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
2021-2022
Sophia Jacob
President
Nick Ramdass
Vice President
Lise Hebabi
Treasurer and Secretary
Chandra Hapuarachchi
Deana Maric
Howard Cohen
Julia Sneyd
Khaled Nizami
Rob Campbell
Sonya Howard
Our Staff
Sybil Braganza
Coordinator, Ethnocultural Seniors Project
sybilb@spcottawa.on.ca
Gabriel DePaul
Culture Researcher
Gulled Saleban
Research Assistant
Ben Bergeron
Manager, Hot Shoe Productions
info@hotshoe.ca
Mailyne Briggs
Digital Communications Officer
mailyne@spcottawa.on.ca
Francesca Toussaint
Communications Assistant
francesca.toussaint@spcottawa.on.ca
John Chol
Project Manager and Youth Advocate
Stefan Domaradzki
Youth Engagement Developer
Dianne Urquhart
Executive Director
dianneu@spcottawa.on.ca
Reuben Nashali
Office/Program Manager
reuben@spcottawa.on.ca
Parastu Mirabzadeh
Manager, Effective Measures
parastu@spcottawa.on.ca
Mohamed Warsame
Job Developer
mohamedw@spcottawa.on.ca
Xiaoming Deng
Brain Health Day Program Coordinator, Kanata Chinese Seniors Support Centre site
Stefka Patchova
Geographic Information System Researcher
stefkap@spcottawa.on.ca
Zeba Taj
Brain Health Day Program Coordinator,
Indo-Canadian Community Centre site
Anna Lenk
Evaluation Consultant
annalenk@spcottawa.on.ca