About Us

Our Heritage

Ottawa West Community Support (OWCS) can trace its beginnings back to 1968, when Parkdale United Church established a long-range Planning Committee to determine the future role of church property. The consultants recommended that rather than re-developing existing church property, the efforts of the congregation should be concentrated on establishing three community programs: Senior Citizens Support, Child Support and Health Maintenance.

By March 1, 1977, the Senior Citizens Support Program was in place with fifteen volunteers who each agreed to provide two hours of assistance each week. Office space was provided in the basement of Parkdale United Church and was equipped with only one desk, two chairs and a telephone.

Throughout the first summer, volunteers, including many students, knocked on doors in the community to raise awareness of the Senior Citizens Support Program.

As word of this new program reached through the community, many of the churches in the West End became increasingly interested in the program and wanted to become involved. It was agreed that a Board of Management would be set up consisting of members from each church. Member churches provided financial support and many of our volunteers. This tradition continues to this day.

In August 1980, OWCS moved to our current office location at 1137 Wellington Street W. The building which is owned by the City of Ottawa had previously been used as a City of Ottawa Health Unit. With the financial help of our member churches we were able to obtain a stove, refrigerator and photocopy machine. Eventually, enough funds were raised to furnish a dining room that could accommodate twenty-four people.

For many years, Ottawa West Community Support operated as Ottawa West Senior Citizen Support Services under the Queensway Social Action group.

In 2004, OWCS was incorporated as its own entity with its own charity registration number.

Over the years, OWCS has continued to grow as well as the number of programs and services offered.

Today, the majority of programs offered at OWCS are funded by the Champlain Local Health Integration Network (LHIN) which receiving its funding from the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-term Care. Each year OWCS provides services to over 2000 seniors and that number continues to rise.

In 2007, OWCS was approached by the Ottawa Community Support Coalition to act as the lead agency in a pilot project called ‘Aging in Place,’ and funded through the province of Ontario’s Aging @ Home Initiative. In collaboration with the Champlain Community Care Access Centre (CCAC) and Ottawa Community Housing we began providing targeted services in five subsidized seniors apartment complexes in the Ottawa area.

In 2008, the project received annualized funding and expanded to include eight project buildings with the CCAC appointed as lead agency. In 2009, the Aging in Place program expanded further and we are now providing services in eleven Ottawa Community Housing Seniors Complexes in the Ottawa area.