Get to Know Upstream: Our Community
Browse through these slides to learn more about who we are and who we work with! Stay tuned for more posts in our Get to Know Upstream series. As always, all donations to our organization (link in bio!) directly benefit our clients’ mental and substance use health. Thank you for continuing to support our community!
If you're new to the Upstream Ottawa community or just need a refresher, flip through these slides to learn about our mission, values, and history! Stay tuned for more posts in our Get to Know Upstream series. As always, all donations to our organization (link in our bio!) will directly benefit our clients' mental and substance use health. We appreciate your dedication to supporting our mission!
Get to Know Upstream: What We Do
Upstream Ottawa provides mental health and substance-use health support to youth, adults, and families in Ottawa. Swipe through these slides to see what that looks like!
Stay tuned for more posts in our Get to Know Upstream series or visit our website to learn more. As always, all donations to our organization (link in bio) directly benefit our clients' mental and substance use health. Thank you for continuing to support our community!
I’m raising funds in support of @upstreamottawa at the @ottawaracewknd on May 23 - your donation will support local mental health services.
Link is in my bio
🏃♀️Please give it up for Raymond Chooi, running the FULL MARATHON for Team Upstream in @ottawaracewknd !
👉 Please consider supporting him or any of our runners fundraising for our work via link in bio.
Raymond is relatively new to Ottawa, and immediately connected with our work supporting mental health in the community. Not only did he run with us last year, but he has volunteered at our events and simply been a strong supporter of our efforts. We appreciate you, Raymond!
“Mental health support has quite literally saved my life and the lives of many others. Whether it’s a friend in need or an incredible charity like Upstream Ottawa, support for mental health is important for us to push through the increasing challenges in the world.
“Thank you for any donation you can give and hope I can join you in your next race!”
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PS: If you’re already running on May 23-24 and would like to raise funds for a cause, we would love to welcome you to our team! Full details via the same link in bio, or send us a DM and we’ll give you all the info to set up your fundraising page and join us. If you’re not signed up to run yet, it’s not too late — just send us a message and we’ll help you out with that, too! 😊
🏃♀️Meet Khorton Desir, running for Team Upstream in @ottawaracewknd !
👉 Please consider supporting him or any of our runners fundraising for our work via link in bio.
Joining the team as an intern through Algonquin College’s Advertising and Marketing Communications Management Program, Khorton has seen firsthand the work that Upstream has done for the community through our monthly luncheons and wellness support programs. Inspired from the work that he has done with the team he decided to extend his time with Upstream and run for our team.
“Through schooling you are made to look at the advertising and marketing world through a specific perspective, but with my work at Upstream I was able to see that there is still opportunity to help people who are in need of support. It is not about pushing products to the right people, it is about making meaningful messages more visible to the people who need it. I hope I was able to achieve that through my work at Upstream!”
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PS: If you’re already running on May 23-24 and would like to raise funds for a cause, we would love to welcome you to our team! Full details via the same link in bio, or send us a DM and we’ll give you all the info to set up your fundraising page and join us. If you’re not signed up to run yet, it’s not too late — just send us a message and we’ll help you out with that, too! 😊
🏃♀️Meet Jake Naylor, running for Team Upstream in @ottawaracewknd !
👉 Please consider supporting him or any of our runners fundraising for our work via link in bio.
Jake has dedicated his career to building community and supporting Ottawa’s non-profits and small businesses through special events, marketing campaigns, and fundraising, and recently joined Upstream as our Director of Development & Communications to help further our impact in the city.
“Funds raised will help ensure we can continue offering our Wellness Services, a series of programs that are not funded by the province but we know reduce isolation, encourage friendships, address food insecurity, and simply promote ‘the good life.’
“Some of these services include our monthly social luncheons with crafts and games, ‘field trip”’outings to Ottawa attractions for cultural connectedness, and our holiday dinner, where we provide turkey and gifts to those we serve and their families, to ensure everyone gets something special for the season.”
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PS: If you’re already running on May 23-24 and would like to raise funds for a cause, we would love to welcome you to our team! Full details via the same link in bio, or send us a DM and we’ll give you all the info to set up your fundraising page and join us. If you’re not signed up to run yet, it’s not too late — just send us a message and we’ll help you out with that, too! 😊
🏃♀️Meet Dr. Kwaku Kusi-Appiah, running for Team Upstream in @ottawaracewknd !
