This past year has been one of growth, reflection, and forward momentum at the Ottawa Rotary Home. As we mark 43 years of service, we continue to evolve — guided by the voices of the individuals and families we support, and grounded in a deep commitment to inclusive, person-centered care.

In June 2024, our Board of Directors recognized the successful close of our 2022–2024 Strategic Plan, marking a return to solid ground across all programs following the challenges of the pandemic. With this chapter complete, we turned our focus to the future. In July 2024, People Minded Business was selected to lead the development of our next Strategic Plan. Over the months that followed, we engaged in extensive background research, completed an environmental scan, and most importantly, held meaningful consultations — both in person and online — with individuals (past and present), respite and supported living families, and local and provincial partners.

Grounded in the realities of sector reform and guided by the Journey to Belonging framework, both the Board and management team took time to deepen their understanding of emerging trends, challenges, and opportunities. With the full breadth of data, feedback, and insight in hand, a new three-year Strategic Plan for 2025–2028 was developed and approved. It will be formally presented at our June 2025 Annual General Meeting.

While shaping our future direction, we also took time to honour our past. In April 2025, we celebrated 40 years of service with a vibrant and heartfelt event attended by over 150 individuals, families, donors, Rotarians, and past and present board members. Co-created over six months by a diverse planning committee including alumni, staff, individuals we support, and board members, the celebration offered a joyful walk down memory lane and underscored the strength of the relationships that continue to sustain us.

We also expanded our reach in meaningful ways, including the successful launch of new Intervenor Services and the continued growth of our Children’s Summer Camp. These programs have helped us meet the diverse and growing needs of our community, creating more opportunities for individuals to connect, thrive, and lead enriched lives.

At the same time, we remained focused on strengthening our internal capacity through investments in leadership development, staff wellness, and long-term sustainability. These efforts are key to building a resilient organization that can adapt and grow while remaining grounded in our core values.

At the heart of every step forward are the individuals we support. Their courage, joy, and determination continue to inspire our work and reinforce why our mission matters. As we look ahead, we do so with gratitude for the past, clarity for the future, and an unwavering belief that every individual deserves to be supported in a way that honours their uniqueness, dignity, and dreams.

As we close the chapter on our 2022–2024 Strategic Plan, we reflect on the meaningful progress we have made in two key areas: building sustainability and growth within our organization, and deepening our impact in the community. Over the past two years, these priorities have guided our work and shaped the services and supports we provide. 

This year, we developed a new Strategic Plan to guide Ottawa Rotary Home through 2025–2028. With the support of People Minded Business, we consulted with over 100 individuals across all areas of our community—including people we support, families, staff, board members, and sector partners.

We listened carefully to what matters most, and what we heard was clear: people value strong relationships, a sense of belonging, quality care, and continued innovation. These insights, combined with a review of broader sector trends, helped shape a thoughtful, future-focused plan.

The new Strategic Plan reflects the reality that the developmental services sector is changing. We face increasing demand, limited resources, staffing challenges, and a more diverse and complex population. At the same time, ORH brings significant strengths: trusted leadership, a caring and committed team, and a reputation for responsive, person-centred support.

We are proud to be recognized as leaders within both our local community and the broader developmental services sector. Our team is deeply committed to advocacy—standing alongside individuals and families to champion their rights, voices, and access to meaningful support. Through collaborative partnerships and a focus on systemic change, we work to create a more inclusive, equitable environment not only for those we support but for the community as a whole. Strengthening our community helps ensure that every individual has the opportunity to belong, contribute, and thrive.

Our work goes beyond service delivery—this infographic illustrates how we lead, collaborate, and push for lasting improvements across the sector.

Our Multiple Special Needs (MSN) Program continued to provide meaningful and reliable respite for families of children with complex medical needs. Throughout the year, 15 children participated in the program, receiving personalized support and attentive care from our specialized nursing team.

The program is designed to support up to 17 children annually, and participation remained strong throughout the year, with steady growth bringing the program to a consistently high level of use by year-end. This reflects the trust families place in our team and the importance of having consistent, specialized respite care available to those who need it most.

We remain committed to expanding access and ensuring families can continue to rely on safe, flexible, and high-quality respite options for their children.

The Adult Respite Program provides essential short-term support to families caring for adults with physical disabilities. This year, we supported 53 adults, far exceeding our annual target of 36. Services ranged from planned overnight stays to emergency and extended visits, including respite during family health crises, home renovations, and other times of urgent need.

All individuals received support from our experienced team in a welcoming, fully accessible setting. Thanks to careful coordination and flexible staffing, we were able to meet demand throughout the year while maintaining high standards of care and continuity.

As the number of adults aging out of children’s services continues to grow, so does the need for flexible, reliable respite. We are actively exploring ways to expand capacity and ensure this essential service remains accessible to the families who need it most.

In addition to our ministry-funded beds, Ottawa Rotary Home offers families the option to purchase adult respite services directly—providing more flexibility for those who may not qualify for government-funded support or who require additional time beyond what is covered.

This flexible model gives families greater control in planning their respite needs and allows us to extend support to more individuals—particularly as the Adult Respite Program remains our most requested service and funded capacity is limited. Families often access this option using Passport funding or private payment, depending on their circumstances.

Participants in the purchase-based program receive the same high-quality care from the same dedicated team as those in funded beds, with access to engaging activities, community outings, and individualized support. This option remains an essential part of our service model, helping us meet growing demand and provide continuity of care across a wide range of needs.

