Changemaker Social: Season of Giving Ottawa 2026

Season of Giving Edition Brings Ottawa Together

The holiday season gives us an opportunity to pause, connect, and think about the difference we can make in our communities.

This December, Volunteer Ottawa is bringing together volunteers, nonprofit leaders, community partners, advocates, donors, public servants, and other local changemakers for the Changemaker Social: Season of Giving Edition, and Heartfelt IT is proud to support this special community event.

Taking place on Friday, December 4, 2026, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Blair Room at Earl Armstrong Arena in Gloucester, the evening is designed around community, meaningful connections, and giving back. Admission is free, but registration is required.

For anyone looking for community events in Ottawa, nonprofit networking opportunities, volunteer events, or meaningful ways to give back during the holidays, this is an opportunity to connect with people who share that same commitment.

Celebrating Ottawa's Changemakers

Ottawa is home to an incredible community of people and organizations working every day to make the city a better place.

The Changemaker Social provides an opportunity for those people to come together.

According to the official event information from Volunteer Ottawa, this holiday edition will welcome nonprofit leaders, volunteers, community advocates, public servants, donors, or simply someone who believes in the power of giving back. We hope you will join us for an evening of meaningful conversation and networking with fellow changemakers.

But this isn't simply another networking event.

It's an opportunity to meet people who care about their community, exchange ideas, develop new relationships, and celebrate the contributions of those who dedicate their time and talents to helping others.

Whether you're already involved with an Ottawa nonprofit or charity, searching for volunteer opportunities, working in public service, or simply interested in becoming more involved in your community, the Changemaker Social: Season of Giving Edition offers a welcoming place to connect.

An Evening Inspired by Public and Community Service

This special gathering will feature remarks from The Honourable Dalton McGuinty, whose leadership and commitment to public service continue to inspire Canadians. We will also be joined by members of the Ottawa Youth Service Year (OYSY) Fellows, a remarkable group of young leaders dedicating a year of service to their community while building skills, experience, and connections for their future.

Bringing established community leaders together with young people who are beginning their own paths in community service helps reflect an important message behind the Season of Giving: creating stronger communities is something people of every generation can contribute to.

Giving Back to Ottawa Families This Holiday Season

The Season of Giving Edition goes beyond conversation and networking.

Guests are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items that will be donated to the Rideau-Rockcliffe Community Resource Centre (RRCRC) Community Food Bank.

Volunteer Ottawa reports that more than 1,400 community members rely on the RRCRC food bank each month, and demand for its food bank and Baby Cupboard services has reached particularly high levels.

During the holidays, when household budgets can be under even more pressure, small contributions can collectively make a meaningful difference.

A can of soup, box of pasta, jar of peanut butter, or another non-perishable food item may seem like a small gesture individually. When an entire room of people contributes, those individual donations add up quickly.

Guests can simply bring their donations with them on December 4 and leave them at the donation table when they arrive. Volunteer Ottawa says the OYSY youth fellows will help welcome donations and keep a tally throughout the evening.

It's a simple way to turn the spirit of the event into direct community support.

Why Community Connections Matter

Strong communities aren't built by a single organization or individual.

They grow when volunteers, nonprofit organizations, businesses, donors, community advocates, public institutions, and local leaders work together.

Events such as Changemaker Social help create space for those relationships.

A conversation at a community event might introduce a volunteer to an organization whose mission speaks to them. A nonprofit leader may meet a potential community partner. A young leader might find a mentor. Two organizations could discover that they are working toward similar goals.

Those connections can continue long after the evening ends.

That's why community networking is such an important part of Ottawa's nonprofit and volunteer ecosystem.

Heartfelt IT Is Proud to Support Ottawa's Nonprofit Community

At Heartfelt IT, supporting organizations that make a difference in their communities is important to who we are.

We are proud to support Volunteer Ottawa and the Changemaker Social: Season of Giving Edition.

Our relationship with the Changemaker Social also continues beyond this event. Heartfelt IT supported the previous Get on Boards 2nd Edition, which brought together volunteers, nonprofit organizations, aspiring and existing board members, and professionals in Ottawa's nonprofit sector.

Supporting the Season of Giving Edition is another opportunity for us to stand alongside the people and organizations strengthening Ottawa.

The holiday season reminds us that giving doesn't always have to be something big. It can mean donating food, volunteering a few hours, sharing professional expertise, supporting a local organization, or simply introducing someone to a cause they care about.

Every contribution matters.

Join Us at the Changemaker Social: Season of Giving Edition

If you're looking for an opportunity to meet Ottawa changemakers, connect with the nonprofit community, discover ways to give back, and support local families this holiday season, we hope to see you there.

Event Details

📅 Friday, December 4, 2026

🕕 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

📍 Blair Room, Earl Armstrong Arena
2020 Ogilvie Road, Gloucester, Ontario

🎟️ Admission: Free, registration required

🥫 Food Drive: Guests are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items for the Rideau-Rockcliffe Community Resource Centre Community Food Bank

Spaces are limited, so registration is encouraged in advance.

👉 Register for Changemaker Social: Season of Giving Edition

Let's celebrate the season by connecting, giving back, and recognizing the people who continue to make Ottawa stronger.