December’s Local Legend is Elspeth McKay, the Executive Director of Operation Come Home since 2007. Elspeth is is retiring at the end of this year.

“In the time she has been ED, she has brought a fiery energy and a powerful voice to youth experiencing homelessness here in Ottawa, and has grown OCH from a tiny but strong place for youth to get a hot breakfast and a few services to a thriving wrap-around service centre where they can access programs to help with education, employment, housing, social supports and much more – the growth in the organization has been truly staggering over this time, and it’s in a huge part due to Elspeth.

As she moves on, and OCH celebrates their 50th anniversary this year, I can’t think of anyone better to showcase.” – Eric Bollman, Communications Specialist with Operation Come Home.

In 1971, Operation Go Home (now Operation Come Home) was founded in Ottawa by Reverend Norman Johnston. He believed Ottawa’s street youth population needed meaningful intervention. His mission was to connect with young runaways and help them return home.

1990, they formed a National Organization to help homeless youth from coast to coast and have dedicated the last 50 years of service to preventing homeless youth from becoming homeless adults.

Offering services beyond reunification, OCH helps to find sustainable employment, education, basic needs, crisis support, housing assistance and more to persons aged 16 to 25. Their Resource Centre is often the first point of contact in assisting youth to move beyond life on the street. It is open Monday to Friday from 8:30AM to 11:30AM with more information available online, via e-mail: info@operationcomehome.ca or 613-230-4663 (ask to speak with drop in staff).

Catching Elspeth ‘on her way out’ was a wonderful way to learn more about the place she’s called a home away from home for the last 14 years.

Here is our full conversation:

Filed under: amy volume, december, local legend, local legends, operation come home, operation go home