BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Councillor Theresa Kavanagh
CHAIR

Mayor
Mark SutcliffeEX-OFFICIO

Councillor
Marty Carr
Councillor
Glen Gower
Councillor
Stéphanie Plante
Tracy Albert

Adrian Larose

Brendan Lawlor

Seham Rabaa

Girum Simmie

Jonathan Byrd

Dan Doré

Stéphane Giguère
CEO
As CEO of a $4 Billion + housing portfolio at Ottawa Community Housing (OCH), the largest social and affordable housing provider in Canada’s National Capital, Stéphane Giguère, MPA C. Adm./Adm. A., and CIH Chartered Member, leads an award-winning organization that directly impacts the lives of over 33,000 residents in 15,500 OCH homes. Stéphane provides strategic direction and leadership to 455 employees, over 400 contractors and 1,000 volunteers whose specialized skills provide affordable housing to seniors, families, single persons and those with disabilities.
Stéphane promotes OCH as more than a “bricks and mortar” landlord. He leads a high-profile Corporation with expertise in asset management, community development, government and stakeholder relations, finances and business development. Stéphane prioritizes incorporating the diversity of tenants’ needs into the services that the organization delivers. Working with his team to build on the organization’s solid foundation, Stéphane is positioning the Corporation for sustainable growth by identifying new funding sources and business development opportunities in private and not-for-profit sectors.
As an acclaimed business and corporate development leader, combined with his Finance and Public Administration background, Stéphane brings to OCH an impressive range of professional successes and experiences that benefit the organization, its tenants, and stakeholders.
LEAD Team

Greg Finnamore
Chief Financial Officer

Shaun Simms
Chief, People, Communications and Strategy Officer

Cliff Youdale
Chief Development Officer

Alain Cadieux
Vice-President, Tenant Experience and Quality Assurance

Christine Garnier
Vice-President, Asset Renewal and Digital Solutions

Cindy Newell
Vice-President, People, Culture and Strategy

Kae Roberts
Interim Vice-President, Community and Tenant Support
More about our Board and Committees
Board of Directors
The Board of Directors oversees the management of Ottawa Community Housing and monitors performance against the Strategic Plan.
OCH’s Board of Directors has 12 Directors:
- Mayor of the City of Ottawa (ex-officio)
- 4 City Councillors
- 1 OCH Tenant Director
- 6 Community Directors (Residents of Ottawa who are not OCH tenants or City Councillors)
The Board of Directors delegates authority to its committees to advise the Board on matters relating to each Committee’s areas of responsibility.
Selecting new Community Directors for the Board of Directors
New Community Directors for the Board of Directors are selected from Community Committee members. Selection is based on:
- The needs of the Board, and
- The knowledge and experience of Community Committee Members.
Board Committees
The Committees support the Board of Directors as it oversees the implementation of OCH’s Strategic Plan. Board Committees have 6-8 members, including at least 1 Board Director.
Most members of the Committees are not members of the Board of Directors. Committee members who are not on the Board of Directors are called “Community Committee Members.”
There are 4 Committees:
Corporate Performance
The Corporate Performance Committee provides guidance to the Board of Directors relating to the Board’s governance structure and processes, policies, performance measures and corporate strategic planning.
Portfolio Management
The Portfolio Management Committee provides guidance to the Board on matters relating to oversight and guidance on the strategic management and development of the OCH housing. Including increasing the supply of affordable housing and overall management strategy for the OCH portfolio.
Client Services
The Client Services Committee provides guidance to the Board relating to quality client experience, strengthening tenant engagement levels (individual and community) and building safe and secure communities.
Finance and Audit
The Finance and Audit Committee provides guidance to the Board relating to the financial health and diligent oversight of financial management of the Corporation.
What is the time commitment for Community Committee Members?
- Committees meet for 2-2.5 hours, 6 times each year
- Meetings start at 4:00 or 4:30 p.m.
- Meeting information packages are available 7 days in advance of the meetings
- Members must read the packages to prepare for the meeting
New Committee Members participate in initial on-boarding in advance of their first meeting, and on-going orientation through their initial one-year term.
Additionally, all Board Directors and Committee members will also be asked to participate in regular governance learning and strategic planning sessions.
Recruiting Community Committee Members
OCH recognizes that respecting and considering a variety of experiences and points of view enriches the quality of decision-making and the ability to achieve its strategic goals.
More on OCH’s commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.
Eligible applicants:
- Must live in the City of Ottawa, and may not be an OCH tenant, OCH employee, or member of City Council.
- Will contribute advice and expertise relevant to the Committees’ terms of reference:
- Have personal, professional, or volunteer experience with vulnerable people or community service.
- Are eligible to be on a Board of Directors according to the Ontario Business Corporations Act.
- Will submit a successful Criminal Records and Judicial Matters check.
Interested in applying?
- Applications are accepted year-round.
- Include which committee(s) you are interested in, and why; describe other governance and community service/volunteer work you have done.
- If you require accommodation during the application process, please let us know and we will work jointly with you to address your needs.
- Send your resume and letter of interest to governancerecruitment@och.ca.
For all questions, email governancerecruitment@och.ca.
Recruiting Tenants for Client Services Committee
OCH believes that including OCH tenants in its governance processes can enrich the conversation and decision making of the governance team. This means that OCH tenants are recruited to participate on the Client Services Committee.
Eligible applicants:
OCH tenants who want to be on the Client Services Committee must:
- Be at least 18 years of age.
- Be an OCH tenant in good standing, in compliance with the terms of the tenancy agreement.*
- Be able to speak and read English.
- Contribute advice and expertise relevant to the Client Services Committee’s Terms of Reference.
- Have basic computer literacy (e.g., using internet, email, etc.).
- Have experience in group decision making.
- Have community volunteer experience.
- Submit a Reference Letter from a community-based worker who knows about your community work.
- Submit a criminal records and judicial matters check.
*OCH will review its records to verify this eligibility requirement.
Tenant Responsibilities on a Committee of the Board:
- Contribute to governance decision-making in the best interests of OCH.
- Participate in scheduled and special meetings, planning sessions and special projects as part of the governance process.
- Provide advice based on areas of expertise and lived experience.
- Identify and avoid conflicts of interest, real, perceived or potential.
- Promote the mandate of OCH within the broader community.
- Support decisions taken by the Board.
Interested in applying?
- Applications are accepted year-round.
- Complete this Application Form.
- Save it to your computer.
- Email it and your reference letter to governancerecruitment@och.ca.
- Include why you want to be on the Client Services Committee.
- Describe other governance and community service/volunteer work you have done.
- If you require accommodation during the application process, please let us know and we will collaborate with you to address your needs.
For all questions, email governancerecruitment@och.ca.
OCH’S REPRESENTATION IN OTHER SECTOR ORGANIZATIONS
OCH’s leadership team is well represented on many Boards of organizations that represent social housing and community interests at the municipal, provincial and federal level. These organizations include:
- Alliance to End Homelessness Ottawa
- City of Ottawa’s Housing and Homelessness Leadership Table
- City of Ottawa’s Housing Innovation Task Force
- Canadian Housing and Renewal Association
- Community Impact Cabinet – United Way Ottawa
- Housing Partnership Canada
- Housing Services Corporation
- Ontario Non-Profit Housing Association
- Ottawa Board of Trade
- Ottawa Social Housing Network
- The Ottawa Mission