The Social Planning Council of Ottawa was created in 1928 by local churches and community groups in order to respond to the then acute socio-economic problems looming as a result of the great depression. Since then, the Social Planning Council has been a place where many ideas took form, including
- United Way (Community Chest)
- ParaTranspo
- Ottawa Volunteer Centre
- Community Information Centre
- Council on Aging
Today, the SPC uses modern research and communication methods and works with Ottawa's social agencies, concerned residents and decision-makers to understand and advocate the social needs of our city. The SPC is a non-partisan, not-for-profit, charitable organization run by an elected Board of Directors.
Mission
Our mission is to provide the residents of Ottawa with the means to exercise informed leadership on issues affecting their social and economic wellbeing.
We value
- The pursuit of social justice and the reduction of inequality
- Volunteerism
- Active involvement of those most directly affected by issues
- The coming together of individuals and diverse groups in the community
- Leadership, professionalism and the quality of our work
- Collaboration and partnerships
Our Vision is to achieve our mandate through:
- Identifying and analyzing the social needs in the community
- Providing leadership in planning and establish priorities for meeting the identified needs
- Monitoring and evaluating changes in the policy and resource environment
- Encouraging informed involvement by our members and the wider public in critical social issues
- Encouraging and enabling social service organizations to respond to change
- Taking an active advocacy role on social and economic policy
- Influencing decision-makers by making them aware of the need for and consequences of social and economic policies.
Board of Directors
2022-2023
Lise Hebabi
President
Sonya Howard
Vice-President
Chandra Hapuarachchi
Treasurer
Khaled Nizami
Executive Member-at-Large
Sophia Jacob
Past-President
Sandra Barancira
Rob Campbell
Howard Cohen
Irena Dodik
Ruby Edet
Diana Kinimah
Suresh Kumar
Julia Sneyd
Our Staff
Berat Ali Acar
Youth Outreach Worker office@spcottawa.on.ca
John Chol
Project Manager and Youth Advocate johnc@spcottawa.on.ca
Eliakim Hawi
Community Culture Co-ordinator eliakim@spcottawa.on.ca
Mustafa Mohamoud
Digital Equity Co-ordinator mustafa@spcottawa.on.ca
Nabin Subedi
Digital Literacy Co-ordinator
nabin@spcottawa.on.ca
Ben Bergeron
Manager, Hot Shoe Productions info@hotshoe.ca
Shireen Faza
Digital Literacy Connector shireen@spcottawa.on.ca
Nombuso Makhubu
Health Services Researcher
nombusom@spcottawa.on.ca
Stefka Patchova
Data and Geographic Information System Manager stefkap@spcottawa.on.ca
Dianne Urquhart
Executive Director
dianneu@spcottawa.on.ca
Sybil Braganza
Co-ordinator, Ethno-cultural Seniors Project sybilb@spcottawa.on.ca
Both Gakah
Youth Employment Co-ordinator bothg@spcottawa.on.ca
Parastu Mirabzadeh
Manager, Effective Measures parastu@spcottawa.on.ca
Reuben Nashali
Program Manager
reuben@spcottawa.on.ca