Sep 26th, 2024

Media Advisory: Ottawa Community Housing in partnership with Ottawa Fire Services marks Fire Prevention Week with an educational BBQ event  

September 26, 2024, OTTAWA, ON – In recognition of Fire Prevention Week, Ottawa Community Housing (OCH) is hosting a community focused BBQ event to raise awareness about fire safety while bringing together tenants, staff, fire services and community leaders for an afternoon of education and fun. 

Fire safety saves lives and Fire Prevention Week serves as an opportunity to engage tenants, staff and community members in important conversations about safety. Ottawa Fire Services will be on site to provide information and tips to equip tenants and the community with the knowledge needed to prevent fires and stay safe.  

OCH continues to invest significantly in fire prevention infrastructure to meet the highest safety standards and support fire safety for OCH tenants. Last year, OCH dedicated $1.9 million to upgrade generators, fire alarm systems, and booster pumps across the portfolio. Additionally, we complete 41,720 home inspections each year and monitor 102 fire panels across the city. So far in 2024. Contractors have tested 26,997 smoke alarms and 5,703 carbon monoxide detectors in various communities. 

Event details  

Please join us at the event where the media will have an opportunity to interview partners, and OCH representatives.   

When: Thursday, September 26, 2024 

Time: 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.  

Where:1065 Ramsey Crescent, Outside OCH Office 

Quote  

“Fire Prevention Week is an opportunity for us to come together as a community and ensure that everyone understands the importance of fire safety. This year, Ottawa Community Housing has invested over $3Million in the Fire Safety System Renewal Program to further enhance the safety of tenants. Community events like this BBQ provide a vital platform for staff and partners to educate tenants and provide information on how they can leverage these resources to stay safe” 

Stéphane Giguère, Chief Executive Officer, OCH  

In Attendance: 

• Stéphane Giguère – CEO, Ottawa Community Housing 
• Theresa Kavanagh – Chair and Bay Ward Councillor  
• Gwen Lewis – Ottawa Fire Services  

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About OCH  

Ottawa Community Housing offers approximately 15,000 homes to about 33,000 tenants, including seniors, families, individuals, and people with disabilities. These homes are located in various communities throughout the City of Ottawa and house a diverse population with different languages, cultures, and ethnicities. OCH is Ottawa’s primary community housing provider, managing two-thirds of the city’s housing portfolio and ranking as the second largest in Ontario. In 2024, OCH earned recognition for the seventh consecutive year as one of the National Capital Region’s Top Employers.  

For more information, contact:  

Esther Njuguna
Media Relations Specialist
Ottawa Community Housing
media@och.ca
343-961-4035