News

Bell funds project to engage with Black youth

Caption: Sandy Mc Donald, Director of Community Affairs for Bell Canada, presented Upstream Executive Director Bo Turpin, left, and Upstream Board Chair Veronique Joncas, right, with a generous contribution on October 25.

OTTAWA Bell Canada is providing Upstream Ottawa with $20,000 for a project that
will engage with Ottawa’s Black youth.

The project is intended to create a safe space for young Black people to gather and
build a sense of community, while learning about available mental and substance-use
health services, delivered by Black clinicians, and enjoying a nutritious meal.
Upstream is partnering with theREACHcentre of Ottawa to hold a Black Connections
dinner on Fridays once a month in the Carlington community, at 1485 Laperriere
Avenue. The nine-month project is aimed at engaging young people between the ages
of 15 and 29 and will begin in the New Year.

Last evening, at a meeting of the Upstream Board of Directors, Sandy McDonald,
Regional Director of Community Affairs for Bell Canada, presented a ceremonial
cheque to Upstream for $20,000 for the project.

“Upstream is pleased to be involved with this innovative project and we are grateful to
Bell Canada for its enthusiastic support of our work over many years,” said Bo Turpin,
Executive Director of Upstream Ottawa Mental Health Community Support. “This
initiative is in alignment with Upstream’s recent expansion of service to the region’s
young Black community and addresses the growing concerns about food insecurity in
lower-income neighbourhoods.”

Upstream provides a range of critical community supports and affordable housing
options to people living with mental health and/or substance-use health 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 lifeskills coaching.

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

Bell funds project to engage with Black youth
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Golfers raise $30,000 to provide essential mental health services

September 11, 2023

Upstream Ottawa supporters had a great day of golfing on a beautiful August 31 at The Marshes, raising $30,000 for essential mental health and substance-use health services.

The tournament saw 128 golfers come out to raise funds for Upstream’s mission of providing community supports to youth and adults living with mental health and substance-use health challenges, to lead self-guided and fulfilling lives.

golf-tournament

There were many returning sponsors, golfers, and prize donors at the tournament, plus 18 volunteers to run the day. Claridge Homes and The Ferguson Family Foundation were the lead silver sponsors.

Barre Construction, Richcraft, Oegema-Nicholson Insurance, Arnon Corporation and Ron Eastern Construction, Good Lookin’ Cleaning, Monolith Finishing, and Flash Photo Booth Ottawa were bronze sponsors.

Returning supporters, such as Teslica Ebike Ottawa and Camp Otterdale, provided generous prizes for live and silent auctions.

During the evening program, golfers heard from an eloquent speaker, Serena Lynch, about the important role Upstream services have played in her life.

 


“We had lots of fun on the golf course but we also heard a meaningful message about how important these services are, and we raised a lot of money."

“We are grateful to our sponsors, golfers and donors for standing up for mental health services in Ottawa. I'm already excited to make next year bigger and better.”


- Jenni Condon
Tournament Chair


 

Upstream provides a range of critical community supports and affordable housing options to people living with mental health and/or substance-use health 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 go to upstreamottawa.ca, call the Upstream Ottawa office at 248-3330 ext. 401, or send an email to info@upstreamottawa.ca

Golfers raise $30,000 to provide essential mental health services
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Upstream seeks new members for its Board of Directors

September 08, 2023

Join Our Board to Advance Mental Health and Substance Use Health Community Support in Ottawa

 

About Upstream:

Upstream Ottawa Mental Health Community Support (Upstream) is a dedicated community organization that provides essential mental health and substance use health support to youth and adults. Established in 1985, Upstream offers individualized support services and affordable housing options to persons with mental health and substance use health concerns. Upstream is funded for its core services like intensive case management, which in 2021 expanded to include a program that provides culturally safe and affirming services to underserved Black youth between the ages of 12 and 29 led by clinicians with lived experience.

Our mission is to provide support to youth and adults living with mental health and substance use health challenges, empowering them to lead self-guided and fulfilling lives. We are guided by our core values of being client-focused, committed to equity, meaningfully engaged, and community-based.

 

Position: Board Member

We are seeking volunteers from within the Ottawa region, committed to Upstream’s mission and values to serve up to 3 renewable 2-year terms on the Board of Directors.

 

Role and Responsibilities:

As a Board Member at Upstream Ottawa, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the direction of our organization and contributing to the betterment of mental health and substance use health services.

 

Key Responsibilities:

  • Participate in regular board meetings, strategic planning sessions, and decision-making processes.
  • Actively engage in committee work related to fundraising, communications, human resources, finance, and strategic planning (participation in a minimum of one committee is required).
  • Uphold fiduciary responsibilities of a board member, including ethical and legal obligations.
  • Contribute to the development and implementation of Upstream’s strategic goals and initiatives.
  • Act as a representative and advocate for Upstream Ottawa within the community and relevant networks, promoting our mission and values.

 

Qualifications:

We are seeking individuals who can offer strategic insights and actively contribute to our mission. The ideal candidate must have one or more of the following areas of expertise:

  • Experience in fundraising with a proven track record of successful campaigns and donor engagement
  • Experience in philanthropy with a desire to enhance Upstream’s network and capacity to engage prospective funders and donors
  • Business leaders with a desire to help Upstream further its mission by expanding the organization's networks and capacity to serve more people
  • Background in mental health and substance use, preferably as a mental health professional, counselor, therapist, or related field
  • Experience in not-for-profit governance, with a solid understanding of board roles, responsibilities, and governance best practices.
  • Proficiency in government relations, with a proven ability to establish and maintain productive relationships with government bodies and agencies.
  • Professional experience in legal consultancy.

* Upstream Ottawa is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive Board of Directors, valuing and celebrating the unique backgrounds, perspectives, and talents of all individuals. We encourage individuals from the BIPOC community (Black, Indigenous, People of Colour) and from other minority communities to apply.

 

Time Commitment:

Board members are expected to commit approximately 5-10 hours per month, including board meetings, committee work, and occasional community events.

 

How to Apply:

If you are passionate about advancing mental health and substance use health supports in Ottawa, with a particular focus on Black youth, and possess the qualifications mentioned above, we encourage you to apply. Please send your resume and a brief statement of interest to chair@upstreamottawa.ca. In your statement, outline your relevant experience, your motivation for joining Upstream’s board, and how you envision contributing to our mission.

 

Application Deadline: Monday, October 2nd, 2023 by 4pm ET

Join us in making a lasting impact on the mental health and well-being of Ottawa's community. Your expertise and dedication can help create positive change that reverberates throughout our city.

For inquiries or more information, please contact Véronique Joncas at chair@upstreamottawa.ca.

Upstream seeks new members for its Board of Directors
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