Ottawa Innercity Ministries

Honoring Rick Tobias who was a big influence in Oims beginningsI went to the very First conference for street outreach workers in the mid 1980s because I heard that Rick Tobias CEO of Yonge street mission was speaking, and I had admired his approach to caring for the poor from afarAt that point I had started a ministry outreach called Ottawa inner city ministries that served alongside the homeless and released offender community in Ottawafor the most part at that time in the 1980s I didn't know how to lead an agency I only knew that God had put the calling so strongly in my heart to come alongside the poor with loving careas Rick began to speak at the conference, I hung on to his every word taking lots of notes thinking yes yes I agree and thinking how will I incorporate this into the way I serve Godwhen he finished speaking, I was so surprized that he made a beeline through the crowd right to me and said I can see something about you that tells me that we will be friends for a very long timelittle did I know how much this man would impact my life as a mentor as a colleague and as a dear friend shortly after that I was invited to serve on a board for EFC in the homelessness sectorat that time, I found myself in the company of other folks who also had a heart calling to serve the poor and we called the group Street levelover the years we facilitated conferences for those who serve the poor oftentimes isolated and alone in cities and small communities to offer hope education and supportwe even traveled to Europe together to meet with leaders in Britain who had a heart call to minister to the homelesswe traveled city by city across Canada visiting agencies offering hope and encouragementthroughout the years Rick would check on me to see how I was doing as the responsibility of running a Christian ministry as a woman at that time was a heavy burdenthere was a huge glass ceiling to break through and I didin fact, I would say that he was integral in Ottawa inner city ministries even continuing to grow and flourish during times when there was very little funding or interest or support from the greater Christian communitynonetheless we perseveredvisiting each other as often as we couldwe kept in close touch as friends through the ebb and flow of lifeHe talked me through my transition and moving to Calgary and establishing an outreach herewe spent a lot of time laughing joking sharing war stories from the frontlinesalways he made me feel like I was one of his most special friends even though I know that that's how he made all his friends feelour friendship became ever closer in the past year as we would talk on the phone almost weekly and I felt honor to share some of his journey; with health- with leaving the mission- with changes and transitionsI'm so very glad that I was able to find a way to get out to Toronto last month to spend sacred time with my friend Rick and say GOODBYE just weeks before he passed away-my heart aches at the thought of him not being at the other end of the phone- of never Being encircled in his Big Bear hugs or having him give me honest perspective on my lifebut I am full of joy at the fact that he is with Jesus -at the same time my heart is full of sorrow for Charis and his family who he loved dearlyRick will always be one of my heroesjust a month before his death he wrote the foreword for my book that's coming out in the fall called trauma on the front linesHe was proud of me and that matteredI am so honored and will cherish his presence in my life all the days to comeSusan Brandt

Good place to gather and eat

OIM does great work feeding the homeless and those in need in the Centretown area in Ottawa, Canada

Been a volunteer with them for 10 years best staff vest services always willing to help where they can

Of course im a little biased since i work there, we do our best to come along people experiencing homelessness and poverty. To engage with them and make sure they know they are visible and people do care about them.

Great community resource in the downtown area ( Bank & Gladstone )

Received such a warm welcome from the volunteers.Very inviting place.