Celebrating 55 Years of Centretown Community Health Centre
“One of our proudest achievements this year is around the area of anti-oppression and ensuring that our services are accessible with our partnership with Somerset West Community Health Centre, and us receiving the contract to deliver a 24/7 mental health and substance use crisis response that is community-based. That requires a commitment to individuals who have living experience of mental health and substance use. We’ve gone one step further in our partnership with Somerset West Community Health Centre, which has been about making the commitment to ensuring that we’re hiring the majority of our staff who are racialized and Indigenous, so they are reflective of the community who is most at risk.”
The ‘clinic’ first began offering services in 1969 as a Drop-In Centre for youth in response to a growing drug problem among adolescents and younger adults. The centre operated out of a broom closet at the YW-YMCA and was open one day a week.
In 1970 the centre changed its name to the Ottawa Street Clinic. Staff and volunteers believed the clinic was an experiment based on the belief that “every person has the right to stay healthy and that when ill, they receive the quickest and cheapest health care possible.”
The clinic was funded through private donations, organizations, and the local municipal government.
The goal of the clinic was to close its doors so that its services would not be needed in the community. However, as the clinic began to address other problems beyond drug use, that aspiration ended.
During these early years in keeping with the clinic philosophy, most nonmedical staff had no professional training.
By the end of 1973 funding for the clinic dried up, services were cut, and the future of the clinic was in question.
Fortunately, in 1974 the clinic became one of the first clinics funded under a new provincial program which allowed it to incorporate as the Centretown Community Health Clinic. This move led it to establish its first Board of Directors which guided the clinic to become an independent entity, separate from the Y and sponsorship of the mayor’s committee which had been part of the clinic since it opened its doors five years earlier.
By 1982 the clinic received funding for Healthstyles —an adult health promotion program—which had been in the planning stages along with Lifestyle Enrichment for Seniors Adults (LESA) – for over a year. A short while later, LESA–a multifaceted program for people 55 and over who were dependent on alcohol and other drugs–also began.
By the end of the year, the clinic changed its name for the final time to Centretown Community Health Centre (CCHC) to better reflect its services and role within the community.
In 1984, following a 10-year budget battle, the Ministry of Ontario Health (MOH) made a policy decision that would finally give CCHC more financial security and show that community health centres were legitimate partners in the provision of primary health services for people in Ontario.
An organizational strategic plan was embarked upon and on June 20, 1991, approved by the Board of Directors, for CCHC to focus on the mental health of individuals in the community and strive to improve accessibility to CCHC services. CCHCs target groups would be seniors and low-income populations including racialized communities, men aged 25-54, children and single mothers.
Twenty-five years after first opening its doors, Centretown had grown to employ 60 permanent staff with a budget of close to $3.5 million.
With an increase in services and having outgrown its space, Centretown needed to move or secure funds to add more space. A provincial grant meant CCHC was able to renovate an extra 5,500 square feet to take on more clients and address the growing need within the community.
“I’ve never spoken to anyone who doesn’t feel very strongly that Centretown Community Health Centre is essential for a healthy functioning downtown. So, it does give me hope that, that we can gather people around, that we can lend our voices to Centretown to make sure that we are all advocating, that the entire community is advocating on their behalf.” – Catherine McKenney, Former City Councillor
CCHC is one of the oldest community health centres in the province and one of the first to develop in the Ottawa area. Though Centretown has not had a base operating budget increase since 2011, they have found creative ways to meet the growing demands of our community.
Their vision remains: a vibrant and inclusive community where individuals can thrive and our values of anti-oppression, equity, empowerment, collaborative leadership, and continuous learning are key.
Centretown will continue to grow. They will continue to make our community the priority providing health and social services, and programs to diverse communities to all of those in need.
Their staff is deeply committed to our clients and the services we provide.
As they celebrate their 55th anniversary, there is much to recognize and more to do. We are confident with the necessary funds and resources to address the growing need, they will be able to be the leader our community depends upon.
Congratulations to Centretown Community Health Centre, on this milestone of 55 years of service to its clients, patients, and community! Your support of the Ottawa community will continue to make a difference to the people whose lives you touch.
