Mayor Mark Sutcliffe, centre with Ogo Nnebe, Ike Nnebe, Councillor Riley and Fr. Egbue
Wednesday 19 October 2024
Ottawa’s Mayor Mark Sutcliffe, along with Steve Desroches, city councilor representing Findlay Creek and Riverside South, went for a “show and tell” at the Blissful Gardens Boutiques headquarters on North Bluff Drive, Ottawa. On hand was the organization’s founder and president, Ogochukwu Nnebe, to show the mayor and his entourage around the garden where she and her volunteers cultivate the flowers, and her garage which has been converted into a work station where the flowers are turned into bouquets.
Ogochukwu described the origins’ of her organization whose mission is to bring flowers to isolated and vulnerable seniors, some suffering from terminal illnesses, in hospitals, nursing homes and other seniors’ facilities. According to her, the staff of each facility would identify those seniors who meet the criteria for receiving the bouquets, following which she and volunteer would provide the bouquets. She described the heartfelt emotions experience by her team in bringing a smile to those in such difficult circumstances. She also indicated that on that day they had just given out the 1000th bouquest to seniors for this year. Mayor Sutcliffe commended Ogochukwu and her team for bringing joy to those who are struggling through their life journey and expressed his gratitude on behalf of the city of Ottawa for this magnificent charitable endeavor.
Black Ottawa Scene brings readers a short interview with Mayor sutcliffe on this occasion.
What is your view of what Ogochukwu and her husband are doing with the seniors population?
It is very inspiring and very heartwarming to hear the story of how Ogochukwu started this project, to see all the volunteers come together a couple of times a week and use their time and energy to bring a little bit of joy to into the lives of seniors in our community, at a time when they might be feeling lonely, so I am very impressed with what they are doing.
Ogochukwu had indicated that all the costs of producing the bouquets come from her pockets and through donations. What can the city to support this excellent community initiative?
We can certainly help promote it, but the city is not in a position to help financially with these kinds of things, as this is not what the city does, but we certainly support what Ogo is doing and we want her be be successful and we would promote it as as much as possible.
The trouble with the seniors is the struggles they are experiencing. For instance, prices are going up, our incomes are at a fixed level, and we are constantly struggling to pay our grocery bills. What is the city doing to to help us manage?
I am very sensitive to the needs of seniors and we have to keep your costs as low as possible. That is why I have been working hard to keep taxes and fees as low as possible. There are people who have been asking for bigger increases in property taxes, I don’t agree with that. We want to keep your property taxes increases as low as possible, especially for seniors who are on fixed incomes.
Finally what message would you like to give to our readers, many of whom are seniors?
I am very grateful for everything you do in the community and we have a wonderful city, it is a diverse city, it’s an incredible community. I am grateful for all the people like Ogochukwu who volunteer their time and energy and try to make our city better for the most vulnerable. I know some of your readers are in that category. Thank you for everything that you do.
