2019/2020
Annual Report
Message From the President of Our Board & Our Executive Director
As 2020 marks the 30th anniversary of the Nepean, Rideau and Osgoode Community Resource Centre (NROCRC), we want to acknowledge our valued volunteers and board members, partners, and dedicated staff over the past three decades who have supported the urban, suburban and rural Ottawa neighbourhoods in our catchment area. In 2019/2020, we were presented with many opportunities that enhanced our work with communities in supporting their strengths, challenges and successes. Together, we continued to identify and address service gaps in order to positively impact the diverse populations, from children to seniors to newcomer families, that reside in the large geographic area we serve.
With the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic towards the end of our fiscal year, we embarked on the long journey of enabling staff to work remotely and delivering more of our programs virtually in order to maintain a strong level of support in the community. We began to see a grave increase in food security and mental health issues in our neighbourhoods and across the city. In response, we quickly developed health and safety plans and protocols that included the use of technology to allow us to continue working effectively as a team, while providing easy access to both virtual programs and such critical supplies as food vouchers, Good Food Boxes and Baby Cupboard items directly to the community. As a result of this massive team effort, and thanks to the quick response of our funders, we were able to maintain most of our programs. We continue to learn and adapt to the ever-evolving situation and changing circumstances as we move forward.
There were many programs and partnerships that contributed to NROCRC’s success in the 2019/2020 fiscal year, including our summer camp programs; Tools 4 School; food security initiatives; Baby Cupboard; Milk and Eggs program promoting healthy eating for pregnant mothers and their babies; and many social and fitness programs for children, youth, women and seniors. You will find our programs and services described in further detail throughout this report.
In the spring of 2019, we held our eighth annual Shine A Light on our Community Gala at the Centurion Conference Centre. A great time was had by all as we listened and danced to the music of headliner Johnny Vegas, and bid on the generously donated items in our live and silent auctions. Our biggest fundraiser of the year, this event raised a total of $33,000.
We also undertook major changes in the reception area of NROCRC in 2019, which has improved both the accessibility of our services as well as the centre’s risk reduction measures for our staff and clients. Visitors to the new reception area have expressed their appreciation for this welcoming space, with its fresh colours and increased functionality. These renovations have also allowed us to serve the clients at our centre more safely, as physical distancing is now possible within the new layout.
As we prepare this Annual Report, we acknowledge NROCRC’s recent transition in leadership. In September 2020, we bid a bittersweet farewell to Sandy Wooley, our Executive Director of 12 years. We are grateful for her excellent direction and dedication to building NROCRC’s success over her time with us. We are pleased to welcome Anita James as our new Executive Director, who comes to us with a wealth of knowledge and experience gained from her many years of work with the Ottawa Community Foundation and local community health centres. We will also soon be saying a fond farewell to our Board President, Darryl Bilodeau, and Board member, Jared Kitcher, both of whom have faithfully served on our Board of Directors for the last nine years.
Looking forward, we plan to work strategically and collaboratively with our many volunteers, supporters and partners in order to continually enhance our capacity to achieve the highest level of positive impact in our communities.
Stay safe and stay well.
Anita James
Executive Director
Darryl Bilodeau
President of Board
2019/2020 Highlights
People Served by Our Programs
Number of unique clients who participated in each program
Food Security
Baby Cupboard
Community Development
Sports and Recreation
After School Program
Barrhaven Youth
Tornado Relief
Summer Camp
EarlyON
Parkwood Hills Youth Leadership Group
Milk & Eggs
Elder Abuse Intake and Case Management
Elder Abuse Education and Awareness Sessions
Tools 4 Schools
Caring and Sharing
Income Tax Clinic
Ontario Electricity Support Program
Intake & Counselling — Youth and Adult
Information & Referral
Seniors
NROCRC’s Programs and Services
Using a strong Community Development model and engagement of the communities we serve, NROCRC is proud of the quality and variety of our programs that are accessible to children, youth, women, seniors, families, and newcomer populations. The programs and events of 2019/2020 continued to bring residents together and strengthen our communities. In February and March of 2020, as the pandemic began, we quickly adapted much of our programming to provide virtual or in-person activities that followed heath and safety protocols in order to protect the well-being of our residents, partners and staff.
