Community in Kanata Steps Up

Last year around this time I was very excited to when Kanata Legion Branch 638 contacted me about adding a leaf to the Tree of Hope at Hope Living in Kanata. The Legion had heard about the building and the campaign to make it into comfortable and safe home for the 99 men and women who live there.

When the Legion contacted me this year to ask how things were coming and I told them that they campaign was just over 50% complete they immediately pledged to add another leaf to the tree! When they came in to put up their leaf, everyone was beaming because residents know that each leaf on the Tree is a reminder that they are not alone and that the community continues to care about them.

Thank you so much to everyone at Royal Canadian Legion Branch 638!

If you want to learn more about how you can make a pledge in support of the Tree of Hope Campaign please contact Micah Garten, mgarten@shepherdsofgoodhope.com or 613-789-8210 x 241

Holy Trinity School

Today on my regular visit with all of our kitchen volunteers, I met some new friends,  the kids from Holy Trinity School.  They came in to volunteer and make sandwiches for our clients.

Thanks for helping out the hungry in your community!

Less Than A Week Away!

A Taste for Hope is less than week away!  It promises to be the event of the season and we would love for you to be there! 

Superb chefs serving sumptuous, specialty dishes will delight your palate and a selection of fine wines, local beers and exciting, new cocktail temptations will be sure to make this elegant evening memorable. Don’t forget to take part in the thrill of both silent and live auctions with one-of-kind auction items.

All proceeds from this event will support the over 1600 men and women who come through Shepherds of Good Hope doors every day.

A Taste for Hope

Jean Pigott Hall, Ottawa City Hall, 110 Laurier Avenue West (Ottawa) Wednesday, March 25, 6pm to 9 pm

$150.00 Each ticket will receive a $100.00 tax receipt.

Get Your Tickets Here

With more than 18 chefs, including:

Jonathan Korecki

Sidedoor & Restaurant 18

Jonathan - or Chef Jonny - was born into a family of food and farmers, spending his youth with his hands in the earth producing vegetables and an arms distance from an apron pickling, preserving and jamming.  After cooking through the country from his hometown of Caledon, Ont. to Vancouver he enlisted to Le Cordon Bleu Ottawa where he studied classical french cuisine.  Working in the acclaimed Henry Burger, then apprenticing under Susur Lee in Toronto he became familiar with Asian flavours and combinations. This brought together his first executive chef position opening the acclaimed Sidedoor in Ottawa’s byward market. After honing his skills as a chef he took the executive chef position of CAA 4 diamond Restaurant 18 as well.

Who Else Will Be There?

There will also be some fabulous auction items!  We have something for everyone!

• Golf Packages
• Airline Tickets
• Train Tickets
• Restaurant Certificates
• Jewellery
• Autographed Sens Jersey
• Artwork
• Spa Packages

And Much More!

Don't miss out on this wonderful event that you'll be talking about all year! 

Get Your Tickets Here!

Get More Info Here!

Try Something New!

There isn’t much time left to get tickets for Shepherds of Good Hope 3rd annual A Taste for Hope! This glamorous affair promises to excite your taste buds from the sumptuous offerings from some of Ottawa’s finest chefs. 

This year we have an additional treat – two brand new restaurants, North & Navy and Share Freehouse will be on board for your delight serving up their specialty dishes!

North of 7 distillery will also have their full line of products on hand for your enjoyment.
That is not all.  Wait until you see the great items at the silent auction table and take part in the exciting live auction!

Enjoy an evening like no other while helping support the great work at Shepherds of Good Hope and by showing our clients that they have not been forgotten.

Jean Pigott Hall, Ottawa City Hall, 110 Laurier Avenue West (Ottawa) Wednesday, March 25, 6pm to 9 pm

$150.00 Each ticket will receive a $100.00 tax receipt.

Get Your Tickets Here

 

Featuring Amazing Newcomers:

North & Navy

 
Located in an iconic culinary building on Nepean Street, Chef Adam Vetterol and his business partner, Chris Schlesak have just opened one of the most unique Italian inspired restaurants to appear on Ottawa's food scene.  

The restaurant space has been transformed into a comfortable, casually elegant space, perfect for sharing time and food with friends.  A new window into the kitchen allows diners to connect with the culinary team and the service staff, led by Schlesak, is outstanding.

The food is very unique.  Influenced by other south-eastern european traditions, Vetterol's expression of Northern Italian family meals is comforting and powerful.  

North of 7 Distillery

 

How did two Ontario boys, Greg Lipin and Jody Miall, develop a love and appreciation of small-batch bourbon, so much so that they conspired to open a first of its kind micro distillery in Ottawa?The connection seems incongruous, but in truth it was their love of rock climbing. Both are long time, avid rock climbers who regularly travel down into the hollers of Kentucky on climbing trips.  It was there they developed an appreciation for the ‘brown spirits.’  This love led to the touring of distilleries in the region, and the purchasing and enjoying of many different types of bourbon and other american whiskies.

