Taggart Parkes family boosts end-homelessness campaign with $1M gift

The Shepherds of Good Hope Foundation had a million reasons to be thankful yesterday but, considering OBJ readers have places to go and people to see, we’ll focus on just a select few.

The non-profit organization kicked off its $5-million capital campaign for a new supportive housing residence in the ByWard Market by announcing a $1-million gift from the Taggart and Parkes family. They support a wide range of charitable causes through their philanthropy and volunteer leadership. They also own Taggart Group of Companies, which is involved in building new homes and communities for families in the region.

In addition to the large donation, Mary Taggart, editor-in-chief of Ottawa at Home, and her husband, Chris Taggart, president of Tamarack Homes and Tartan Homes, have also taken on the role of co-chairs for the SGH Foundation’s campaign in support of the eight-storey, multi-purpose supportive housing residence currently under construction at 216 Murray St. 

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The couple gathered Monday with dozens of community leaders at an intimate reception held at Coconut Lagoon restaurant, where they were officially welcomed by SGH Foundation CEO David Gourlay and his team.

“All of us, as a family, considered this donation very carefully,” said Mary, who was joined by family members Julie Taggart, Michelle Taggart, Simon Taggart and Hayley Magermans. “It was just such a natural fit because we believe so strongly in the importance of housing.”

Mary spoke of the values of respect, dignity, support and acceptance that Shepherds of Good Hope provides to its clients — values that resonate with her and her family. Additionally, Chris mentioned how impressed he is with the organization, led by Gourlay. “You’re very passionate about what you do and it rubs off on all the people who work with you.”

In appreciation of the large gift from the Taggart Parkes Foundation, SGH’s transitional shelter building, at 256 King Edward Ave., has been renamed the Taggart Parkes Family Community Hub.

Mayor Mark Sutcliffe, who was there with city council colleagues Laura Dudas, Ariel Troster and Stéphanie Plante, expressed his gratitude. He extended a “huge thank you” to the Taggart and Parkes family. In particular, he recognized Chris and Mary as “remarkable people who care about the community”.

Witnessing the homelessness crisis has been one of, if not the, toughest parts of his job as mayor, Sutcliffe said while acknowledging what a persistent challenge the issue has been for the city.

He made a point of acknowledging all the “incredible volunteers and community leaders” in the room committed to ending homelessness, including Manju Singhal and her daughter Angela from Richcraft Homes. Their family’s historic gift from a few years ago helped to build a 42-unit supportive housing residence on Montreal Road. The family has made a “legacy” donation to the 216 Murray campaign, as well.

The event was hosted by Coconut Lagoon’s owner and executive chef, Joe Thottungal, who’s become somewhat of a culinary saint in Ottawa for his tremendous work to help the less fortunate. Thottungal has agreed to take a leadership role in establishing a community kitchen at 216 Murray. The new building will also have a new full-day drop-in program.

Sutcliffe gave a special shout-out to the staff at Shepherds of Good Hope and its charitable arm, calling them “the real heroes” for the work they do each day.

“This project is incredibly exciting,” said Sutcliffe of 216 Murray. When it opens in 2025, it will house 48 people currently experiencing chronic homelessness and struggling with mental health, substance use, and other disorders. The overall cost of the new facility, which will prioritize Indigenous people and women, will be about $30 million. Residents will also have access to full wrap-around supports.

Said Sutcliffe: “We keep talking about the need for supportive housing so that we are able to not only house those who are suffering, the most vulnerable in our community, but also support them with the resources that they need to be successful. That is when we will truly end chronic homelessness.”

SGH CEO Stephen Bartolo was in attendance. So was his and Gourlay’s predecessor, Deirdre Freiheit, who served as chief executive of Shepherds of Good Hope and its foundation for almost 10 years, including through the pandemic. She decided to move on last July and is now doing leadership coaching. Also spotted were SGH board chair Dave Donaldson, retired dean at Algonquin College’s business school, and the foundation’s board vice chair, Kaveh Rikhtegar. New to the SGH board is Kassondra Walters, of Indigenous-owned management consulting social enterprise KD Management and Consulting. She delivered the land acknowledgement. 

Distinguished guests included Ottawa-Vanier MPP Lucille Collard and former mayor Jim Watson, now a proud member of SGH Foundation’s Champions Table.

The local business community turned out in force. Seen were Ottawa Board of Trade board vice chair Priya Bhaloo and board director Yasser Ghazi, as well as veteran real estate leader Shawn Hamilton, who good-humouredly told OBJ.social: “I would walk over 1,000 miles of broken glass for David (Gourlay).” To this, the foundation’s board treasurer, David Rattray, quipped that he was good for “Maybe 100 yards”.

With the addition of 216 Murray St., the total number of people living in Shepherds of Good Hope supportive housing facilities across Ottawa will reach 339. The organization has found that “99 per cent” of individuals who move into its supportive housing facilities choose to stay, avoiding a return to a life on the streets, said Gourlay.