Sue Garvey
Community Pillars
Sue Garvey has dedicated her career to serving the most vulnerable in our community with humility, compassion, and love.
Sue believes that everyone deserves a home, not just a place to shelter. That belief has been put into practice in the various positions she has held from social worker at Pinecrest Queensway Community Services Centre and West End Community Ventures, founding coordinator of Centre 507, founding Executive Director of Daybreak Non-Profit Housing and, for 23 years, with the Anglican Diocese of Ottawa as Executive Director of Cornerstone Housing for Women.
Under her direction Cornerstone went from managing a 36-bed Women’s Shelter and 20 units of affordable housing to an organization that now provides supportive, affordable housing for 102 women, an outreach program to former residents living independently, as well as emergency housing for the 60 women who use the Women’s Shelter each night. She led the team responsible for constructing both Booth Street and the Princeton supportive housing units. As the driving force behind those developments, she worked tirelessly in the community, meeting with potential neighbours, business owners and others, answering their concerns, gaining their trust and, ultimately, their support for the developments. She also spearheaded the fundraising efforts both within the Anglican Diocese and the wider community, raising over $3 million towards the construction of these homes.
Sue has inspired the staff and the volunteers at Cornerstone to walk with the women on their individual journeys to wellness, without judging them. Her vision includes addressing the physical, intellectual, emotional, and spiritual needs of the women at Cornerstone. As well as providing a safe haven for these women, she has forged partnerships with Ottawa Inner City Health, with teachers and trainers, and with the Minwaashin Lodge, among others. She established a Spiritual Care Program within Cornerstone to serve women of many faith backgrounds and has partnered with Minwaashin to implement the unique Indigenous and Cultural Services program at the Princeton residence to help meet the needs of Cornerstone’s Indigenous clients.
Sue has spoken to many members of faith communities, civic organizations, and community groups to encourage wider community engagement. She has inspired almost 200 volunteers, giving their time and talents to serve Cornerstone clients. Sue established a Young Professionals Advisory Board to connect Cornerstone with young professionals wanting to better their community and educate others about women experiencing homelessness in Ottawa. Sue’s passion for social justice has led her to leadership roles on the Alliance to End Homelessness Ottawa. The efforts of the Alliance have influenced the direction of the City’s 10-year plan to end homelessness in Ottawa.
Sue is a strong advocate for those who have been wronged, even when this advocacy might come at a personal cost. As a member of All Saints Lutheran church, Sue championed the case of a fellow parishioner who had his refugee claim denied and would have been imprisoned or, more likely, killed if he was returned to his home. By advocating that the church grant him sanctuary, Sue and a team of parishioners risked arrest by the RCMP for aiding a fugitive. Sue became co-chair of the All Saints Sanctuary Committee. Their efforts over two years led to the government granting him status.
Sue Garvey received the Key to the City in recognition of her service to the community of Ottawa.