In the true artisan spirit, every level of production is handled in-house, including mashing and fermentation, distilling, barrel aging, bottling, and packaging.

Their unique line of hand-crafted spirits includes whisky, rum, gin, and vodka.
 

Our Friend Chef Danny Mongeon is Opening a New Restaurant!

Share Freehouse

Born and raised in Ottawa, Chef Danny Mongeon began cooking at the age of thirteen for Neil Tully, executive chef of Friday's Roast Beef House. Neil took Danny under his wing and began to teach him the ways of the kitchen.
This experience proved to be very educational and rewarding. Danny felt his vocation was a career in cooking.

After working under some of Ottawa's greatest Chefs, Danny helped open Brut Cantina Sociale in downtown Hull.  The restaurant was an instant hit and helped Mongeon gain the confidence to open his own restaurant.  Soon, Hooch was conceptualized.  Mongeon's take on southern cuisine, seafood and raw plates stunned diners when the doors opened.  His creative menu changed frequently and was paired with craft cocktails and small batch bourbon whiskey.

"I really can relate to this important cause, said Chef Mongeon.  There was a time in my youth when I witnessed the good things the Shepherds of Good Hope do.  I'm proud to help them raise money to continue their work."

Danny will be opening a new restaurant in April called Share Freehouse.  Watch for news about how he turns Ottawa dining on it's ear again.

Get Your Tickets Here!

Get More Info Here!

 

 

 

Meet The Chefs!

Would you like to spend a fantastic evening in the company of some of Ottawa’s finest chefs all in the name of helping the homeless?

A Taste for Hope is an extraordinary culinary event in celebration of Shepherds of Good Hope’s service to the most vulnerable men and women in our community.  You will be able to sample dishes prepared by many talented local Ottawa chefs ranging from signature creations to the exotic, as well as fine wines and local beers. All proceeds from this event will be used to serve the 1,600 men and women that come through our doors every day.

Jean Pigott Hall, Ottawa City Hall, 110 Laurier Avenue West (Ottawa) 

Wednesday, March 25, 6pm to 9 pm

$150.00 Each ticket will receive a $100.00 tax receipt.

FIND OUT MORE HERE!

Some of the amazing chefs in attendance will be:

 Chef Jason Laurin, Essence Catering

A Cordon Bleu Cuisine and Pastry graduate, Chef Jason Laurin has been honing his craft for over 20 years. Having worked in Montreal, Toronto and Dallas before arriving in Ottawa, he brings his food memories from each of his stops along his career journey. His contemporary style is based in classical training. Chef Jason is able to design and execute menus that reflect the unique qualities and tastes of each of Essence Catering’s clients.

Chef Briana Kim, Café My House

Chef/Owner Briana Kim opened her plant-based restaurant Cafe My House in winter 2009 in hopes to provide creative and approachable vegan food to people who wouldn't normally seek out a vegan restaurant. The new location in Hintonburg focuses in seasonal, changing menu, tasty artisanal cocktails & fun special events like Speakeasy Night, Nut Cheese & Wine event & Pizza and Beer Night.

 Chef John Morris, NAC

Chef John Morris was born in Bathgate, Scotland, and raised in Ontario. John, who has been cooking for more than 18 years, began his career as an apprentice at the Kananaskis Lodge in Alberta. He was a key part of the team who achieved the CAA Four Diamond awarded to Perspectives restaurant at the Brookstreet Hotel in Ottawa. Later, after a culinary stage in Bermuda, John joined the team at Caesars Hotel and Casino in Windsor. He was executive sous chef at the Ottawa Marriott Hotel prior to joining the National Arts Centre in 2009, the same year he received the 2009 Gold Medal Escoffier Society of Toronto Culinary Salon.

GET YOUR TICKETS HERE!

FIND OUT MORE HERE!

#JOEYCupOfCare

Yesterday was an exciting day in the soup kitchen!  This time with amazing soup from JOEY Lansdowne!

JOEY Restaurants has an initiative called JOEY Cup of Care where staff from the restaurants prep and prepare thousands of bowls of soup for hungry people in the community.  We had the pleasure of having the JOEY staff in our kitchen to serve lunch and dinner for our wonderful clients.

The JOEY staff also pitched in with day to day chores of prepping vegetables

And we also had special guest server, Mayor Jim Watson there at dinner to serve the delicious soup to our clients.

 

Thank you so much to JOEY Lansdowne and Mayor Jim Watson for helping us help those in our community!

