OTTAWA – Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe proclaimed November 2024 Belong Ottawa Month, honouring the Anglican ministry that has provided decades of care and service to people in need.
Belong Ottawa, which has three locations in the city, was celebrating the 70th anniversary of Centre 454, the 41st anniversary of St. Luke’s Table and the 40th anniversary of The Well. All three offer compassionate care to vulnerable people who struggle with issues such as poverty, homelessness, mental health and addictions.
“Congratulations on achieving this incredible moment,” the mayor said. “Seventy years of Belong Ottawa helping the most vulnerable people in our community. That really is remarkable.”
The civic recognition was undoubtably welcome at a time when Centre 454 is facing intense pressure from some neighbours to move out of its long-time location in the basement of St. Alban’s Anglican church and to relocate.
Bishop Shane Parker thanked Mayor Sutcliffe for the honour and for his and the city’s support. Many years ago, the Anglicans who started what has now become Belong Ottawa “looked around them and saw other human beings who were experiencing distress or marginalization or poverty. And they saw it with their eyes and then they felt it in their hearts, and then they chose to act,” the bishop said. They invited other people of compassion to come and work with them, he said, and in doing so, they created a sanctuary where “everyone has the opportunity to be received, to be valued, to be seen as a whole person without judgment and made to feel that they belong. Thank each of you for participating with us in creating sanctuary. Thank you for your hearts of compassion, for your hearts of love, and thank you for sharing this wonderful celebration today.”
Perspective
Canterbury experience was remarkable