Bytown Chefs Collective

The Bytown Chefs Collective is a new collaborative initiative created by a group of Ottawa Chefs that are focused on creating unique dining experiences in the National Capital.  They will be at A Taste for Hope on March 25th in support of the most vulnerable in our community!

Come join us 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. Enjoy the atmosphere and listen to bluesy jazz as you sample fine wines and local beers.  That is not all,  wait until you see the great items at the silent auction table and be part of the exhilaration created from the 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

 

Three fantastic members of the Bytown Chefs Collective that will be in attendance are:

 Chef Stephen La Salle, The Albion Rooms

Chef Stephen La Salle is a proud Ottawa native. After studying at Algonquin College and working in area restaurants, in 2012 he joined the team at Novotel Ottawa to open The Albion Rooms in his first chef position in March 2013. 
Chef La Salle strives to showcase the region and contemporary Canadian cuisine at The Albion Rooms, in 2014 he was selected as one of Ottawa’s top 10 and competed at the Gold Medal Plates Ottawa culinary competition.

Chef Ian Carswell, KW Catering

Having grown up in Petawawa, Ian Carswell found his love of the kitchen lifestyle at Nippissing College, where he worked part- time at a family diner. After apprenticing in North Bay, Ottawa and Toronto, he went to Europe. “I had amazing experiences there, particularly at Helsinki’s Chez Dominique, ranked in the top 25 restaurants in the world. It was intense – I worked 100 hours a week but I learned so much.”

Ian landed at Absinthe Café when he returned to Ottawa and he moved next to K.W. Catering where he quickly rose to become executive chef. At just 29 years of age, Ian enjoys the responsibility of running the National Gallery’s busy kitchen, serving up a blend of classical French cuisine with modernist touches.

 Chef Kyle Mortimer-Proulx, Lowertown Brewery

Kyle got his earliest cooking lessons from his mother, who believed everyone should know their way around the kitchen. Getting his first kitchen job at age 15, Kyle knew then what he wanted to do: become a chef.

After graduating from Algonquin College's chef training program, Kyle began working as a cook at the Brookstreet Hotel, first under Chef Michael Blackie and later with Chef Clifford Lyness. He rose quickly through the ranks to become Sous-chef.

In 2012, Kyle left Brookstreet to become Chef de cuisine at ZenKitchen. Following Chef Caroline's departure in February, 2013, Kyle was named ZenKitchen Executive Chef.

Most recently, Kyle became Executive Chef at Lowertown Brewery a new Brew house and creative kitchen in the Byward Market.

Get Your Tickets Here!

Get More Info Here!

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.

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.

Shoebox Project for Shelters

Today Christmas came early for the women in our care!  Shoebox Project for Shelters is a group of Ottawa women that get together and make gifts for women in the shelter system.  This is a wonderful way to show that they are special and in our thoughts.

76 beautifully wrapped gifts will go to Women's Hope Outreach and Women's Special Care Unit.  To learn more about our programs, please visit our website.

On Christmas Day, everyone staying in our programs will receive a special gift.  If you would like to contribute financially to providing a shoebox for someone in our care, please CLICK HERE.

If you want to build boxes yourself, please contact me at asilverman@shepherdsofgoodhope.com

Members of Parliament Guest Servers

Today we had members of Parliament and the Parliamentary Senate serving lunch in the soup kitchen. Senators Asha Seth, Jim Munson, Senator Tobias Enverga and MP Joe Daniel took time out of their busy schedules to come and assist with the noon meal.

In the spirit of the holiday season, Senator Asha Seth generously sponsored the lunch was able to meet and speak with the most vulnerable men and women amongst us.

There was close to 500 people in our lunch line today for the wonderful meal that was served. Clients were absolutely thrilled to receive large chicken breasts and chocolates for dessert. Some of the guests were even overheard saying it was the best meal they ever had!

We are so grateful to Senators Seth, Munson, Enverga and MP Daniel for their compassion and dedication to the homeless and impoverished in our community.

Ladies Who Lunch

I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to all of the ladies that attended the Ladies Who Lunch event yesterday at the Ottawa Convention Centre. There were 300 women that joined together for good food, laughs, Christmas cheer and helping those less fortunate than themselves.

 

 

In raising funds for #GiftofHope, the women managed to raise $5100 towards our Christmas Hamper Program! The Christmas Hamper Program helps over 1100 families per year provide a Christmas meal as well as extras such as children's toys during the holiday season.  What an amazing gift to those that have so little but need so much!

 

If you would like to contribute to the #GiftOfHope, please:

 

Meet Ken

Ken has been a volunteer with us for over 7 years!  We sat down with him to ask him about his experience serving the community.



At Shepherds of Good Hope, we value each and every volunteer.  I myself volunteer all around Ottawa on a regular basis and have been doing so since I was very young.  Giving back to the community is something very important to me and it sure is to all of our wonderful volunteers!

A Great Day to Volunteer!

Westboro Flooring closes for the Jewish High Holidays and the staff uses the off time to give back to the community. Shepherds of Good Hope was lucky enough to be the recipient of 30 hardworking volunteers today who spread out across the city at our various locations. Whether it was helping to weed the garden, paint a room, or prep a meal, they were enthusiastic about making a difference. The clients were certainly appreciative and if you drive by one of our locations you will definitely notice the impact. A big thank you to their entire team.

 

Check out the rest of the photos on Facebook

 

Visit us at www.shepherdsofgoodhope.com