NOTICE OF TEMPORARY DISRUPTION    

 Dear Staff, Clients, and Visitors:

Due to construction renovations the main entrance to the building will be closed to traffic commencing June 5, 2012 for a period of approximately two months.  Parking will still be accessible.

This temporary closure will affect the main entrance only.

Staff, clients, and visitors can access the building through the Rideauwood Addiction & Family Services entrance (located just south of the parking lot entrance off Parkdale Avenue).  This entrance is accessible.

 We appreciate your patience and cooperation during this period.  We are renovating to serve you better!

                                 Thank you, 1CP Management

Citizen Advocacy announces Honourary Chair of 18^th annual Evening in the Maritimes fundraiser

OTTAWA, APRIL 13, 2012 —  Citizen Advocacy of Ottawa is pleased to announce that Marc Jolicoeur has agreed to serve as Honourary Chair of this year’s Evening in the Maritimes — Citizen Advocacy’s flagship fundraising event now in its 18^th year.

Mr. Jolicoeur, a business lawyer, partner and Managing Partner for the Ottawa/Waterloo Region with the national law firm of Borden Ladner Gervais LLP, is a prominent business and community leader in Ottawa, whose contributions have been recognized through numerous awards. These include the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal, the André Mailhot Award and the President’s Award from United Way Canada, the Gordon F. Henderson Award from the County of Carleton Law Association, and the Trudeau Medal and Philos Award from the University of Ottawa.  He has been actively involved with over 25 organizations, including as a member of their boards and steering committees.  Mr. Jolicoeur served as Chair of the Board of Governors of the University of Ottawa for seven years and was Chair of both the United Way of Ottawa and United Way/Centraide Canada.  He has also been active in organizations such as the Youth Services Bureau, the University of Ottawa Heart Institute, the Community Foundation of Ottawa and the Ottawa Civic Hospital.

“Throughout his career, Marc has demonstrated a commitment to strengthening many aspects of our community,” says Mr. Tardif. “Citizen Advocacy is grateful and honoured that he is contributing to an event aimed at building a more inclusive community that fosters fuller participation by individuals with disabilities.”

“It’s an honour for me to be the Honourary Chair for this great event,” says Mr. Jolicoeur. “Citizen Advocacy plays a critical role in our community in supporting the less fortunate among us. But to do this, Citizen Advocacy needs more than simply an acknowledgement of the fantastic work it does — it needs the support of each and every one of us.”

About Evening in the Maritimes

The 18^th annual Evening in the Maritimes gala fundraiser will be held Thursday, May 31, 2012, at the Hilton Lac-Leamy in Gatineau. Proceeds from the event will go directly to support Citizen Advocacy, a non-profit agency that provides support to individuals living with disabilities by matching them to volunteer advocates within the community.  Evening in the Maritimes has established itself as one of Ottawa’s premiere fundraising soirées by remaining true to its theme: raising funds through an evening of “down-east” fun, food — including fresh North Atlantic lobster — and musical entertainment. For more information: www.eveninginthemaritimes.com

About Citizen Advocacy of Ottawa

Established in 1974, Citizen Advocacy of Ottawa is a registered charitable organization dedicated to helping people with disabilities (“protégés”) participate fully in the community life of Ottawa.  Its vision is of a community that welcomes and values all its citizens, including those living with disabilities.  A volunteer citizen (“advocate”) from the community is matched to someone living with a disability:  one-to-one (to all ages) for practical help and support in community life; one-to-one (to seniors) for practical support in enhancing quality of life; or as a team (to group home residents) to support a quality living environment.

For additional information please visit the web site at: www.citizenadvocacy.org

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Media Contacts:

Brian Tardif

Executive Director

Citizen Advocacy of Ottawa

613-761-9522 (tel)

btardif@citizenadvocacy.org

Kathie Lynas

Communications support: 2012 Evening in the Maritimes

613-526-3259 (tel)

613-850-7859 (mobile)

klynas@rogers.com

We are regulars at the Citizen Advocacy Annual Picnic, held in August where we meet up with old friends and make new ones. Debby always manages to win a prize (she is definitely my good luck charm)! We also love to attend the Citizen Advocacy Holiday Dinner and Dance, this year we got to dance and sing with none other than the legendary ‘Elvis’. This was a memorable night!

We have recently started attending the Dovercourt Dances, because as you can probably already tell, we love to dance!  Debby tells me time and time again that participating in activities such as these are very important to her because it makes her feel like “she is needed and listened to” and “like she matters”.

I cannot express how much Debby matters to me. Through Citizen Advocacy I have met an energetic, capable, empathetic and insightful woman who I am blessed to call a friend. We would like to thank Citizen Advocacy for bringing us together and to those who support our organization to bring others like us together to form meaningful and lasting relationships. It really makes a difference!

We are looking forward to our future adventures together – stay tuned!

Buy your tickets BEFORE they sell out!