Children and Youth Programs
Our programs and services for youth included sports and recreation activities; after-school programs; summer camps; the EarlyON Program; Tools 4 School; the Parkwood Hills Youth Leadership Program; the Osgoode Youth Advisory Committee; Girls Mental Wellness sessions, and much more.
View highlights of our children and youth programs and services in 2019/2020
- In collaboration with the Osgoode Youth Association, NROCRC created an Osgoode Youth Advisory Committee, providing youth in grades 7-12 with an opportunity to connect and engage with their community. Multiple events included a community block party, the Haunted Trail, participation in the Osgoode Canada Day and Christmas in the Village celebrations, and neighbourhood outreach at the beginning of the pandemic.
- The Girls Mental Wellness group, in collaboration with the Osgoode Youth Association, was a six-week program for girls in grades 7-10. Through fun activities, sports and conversations, the program addressed topics such as conflict management, healthy relationships, managing stress, self-esteem and body image.
- Our Paint it Up project, funded by Crime Prevention Ottawa, engaged youth from the Parkwood Hills Youth Leadership Program and the Parkwood Hills Residents’ Group with a local artist to paint a mural in the Parkwood Hills neighbourhood.
- Youth from our Parkwood Hills Youth Leadership Program participated in the Youth of Today project, which is a youth-led initiative funded by Youth Action Now. They delivered care packages to the homeless, and hosted events for other youth in the community, while also supporting the Tools 4 School program to provide backpacks and school supplies to students in need.
- In May of 2019, our annual Top Shelf Ball Hockey Tournament had an increase in participation numbers and sponsorship support, as well as increased engagement from local businesses and the Barrhaven community. In addition to engaging youth in the tournament, all proceeds from the event are allocated to youth initiatives in Barrhaven.
Adult and Family Programs
Programs and services for women, families and newcomer populations occurred in multiple neighbourhoods, and included sports and recreation activities; the Milk & Eggs Program; food security initiatives; the Baby Cupboard; Women’s Crafting Groups, and more.
View highlights of our adult and family programs and services in 2019/2020
- Weekly swimming, Zumba and yoga classes for women in the Parkwood Hills neighbourhood. This was made possible with support from the Ministry of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries, and the use of free space was provided by Minto Apartments.
- In partnership with Scot Miller from La Cantina Streatery, we were able to provide rural residents with the opportunity to gather at a fun and creative community cooking event. Participants learned to make Salsa Verde and homemade Churros.
- NROCRC’s food security initiatives and Baby Cupboard program continued to assist residents struggling to afford food and/or diapers and baby formula. The distribution of gift cards for area grocery stores and provision of fresh fruits and vegetables through Good Food Boxes were in high demand once the COVID-19 pandemic arrived.
- The Women’s Crafting Group members and their children dressed up to visit Ottawa City Hall to go trick-or-treating with the Mayor, decorate pumpkins and watch spooky movies in the Council Chambers. For many in the group, it was their first time at City Hall, while a number of the women had been there before to partake in the Making Voices Count civic engagement training with the City for All Women Initiative.
- NROCRC’s free Income Tax Clinics for low-income residents, usually held in March and April of each year, were somewhat delayed due to restrictions on in-person meetings. Once we were able to adapt the program, the clinic assisted 939 clients in completing their taxes.
- In partnership with United Way East Ontario, NROCRC was pleased to introduce the United Way Energy Assistance Pilot Project to help low-income residents reduce their energy bills.
Seniors Programs
NROCRC’s programs and services for seniors included recreational activities designed to help lessen social isolation, such as our Young at Heart program and other seniors’ groups in various neighbourhoods; seniors’ outreach, especially active during the beginning of the pandemic; and our Elder Abuse Response and Referral Service (EARRS), available city-wide to seniors, service providers, and others who are seeking advice and support to deal with situations related to abuse.
View highlights of our supports to seniors in 2019/2020
- Weekly events such as senior-led fashion shows, craft activities, educational talks, and social gatherings in various neighbourhoods. There were also numerous weekly get-togethers via Zoom once the pandemic started.
- Establishing a seniors’ outreach team to touch base with seniors in our catchment area who might be isolated or unable to leave their homes. This service helped to ensure that isolated seniors were able to access resources such as food or counselling, if needed.
- Establishing a grocery delivery program that provided Good Food Boxes to seniors in our catchment area who were especially vulnerable during the pandemic, and were unable to safely leave their homes to regularly access fresh food.
