Soul Space Ottawa

08/31/2026

Connection. Belonging. Hope.

These themes were shared and heard today at Overdose Awareness Day in Ottawa.

Our hearts go out to the community & family members who have lost loved ones to overdose deaths.

We are grateful to the countless frontline workers who offer these gifts to community members affected by the toxic drug crisis that we are living through.

Let us do better as a community to ensure dignity and care for all.

08/29/2026

On International Overdose Awareness Day, we remember the people we have lost, recognize the grief carried by families and communities, and honour those working every day to reduce harm and save lives.

The Nova Scotia Grief Alliance invites you to join us for a special four-part International Overdose Awareness Day Mini Series exploring grief, harm reduction, community response and what it means to remain human while working in systems where loss is a constant companion.

💚 LIVE WEBINAR — AUGUST 31
⏰ 6:00 PM AST | 2:00 PM PST
💻 Virtual via Zoom

Dr. Marcus Greatheart, MD, MSW
Remaining Human While Working in Systems where Grief Is a Constant Companion

The live 60-minute webinar will be followed by three pre-recorded 30-minute presentations featuring Nova Scotia harm reduction leaders:

Davy Rose (They/Them)
Harm Reduction in Nova Scotia Histories, Provincial Implementation and Grief in Healthcare Settings

Kimm Kent (She/They)
Grief in the Margins

Ashley Legere
Love Us Loud

Together, these four perspectives create space for conversations about grief that is too often unseen — the grief experienced by people who use drugs, families, frontline workers, harm reduction advocates and communities responding to ongoing loss.

Honouring lives. Supporting communities. Building a future with compassion and care.

Register today at nsgriefalliance.com/events

08/28/2026

08/18/2026

The ANCHOR team, based out of Centretown CHC | CSC du Centre-ville and Somerset West Community Health Centre is an incredible team of dedicated frontline workers and we are grateful for them. 🙏💖

Last week, we held them in our hearts for two big reasons:

1. Friday, August 14th marked their two year anniversary, which has included a time of incredible growth and expansion, as they offer an alternative to police response to community members in crisis.

2. The recent defunding of supervised consumption sites in June has left them run off their feet and at risk of burnout if they are not adequately supported.

While we love offering a tiny bit of respite with our retreats, clay workshops, and collective care circles, so much more is needed to sustain this team!

Inspired by the Ojibway Anishnaabe legend of the forest fire and the hummingbird who does what they can in the face of an overwhelming situation, we dropped off small care packages for the staff on shift last Friday. 🐦

It is our hope that this helped to remind them that the community is grateful, and that we will do what we can to support their wellbeing.

If you see their van around, please thank these workers for all that they do, and ask your mayoral candidate how they will ensure equitable pay and appropriate supports to keep these workers well. 🙏

Many thanks to Earthen vessels and our frontline worker advisory group members for donating space and time for this undertaking 💜

08/12/2026

Community members and frontline workers at Belong Ottawa's Centre 454 are facing closure if they are unable to find a new location.

They are seeking support to request an extension of their deadline from the City. If you would like to add your name to this petition, you can do so here: https://nwmd.social/s/copylink/4wmHaUSLeu7Nw7uOnuk=/b

For over 70 years, Centre 454, a Community Ministry of the Anglican Diocese of Ottawa, has been providing essential support to vulnerable people in the city. Each day, about 300 people rely on the centre for basic needs including food, access to showers, laundry machines and cots to rest.

The City of Ottawa, which provides core funding for the program, has advised Belong Ottawa that Centre 454, one of Belong’s service centres, will need to relocate from its long-time home at St. Albans Church with a current deadline of end of January 2027.

Belong Ottawa has sent a written request for extension of the transition timeline.

Read more: https://bit.ly/45kobAo

Belong Ottawa

08/10/2026

We are ever grateful to the generosity of spirit from Clare at Ottawa Community Energy Healing, and the open and compassionate hearts of all who attended our recent sound bath.

It was a pleasure to be able to share in the experience, as well as to have space to discuss all that is afoot in our community that affects the lives of frontline workers and the community members that they care for.

It was a beautiful balance of collective care: offering space for frontline workers to restore and refresh, and increasing awareness of community members about the social and political factors affecting workers.

We hope to offer another experience with Ottawa Community Ottawa Community Energy Healing in the fall. Stay tuned!

07/31/2026

So helpful that these conversations are now beginning, as we have heard this from so many frontline workers over the years ❤️‍🩹

Let us know if this touches you and your work, as we explore options for your support.

Professional grief is a hidden reality for helping professionals. Learn how cumulative loss affects healthcare, social workers, and caregivers, and discover healthy ways to acknowledge and process grief.

07/30/2026

Join us on Monday, August 31 from 11:00am-1:00pm for International Overdose Awareness Day at the Canadian Tribute to Human Rights Monument at 220 Elgin Street in Ottawa.

The event will feature speakers addressing the on-going crisis and info tables.

Following the event, we hope that you will join us on a 4km walk from the monument beginning at 1:30pm, passing by Centre 454, Sandy Hill CHC / CSC Côte-de-sable and the former site of "The Trailer" on Murray Street, before ending up on Parliament Hill to close off "Steps To Remember 2026". If you aren't up for a walk, join us on Parliament Hill at approximately 3:00pm for closing remarks.

07/30/2026

Equity and care shouldn’t be political…