This week I had the privilege as Chair of the Ottawa Community Housing (OCH) board to attend the unveiling of a mural at OCH head office entitled, “every moment matters”. The mural is a a mosaic of photos honouring the work of OCH volunteers.
The Volunteer Engagement Program at OCH welcomes volunteer groups who want to make a difference. The program was established in 2011 and has welcomed over 9,000 volunteers over the last 13 years. Tenants request projects to make communities more welcoming for tenants and their guests.
In 2023, alone tenant volunteers:
- Organized 2,437 large and small, reoccurring community events.
- Supported 3,511 food security initiatives and health & wellness activities.
- Participate in 75 active community associations.
- 95 tenants were engaged to support projects with corporate groups.
As OCH Board Chair, I see the impact of volunteers every time I visit our communities. At 31 McEwen, we recently unveiled another mural — the Tranquility Mural, painted by a community muralist and supported by the wonderful residents of the building’s tenant association — who completed the Community Capital Fund application. Then, 14 tenants who led the project completed the painting after four days of six-hour sessions. That commitment has left a legacy that will last for years.
I am also honoured to be invited to so many community celebrations, which I know are powered by the support of tenant volunteers.
Those celebrations are often about so much more than just the holiday – they are a chance for residents to build community connections, reducing social isolation. And sometimes, they are a chance to have their voice heard, be seen or have a meal. In these moments and the relationships between them, we find a greater purpose and a sense of belonging. By connecting and engaging with the community, we know our importance —volunteering matters. And by sharing these moments, we co-create the neighbourhoods, culture, and society we want to live in.
