By Stephen Bartolo
Lowertown and the people who call it home continue to inspire me every day since I started working at Shepherds of Good Hope 21 years ago in 2002.
In 2026, it’ll be 200 years since Lowertown was first laid out by Colonel John By. The generosity of life and spirit has been woven into the fabric of Lowertown, as its residents were the ones who helped build the Rideau Canal and the rest of Ottawa, as it became the capital of Canada.
For 40 of those years, Shepherds has been a part of the community. Founded in St. Brigid’s Church by Father Jack Heffernan and a group of caring, civic-minded volunteers, Shepherds saw people for who they were, and met them wherever they were on their life journey. Shepherds have always been there to lend a hand, just like the residents of Lowertown have been for almost two centuries.
This summer, I had the joy and responsibility of becoming CEO at Shepherds after Deirdre Freiheit stepped away from the role she played as CEO with kindness, humility, and vision that has changed thousands of lives.
As only the fourth CEO in Shepherds’ history, I will continue to build on the legacy created by Deirdre, as well as my colleagues, our volunteers and the people in the communities where we work and live. These are some of my objectives:
Enhancement of the experience
From residents to employees, the organization aims to create an environment where compassion, care and dignity flourish. By embracing this priority, Shepherds of Good Hope will continue to provide the wrap-around supports people need to live their lives with dignity and safety.
Commitment to excellence
As an organization with 250 employees and the same number of dedicated volunteers, Shepherds knows excellence is a continuous pursuit. Excellence in service is the key to elevating the lives of the people served by Shepherds, both in the emergency shelter and throughout its five supportive-housing residences.
Fiscal and environmental sustainability
Social impact is at the root of the work at Shepherds of Good Hope. In a world of rising prices, rising temperatures and unprecedented weather events, Shepherds is committed to fiscal and environmental sustainability. Financial and environmental stewardship permeates the work we do at Shepherds.
It’s about people
Shepherds’ employees provide hands-on support to people who have experienced trauma in their lives. This trauma manifests itself in many ways. It is vital to have an engaged workforce equipped with the tools, knowledge, and empathy to “meet them where they’re at” and provide the support they need.
Lowertown is the birthplace of one of the finest cities in the world. It is also the birthplace of a fresh start for those experiencing homelessness.
I’m proud to continue my journey with Shepherds in Lowertown and look forward to the day when chronic homelessness is a thing of the past in Ottawa, a legacy of which we can all be proud.
Stephen Bartolo is the CEO, Shepherds of Good Hope.