Despite the cold, rainy, and overcast weather, this year’s Tulipathon brought together a dedicated community of supporters determined to walk in support of affordable housing. Around 100 participants gathered among the tulips at Commissioners Park, reconnecting with familiar faces and welcoming new ones into the MHI community.

Thanks to the slower and more prolonged spring season this year, the tulips were still in beautiful bloom, creating a colourful backdrop for an afternoon centred on connection, community, and purpose. Throughout the event, conversations flowed easily as many participants reunited with people they have come to know through Tulipathon over the years. For many, the event has become more than just a fundraiser. It is an annual tradition and an opportunity to reconnect with others who care deeply about supporting affordable housing in our community.

The spirit of the day was a reminder that even under grey skies, people continue to show up for one another. Whether walking as part of a team, volunteering, donating, or cheering others on, every person contributed to the sense of community that makes Tulipathon so meaningful year after year.

To date, Tulipathon has raised just over $89,000 toward this year’s goal of $125,000. While the walk itself may be over, fundraising continues until June 30. Every dollar raised supports MHI tenant subsidies, helping individuals and families maintain safe, affordable housing.

There is still time to help us reach our goal. Together, we can continue making a lasting difference in the lives of MHI tenants.

There are people whose impact can be measured in buildings, programs, and milestones. Then there are people like Gay Richardson, whose legacy lives just as deeply in relationships, generosity, and the countless lives touched through quiet and steadfast service.

It is with deep sadness that we remember Gay Richardson, one of the founding members of Multifaith Housing Initiative, who passed away recently.

Gay helped build the foundation of MHI more than 25 years ago and remained actively involved with the organization until 2025. Throughout those years, she served in many roles including President, Secretary, committee member, fundraiser, volunteer recruiter, and advocate for affordable housing. Her dedication never wavered.

One of Gay’s lasting contributions was her instrumental role in helping MHI secure the 10 housing units at Somerset Gardens through collaboration with developer Bill Teron. Those homes continue to provide stability and affordable housing for individuals and families today.

Gay also believed deeply in the power of community. Through her church, St. John the Evangelist Anglican Church, she inspired many volunteers, donors, and supporters to become involved with MHI’s mission. Her ability to bring people together around compassion and action was extraordinary.

For many years, Gay led the St. John’s team in Tulipathon fundraising efforts with remarkable enthusiasm and commitment. Under her leadership, the team received the Farook Tareen Award multiple times, reflecting the spirit of generosity and community she carried into everything she did.

Those who knew Gay remember not only her leadership, but also her kindness, humility, and unwavering belief that everyone deserves safe and affordable housing.

As shared during Tulipathon on Sunday May 24th: “Gay Richardson was not only one of MHI’s founding members, she remained a champion of our organization and tenants for decades. She leaves behind an incredible legacy and it is well represented today by members from her church community. We will miss her dearly.”

Gay’s obituary described her as someone deeply committed to faith, family, and community, values that were evident in the way she lived and served others throughout her life.

Her legacy continues through the homes she helped create, the people she inspired, and the community she helped grow.

In honour of Gay Richardson, donations may be made to support MHI’s work providing affordable housing and rent subsidies for those who need it most. Through these contributions, her compassion and commitment to community will continue to make a difference for years to come.

To learn more about MHI’s work or to make a gift in Gay’s memory, please visit the donations page.

On May 22, the Fine Crescent Community witnessed a great example of leadership, initiative, and community pride in action.

One of our community members, Tahsin, went above and beyond to help improve the cleanliness and safety of our shared garbage area. After noticing debris and buildup beneath the community bins, Tahsin took the initiative to engage directly with waste management while they were on site the bins could be temporarily moved and the area properly cleaned.

What made this act especially meaningful was that Tahsin didn’t simply report the issue — he took action himself. With shovel in hand, he worked hard to clear the debris and restore the area, while waste management staff supported the effort once the bins had been moved. Thanks to his dedication and persistence, the space was left cleaner, safer, and fully accessible for everyone in the community.

Acts like this may seem small, but they have a major impact on the health and safety of our neighbourhoods. Clean garbage areas help prevent pests, reduce odors, eliminate hazards, and create a healthier environment for families and residents. More importantly, they demonstrate respect for shared spaces and for one another.

Tahsin’s actions are a reminder that positive change often starts with one person willing to step forward and take initiative. Building strong communities is not only the responsibility of staff or contractors — it takes all of us working together, taking pride in where we live, and doing our part to keep our neighbourhoods clean and welcoming.

We hope Tahsin’s example inspires others throughout our communities to get involved, lend a helping hand when they can, and continue building a culture of teamwork, respect, and community care.

Thank you, Tahsin, for your outstanding initiative and for helping make Fine Crescent Community a cleaner and safer place for everyone.

Holocaust Survivors Day, held on June 4, is an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the resilience, courage, and strength of Holocaust survivors.

The Holocaust, known as the Shoah, was the Nazi assault aimed at annihilating the Jews of Europe through systematic murder. Six million Jews were murdered — two-thirds of Europe’s Jewish population, amounting to one-third of the world’s Jews. Many others, including Roma and Sinti, people with disabilities, gay men and lesbians, and political prisoners, were also victims. Today, more than 81 years after World War II, the world Jewish population remains below its 1939 level.

The remnant of European Jewry faced unimaginable challenges in rebuilding their lives after the destruction of communities where Jews had lived for centuries. Yet they rebuilt, creating families, communities, institutions, and new lives, setting an enduring example of courage, perseverance, and hope.

