News | Page 3 | Upstream Ottawa Mental Health Community Support | Rebuilding lives affected by persistent mental illness

Trillium grant builds stronger mental health services for Ottawa

November 18, 2022

Ottawa, Ontario – Upstream Ottawa Mental Health Community Support, a leader in frontline community mental health since 1985, today hosted a Zoom event to celebrate the $59,100 Resilient Communities Fund grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF). This grant is helping Upstream in its recovery from COVID-19 by building fundraising capacity in the organization.

“Today marks another success story and financial investment for our community here in Nepean. I was pleased in the last parliament to increase investments toward the Ontario Trillium Foundation by $105 million in one-time funding, to support excellent programs like this,” said Lisa MacLeod, MPP for Nepean. “Upstream Ottawa's core services include Intensive Case Management, serving on average 80 individuals who live with persistent mental illness, on an annual basis. Upstream also provides culturally appropriate mental health and substance-use services to Black, African and Caribbean youth. These programs empower individuals to create goals and strategies to manage their health and well-being. Each person in our community is valuable and should not be stigmatized for their mental health. We are thankful to be able to put those words into action today with our partners.”

With the support of this grant, Upstream Ottawa is rebuilding from the impacts of COVID-19 by diversifying its fundraising strategy, auditing its fundraising database, pursuing grants, developing new events, and empowering staff and board members as fundraisers.

“COVID-19 was hard on our clients and our staff team, and actually created a greater need for mental health and substance-use services,” said Bo Turpin, Executive Director of Upstream Ottawa. “But we got through it. This grant will help us respond to the increased demand for services and provide community-based programs that aren’t covered by government funding but can mean a big difference in the daily lives of our clients.”

Upstream Ottawa Mental Health Community Support provides a range of critical community supports and affordable housing options to people living with suspected or confirmed mental illness and/or substance-use concerns. Services include intensive mental health case management, housing, youth support services with a focus on Black youth and their families, crisis prevention, medication management and life-skills coaching.

For more information on Upstream, go to upstreamottawa.ca, call the Upstream Ottawa office at 248-3330 ext. 401, or send an email to info@upstreamottawa.ca

The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) mission is to build healthy and vibrant communities across Ontario. As an agency of the Government of Ontario, and one of Canada’s leading granting foundations, last year, OTF invested nearly $209M into 2,042 community projects and partnerships, which included funding for the Government of Ontario’s Community Building Fund. Since 2020, OTF has supported Ontario’s economic recovery by helping non-profit organizations rebuild and recover from the impacts of COVID-19. Visit otf.ca to learn more.

November 18, 2022

Golfers drive record success for Upstream

September 14, 2022

OTTAWAUpstream Ottawa supporters came through in a big way on September 8, raising a record $47,000 for the charitable organization.
It was the largest amount of funds raised at a single event in the history of Upstream Ottawa Mental Health Community Support, which was founded in 1985.
The sold-out tournament, held at The Marshes, was supported by 34 donors and sponsors, and 19 volunteers. Companies and individuals provided amazing items for auction. These included private lessons from PGA Professional and Director of Instruction at The Royal Ottawa Golf Club, Derek MacDonald; a Zulu Nyala safari trip; a signed hockey stick and jersey from Daniel Alfredsson; a Teslica Foldable Fat Tire E-bike; and a two-week session at Camp Otterdale.
“The result of this tournament far exceeded our expectations. We are so grateful to the generous golfers, sponsors, donors and volunteers who made the day a tonne of fun, but also a big financial success,” said Jenni Condon, Chair of the 2022 Golf Tournament. “These funds raised will make a real difference in the lives of Upstream’s clients.”
Upstream provides a range of critical community supports and affordable housing options to people living with suspected or confirmed mental illness and/or substance-use concerns. Services include: intensive mental health case management, housing, youth support services with a focus on Black youth and their families, crisis prevention, medication management and life-skills coaching.

September 14, 2022

Afri-Day by the Bay

Public Service Announcement

A neighbourhood celebration of African culture

August 7, 2022

OTTAWA—Afri-Day by the Bay, to be held on August 19, will celebrate diverse African cultures in Bay Ward.

This free event, presented by Upstream Ottawa, held at the Ron Kolbus Clubhouse at 2825 Dumaurier Ave. in the Foster Farm community between 4 and 8 p.m., is for youth and their families in the neighborhood. The event is being held in partnership with BGC Ottawa.

Activities will include entertainment and sports, such as basketball, track and field 50-metre race, three-legged race/sac race, African drumming and dance, face-painting, music, hair grooming and prize-winning activities. Food and drinks will be provided.

The purpose of this event is to promote social interaction among neighbours, encourage equity and inclusion by welcoming all community members of Bay Ward.

Upstream Ottawa Mental Health Community Support gratefully acknowledges the financial support of the City of Ottawa and Bell Let’s Talk for their generous support of this event.

Upstream provides substance use and mental health supports for African, Caribbean and Black Youth and their families through a new program, recently added, called Substance Abuse Program for African Canadian and Caribbean Youth (SAPACCY).

Since 1985, Upstream Ottawa Mental Health Community Support has provided a range of critical community supports and affordable housing options to adults and youth struggling with persistent mental illness and related issues. Services include: intensive mental health case management, housing, youth support services, crisis prevention, medication management and life-skills coaching.

More information can be found at upstreamottawa.ca.

For more information about this event, please contact Ose Omoregie at 613-407-2084, or through email at oomoregie@upstreamottawa.ca.

NEWS RELEASE

Une célébration communautaire de la culture africaine

Le 10 août, 2022

OTTAWA—Journée-Afri au bord de la Baie sera une célébration de la culture africaine diversifiée dans le quartier Bay.

Cet évènement gratuit se tiendra le 19 août, de 16h à 20h, chez le Ron Kolbus Clubhouse (2825 avenue Dumaurier, dans la communauté Foster Farm). Il sera présenté par Upstream Ottawa, en partenariat avec Repaire jeunesse d’Ottawa.

Les activités comprendront des animations et des sports, tels que le basket-ball, la course d'athlétisme de 50 mètres, la course à trois pattes, les percussions et la danse africaine, la peinture de visage, la musique, la coiffure et des jeux gagnants. De la nourriture et des boissons seront aussi fournies.

L’évènement s’adresse aux jeunes du quartier, ainsi qu’à leurs familles, dans l’objectif de promouvoir l’interaction sociale entre voisins et d’encourager l'équité et l'inclusion en accueillant tous les membres de la communauté Bay.

Nous tenons à souligner le soutien financier généreux de la Ville d’Ottawa et Bell Cause pour la cause à cet événement.

Par le biais du nouveau Programme de traitement de l’usage de substances pour les jeunes Afro-canadiens et des Caraïbes (PTTJAC), Upstream fournit des soutiens en matière de l’usage de substances et de santé mentale aux jeunes noirs, africains et caribéens, ainsi qu’à leurs familles.
Depuis 1985, Upstream offre une gamme de soutiens communautaires essentiels et des options de logement abordables aux jeunes et adultes vivant avec une maladie mentale persistante et des problèmes connexes. Ceux-ci comprennent la gestion intensive de cas en santé mentale, des services de logement, les services de soutien aux jeunes, la prévention de crise, la gestion des médicaments et la formation des compétences de vie.

Des renseignements additionnels se trouvent à UpstreamOttawa.ca.
Pour plus d'informations sur cet événement, veuillez contacter Ose Omoregie par téléphone au 613-407-2084, ou par courriel à omoregie@upstreamottawa.ca.

August 7, 2022