Our History
Heartwood House was incorporated on March 12, 2001, through the vision of five small Ottawa charities seeking office space. Their discussions reaveled that they could negotiate more effectively and strengthen their services by sharing a home office base and working collaboratively under one roof. They also recognized the need for an organization to develop and oversee the development of this community of charities and non-profits to work under one roof, within a collaborative environment to maximize services in an affordable space. Heartwood House received its charitable status(#87967 1618 RR0001) in September 2001.
Key Historical Time Periods
2001–2012 (153 Chapel Street): Heartwood House opened at 153 Chapel Street in downtown Ottawa on September 1, 2001. It occupied a 26,000 square foot space attached to the building owned by Congregation Beth Shalom. Under the agreement was for Heartwood House was responsible for the daily maintenance and repairs, except for major capital repairs. By the end of 2001, it had grown from five to eighteen charities. It was home base for its community at this location until the end of December 2012, when the property was sold.
2012–Present (2026) (404 McArthur Avenue): Congregation Beth Shalom sold its property, which included the building occupied by Heartwood House, to developers in early 2012. Heartwood House was required to leave the Chapel Street location by December 31, 2012. Finding a new home for 18 charities in the same Vanier community was a major challenge, resulting in a tremendous amount of work for the building search committee who successfully found a new location at 404 McArthur Avenue. The 26,000 square foot building included a Giant Tiger on the main level, a two-level warehouse in the centre section, and a storefront with upper-level apartments on the east section of the building. It had the potential to be an ideal homefor the Heartwood House community.
The building was for sale for $2.85 million. Finding the down payment to purchase the property as well as meeting the lender’s requirements to renovate the space, an amount of $1 million was an extraordinary challenge. But through the determined efforts of the building committee a loan was secured from the Canadian Alternative Investment Cooperative for the $875,000 for the down payment on the property, as well as a variety of funding sources, including the Ontario Trillium Foundation to cover renovation costs.
Heartwood’s mission reflects our belief that small charities can achieve more by working together under one roof, in partnership and collaboration for a common goal. The purchase of 404 McArthur is one of the strongest examples that principle in the history of Heartwood House. The property (404 McArthur) was acquired through a unique partnership with the Unitarian Universalist Partnership (UUFO) which owns 12.5% of the property and Heartwood House which owns 87.5% owner of the property. By pooling resources, the two organizations achieved their shared goal of securing a permanent home to develop and grow for the future. A comprehensive partnership agreement guides both owners in the property’s operations and long-term planning.
In 2018, Heartwood House received the David C. Onley Award for Leadership, in recognition of its work to provide a fully accessible facility. It also received recognition from the City of Ottawa for its mission and community of charities working together under one roof. Heartwood House is a home base for charities and non-profits to welcome all to be served.