Ottawa Police Service announces 2023 Gala Beneficiaries

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, June 7, 2023   9:45 am

(Ottawa) —The Ottawa Police Service (OPS) is pleased to announce this year’s Gala beneficiaries.

“It was a very hard choice to make this year, we had so many great applications,” said OPS Gala co-chair Inspector Jim Elves. “But ultimately our decision focused on organizations that were committed to helping our city’s youth.”

The 2023 OPS Gala beneficiaries are The Door Youth Centre and the Roberts Smart Centre – Treatment for Youth. A third donation will be made to the Beechwood Memorial Cemetery.

The Door Youth Centre offers a downtown space for young people ages 12 to 18 to learn skills that can help them become independent and thriving adults. It hosts a series of drop-in events to learn things like photography, art classes, help with homework, or even recreational activities.

The Roberts Smart Centre offers a secure treatment facility for youth struggling with complex mental health challenges. It focuses on community reintegration and programs for families to support the health recovery of their children.

“Both of these charities are working hard to make a difference to help our youth successfully transition into adulthood,” said Insp. Elves. “It’s an important investment in our future.”

To-date the OPS Gala has raised just over $1 million for local charities, with all funds going directly back into Ottawa’s communities. Past recipients have included Big Brothers Big Sisters, the Snowsuit Fund, the Ottawa Food Bank and other worthy Ottawa non-profits who are committed to making a difference in our communities.

We want to thank everyone who applied this year, the work you are doing helps to make our city more inclusive by helping those most in need. If you were not selected this year, we encourage you to apply again next year.

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