“Thank you for continuing on this journey with us as Cornerstone reaches a major milestone in our herstory – our 40th anniversary!
For forty years Cornerstone has been empowering women through its housing, healing programs, and fostering hope. We look forward to our next forty years of supporting women and gender-diverse people. We couldn’t do this work without all of you.” -Cornerstone, Senior Leadership Team
A MESSAGE FROM THE SENIOR LEADERSHIP TEAM
Cornerstone Housing for Women could not have gotten through this past year without our donors, our neighbours, our staff, our volunteers, and our residents.
The community came together in a big way!
Cornerstone has always been adaptive in the face of any obstacle and that’s what we’ve done this year. When there was water damage to Princeton’s kitchen, our food services team stepped in to support with meals; when our MacLaren House experienced mold damage, we worked with the city and our emergency shelter team to find alternative housing solutions to the renovation work.
Cornerstone has successfully met many milestones in our strategic framework for 2022-2025. We have many things to be grateful for going into 2024!
Breaking Bread for a Cause with Beckta Ottawa
We are grateful for our community’s support in the Breaking Bread for a Cause initiative by Beckta Ottawa, Play Food Wine and Gezellig Westboro. Through your delightful orders of bread, you have made a positive impact, one heartfelt bite at a time. You helped us raise an incredible $5,257, empowering and supporting women and gender-diverse individuals in need.
Crosspoint Financial, a leader in financial planning, showcased its dedication to community service through a well-organized yard clean-up at Princeton. The clean-up happened in November and included clearing debris, pruning plants, and collecting yard waste. This resulted in an impressive haul of over 20-yard waste bags by the end of the day, a testament to the team’s hard work and dedication to the cause.
“Don’t ever doubt how much the little things matter to our residents,” echoed the Princeton team. Our residents commented on how businesses “really care about us enough to clean up our yard” – a shining example of how corporate entities can make a meaningful difference in the lives of the vulnerable in society.
To learn more about the incredible activities that happened in 2023 please click here.
Kris was born and raised in Ottawa. Her journey through life has been marked by hardships and resilience. Kris’s childhood was marred by the separation of her parents, loss, and the challenges of foster care.
At the tender age of 8, she lost her father to cancer, her mother took to drugs which led to her abandoning her family.
Left in the custody of her grandmother who had dementia and soon after was put in a nursing home.
Kris had nowhere else to go but to a foster home at 9 years old.
Since then, she was moved around between many foster homes. From a foster family that treated her as an outsider to another where she faced racism and neglect, Kris’s early experiences were far from nurturing. She navigated through different homes, each with its own set of demands, challenges, and struggles. From washing dishes for an entire household to enduring emotional abuse, Kris’s resilience was tested repeatedly.
Despite enduring these hardships, Kris carried on, grappling with her identity, weight issues, and a struggle to belong.
She got a job, completed her Grade 12, and went on to get her college diploma in Legal Office Administration. Kris got involved with various top law firms with a desire to make a positive impact on others who have faced similar struggles. As an advocate for change within the system, Kris speaks up against injustices, racism, and the neglect that she witnessed in the foster care system.
Read Kris’s full story here.
SAVE THE DATE: COLDEST NIGHT OF THE YEAR – FEBRUARY 24, 2024
As the winter chill settles in, we are gearing up for the Coldest Night of the Year (CNOY) scheduled for February 24, 2024!
We invite you to be a part of this incredible movement.
JOIN OUR WALK! 
Starting a team of co-workers, family, or friends is so easy — or you can sign up individually!
Raise funds and then walk individually or in your team bubbles, for either 2km or 5km!
Together, we can make a difference! Join us on February 24, 2024 at All Saints Church in Westboro Village
You are cordially invited to join us for an evening of elegance, compassion, and impact organized by Helping Hands Driven by Youth.
Let’s Be a Star in Someone’s Life! Proceeds from the gala will directly contribute to Cornerstone’s Emergency Shelter, empowering us to provide support and refuge for women in need.
Date: Sunday, January 28th
Time: 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Venue: Mosaic Convention Centre 3750 N Bowesville Rd, Ottawa, ON K1V 1B8
An Evening to Remember: Join us for an inspiring event filled with:
This gala is not just a celebration; it’s a platform to create awareness and take a stand against domestic violence and abuse. Together, we can be a beacon of hope for those who need it most.
To get your ticket today, please click here. Thank you for your support!
