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.

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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.
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Board of Directors

2023-2024

Suresh Kumar

President

Claudine Mitchell

Vice-President

Chandra Hapuarachchi

Treasurer

Khaled Nizami

Executive Member-at-Large

Lise Hebabi

Past-President

Graeme Edgar

Wendy Tang

Howard Cohen

Dianne Urquhart

Marie Muir

Suresh Kumar

Ainalem Tebeje

Our Staff

Salma Dirie

Program Evaluator      salmad@spcottawa.on.ca

Tahseen Ali

Resources Development Lead  tahseen@spcottawa.on.ca

Eliakim Hawi

TRAC Social Enterprise Coordinator  eliakim@spcottawa.on.ca

Eduardo Gonzalez

Data Analyst
eduardogp@spcottawa.on.ca

Ben Bergeron

Manager, Hot Shoe Productions  info@hotshoe.ca

Wendell Louis

Digital Literacy Connector  office@spcottawa.on.ca

Sarah Khalid

Health Services Researcher
nombusom@spcottawa.on.ca

Stefka Patchova

Data and Geographic Information System Manager  stefkap@spcottawa.on.ca

Reuben Nashali

Executive Coordinator
reuben@spcottawa.on.ca

 

Shireen faza

Co-ordinator, Ethno-cultural Seniors Project  shireen@spcottawa.on.ca

Both Gakah

Youth Employment Co-ordinator  bothg@spcottawa.on.ca

Prayash Khanal

Manager, Effective Measures  prayash@spcottawa.on.ca

Somayeh Momen Zadeh

Office Manager
somayehm@spcottawa.on.ca

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