Upstream Ottawa Mental Health Community Support

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Upstream Ottawa Mental Health Community Support

Offering adults, youth, and their families the community-based supports and services they need to live healthy, fulfilling lives.

In keeping with the vision of our founders, Upstream, via its Board of Directors, is committed to providing high quality, client centered mental health services. We also commit to going above and beyond the expectations of our public funders by continuing to offer our clients a variety of ‘Value Added Services’ such as our Youth Matters Program and our popular social/recreational group events and

outings such as:
•Upstream Psychiatric Assessment Clinic:
•Rent Geared to Income Housing: 12 1-bedroom furnished apartments and 2 group living units
•1st Connections monthly luncheon
•Back to School Back to Work:
•Peer Initiative:
•Women’s Group
•Monthly Outings

30/04/2026

📣 We are hiring! Please click “share” to show this post to your network.

As we continue to grow and evolve to meet Ottawa’s mental health care needs, we are proud to welcome applicants for the following clinical roles by Tuesday, May 12, at 5:00 PM. Please apply to each job posting through Indeed. Best of luck to everyone interested!

➡️ Director of Clinical Services: https://ca.indeed.com/job/director-clinical-services-42fe41c2fb6f9b0b

➡️ Bilingual Social Worker (for AMANI Mental Health and Substance Use Services for Black Youth Program): https://ca.indeed.com/job/bilingual-social-worker-frenchenglish-amani-program-e376a06d300f90b1

29/04/2026

🏃‍♀️Meet Michelle Groulx and Erik Hagborg, running together for Team Upstream in Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend! Please consider supporting their fundraising for our work here: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/teamupstream2026

Michelle is the Chief Advocate at Ottawa Coalition of Business Improvement Areas, the organization that represents Ottawa’s 7000+ main street brick-and-mortar businesses in the city’s 18 Business Improvement Areas. Erik is her partner in running (and life) and they’ve teamed up to help those we serve lead brighter lives.

“We have joined the Upstream Ottawa Race Weekend Team to fundraise and support grassroots community mental health and substance-use health services! I attended Upstream’s 40th anniversary celebration in 2025, and was moved by their story and hands-on work they have been doing in Ottawa.” - Michelle

If you’re already running on May 23-24 and would like to raise funds for a cause, Michelle and Erik would love to welcome you to the team! Send us a DM and we’ll give you all the info to set up your fundraising page and join us. If you’re not signed up to run yet, it’s not too late — just send us a message and we’ll help you out! 😊

👉 To join our team or donate to the runners of Team Upstream, please visit: https://www.upstreamottawa.ca/get-involved/tamarack-ottawa-race-weekend

28/04/2026

🏃‍♀️Meet Kaitlyn Stokes, Captain for Team Upstream in Ottawa Race Weekend! Please consider supporting her fundraising for our work here: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/teamupstream2026

Kaitlyn is Director, Marketing and Advisor Experience, at Desjardins Financial Security Independent Network, as well as a respected community builder, dedicating much of her career to bringing people together with local events, small businesses, and important causes.

As a new Board Member at Upstream, she has really hit the ground running in more ways than one. 😉 We’re grateful for her leadership!

“It’s been a while since I’ve pulled a 10, what better excuse to push myself than a cause I care deeply about!

“I’ve joined the Board at Upstream Ottawa because I believe in what they do: providing the essential mental health and housing supports that the system often misses. Now, I’m putting my feet to the pavement to back it up.”

If you’re already running on May 23-24 and would like to raise funds for a cause, Kaitlyn would love to welcome you to the team! Send us a DM and we’ll give you all the info to set up your fundraising page and join us.

If you’re not signed up to run yet, it’s not too late — just send us a message and we’ll help you out! 😊

👉 To join our team or donate to the runners of Team Upstream, please visit: https://www.upstreamottawa.ca/get-involved/tamarack-ottawa-race-weekend

27/04/2026

We love our team! Once a month, Upstream Ottawa staff and volunteers run First Connections, a social luncheon for our program participants that takes place at First United Church, in Westboro Village.

Meals are shared, friendships are made, and everyone’s mental health benefits from the time and laughs together. This event has been making days brighter for 25+ years, and is one of the key programs we fundraise for!

Last week, everyone was very excited for delicious and fresh shawarma plates from Ottawa Shawarma! We were proud to work with this local small business.

Special shout out to Nick Parry and Khorton Desir, our placement students from Algonquin College who proudly served the meals.

