It’s been a tough few months for local charities such as Shepherds of Good Hope, but optimism reigns for 2025 as the organization prepares to host the 12th iteration of its flagship fundraiser this June.
The Shepherds of Good Hope Foundation announced details Thursday evening for the 2025 edition of Taste for Hope, an event featuring bites from Ottawa’s top chefs, with the money raised from tickets and sponsors going toward its shelters, supportive housing facilities and homelessness services across the city.
“Homelessness is a challenge for all of us to embrace and all of you in this room have done that at one time or another,” foundation CEO David Gourlay told attendees at the launch event, which took place at the Brookstreet Hotel.
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“All of you understand the importance of our collective responsibility to support those who experience trauma, who experience homelessness. No one ever envisions that they’ll need the services of Shepherds of Good Hope in their life. No one aspires to be homeless.”
Last year, the Taste for Hope fundraiser raised more than $300,000, according to Gourlay. With this year’s campaign, he said the organization hopes to draw in 30 corporate sponsors and sell 425 tickets, as well as 100 VIP tickets.
If the goals are met, Gourlay said it would bring the total amount raised since 2013 to $1.2 million.
The fundraiser is an especially important piece this year, he added. Concerns about inflation and the cost of living have forced some donors to tighten their purse strings, and in the last months of 2024, the organization was cut off from its major donor base during the Canada Post strike, which took place at the most important time of year for charities, according to Gourlay.
He said Taste for Hope will play a role in cutting down the resulting deficit.
“It’s huge,” he told OBJ. “As you can imagine, when you raise $300,000, it’s a significant donation that is made to the programs and services of Shepherds of Good Hope. That’s why you heard me talking about the supportive housing in Kanata. We really want to amplify our services outside the core.”
The June event will be hosted for the first time at the Brookstreet Hotel in Kanata South, minutes away from the Hope Living supportive housing facility, which has 100 beds for formerly homeless and vulnerably housed individuals, including many seniors and those with complex mental health challenges.
“It was a very strategic discussion and decision by us,” Gourlay said.
The organization will also be opening a new supportive housing facility on Murray Street this spring, which will house Indigenous people, women and those experiencing chronic homelessness, substance use and other disorders. The 48-bed facility is being built in partnership with CLV Group and PBC Group, which are the new presenting sponsors for this year’s Taste for Hope event.
“We’ve been involved with Shepherds of Good Hope for many years,” said Chantal Theoret, director of marketing communications for CLV Group. “They’re all about community and we’re about community, so there’s synergy. Having the opportunity to just even do a little more is really at the heart of what we do.”
Honorary Chef Joe Thottungal to judge
In addition to great food from Ottawa’s top chefs, Gourlay said attendees can expect an evening of entertainment.
“Taste for Hope is going to be really different this year,” he said. “We are going to recreate Gordon Ramsay’s Hell’s Kitchen. Four community leaders are going to be up on stage under the (guidance) of Chef Joe Thottungal, who’s going to be the head judge. These individuals are going to make a meal and we’re going to create a lot of drama. We’re going to create a lot of tension. We’re going to create a lot of fun.”
Participating chefs are from 12 organizations across the city, including restaurants such as Aiana, Raphaël Peruvian Cuisine, and Grounded, as well as the Brookstreet Hotel, the National Arts Centre, The Mission, and Shepherds of Good Hope itself.
It’s the first time chef Eric Meloche from the Rideau Club will be taking part in the event.
“Every year we make it a point to source out charities in Ottawa,” he said. “We have a passion for supporting and helping out. Homelessness is a huge problem in our community at the moment and anything we can do to support the cause, that’s what we’re here to do. We’re on board.”
Meloche said he’ll soon start planning what he’ll be cooking up for the event.
“I’ll actually be talking to the other chefs. It’s important in these events that there’s a good variety,” he said. “With the other chefs in town, it’ll be fun to get together, get to know them and do some cooking together, do some tasting. It’s always a good time. We’re all cut from the same cloth.”
