Damilola Otepola

Youth community leader

Came from Nigeria to Canada in 2003, and started grade 10 at Brookfield High School in Ottawa.

Became passionate about the Nelson Mandela's Children's Fund (NMCF) and helped raised funds for the group through a CD of songs, with her as a lead vocal.

Co-organized black history in her school where for the entire month of February they featured black pioneers and leaders, played African music, and celebrated black history.

Wrote a song, Move Your World for the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) for their 2006 theme "Move your world".

Won the Global Citizen Award organised by the Child and Youth Friendly Ottawa (CAYFO) in 2006; was later featured in the Ottawa Citizen and the Talk Black Radio (98.1) for her achievements and aspirations.

Graduated from high school with honours and won several awards including the Principal's award and the Lieutenant Governor's Community Volunteer Award for Students. She is currently a third year Chemical Engineering student at the University of Ottawa.

http://www.blackhistoryottawa.org

Sandra Oh

Actress

Born in 1971 in Ottawa (formerly Nepean).

Attended Sir Robert Borden High School in Ottawa.

Well known for portraying Dr. Cristina Yang on ABC's Grey's Anatomy, for which she has won a Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild award.

Also played notable roles in the feature films Under the Tuscan Sun and Sideways, and had a supporting role on the HBO original series Arli$$.

www.sandraoh.com

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandra_Oh

Catherine O’Grady

Producer of the Ottawa Jazz Festival

Received the Investing in People Award in 2007 for her unwavering dedication to making Ottawa a vibrant, creative city for residents and visitors alike.

Executive Producer of the Ottawa Jazz Festival and Artistic Producer of the Ottawa International Children’s Festival.

Contributed significantly to the Ottawa arts scene through her commitment to quality programming of both music and children’s theatre.

Has played an instrumental in making arts issues a priority in municipal planning for the city of Ottawa’s future.

www.communityfoundationottawa.ca

Barbara O'Connor

Leader in palliative care

“We strive to provide compassionate care wherever and whenever it’s needed”. Barbara O’Connor

Executive director of the Hospice at May Court.

N.B. The Hospice at May Court’s training program is so effective that it is now a prerequisite for volunteers at many of the region’s other hospice and palliative care programs.

Was a nurse at the Riverside Hospital in Ottawa in the early 1980s.

One of the city of Ottawa’s first professionals to provide palliative care services.

Helped establish the region’s first hospice program at a church in Sandy Hill in 1987 (The Hospice of All Saints).

Given the Investing in People Award in support of her dedication to providing respite care for people and their families as they deal with terminal illness.

www.outcarefoundation.org/
www.communityfoundationottawa.ca

Dorothy O'Connell

Activist

Anti-poverty activist since the 1960s.

Helped establish Ottawa’s first women’s credit union and first legal aid clinic.

Co-founder of the Ottawa Tenants Council and the Ottawa Council for Low Income Support Services.

The Dorothy O'Connell Monument to Anti-Poverty Activism is located at City Hall; local artist c.j. fleury, best known for The Women's Monument Against Violence, was commissioned to design the monument.

www.nupge.ca