On July 16, Engineers Canada staff joined Ottawa Community Housing (OCH) for the organization’s 2026 Volunteer Day, to help improve outdoor spaces at an OCH community on Wellington Street West in Ottawa.
The day brought staff together for a project shaped by resident input and focused on making shared outdoor areas more welcoming. For Engineers Canada, the event was also an opportunity to continue building on a local partnership that connects staff with community-led projects.
“Volunteer Day is a meaningful opportunity for Engineers Canada staff to come together in service of our local community,” said Philip Rizcallah, P.Eng., CEO, Engineers Canada. “We are proud to continue our partnership with Ottawa Community Housing and to support resident-informed improvements that help create welcoming, inclusive outdoor spaces.”
The project came out of a Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) audit conducted in the community. CPTED looks at how the design, layout, lighting, access, signage, and landscaping of a property can support safety, reduce opportunities for crime, and strengthen residents’ sense of community.
Tenant input played an important role in shaping the work. Residents helped identify priorities for the site, helping ensure the improvements reflected what would have the greatest impact on their everyday experience.
Throughout the day, Engineers Canada staff supported improvements including gardening, landscaping, painting, pruning, building, light demolition work, installing a metal bench, creating a new garden bed, and supporting lighting improvements. The upgrades were designed to encourage positive use of shared spaces and contribute to a stronger sense of pride of place.
For staff, the experience offered a chance to see the immediate results fromof working together. “Volunteering with Ottawa Community Housing is always a rewarding experience,” said Lisa Luo, Regulatory Affairs Officer at Engineers Canada. “Over the course of the day, we had many residents, including some four-legged friends, walk by and thank us for the work. It's great to see how happy they were with what is being done to their space”.
OCH provides nearly 16,000 homes to 33,000 tenants across Ottawa, including seniors, families, children, couples, singles, and people with special needs. As the largest social housing provider in Ottawa and the second largest in Ontario, OCH serves diverse communities across the city.
This year’s Volunteer Day marked Engineers Canada’s fourth project with OCH since staff first began volunteering with the organization in 2023. The ongoing partnership reflects Engineers Canada’s commitment to giving back locally and supporting community-led improvements that make a tangible difference.
Engineers Canada thanks OCH for helping organize the day, and thanks the residents and tenant leaders whose input helped shape the project. Through collaboration, practical improvements, and a shared commitment to community, the 2026 Volunteer Day helped create outdoor spaces that residents can continue to enjoy and be proud of.