Jul 22nd, 2022

News Release: Canadian HR Reporter Recognizes Ottawa Community Housing Corporation’s Leadership and Support for Employees

July 22, 2022 (OTTAWA, ON) – Ottawa Community Housing Corporation’s Human Resources team has been recognized for their innovative approach to supporting employee health, safety and wellbeing.

The Canadian HR Reporter’s annual report recognizes teams who are at the forefront of change and innovation in the industry.

OCHC’s Human Resources team recognizes that the workplace of the future will require strategies to address the emerging needs of the changing workforce. Throughout the last couple of years, the team has taken a proactive approach to employee health and wellbeing. Some initiatives include proactively providing mental health leadership training, continued work with the wellness committee and rolling out key diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.

With health and wellbeing rapidly emerging as significant issues, the HR team was quick to leverage insights from its Wellness Committee to work proactively to enhance its employee benefits program.

Changes in how we do business were made necessary due to the pandemic. However, the Human Resources team implemented changes in policy following a robust communications strategy to ensure staff had access to the most up-to-date information.

Ottawa Community Housing Corporation has supported our staff by providing flexible scheduling options and developing safe work practices and guidelines based on the advice provided by the public health authorities. OCHC will engage with all departments while creating a hybrid workforce model that establishes procedures that support employee engagement, leverages technology, diversity, equity and inclusion, mental health and wellness, and enables high performance. This work will ensure we continue to serve tenants in the best way possible.     

“I am proud of the HR team’s commitment to continuous improvement and developing a workplace that supports an engaged, inclusive workforce. Continued recognition as a leader in the field of Human Resources tells us we are headed in the right direction as a Corporation with an amazing team.” Stéphane Giguère, Chief Executive Officer, OCHC

By providing the necessary support to foster a culture of innovation and creativity – the HR team helps all OCHC staff make a difference in tenants’ lives and continue their crucial work. Congratulations on this recognition. Mathieu Fleury, Rideau-Vanier Councillor and OCHC Board Chair 

Our HR team has shown their commitment and has been working hard to proactively develop and implement innovative programs focused on employee health and wellness, professional growth, engagement and diversity, equity and Inclusion – aimed at supporting a workplace where everyone can make a difference. Shaun Simms, Chief, People and Communications Officer, OCHC

Quick facts:  

– OCHC has 442 permanent, full-time employees spread out between the head office and five districts.

– With 75% participation, our 2021 Employee Engagement Survey results indicate that 78% of employees are proud to tell others they work for the organization and 71% of employees would recommend OCHC as a great place to work.

– Our desired culture is grounded in our cultural statements: We are proud because every day we make a difference; We work as if it’s our own community; We strive towards the future, and We make every moment count.

– OCHC has been recognized externally for several awards in the last 12 months, including National Capital Region’s Top 100 Employer (for the 5th consecutive year), finalist in the 2021 Workplace Benefits Awards (Health and Wellness Program for companies with less than 1,000 employees, finalist in the 2022 Canadian HR Awards Best Workplace Culture category and Waterstone Human Capital Most Admired Corporate Cultures.

– We have more than 50 employees working on advancing our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Plan.

About OCHC:

Ottawa Community Housing Corporation (OCHC) provides approximately 15,000 homes to about 32,000 tenants, including seniors, parents, children, couples, singles and persons with special needs, within many communities across the City of Ottawa. OCHC houses a diverse population of varying languages, ethnicity and cultures. OCHC is the largest social housing provider in Ottawa, managing two-thirds of the City’s social housing portfolio, and is the second-largest in Ontario. OCHC was selected as one of the National Capital Region’s Top Employers in 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021. www.och-lco.ca | Twitter | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram

Media Contact:

Jennifer McIntosh
Communications and Marketing Specialist
jennifer.mcintosh@och.ca or media@och.ca
613-914-9953