John Sicard and his wife Pina have donated $120,000 with a matching pledge to Ottawa’s Harmony House, a second-stage shelter for women and children escaping violence.
The charity announced the donation at City Hall on Friday, kicking off its “Hope & Promise” campaign that leads up to the shelter’s 40th anniversary in 2026.
“This support is a call to everyone who would like to donate and help double this gift,” said Sicard, the former president and CEO of Kanata-based software company Kinaxis, in a press release. “I’m truly thrilled to be part of this endeavour. It’s so important that women and children who need this type of service know their community is standing with them.”
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Also on Friday, Harmony House unveiled its new anniversary logo, selected with input from more than 150 public votes. The logo represents “renewal, resilience and the shelter’s long-standing commitment to women and children fleeing violence,” according to the release.
“Each of these logos is a reflection of the heart and hope that Harmony House represents,” said Mayor Mark Sutcliffe in the release.
Last October, Sicard, who retired at the end of 2024 after a three-decade career at Kinaxis, and his wife donated $500,000 to QuickStart Autism.
Their youngest son, Nicholas, now 30, was diagnosed with autism and the family witnessed firsthand the benefits of early intervention.
At Kinaxis, Sicard created an autism program, with the goal of having one per cent of the workforce composed of people with autism.
Sicard was named Ottawa’s CEO of the Year by OBJ and the Ottawa Board of Trade in 2020.
