COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Share Your Thoughts. Take our Survey
At the OCCRC, your opinion matters to us. Please follow this link which will take you to our survey as part of the City of Ottawa’s Community Funding Evaluation Framework (CFEF). It will take you about 5 minutes to share with us how we meet your needs.
The survey is anonymous and voluntary.
We thank you for your contribution.
Community Development is a process whereby community members come together to take collective action and find solutions to common problems. It pays particular attention to community members who face barriers and are at risk. It fosters collaboration to respond to local needs and basic rights such as:
Housing and Homeless
We are a member of the Alliance and End Homelessness Ottawa coalition of people and organizations working together to end homelessness through systems planning and coordination, public education and advocacy, and community-wide mobilization.
Poverty Reduction and Food Security
Poverty reduction involves both addresing the root causes and alleviating the effects of poverty in the community.
Mental Health and Wellbeing
* RETHINKING COMMUNITY SAFETY IN OTTAWA — In the wake of growing concerns in Canada and across North America about anti-Black racism, anti-Indigeneity, members of the Coalition of Community Health and Resource Centres of Ottawa (CCHRC) released the report, Rethinking Community Safety in Ottawa (pdf)
* PINECREST QUEENSWAY COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTRE & REFUGEE613 have created the You Belong Here, series of three multilingual info-graphics to help newcomers identify, address and report acts of hate in our community. Find the info-graphics in both languages here.
* RURAL OTTAWA YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH CHECK-IN SURVEY — The Rural Ottawa Mental Health Collective is looking to hear about the mental health experiences of rural youth ages 12-24, and parents/caregivers of rural youth who live in rural Ottawa! The survey will close on February 22, 2026. Fill out our survey here. If you have any quesitons and/or concerns, please contact us at info@ruralottawayouth.ca .
Democratic Process
For more information on community development, please refer to the Guiding Principles for Community Development Practice.
INDIGENOUS BEADING SESSIONS
Do you want to connect with your Indigenous roots? Beading is a great way to practice our ancestral art form. Beading heals, teaches patience and perseverance. Beading is medicine.
- Weekly sessions offered by Indigenous Roots Orleans.
- All skill levels welcome! Beginner to Advanced.
FREE | WEEKLY | IN-PERSON | ENGLISH ONLY
- Beading is Medicine – In-person
- Every Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. (except long weekends)
- Free supplies on-site or you can use your own supplies
- Adults and youth* (with parental assistance)
- Parents must remain on-site with their children.*
For more information, check the events tab on Indigenous Roots Orleans’ Facebook page or email IndigenousRootsOttawa@gmail.com.
ENGLISH CONVERSATION GROUP
Join our free English Conversation Group to practice speaking in English in a relaxed and friendly environment. All levels are welcome. If you have any questions, please contact Carole Ouellette or call 613-830-4357 ext. 306.
FREE | WEEKLY | IN-PERSON
- Every Monday from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Two raised garden beds were installed on the land behind St Helen’s Anglican Church at 1234 Preston Dr., last fall. This summer we will start gardening!
All the vegetables and herbs from this communal garden will be donated to the OCCRC Food Bank.
The garden will also be an opportunity for residents to come together, cultivate friendships, and learn about gardening. For more information.
If you wish to volunteer in the production of fresh produce for our food bank, or participate in the learning activities contact Carole Ouellette by email or 613-830-4357 ext. 306.
HARM-REDUCTION
NALOXONE DISTRIBUTION SITE
- Naloxone is a medication that can temporarily reverse the effects of an opioid overdose.
- You can come to the Centre to get a nasal kit (max 2 kits per visit).
- No ID, name or contact information required to receive a kit.
- A quick information session with an Intake Worker is required before receiving the kit.
- For more information, contact the Centre at 613-830-4357.