Through a new initiative conceived to celebrate positive impacts on Ottawa communities, local change makers will be recognized for efforts to address problems and improve lives in their own neighbourhoods. Partnering with Impact Hub Ottawa, the City of Ottawa has announced its first-ever Social Impact Awards.
The Ottawa Social Impact Awards are intended to honour projects and enterprises in communities that have made a difference in the lives of local residents.
“Community initiatives are often the best display of social innovation and social impact in our city,” says Katie Miller, managing director of Impact Hub Ottawa. “We want to recognize not only organizations, but collaborative projects that have significant potential to scale and create a positive impact in our community.”
Located on 71 Bank St. in the heart of Centretown, Impact Hub Ottawa is a creative environment where the city’s world-changers can be found collaborating with others, developing new ideas, and generally trying to create a better tomorrow. Impact Hubs around the globe offer members a space to learn and connect.
Impact Hub Ottawa serves as a community centre, research lab, and business incubator where members are able to utilize meeting rooms, develop their own projects and ideas, attend seminars and workshops, and mingle with other like-minded individuals at structured events. Current members include people involved in arts, business, technology, food science, charity work, politics, and more. There are 86 Impact Hubs open worldwide, communicating with each other to create a global network.
The Impact Hub reflects the guiding principles of the Young World Summit, which was held in Ottawa earlier this fall. More than 1,300 youth from 196 countries attended the event, which encouraged young people to arise as leaders.
“The Ottawa Social Impact Awards are a legacy initiative of One Young World,” said Miller. “(They) seek to maintain the momentum of the presence of these young leaders and bring focus to organizations and projects shaping our city.”
Beginning Sept. 30, the public was invited to begin nominating worthy contenders through the Ottawa Impact Hub website. Among those already nominated is Intercity Arts, a group dedicated to providing underprivileged youth with a hot meal and a safe environment to engage in the arts and build relationships with mentors.
Another organization called Ottawa Capital Pride has been nominated for its advocacy for a more prominent LGBTTQ+ community in the country’s capital. A group of volunteers at Bayshore Park Community Oven have been nominated for their efforts to bring people of all backgrounds together at the city’s first public wood fire oven. Cahdco, a non-profit housing developer is nominated for its work providing affordable housing to those who need it most. These nominees, amongst others, have contributed to healthy, more unified communities.
Judging the awards will be three Somerset Coun. Catherine Mckenney, Martina Buchal, the One World coordinating ambassador for North America, and George Brown, a local lawyer and entrepreneur.
Brown, also a former city councillor, said he attributes Ottawa’s strong sense of community to the innovative nature of its citizenry.
“Community is family. We love our neighbourhoods, and Ottawa is a city where people feel very strongly about where they live,” said Brown. “When you care about a community, you want to get involved and make it better, and that’s what these awards will highlight.”
According to Brown, the awards should help inspire projects aimed at creating positive change.
“We are building a culture of social innovation and collaboration in this city,” said Brown.
The Social Impact Awards will consist of two separate categories: community-based initiatives and one for social enterprises. A winning group or organization will be named for each category; individual nominees will not be considered for these awards.
The winners will be presented with various resources to broaden their range of impact, including a one-year membership to Impact Hub Ottawa, and a personal meeting with city staff to swap ideas.
Beginning Sept. 30, the public was invited to begin nominating worthy contenders through the Ottawa Impact Hub website. Nomination forums were open until Oct. 28, and voting takes place until Nov. 7. The winners of the inaugural Ottawa Social Impact Awards will be announced on Nov. 17.