Options Bytown Non-Profit Housing Corporation Launches Reconciliation Action Plan

Options Bytown Non-Profit Housing Corporation unveiled their Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) that aims to promote reconciliation practices and efforts within their own organization and the housing and homelessness sector of Ottawa.   

On Sept 29, Options Bytown invited staff, board members and community partners to the launch of their Reconciliation Action Plan. This Reconciliation Action Plan is a public acknowledgement and commitment on behalf of Options Bytown staff and board, and is offering to others who may want to build their own path towards a more equitable and just community for us all.

“Option Bytown’s sincere commitment to reconciliation is a great inspiration for other organizations willing to take the necessary steps to improve their relationship with Indigenous Peoples and be truly respectful and inclusive of First Nations, Métis and Inuit People,” said  Allan Clarke, Reconciliation Action Plan working group volunteer consultant. “I am honoured to have contributed to this work and, as a First Nation person, welcome Option Bytown’s efforts to promote reconciliation.”

The Options Bytown Reconciliation Action Plan is a framework to build respectful relationships with Indigenous Peoples, and to contribute to the work of Reconciliation. It includes practical actions that will supports contribution to reconciliation, both internally with regard to governance and the recruitment and development of staff, and externally with regard to partnerships with Indigenous housing and support organizations and its delivery of services to the communities within which they operate.

The plan highlights actions that Options Bytown plans to implement right away, including:

• Observing the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation as a statutory holiday for staff.
• Promote reconciliation with other housing providers and organizations through the sharing of our work throughout the development of the RAP.
• Create an organizational culture that attracts and prioritizes greater diversity amongst staff and board to include Indigenous representation.
• Continue our reconciliation journey by reviewing and renewing our RAP every three years.

The full Options Bytown Reconciliation Action Plan is available online at www.optionsbytown.com/reconciliation.