to reach Farm Boy locations across Ottawa.

Both products are now confirmed on shelves at Farm Boy Train Yards, with more locations rolling out.

Created with a focus on quality, flavour, and everyday enjoyment, Chef Ric’s Market Selections was developed by Chef Ric’s, the social enterprise of The Ottawa Mission

This is a proud milestone for our team, our students, and our community.

If you spot us on shelves, take a photo, tag us, and help us celebrate this exciting next chapter.

So far this June, your support is making a real difference. As our Frontline team checks on neighbours in the summer heat, we see the change you’re creating every day. Here’s a glimpse:

🍽️ 50,000 + healthy meals served
🏡 3,000 ~ emergency shelter accommodations provided
🥛1,000 + bottles of water handed out

With heat and hunger rising across Ottawa, the need is growing. All June, your gift will be DOUBLED - providing 2X the meals, shelter, water, and relief from extreme heat.

And new monthly gifts for June – August are TRIPLED, sustaining steady care all summer. ☀️

Donate now to support your neighbours: https://ow.ly/c72M50ZeJvk ✨

Did you know that over 1 in 4 households in Ottawa are now experiencing food insecurity?

As the cost of healthy food continues to rise, more families and individuals are struggling to access nutritious meals. That's why our vertical farming initiative with The Growcer matters more than ever.

Over the past year, our vertical farming units have helped us:

🌿 Provide consistent access to fresh greens despite seasonal price fluctuations
🌿 Reduce our dependence on imported produce that travels thousands of miles
🌿 Ensure the 3,100+ meals we serve daily include locally-grown, nutritious ingredients
🌿 Protect our meal programs from supply chain disruptions

"When food prices spike, vulnerable community members feel it first and hardest. Our vertical farm gives us food security independence. We can grow what we need, when we need it, regardless of what's happening in the broader food system." - Peter Tilley, CEO

This isn't just about growing lettuce. It's about growing dignity, health, and hope for our community.

As we mark National Indigenous Peoples Day, the Ottawa Mission reaffirms our sincere gratitude to the Anishinaabe Algonquin Nation for their generosity as hosts for our continuing work to support vulnerable community members on their lands. The Ottawa Mission also affirms the inherent rights of all First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples across this land.

As Ottawa’s oldest and largest homeless shelter, The Ottawa Mission sees the impact of colonialism and anti-Indigenous racism, with disproportionately high numbers of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Peoples requesting our services.

As we celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day, we honour Indigenous experience, strength, and knowledge, and affirm our commitment to Reconciliation. This commitment is based on right relations between Indigenous and settler populations, founded on truth, respect, and an aligned understanding of our shared history as one family. As part of this, we commit to advancing those Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action that underlie and intersect with Indigenous homelessness, including housing and child welfare, culturally safe housing and support, and justice.

Our forthcoming Reconciliation Framework, to be released this September, will complete our public commitment to Reconciliation, which is available here: https://ottawamission.com/reconciliation-action-plan/. The Framework will outline how we will move forward to honour those ideas put forward during our discussions with Indigenous community members about what Reconciliation means to them, and how we can ensure that all Indigenous People who turn to us for help feel safe, welcome, and unconditionally accepted.

On , we are reflecting on how fleeing conflict, discrimination and persecution, or systemic violence requires an extraordinary level of mental fortitude and adaptability. The journey itself demands navigating complex geopolitical borders, bureaucratic vacuums, and sometimes immediate physical dangers. Yet for many, the complex obstacle course of displacement does not end upon arrival, but instead it transforms into a landscape of shifting legislative priorities and shrinking state support.

Recently, the federal government initiated a steep reduction in its share of emergency housing costs for newcomers and refugees, with plans to eliminate the Interim Housing Assistance Program funding entirely by 2027–28. This cut follows the closure of all funded IRCC hotel operations, which has abruptly cut off temporary shelter spaces that supported over 61,000 claimants since 2020.

