COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

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:

  • Access to housing
  • Food security
  • Health and well being
  • Democratic process

To learn more about Community Development, please see the Guiding Principles for Community Development Practice.

LEARN HOW TO DRAW

Wednesday evenings from April 17th to May 8th

Join local artist Kerstin Peters for a series of 4 interactive and fun drawing workshops designed for adults to spark your creativity. No previous experience is necessary. Read more.

The Ottawa Good Food Box is coming to Orléans!

  • A safe, reliable and convenient way to access affordable fruits and vegetables in our community.

  • Order online starting Monday, May 27th

  • Weekly pick-up on Wednesdays between 5 to 7 p.m. starting June 5th.

  • Pick up Location: St. Helen’s Anglican Church, 1234 Prestone Dr, Orléans.

  • Read more

RURAL SUMMIT 2024

The Rural Summit aims to address the unique challenges and opportunities encountered in our rural areas.

The rural communities in the city of Ottawa include Ward 1 Orléans East-Cumberland and Ward 19 Orléans South-Navan.

The Rural Summit 2024 survey is an initiative designed to gather insights from rural communities. Make sure to share your valuable input before the survey closes on June 1st!

Your participation is crucial as it will help shape the content and focus of ward-specific workshops scheduled for this spring. The outcomes of these workshops will be integral in shaping the agenda for the Rural Summit 2024, slated for November. Your input will directly contribute to the development of strategies aimed at enhancing the well-being and prosperity of our rural communities.

Additional Information can be found on the City of Ottawa website here.

If you have any questions about this project, please contact ruralsummit@ottawa.ca.

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) 

The report looks at how effectively and efficiently policing is meeting community needs and producing outcomes that actually keep Ottawa safer. It also proposes how alternatives focused on support, not enforcement, can better meet those needs. Where policing is not proving to be an effective tool to produce greater safety, the report looks at other jurisdictions to see what alternatives are effective elsewhere. And, looks at Ottawa’s own capacities to see where we have the tools, and ready opportunities, to do better. The report offers clear options for city investments that can produce better outcomes for Ottawa than ongoing increases to the police budget.

Here is the press conference link:  https://www.facebook.com/CentretownCHC/videos/4720640437986011

INDIGENOUS BEADING SESSIONS

ALL AGES | ENGLISH ONLY | FREE | FRIDAYS | VIA ZOOM 

  • 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/Ottawa East;
  • Beginner to Advanced;
  • Free supply kits available for pick-up in Orléans or use your own supplies;
  • Adults, youth and children (with parental assistance);
  • Fridays from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm; and
  • For more information, check the events tab on Indigenous Roots Orleans/Ottawa East’s Facebook page or email

HARM-REDUCTION

Harm-reduction

NALOXONE DISTRIBUTION SITE

  • Naloxone is a medication that can temporarily reverse the effects of an opioid overdoes;
  • 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.

CITY FOR ALL WOMEN INITIATIVE (CAWI)

City for All Women Initiative (CAWI) is a unique collaboration of women from diverse communities, organizations, and academia working with municipal decision makers to create a more inclusive city and promote gender equality.

Every year we advocate for budget priorities that reflect the needs of community members and which, if followed, would increase equity for those who are marginalized in our City, including women and gender diverse individuals, disabled individuals, newcomers to Canada, Indigenous and Black people and people of colour, and those living on low incomes.

Nominate a community leader to the Caroline Andrew Civic Engagement Award.

To find out more about the organization and their events, click here.

If you are interested in community engagement, contact Carole at 613-830-4357, ext. 306.