04/30/2026
🌱 Reconnecting, Recharging, Moving Forward Together
Yesterday, April 29, our team at Ottawa Community Immigrant Services Organization stepped away from our day-to-day work to join hundreds of colleagues from across Ottawa’s settlement sector at the LASI Coalition Professional Day.
What left the strongest impression wasn’t the size of the event, but the collective sense of purpose and connection in the room. At a time when our sector is facing funding uncertainty, rising demand, and increasingly complex client needs, the opportunity to come together felt both grounding and revitalizing.
The conversations throughout the day reflected the reality of our work: challenging, meaningful, and constantly evolving. More importantly, they reflected something deeper—resilience. The kind that shows up every day in how teams adapt, support one another, and continue to serve newcomers with care and commitment.
A powerful moment came during the keynote by Dr. Susan Biali, MD, whose insights on burnout and compassion fatigue resonated across roles and organizations. Her message was a timely reminder: to sustain this work, we must also sustain ourselves.
We were also proud to see our CEO, Mary Roman, contributing to important conversations on collaboration and leadership. Her reflections highlighted the importance of staying connected as a LASI coalition and continuing to build strong pathways for those we serve.
At OCISO, we carry our mission forward in our daily work—creating welcoming, safe spaces for newcomers in Ottawa, where everyone can feel a true sense of belonging.
And in between the learning and dialogue, there was space to simply connect—through shared laughter and team-building activities with , reminding us that joy and human connection are essential parts of this work too.
To our incredible team: thank you for everything you bring, every single day.
To our colleagues across the sector: thank you for your partnership, dedication, and commitment to moving forward—together.