Federal policy adjustments also targeted the Interim Federal Health Program that provides temporary health insurance to registered asylum claimants and refugees before they qualify for provincial healthcare. This means that highly vulnerable individuals, who are legally restricted from working immediately upon arrival, are required to pay out-of-pocket for medications and dental care, creating a massive barrier to preventive healthcare.

As higher levels of government divest from the initial stages of settlement, frontline organizations like the Ottawa Mission are stepping forward to provide the critical infrastructure required for successful integration. For newcomers who face systemic employment barriers or unrecognized international credentials, our Food Services and Maintenance Services Training Programs (FSTP and MSTP) provide a tangible pathway into the Canadian workforce. By equipping newcomers with specialized skills, industry certifications, and a local network of employers, these programs aim to bridge the systemic gaps and help refugees rebuild their lives with dignity.

💙 The Ottawa Mission dragon boat team is ready for race day today! 🚣

After two fantastic practice sessions led by experienced dragon boat coaches, we are ready to hit the water. 🌊

A special thank you to Acton, a dedicated donor and volunteer, who generously offered half the spots on his boat to Ottawa Mission staff and volunteers. His kindness has given our team the opportunity to come together, challenge ourselves, and celebrate community in a truly meaningful way.

📍 Come cheer us on today at Mooney's Bay!

If you're enjoying the Ottawa Dragon Boat Festival, be sure to stop by our tent to say hello and learn how The Ottawa Mission is - providing food, shelter, healthcare, job training, and long-term support to help people build brighter futures.

We can't wait to see you there! 💙🚣

💙 A Love Story That Gives Back!

Tomorrow is the big day for Cara and Brian. 💍 Their wedding isn't just a celebration of their love, it’s a celebration of hope, generosity, and second chances.

Instead of traditional gifts, they invited their family and friends to support The Ottawa Mission.

And then the idea grew – they set a goal of raising $100,000 – turning one of the happiest days of their lives into an opportunity to change the lives of others. They’ve received donations from their own social networks, and even complete strangers who were moved by their story.

Their journey reflects the very heart of our mission: believing in new beginnings and building a stronger community together.

🎥 Watch their inspiring story and see how one couple is making a lasting impact: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h89BiOGXCYg

If you'd like to support their incredible fundraising campaign, you can donate here: https://ottawamission.com/caraandbrian/
👉

Thank you, Cara and Brian, for showing that love has the power to transform lives. 💙

'Two hearts, one mission': Couple turns wedding into fundraiser An Ottawa couple is celebrating their upcoming marriage by skipping...

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Behind every meal served and every life changed is a community that cares. Today, we'd like to recognize three generous supporters making a real impact:

🚚 Tanner Insurance – for supporting our Mobile Mission Meals program as a proud partner of the 100 Meals A Month Club. Your generosity is helping address hunger in 41 communities and support the delivery of over 11,500 meals each week. We’re also grateful for your June initiative, donating to The Mission for every new policy written!

🧼 Grace White and the "Kits for Kindness" Club at Holy Trinity Catholic High School – for assembling and delivering thoughtful care kits filled with essential hygiene items like soap, toothpaste, and socks. Thank you to Grace and the entire club for your compassion and commitment to supporting our neighbours in need.

🧴 Annis O’Sullivan Vollebekk Ltd – for donating six boxes of mini shampoo, gel, and conditioner bottles to our shelter. These everyday essentials go a long way in helping our clients feel cared for and supported.

Thank you all for helping us provide nourishment, dignity, and hope to our community. Together, we're . 💙✨

“I didn’t realize how much the heat & humidity was affecting me. When the Frontline team stopped, offered me water, and helped me get somewhere cool, it made me feel safe - and like someone cared what happened to me.” – Marlo, The Mission client

All June, your gift will DOUBLE - providing 2X the meals, shelter, water, and relief from extreme heat.

And new monthly gifts for June – August are TRIPLED, sustaining steady care all summer. ☀️🥤🏠

✨ To help someone in need, donate now: https://ow.ly/gOz950ZbU9u