23
Aug
Mayor’s Community Builder Award
Mayor Jim Watson, with Rideau-Vanier Ward Councillor Mathieu Fleury, today presented the Mayor’s City Builder Award to Ruweida Shire for her volunteer activities and selfless contributions in Ottawa. Ms. Shire founded the Strathcona Heights Homework Club with only two participants and through the years has achieved major success with the number of students increasing to more than 150.Operating at the Sandy Hill Community Health Centre, the Strathcona Heights Homework Club provides students from Grade 1 to Grade 12 with an educational after-school program throughout the year and a day program during the summer. It provides an essential service to youths in the community by providing participants with free educational assistance, tutoring and mentoring.The majority of participants live in Strathcona Heights, home to one of the largest Ottawa Community Housing developments. The program strives to educate and provide safe and fun activities to combat negative societal influences by creating a safe haven for youths to interact with peers and role models. The program is completely volunteer-led and the students rely on the generous support of volunteers like Ms. Shire.