👉 Please consider supporting him or any of our runners fundraising for our work via link in bio.
Dr. Kwaku Kusi-Appiah is a dedicated advocate for community empowerment and environmental stewardship, and we’re proud that he is bringing his years of experience to Upstream as one of our newest board members!
“As a Board Director, I see firsthand the urgency of accessible mental health support for youth, newcomers, and Black communities facing systemic barriers. We provide free counselling, peer support, and crisis services without stigma.
“On the board, I help steward this work; in this race, I am committed to advancing it. Your support matters! Each step I take and each donation helps ensure no one faces their most difficult moments alone.”
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PS: If you’re already running on May 23-24 and would like to raise funds for a cause, we would love to welcome you to our team! Full details via the same link in bio, or send us a DM and we’ll give you all the info to set up your fundraising page and join us. If you’re not signed up to run yet, it’s not too late — just send us a message and we’ll help you out with that, too! 😊
⚾️ Go Titans! @upstreamottawa recently received a generous grant from the @ottawa_titans Field of Dreams Foundation, so when we were looking for our next team building activity, we knew where we were heading!
On Friday, our hardworking staff enjoyed a great night out with Cappy and the board members of the Field of Dreams Foundation at the historic sell-out Titans home opener at Ottawa Stadium. It was great to see Ottawa come together for their baseball team, especially one that supports local charities like Upstream!
🧘♂️ Bonus: A mental health moment — our Executive Director, Bo Turpin, had a chance to meditate before the game with Cappy and Juno-winner/anthem-singer, @kellyleeevansmusic !
🏃♀️Meet Audrey Joyal, running for Team Upstream in @ottawaracewknd !
👉 Please consider supporting her or any of our runners fundraising for our work via link in bio.
Audrey is a true community leader who has focused her career strengthening mental health, equity, and inclusion across workplaces and communities — which she continues to do as one of our newest board members here at Upstream!
“When I joined the board of Upstream Ottawa, I met people and families whose lives had been changed through Upstream’s support. One story shared with me, and one that still echoes, came from a community member who had lived through years of instability and fear.
“After receiving safe housing and compassionate care, they said it was the first time in years they could exhale and finally feel safe again. From there, they began building a career, a home, and a family. That support positively impacted not only one community member, but generations to come.”
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PS: If you’re already running on May 23-24 and would like to raise funds for a cause, we would love to welcome you to our team! Full details via the same link above, or send us a DM and we’ll give you all the info to set up your fundraising page and join us. If you’re not signed up to run yet, it’s not too late — just send us a message and we’ll help you out with that, too! 😊
🏃♀️Meet Kyla Groves and her family, running together for Team Upstream in @ottawaracewknd ! Please consider supporting their fundraising for our work via link in bio.
Kyla Groves is one our dedicated frontline staff, a Case Manager with our Intensive Case Management team. Day in and out, she is helping our program participants live happier, healthier lives. Her Mom and Dad, Tracy and Paul, are dedicated volunteers at Upstream, expertly serving meals at our monthly social luncheons from their years of experience running restaurants. Don’t forget the family ring leader, Brantley!
“I have worked at Upstream for over four years now and my family volunteers to support in the monthly Wellness Services that we offer. Mental health is an ongoing issue within our community, and our Wellness Services bring joy and a sense of belonging to many of our clients.
“Your donation would help Upstream be able to continue to support clients and our ability to offer these wellness programs. We all thank you for any donation that you can make.”
If you’re already running on May 23-24 and would like to raise funds for a cause, Kyla and her family would love to welcome you to our team! Send us a DM and we’ll give you all the info to set up your fundraising page and join us. If you’re not signed up to run yet, it’s not too late — just send us a message and we’ll help you out! 😊
👉 Please see link in bio to join our team or donate to the runners of Team Upstream. Thank you for your support!
📣 We are hiring! Please click “repost” or “send” to share with your network.
As we continue to grow and evolve to meet Ottawa’s mental health care needs, we are proud to welcome applicants for the following clinical roles by Tuesday, May 12, at 5:00 PM. Please apply to each job posting through Indeed (link in bio or find our organization’s page on there).
Best of luck to everyone interested!
➡️ Director of Clinical Services
➡️ Bilingual Social Worker (for @amani.mentalhealth Program)
