The Neighbourhood Ambassador Program is a collaborative initiative managed by the Boys and Girls Club of Ottawa (BGCO), Ottawa Public Health (OPH) and the Integrated Neighbourhood Services Team (INST). The program focuses on youth outreach in priority communities and works on identifying needs regarding mental wellness, youth leadership and engagement, and employment. The NAP teams are on-the-ground in common spaces including parks, basketball courts, and community centres.
The objectives of the Neighbourhood Ambassador Program, as a youth development outreach initiative, include:
- Promote COVID-19 related safety measures in addition to conversing with youth about how they are adapting socially, emotionally, physically and intellectually to the pandemic.
- Listen to the opinions of youth, to understand what is important to them, to respond to their concerns in a collaborative and integrated manner, and to improve access to City services.
- Provide youth with development opportunities in leadership training, personal development, volunteering and employment by leveraging municipal and community agency services.
- Provide professional development and employment opportunities to the youth ambassadors.
SPRING EXPANSION
Leveraging the success of the previous Neighbourhood Ambassadors, the NAP will be expanding to all priority neighbourhoods identified by the INST. These priority neighbourhoods are comprised of micro-neighbourhoods which include many in Bay Ward (Ward 7) and others wards:
- 1. Michelle Heights – Ward 7
- 2. Foster Farm – Ward 7
- 3. Bayshore – Ward 7
- 4. Britannia Woods – Ward 7
- 5. Winthrop Court – Ward 7
- 6. Pinecrest Terrace – Ward 7
- 7. Morrison Gardens – Ward 7
- 8. Heatherington – Ward 10
- 9. Albion – Ward 10
- 10. Vanier – Ward 12
- 11. Lowertown – Ward 12
- 12. Sandy Hill – Ward 12
- 13. Strathcona – Ward 12
- 14. Overbrook – Ward 13
- 15. Carlington – Ward 16
- 16. Bellevue – Ward 16
- 17. Caldwell – Ward 16
- 18. Debra Dynes – Ward 16
- 19. Banff – Ward 16
- 20. Ledbury – Ward 16
- 21. Herongate – Ward 18