Mitzvah Day 2015

Mitzvah Day is a day when a group of people get together and volunteer and perform good deeds in the community. 
David Smith from Creative Kosher Catering and his staff decided that they wanted to come down to our soup kitchen and serve an amazing dinner to those in our care.  All the clients in the shelter as well as residents from our downtown supportive living programs were served a delicious meal of smoked meat, potatoes, salad and dessert.  We are incredibly grateful to David and his staff for sharing their passion of food with this city's most vulnerable population.

Creative Kosher Catering to Serve on Mitzvah Day

David Smith from Creative Kosher Catering Serving for Mitzvah Day

Shepherds of Good Hope is pleased to announce that in honour of Mitzvah Day David Smith from Creative Kosher Catering is coming with dinner and his staff to serve the shelter dinner at their Soup Kitchen at 233 Murray Street on February 8^th from 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm.

Creative Kosher Catering is a premier catering company in Ottawa and has been the catering company of choice for many high profile events across the city.

David Smith said, “On this Mitzvah Day it is the Jewish values of kindness towards others that have brought me here to serve the less fortunate without judgment or reward.”

Anna Silverman commented, “David Smith has been a big supporter of Shepherds of Good Hope and continues to support our efforts with donations of wonderfully prepared food at every opportunity.  For this we are extremely grateful.”

For further information: contact Anna Silverman (613) 293-1003.

Durwin

I just wanted to share with you a touching story about the success of one of our residents, Durwin.

It has been over one year since Hope Living moved to Kanata and life for Durwin couldn’t be better! When Durwin first came to Shepherds of Good Hope he was very introspective and did not relate well to others. He stayed in his room most of the time and did not speak to many people at all. Then a big change happened. The Hope Living program, along with Durwin left the chaotic downtown core and took residence at 145 Castlefrank Road in Kanata.

Slowly, Durwin came out of his shell. He said he was more relaxed in this new environment because the suburbs were quieter. He got away from the drugs and alcohol so prevalent on the streets of the inner core of the city and was able to concentrate on creating a better life for himself. The first thing he did was learn the bus routes so he could do his shopping and buy his food. After years of not playing piano he sat down at the piano in the residence and surprised everyone with his skill. The staff were thrilled and the other residents were pleased to hear this beautiful music coming from Durwin.

He also decided to learn a trade that would help him find work and so he chose bookkeeping. Durwin then did correspondence for the lessons in bookkeeping and studied quite hard. When he felt ready, he wrote exams and scored a whopping 83%! Durwin is now a certified bookkeeper. Durwin also keeps busy working in the residence tuck shop and emptying the vending machines and counting the money.

Durwin’s world has completely changed and so has Durwin. He is a new man with purpose, direction and goals. In this new environment and with continued encouragement from staff Durwin has no other place to go but up.

Bringing People Together at Christmas

I have some thoughts that I would like to share with you about the organization that I am proud to work for.


Shepherds of Good Hope over the years has evolved into many things to many people.  We offer refuge from life on the street.  We provide nourishment and warm clothing when both are desperately needed.  Just as important, we bring estranged families together again linking the past to the present and we are the caring ears listening with compassion and offering assistance at the lowest points in many people’s lives.

 

Shepherds of Good Hope has always been a sanctuary for the lost and lonely, the outcasts amongst us and those afflicted by mental illness or addictions.




At Christmas, many more individuals and families looking for help come through our doors. The need for food is steadily increasing in this city. There are currently over 400 families every week accessing our grocery program. 

Our Soup Kitchen is constantly churning out meals to meet the ever increasing demand.  In one month, over 3000 breakfasts are prepared for those living in our shelters; 10,500 lunches are prepared for anyone coming  in off the street wishing a noon time meal; 3,750 dinners are made and handed out to the men and women living in our shelters and 9000 people stop in for hot soup and sandwiches at our Evening Drop-in.
We provide a beacon of light in the darkness of misery for over 1600 people a day.

Won’t you consider a gift to help make Christmas brighter for all of the many that come through our doors every day?

 

Export Development Canada

On Friday December 12^th we had a special group of volunteers from EDC. This wonderful volunteers came to help spread the holiday cheer by making a special meal for the women who live in Brigid’s Place, a Shepherds of Good Hope supportive living facility for the most street entrenched and hardest-to-serve women in the city of Ottawa due to addiction issues, mental health and factors relating to past trauma. All of the 11 women who are currently staying at Brigid’s have experienced exceptionally difficult lives and they were so grateful to the volunteers for taking the time to make them such a special meal. 

  

 

The volunteers had a great time volunteering together but the joy they brought to our ladies is what really marks the holiday spirit. 

If you would like to volunteer, or bring in a group to volunteer, please click HERE.