Approximately 35,000–40,000 Holocaust survivors resettled in Canada after World War II. They became a part of Canadian life and Jewish communities which had earlier become established, starting in the late 19th century. Several hundred Survivors made their home in Ottawa.

The majority of survivors who settled in Ottawa are no longer living, but their legacy is upheld by their second and third generations and their Jewish communities. I had the privilege of knowing some of Ottawa’s survivors and hearing first-hand their stories of survival and rebuilding.

After escaping the Holocaust, they were burdened by trauma and uncertain of their place in Canada until they established themselves, but then went on to rebuild their lives, careers, and families. With the support of the Jewish community, many survivors later became active in preserving the memory of the victims and speaking about what had happened, with every survival story being unique and often heroic. They aimed to bring a warning to society never to allow the evils of discrimination and persecution to flourish, in the way that civilized Europe had been engulfed.

Many spoke in schools, universities, public events, and annual memorials. Some Survivors living around the world also wrote memoirs or gave oral testimony. In Ottawa, the Centre for Holocaust Education and Scholarship (CHES) at Carleton University, developed a video library of Ottawa survivors’ testimonies and is currently on the frontlines of combatting antisemitism. School curricula are now beginning to incorporate the narratives of Holocaust survivors.

In my experience, the survivors I knew were tough, practical, and resilient people. Although the dark clouds of their experiences never completely disappeared, they built meaningful lives, families, and communities, and contributed greatly to Canadian society. Their greatest legacy may be the example they set that even in the face of immense evil, human beings still retain the freedom to choose their moral path.

To those who survived, to the few still living among us, and to those who have passed, June 4 is a day to honour their lives, celebrate their contributions, and express our gratitude for the gifts they gave to future generations.

“Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms — to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.” Holocaust survivor and psychiatrist Viktor Frankl in Man’s Search for Meaning.

The steps of Ottawa City Hall were quiet this morning in a way that felt intentional—like a shared understanding had settled over the crowd before a single word was spoken. Red dresses, suspended and swaying gently in the breeze, lined the space as people gathered for Red Dress Day, hosted by the Ottawa Aboriginal Coalition. Each dress stood as a powerful visual reminder: a life, a story, a presence that should still be here.

Being there today was deeply moving. There was a sense of collective pause—of people setting aside the rush of daily life to bear witness. Elders opened the gathering in a good way, grounding the morning with ceremony and reminding everyone that this day is not only about grief, but also about resilience, memory, and responsibility.

As the program unfolded, speakers shared stories that were as heavy as they were necessary to hear. Family members spoke about daughters, sisters, mothers—women whose laughter once filled rooms, whose absence now leaves an ache that does not fade with time. These were not abstract statistics. They were vivid, personal accounts of love and loss, spoken with courage and a strength that was both humbling and difficult to fully comprehend.

What struck me most was the honesty. There was no softening of the reality facing Indigenous communities across Canada. The crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) was named clearly, without hesitation. At the same time, there was also an insistence on remembering these women as more than victims. They were described as artists, caregivers, leaders, and friends—people who mattered deeply and continue to matter.

Throughout the day, music, drumming, and moments of silence created space for reflection. The sound of the drum, steady and resonant, seemed to echo across the crowd, almost like a heartbeat connecting everyone present. It was impossible not to feel it—both physically and emotionally.

I found myself reflecting on how easy it can be to look away from difficult truths, and how important it is not to. Today was a reminder that listening is an action. Showing up is an action. Bearing witness carries weight.

Leaving City Hall, the image of those red dresses stayed with me. They are simple, but they carry an immense message—one that calls for awareness, accountability, and change. The stories shared today deserve more than a single day of attention. They call on all of us to continue learning, to challenge indifference, and to support the work being led by Indigenous communities.

Red Dress Day is not only about remembrance—it is a call to conscience. And after being there today, it’s one that is impossible to ignore.

This blog is about one of the most important holidays in the Islamic Faith. Eid Al Adha, the celebration of sacrifice and its origins.

​Eid al-Adha is a holiday that Muslims celebrate to remember the story of Prophet Ibrahim, who was asked by Almighty God to sacrifice his own son as a test of faith. When he was ready to obey, the Almighty Creator provided a ram instead, and this event is now honored each year on a specific date in the Islamic lunar calendar, likely falling on May 27 this year based on moon sightings.

For this happy occasion families get ready with their most beautiful attires. Children get new clothing to wear and all kinds of special meals and pastries are prepared ahead of the big days. Usually, the celebration lasts four days. Here in Canada, we celebrate one day, as it often is in the busy workweek, but for some weekends we will do special bazars, family visits or special outings with the children.

In the spiritual aspect we celebrate this BIG TEST in voluntary fasting up to ten days before, or one day after Eid, from dawn to dusk. We read additional prayers and litanies.

On the day of Eid al Adha we gather with our families in the mosques or we rent bigger locations to have the Eid Prayer celebrations, sometimes up to three prayers to accommodate the amount of worshippers. We do special remembrances of The All-Powerful (Exalted is His greatness) in repeating and chanting different litanies, before the actual prayer and the Imam will conclude with a special sermon.

Then people disperse to different kinds of activities, like visiting family, going to Eid bazaars, where also special activities for children like bouncy castles, games, and henna tattoos will be available. The head of the family will organize the sacrificial animal and most of the meat will be given in charity.

Eid is usually a day we remember for a long time, as we meet with families and friends we often don’t see much.