Mar 6th, 2025
Spotlight on Leadership: Theresa Kavanagh, OCH Board Chair
Share this story
This article was written by Caroline Phillips, a well-known Ottawa journalist and storyteller. Caroline captures the people and stories shaping our city, and we’re pleased to share her thoughtful profile of Theresa Kavanagh.
You should know that when Ottawa Community Housing board chair Theresa Kavanagh wears her signature red lipstick, it’s more than a style choice – it’s a bold statement of confidence, determination and refusal to be overlooked. Theresa is a community leader with moxy, whether she is running for political office or just plain running. She has completed 21 marathons — including multiple Boston Marathons – along with Iron-distance, triathlons, cross-country ski races and full-on cycling tours. She even climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in support of Christie Lake Kids.
Her journey to leadership wasn’t a straight path. Theresa arrived in Ottawa in 1982 as a young mother and housewife, feeling isolated, in an unfamiliar city.
Searching for connection, she started volunteering at Carleton University’s campus radio station, CKCU. Later, she became involved in politics, back when Ed Broadbent was leader of the NDP.
Despite being new to politics, she was encouraged to run for the seat in Ottawa West. She lost, but gained valuable experience, leading to a role on Parliament Hill working for MPs and, later, in the NDP whip’s office.
By the early 2000s, with her two sons grown, she discovered a world beyond politics through long-distance running. The discipline of training helped her to navigate a difficult period in her life, including her marital breakdown. “I met some amazing people,” she said of the friendships she formed along the way.
In 2010, she returned to politics, winning a seat as a local school board trustee. The position was an opportunity to learn more about her local communities and run for city councillor in Bay Ward in 2018, which includes communities such as Britannia, Bayshore, Carlingwood and Foster Farm.
After being elected, Theresa became the first City Council Liaison on Women and Gender Equity, advocating for gender equality and supporting women and gender-diverse individuals.
In this term of office Theresa now serves as City Council Co-Liaison for Older Adults, Recognizing the unique challenges faced by seniors. “We need to be their families sometimes, and watch out for each other,” she says.
Given her deep community involvement, joining the Ottawa Community Housing board felt like a natural fit.
She first served on OCH’s Client Services Committee before proudly becoming board chair in 2022. In this role, she leads the board of directors in reviewing, providing oversight and voting on items that enhance existing housing and properties, create welcoming communities for tenants and support the development of new affordable housing initiatives.
As Ottawa’s largest social housing provider—and the second largest in Ontario—OCH serves more than 33,000 tenants across 15,000 rental homes in over 160 communities. Theresa understands the organization’s critical role in addressing the housing crisis. OCH has 868 new affordable homes in development and is looking for ways to expand further.
“There’s a backlog of people waiting for affordable housing, and I want to be part of the solution,” she said. “We need to grow, but it’s about finding the right balance — moving forward while learning from the past, and embracing change to build not just housing, but strong, healthy communities.”
OCH is reimagining urban living through mixed-housing neighborhoods that community, inclusivity, and improved quality of life for all residents. Under Stéphane Giguère’s leadership, the organization has sought out new opportunities and innovative partnerships, such as integrating OCH affordable housing apartments at Common at Zibi — an ambitious new mixed-use waterfront community owned by DREAM, a private developer.
OCH is also embracing sustainable building practices, incorporating solar energy, heat pumps, and zero-emission technologies, aligning with the City of Ottawa’s Climate Change Master plan.
Theresa is a strong supporter of OCH’s Complex Care Housing strategy which aims to better support tenants facing mental health challenges, substance use, and other issues to help prevent hospitalization, incarceration, or homelessness.
Her dedication to social equity is rooted in her own upbringing. She was one of six children raised in Hamilton by an Irish-born father who worked as a unionized steelworker at Stelco, often taking extra shifts to provide for his family. Her British mother worked in wartime factories assembling Lancaster Bombers before immigrating to Canada.
Theresa, a university graduate, remains committed to education and community support. She is a member of the Advisory Board with Pathways to Education, a program run by the Pinecrest-Queensway Community Health Centre that provides free tutoring to high school students to help them overcome barriers and graduate successfully.
She also takes the time to visit OCH neighbourhoods throughout the city, meeting tenants and listening to their stories. “I’ve learned so much,” she said “I hear from mothers who want the same thing all mothers want – opportunities and success for their children. There’s a wealth of talent in our communities.”