Our two homes, Leitrim and Rochester, offer supported living where individuals with complex needs receive day-to-day support that reflects their personal routines, preferences, and goals. At the core of each home is a commitment to respect, inclusion, and a person-centred philosophy that guides every aspect of support.

Both homes are extremely active in the community, and the individuals we support are regularly involved in making meaningful connections and exploring what the world has to offer. From festivals and events to personally chosen outings and programs, community participation is a valued and natural part of daily life.

Throughout the year, individuals celebrated personal milestones, took part in enriching experiences, and navigated important transitions with support from staff and family. Whether marking a special birthday, preparing for a new opportunity, or simply enjoying everyday routines, each moment was grounded in respect, dignity, and person-centred care. The completion of a kitchen renovation at our Rochester home was another meaningful step in creating a comfortable, functional space that feels like home.

Our teams worked closely with families, health professionals, and community partners to adjust care plans as needed, respond to health concerns, and ensure consistent, compassionate support. At the heart of our work is a commitment to dignity, inclusion, and connection in everyday life.

Our Community Nursing Program plays a vital role in extending specialized health expertise to individuals and agencies across the region. Through clinical consultation, hands-on training, and responsive support, our nurses help ensure that individuals with complex medical needs can remain safely supported in their homes and community programs.

Over the past year, the team responded to increasing requests for consultation on complex cases, urgent discharges, and changes in health status. Support ranged from direct nursing visits and wellness checks to advocacy during medical system delays. We also coordinated and delivered seasonal vaccine clinics to protect individuals and staff against flu and COVID-19, recognizing the continued vulnerability of many we support.

As healthcare challenges evolve, the Community Nursing team remains focused on collaboration, education, and problem-solving—working alongside agency partners, families, and support staff to build knowledge and confidence in the field.

Chris Jordan, pictured here holding a newspaper clipping from 1982, was present as a child at the groundbreaking of the very first Ottawa Rotary Home. Over 40 years later, he returned to help us celebrate this incredible milestone—a full-circle moment of community and connection.

Community Support Training Solutions (CSTS), our organization’s social enterprise arm, continued to make significant strides this year. We expanded our reach, introduced new training content, and responded to evolving needs across the province. CSTS delivers practical, accessible training and provides specialized consultation services to help agencies implement effective policies, procedures, and staff training for individuals with complex health needs. We have also expanded our offerings to support agencies in becoming compliance-ready, aligning with provincial requirements and sector standards. Our team supports organizations in building internal capacity to safely and confidently meet those needs within the settings where individuals live, learn, and receive support.

Over the past year, CSTS experienced its most substantial growth to date, with 54 agencies actively using our services—a 29% increase from the previous year. This growth reflects not only new relationships in rural and Northern regions but also the continued confidence of agencies we support. Many of these agencies rely on CSTS to assist with onboarding, meet evolving compliance requirements, and respond to urgent training needs. In several cases, full assessments and certifications were delivered within 24 to 48 hours, minimizing disruption and ensuring continuity of support for individuals.

We also strengthened and expanded our course offerings. In addition to releasing new training on topics such as epilepsy, personal care, dysphagia, naloxone administration, VNS therapy, and chemotherapy and radiation precautions, we refreshed the majority of our existing courses to reflect current best practices. All courses are now delivered through a modernized learning platform with updated visuals, improved navigation, and an overall enhanced user experience.

This year, we strengthened our presence across the sector through two important partnerships. Community Support Training Solutions was selected by Community Living Ontario as a strategic partner and recognized as a trusted training provider. We also continued our partnership with Kids Come First, providing training to personal support workers contracted to the school board—ensuring children can attend school even when nursing staff are unavailable.

CSTS’s greatest impact remains its ability to adapt in real-time to the needs of the sector. This year, we supported a staff member with a learning disability to successfully complete their certification through a customized, supported evaluation process. In another instance, we delivered expedited training that allowed a child with complex medical needs to safely attend daycare. These are just two examples of how the agencies we support rely on CSTS—not only to deliver training, but to do so with empathy, flexibility, and an unwavering focus on the individuals at the heart of the work.

We extend our sincere thanks to our Board of Directors for their time, dedication, and unwavering commitment to ensuring that our organization continues to meet its mission and goals. As volunteers, their leadership and guidance play a vital role in shaping our direction and strengthening our impact.

This year marked important milestones under the leadership of our new Board Chair, Jane Courtice-Neocleous. The Board played an active role in both our 40th Anniversary celebrations and the launch of our new Strategic Planning process, which will guide our work through 2028.

We would also like to recognize Peggy Gilmour for taking on the additional role of Board Liaison with the Ottawa Shared Services Organization (OSSO), further strengthening our connection to the broader community.

The Ottawa Rotary Home Board remains steadfast in its commitment to strong governance, strategic oversight, and community-centered leadership. We are grateful for the expertise and support of each board member and look forward to continuing this important work together in the year ahead.

Audit and Finance Committee

• • Rod Vanier, Chair 
  • Zul Devji 
  • Gord Leverton, Treasurer 
  • Ranya Gabriel (ORH Foundation Representative) 
  • Susan Hopkinson

Governance Committee

• • Jane Courtice-Neocleous
  • Peggy Gilmour, Chair 
  • Miriam Fraser 
  • Amanda Telford 

Message from the Chair, Ottawa Rotary Home Foundation, John Lark