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Jan 13, 2020
He Fought Like a Soldier
On Jan 15, OIM launches a NEW Innercity Veterans Outreach & Support Service (DETAILS BELOW). Over the coming weeks and months, we will be...
Nov 14, 2019
Above and Beyond
Wednesday night team on the first snowy night of the season. When OIM staff pack up for the day and lock the doors at 4pm, we know that...
Oct 30, 2019
The 52-Hertz Whale
Have you ever met someone who is just amazing at remembering names? That person who you met once 3 years ago, who remembers your name as...
Aug 9, 2019
A Tough Night
It was a particularly rough start to the night at Innercity Arts. One of the youth had arrived in distress, suffering from a mental...
Jul 11, 2019
Learning to Carve
Larissa volunteering at the 2017 festival Every year, the Canadian Stone Carving Festival raises funds for Innercity Arts. Many young...
Jun 24, 2019
A Glimpse into Mental Illness
Damon was downtown one afternoon, when he began to sense the ever too familiar feelings of anxiety and depression taking over: quickening...
Apr 12, 2019
Mandala Workshop
“Mandalas are an ancient artistic technique used in many cultures around the world as an aid to understanding who we are as individuals...
Mar 29, 2019
Resilient Heroes
Resiliency is the ability to recovery readily after being bent or stretched from adversity. I have about 50 heroes in my life; all of...
Mar 20, 2019
10 Years of Innercity Arts
As we near the 10th anniversary of Innercity Arts, I wanted to look back on how the program came about. I recently spoke with Jason Pino,...
Feb 14, 2019
New Bursary Program
For the past several years, the Canadian Stone Carving Festival has raised funds for Innercity Arts. The festival founders are passionate...
Nov 16, 2018
Showing Love Through Food
Each month, Terri drops off a home cooked meal for the youth of Innercity Arts. She always puts such love and care into her meals, making...
Sep 7, 2018
When the Streets are Safer than Affordable Housing
You may be surprised to learn that I have heard this been said many times. Today, it was said by Sarah – a young person in our art...
Feb 22, 2018
Conversation at the Drop-In
“I’ve been on my own a long time. I left home when I was 10. Been on my own ever since.” Edward told me this as we sat together in the...
Nov 27, 2017
A Homeless Vet’s Journey: Week 1
For the audio introduction to A Homeless Vet’s Journey click play below: Kurk had served several tours of duty in the armed forces,...
Nov 2, 2017
Searching for Affordable Housing
You would think that in a city like Ottawa, when a vulnerable citizen faces a crisis and loses their housing, there would be a system in...
Sep 22, 2017
She is Not Unknown
You see her every day on your way to work. Usually she is sitting at Tim Horton’s or resting on a bench. She is hard to miss – a small...
Aug 1, 2017
Canadian Stone Carving Festival
On July 21-23, thirty-five stone carvers gathered on Ottawa’s historic Sparks Street for the Canadian Stone Carving Festival. Each was...
Jun 14, 2017
Stone Carving Workshop
Innercity Arts was lucky enough to have Patrick Imai, a local carver, volunteer his time to come in to teach us about soap stone carving....
Jun 2, 2017
Loss, Hope and Joy
“You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing. You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy,” Psalm 30: 11...
May 8, 2017
“At Risk”
The term “at risk youth” is thrown around a lot, often without much thought or care. It’s a label that can feel very cold and...
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