Oct 30th, 2026

OCH’s Shaun Simms Receives Outstanding Leadership Award

Recognition celebrates more than 30 years of leadership and contributions to Ontario’s community housing sector.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

OTTAWA – October 30, 2026 – Shaun Simms, Chief, People, Communications and Strategy Officer at Ottawa Community Housing, received the Ontario Non-Profit Housing Association’s (ONPHA) Sybil Frenette Outstanding Leadership Award, presented at the 2026 ONPHA Conference. 

The award recognizes individuals whose leadership, energy and vision have made a lasting contribution to their organizations, communities and Ontario’s non-profit housing sector. 

With more than 30 years at OCH, Shaun has helped shape the organization’s culture and its approach to supporting employees and serving tenants. With a background in social work, she began her career on the front lines, working directly with tenants and communities. She went on to champion employee engagement, leadership development, health and safety, diversity, equity and inclusion, and continuous improvement.  

OCH has continued to be recognized as one of the National Capital Region’s Top Employers, earning the distinction for the ninth consecutive year in 2026. 

Shaun Simms has also served on the Canadian Housing and Renewal Association (CHRA) Board since 2021 and became its President in 2025, strengthening OCH’s voice in national conversations about community housing.   

Quotes  

“Shaun has helped shape OCH into the organization it is today. Her leadership has brought people together around a shared purpose and helped keep our organization focused on the communities we serve. She is the anchor of our culture at OCH and in our communities.”

– Stéphane Giguère, Chief Executive Officer, Ottawa Community Housing

“Community housing has been at the heart of my career. From frontline operations to organizational leadership, I’ve seen how much we can accomplish when we invest in our people, work collaboratively, and keep residents at the centre of what we do. I’m honoured that this work has been recognized by my peers across the sector.” 

– Shaun Simms, Chief, People, Communications and Strategy Officer

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About Ottawa Community Housing   

Ottawa Community Housing offers approximately 15,500 homes to about 33,000 tenants, including seniors, families, individuals, and people with disabilities. These homes are located in various communities throughout 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 2026, OCH earned recognition for the nineth consecutive year as one of the National Capital Region’s Top Employers. 

www.och-lco.ca | X | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram | Bluesky 

Ottawa Community Housing also operates the ARRIV Properties banner. 

Media Contact  

For media inquiries or further information, please contact:  

Michaela Ianni 
Media Relations Specialist 
Ottawa Community Housing 
media@och.ca | 343-961-4035