The Need

While the Ottawa community is a source of pride for all of us, it’s not immune to the challenges facing all communities today. 

Families are under mounting stress to balance work and family responsibilities in order to meet the demands of everyday life.

The Vital Signs report, an annual measurement of life in the city by the Community Foundation of Ottawa, warns us about the city’s “underbelly of poverty”: 

• While Ottawa is one of the most prosperous cities in Canada, our community is plagued by a widening gap between rich and poor.
• In 2005, almost 71,000 families, and more than one child in five, lived below the poverty line.
• Close to 40,000 people are accessing Ottawa food banks and 39% of them are kids. These numbers have risen steadily each year since 2003.
• Unemployment is high among visible minorities and many find themselves in the ranks of the working poor.
• The lack of a sense of belonging is one of the report’s more worrisome aspects: only 61.5% of residents feel strongly a part of the community.
• Youth violence is on the rise and more and more young people are joining gangs.
• Use and abuse of alcohol and drugs continue to be a major concern. 

Health Canada reports that 50% of Canadians are out of shape and 55% admit that they never exercise.  Women and girls still lag far behind men and boys in getting involved in sport.  And today’s kids are the least fit generation of Canadian kids since measurements have been taken. 

Addressing the Challenges

The National Capital Region Y works every day with the Ottawa community, addressing these and many other issues. But demand for our services is growing, and so too must our facilities.  The $15 million Strengthening the Heart of Our Community Capital Campaign will revitalize the Y to meet the current and future needs of our growing population.Your gift will help us to: 

• Expand, upgrade and refurbish some of our most crucial facilities across the region;
• Develop new programs, enhance existing programs, and expand our services to even more kids, teens, families and seniors of all socioeconomic levels and backgrounds;
• Increase health and wellness for more people of all ages;
• Double the number of health and fitness facility members to 40,000 people a year and engage another 10,000 in other activities;
• Provide emergency and second-stage housing to nearly 1,000 people a year, helping them to stabilize and develop options for their future;
• Provide licensed child care to 450 preschoolers a year—a 20% increase in capacity;
• Guide and support 14,000 immigrants a year, helping them to settle and adapt in their new homeland and find meaningful employment;
• Instill environmental, life and leadership skills in over 5,000 kids and teens;
• Give our kids, our families and our community nothing less than the opportunities they deserve for their future. 

Explore the links in the Learn More section at the top of the page for a facility-by-facility summary of the renovation and expansion projects planned.