Community Builders

Some of the greatest volunteers in Ottawa don’t know how appreciated they are, and that’s why we love to surprise them.

Since her arrival in Ottawa in the 1990s, Elaina Martin has become a fundamental part of the community. Mainly recognized as the founder of the popular Ottawa arts and music festival Westfest, Elaina has expanded her role from creative entrepreneur to community leader in a short span of time.

Calla Barnett’s colleagues describe her as the glue that holds people together. United Way presented her with a Community Builder Award to celebrate Capital Pride Week.

The Ottawa Rape Crisis Centre has supported survivors of sexual assault for nearly 45 years, providing a wide array of programming and advocacy to serve each survivor’s diverse needs.

Shelley Rolland-Poruks has volunteered in every city or town she’s ever lived in. Here’s how this Community Builder Award winner balances it all.

For 20 years, the Ottawa Coalition of Community Houses has helped make a home for hundreds of our city’s low-income families. It is because of this, and the impact their work continues to have on our community, that they received United Way Ottawa’s 2018 Community Builder of the Year Award.

EcoEquitable is a small, dynamic social enterprise that supports isolated newcomer women looking to develop connections with their community and increase their financial stability.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ottawa creates life-changing relationships that empower children and youth to reach their full potential. Here’s why United Way Ottawa has honoured this fantastic organization at the annual Community Builder of the Year Awards Gala.

Girls+ Rock Ottawa provides music programming to foster empowerment, inclusivity and community. This powerful initiative was the GenNext Award recipient at the 2018 Community Builder of the Year Awards Gala.

How do you celebrate the city’s hardest workers for creating positive social change? You throw them a big party, of course.

Rawlson King is a community leader helping to positively shape how the Overbrook neighbourhood is perceived.

Coach Andy Waterman has volunteered for 25 years with Ottawa youth, empowering them to be the best they can be beyond the basketball court.

For more than nine years, Aditi Sivakumar has been volunteering in Ottawa and beyond to empower women and encourage healthy lifestyles for seniors and people living with chronic mental illnesses.