Our group visited The Mission’s dining hall, commercial kitchen, storage areas, laundry, and shelter bedrooms, and saw first-hand the scale of services required to provide daily care for hundreds of clients. The Mission’s reach is remarkable: in 2023–24 it served over 1.1 million meals, distributed 78,000 grocery bags, and sheltered nearly 239 people nightly. Beyond food and shelter, it offers health and dental clinics, trauma and addiction support, housing outreach, and the Diane Morrison Hospice.
A key focus of the visit was learning about The Mission’s employment training programs: a commercial kitchen program and a building superintendent program, each of which runs for four months. The commercial kitchen track boasts a 95% hiring rate, demonstrating the success of skills-based intervention in breaking cycles of poverty.
After our tour, we purchased a catered lunch from Chef Ric’s, the Mission’s social enterprise storefront and catering arm. Chef Ric (Ric Allen-Watson), Executive Chef and Director of Food Services, has inspired thousands through his leadership and lived experience. Proceeds from his catering program support training and client care, turning every meal into an investment in community.
At the close of the visit, RCWO presented a donation of $1,500, received warmly by Mission CEO Peter Tilley. For RCWO members, the experience was both inspiring and grounding: a reminder that hope can be served one meal, one skill, and one life at a time.
CALL TO ACTION: Become involved with The Mission's meaningful work, whether through service, donations, or advocacy. Please visit https://ottawamission.com/get-involved/ to learn more!
Image: Jean H-L reflects on the feelings and memories captured in the tiles.
September 29, 2025: On September 25, RCWO members visited The Ottawa Mission, with thanks to organizer Ron Doll. Jean Begin, Fred Christie, Ron Doll, Jean Holbert-Leighton, Jake Maarse, and Erin Ueffing joined the tour, which included the dining hall, kitchen, shelter, and laundry facilities. We heard about a tremendously successful training program - a four-month commercial kitchen program - with a 95% hiring rate post-completion. Members also purchased an excellent lunch from The Mission's catering service, Chef Ric’s, and a $1,500 donation was presented to CEO Peter Tilley. 