Remember, getting together matters! ❤️

13/04/2026

🎉 Please Share! Performance for Mental Health & The Arts This Week at Great Canadian Theatre Company in Wellington West Bia

When: April 15-18 (Wed. to Sat.)
What: The Lawyer Play (Performance of “Our Town”)
Where: Great Canadian Theatre Company (GCTC)
Cost: $125 (Gala Night shows include cocktail, snacks, restaurant samples)

👉 Purchase Here: https://www.gctc.ca/shows/lawyer-play-2026-our-town

The Lawyer Play is an annual tradition between the County of Carleton Law Association and GCTC, which serves as an important fundraiser both for GCTC and an annual charity partner — and this year it’s Upstream Ottawa!

The performance is unique, as it is acted out entirely by local lawyers, with professional direction and production from the expert staff at the GCTC. Because the lawyers are all donating their time and talent, the production also features a large cast, without the requirements for actor dues — making it one of Ottawa’s largest ensemble shows annually and a spectacle for the audience.

Special shout out to Brett Hodgins at , for bringing this opportunity to Upstream. He is a dedicated board member here and also acting in the show!

👇 Please let us know what night you’re going!

20/03/2026

On behalf of the entire team at Upstream Ottawa, Eid Mubarak! Thanks to Rabah for sharing these well wishes with everyone.

25/02/2026

🎳 Getting together matters! That’s why we invite our program participants to monthly outings across the city in support of their mental wellbeing.

Last week was bowling and pizza at Merivale Bowling Centre, where 20+ clients came together for big laughs and a good time. 🍕

Our monthly outings are one of the many important Wellness Services we offer, which are unfunded and only possible with the kind support of our community. We’re grateful to live in such a compassionate city!

Consider making a donation today. You’ll be helping neighbours get out of the house to make memories and friends.

❤️ Help someone today: upstreamottawa.ca

Sean Devine

25/02/2026

Sincere thanks and appreciation to Suzanne Obiorah and her team at Somerset West Community Health Centre for their leadership in health services for Black and racialized communities in Ottawa. We are so grateful for them!

Earlier this month, they hosted a strong event for Black History Month called “The Future is Now: Building Thriving Black Communities” at Cours Bayview Yards.

Our Executive Director, Bo Turpin, spoke on a panel about equitable access to health services and strides being made together in Ottawa for equitable and culturally appropriate care for all. Our team is proud to contribute to this as Ottawa’s provider of AMANI, Ontario’s mental health and substance-use health program for Black youth ages 12-29.

Special thanks to Councillors Rawlson King and Ariel Troster for their steadfast support of this event and building a more equitable city! We continue to make progress.

09/02/2026

♻️ Good news for Ottawa! Please share this post from our friends at The Wabano Centre for Aboriginal Health.

NEWS: Wabano Centre for Aboriginal Health is accepting new patients for Primary Care! They have expanded their team with a new physician, nurse practitioner, registered nurse, and social worker, and are looking to provide health services for you and your family.

Eligibility:

✅ Indigenous (with verification, such as status) or kinship
✅ Valid OHIP (or in the process of obtaining OHIP)
✅ Ontario address

Fill out their online intake form to apply for Primary Care today: https://forms.office.com/r/6wWJvbZEv6k

05/02/2026

❤️ For 25+ years, Upstream Ottawa has hosted a monthly lunch social for our program participants to come together, share a meal, play games, create art, and make friendships.

It’s called First Connections, and this monthly highlight for our team is hosted at First United Church in Westboro Village.

This program is one of our many Wellness Services that we are proud to offer to elevate our care to the next level. We are only able to offer these unfunded gatherings with the generosity of the community, so to our donors with big hearts: thank you! ❤️

05/02/2026

🎉 We are proud to celebrate that Canada has been honouring Black History Month for 30 years!

Last night, our Executive Director, Bo Turpin, and our Vice-Chair, Sheldon Mellis, were honoured to represent Upstream Ottawa at the official celebration of this milestone, hosted fittingly at the Canadian Museum of History by the African Canadian Senate Group.

We’re grateful to Prime Minister Carney for the recognition he gave to the rich contributions of Black Canadians to our country’s history and culture.

Further, we took pride in hearing from our friend, Dr. Jean Augustine, who had introduced the House of Commons motion to create Black History Month three decades ago, which was unanimously passed.

One of our primary programs at Upstream is AMANI, which provides mental health and substance-use health supports for Black youth across the city. We are proud of the positive impact our team is having on the next generation!ti

Address

Opening Hours

Monday	08:30 - 16:30
Tuesday	08:30 - 16:30
Wednesday	08:30 - 16:30
Thursday	08:30 - 16:30
Friday	08:30 - 16:30

Telephone

+16132483330

Website

https://www.upstreamottawa.ca/

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