Counselling Services
NROCRC continued to offer high-quality, short-term counselling services to individuals, couples, and youth aged 12 to 17 years old residing in our catchment area. The counselling team also includes an Intake position that provided resources, referrals, and systems navigation services.
View highlights of our Counselling Services in 2019/2020
- One of our counsellors co-facilitated the Girls Mental Wellness group and information sessions on youth mental health in partnership with the Osgoode Youth Association.
- With the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, our intake and counselling services continued to be responsive by providing mental health supports by phone, email, and virtual sessions.
- In partnership with Jewish Family Services of Ottawa, we continued to offer a weekly walk-in counselling clinic at NROCRC that was adapted to provide virtual sessions when the pandemic began.
Looking Ahead to the Year to Come
As we move forward in 2020/2021, we are constantly responding to the changing conditions of the pandemic, and are proud that we were able to adapt our programs and services to suit the needs of our community, while following the health and safety guidelines set in place by Ottawa Public Health and the Province of Ontario. We look forward to transitioning back to providing more in-person programs and services when conditions allow.
VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR
George Kong
“Volunteering is important to me because I have been served by many volunteers’ good service over the years, and I think it is time for me to do the same. I also have been inspired by these words: Love your neighbor as yourself, and It is more blessed to give than to receive”. – George Kong
Read more about George
George Kong has been an active supporter of NROCRC, and a respected, engaged community member. In 2019, NROCRC delivered a project to reduce social isolation for seniors in Nepean, Ward 9. As many of the participants spoke Mandarin, George offered to act as a translator to address the language barrier and ensure that participants were kept well-informed. He volunteered his time twice a week to provide translation services, support community-based activities, and facilitate dialogue with residents. His presence significantly increased the level of inclusion, as many Mandarin-speaking residents engaged in the project. In addition, he assisted with the registration process for the Christmas Exchange Program at NROCRC by helping with translation for Mandarin clients seeking support for the holiday season.
George is also a member of the Seniors Roundtable, representing the Coalition of Community Health and Resource Centres of Ottawa, and participates on a Seniors 55+ disabilities group in Ward 9.
NROCRC is grateful for the generosity and compassion George demonstrates in his support of the community and the addressing of city issues.
2019/2020
Financial Report
Our detailed financial statements are available here:
Where our Funding Comes From
Champions of the Year
Urbandale Corporation
Urbandale is a home builder in Ottawa that is committed to providing safe, clean, and secure housing solutions. They have provided NROCRC with sponsorships and funding for programs over the years that have been used to provide social supports to residents in many Nepean communities. NROCRC appreciates the generous contributions received from the Urbandale Corporation in helping us to make a difference in the lives of people in need.
Myers Barrhaven Nissan, Hyundai, and Toyota
The Myers Automotive Group is a collection of dealerships across the City of Ottawa that places a strong emphasis on community engagement. NROCRC is appreciative of the sponsorship provided by Myers Barrhaven Nissan, Hyundai, and Toyota in jointly supporting our 2019 Top Shelf Ball Hockey Tournament. The tournament hosted 34 teams comprised of novice-to-advanced players, which drew over 400 people to the exciting event.
Our Mission, Vision and Values
We work with others to improve the overall health of diverse communities.
Our Board
Our organization is overseen by a Board of Directors from a variety of backgrounds in the community.
Our Partners
We collaborate with a variety of community partners and stakeholders.
Our Funders and Sponsors
In addition to our many caring donors, NROCRC is grateful to receive support from funders and sponsors.
What NROCRC Clients are Saying
Thank you for the regular emails outlining upcoming NROCRC activities…Last Thursday I was very pleased to be part of the group travelling to Winterlude…This has proved to be a particularly difficult winter for me, and being part of Thursday’s group lifted my spirits. I recognize that as we get older having the communal services you offer are increasingly important, and I do hope that I will be able to join you in other activities.
Once I moved to this community (Parkwood Hills) I finally felt like I lived in Canada. I want to keep being involved in the community and sharing what I know with everyone.
My daughter and I just wanted to take the time to thank you from the bottom of our hearts. You have managed to shine a little ray of hope in what seems to be the darkest times we have ever had to manage. I as a mother, cannot thank you enough for putting such a huge smile on my daughter’s face, so much so that she wants to share it with her sister… thanks again and I hope to be able to contribute sometime in the future when things are better…