Wednesday 24 June 2026
Ottawa Police Service One Ottawa Day Celebrates Culture, Connection and Community
by Ijeoma Ukazu, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Music, cultural performances and conversations in multiple languages filled the air as residents from diverse backgrounds gathered for Ottawa Police Diversity Day, an annual event organized by the Ottawa Police Service to strengthen community relationships, celebrate the city’s multicultural identity and foster a shared sense of belonging.
Speaking to attendees on June 24, Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe said the city’s diversity remains one of its greatest strengths, describing Ottawa as a community enriched by the people who have come from around the world to build their lives here.
“The great thing about our city and about our country is that we welcome people from all over the world,” Sutcliffe said. “We welcome their contributions to our city, their culture, their music, their food, their entrepreneurship, their leadership, their philanthropy.”
Addressing residents, community leaders, police officers and representatives from several community organizations, the mayor said Ottawa’s success has been shaped by generations of people from different backgrounds who have contributed their talents and traditions to the city.
Sutcliffe noted that his own parents immigrated to Canada, adding that their experience reflects the journeys of many families who now call Ottawa home.
“I was born here in Canada, but my parents were immigrants to this country,” he said. “At some point, many years ago, they went through the same thing. They became Canadian citizens just like you.”
His remarks referred to a Canadian citizenship ceremony held earlier in the day, where dozens of new Canadians took the oath before later joining the One Ottawa Celebration.
Returning to the event’s central theme, the mayor said the phrase “One Ottawa” reflects a city where diversity strengthens rather than divides communities.
“While our backgrounds and experiences may be different, we are all part of one community, one Ottawa,” Sutcliffe said. “Let’s keep working on having a city that is welcoming, diverse and inclusive. Let’s keep working together on One Ottawa.”
Deputy Chief Steve Bell said the annual celebration demonstrates what community looks like when people come together to learn from one another and celebrate their differences.
“The One Ottawa Celebration is a great celebration and absolutely never disappoints,” Bell said. “Each year, we’re pleased and privileged to have amazing music, amazing food, and there’s always a buzz in the air where people are learning and sharing with one another.”
Bell thanked the Ottawa Police Service’s Diversity Resource and Relations Unit, along with community organizations, performers, artists, vendors and volunteers whose work made the event possible.
“As we look around today, we see those who have come together from every corner of the world, each with their own story, their own traditions, their own language, their own experiences, yet all sharing one home,” he said.
Bell said diversity is essential to building a stronger and safer city. “As a member of the Ottawa Police Service, I can tell you that diversity makes Ottawa safer, it makes it stronger, and it absolutely makes us more connected,” he said.
He added that building trust and meaningful relationships with residents remains fundamental to the Ottawa Police Service’s work.
Encouraging participants to make the most of the celebration, Bell challenged attendees to experience cultures beyond their own.
“I challenge you to take full advantage of this event,” he said. “Try a dish you’ve never had before. Watch a performance you know nothing about. Say hello to somebody new and learn a little about a tradition that isn’t your own.”
He urged residents to carry that openness into their daily lives. “Take that spirit home with you into your neighbourhoods, into your schools, your workplaces, because that’s how we build a place where everyone feels welcome — a place that we can all call home.”
Among the many organizations participating in the celebration was The Ottawa Cancer Foundation, where community engagement manager Eden Hailemariam highlighted how connection can be as meaningful as treatment for people living with cancer.
Hailemariam said the foundation offers free support to individuals, families, and caregivers impacted by cancer in Ottawa.
She described the foundation’s weekly Summer and Social lunch program as one of its most successful initiatives, bringing clients together over a shared meal prepared by volunteers.
“Sometimes people wonder, ‘What does that have to do with cancer?'” Hailemariam said. “The point is the peer support—that you can be in a room with people that are all going through what you’re going through. You don’t have to talk about it, though. You can just be.”
She said many participants find comfort simply by spending time with others who understand their experiences without explanation.
“It’s an opportunity for real connection and community to be made,” she said.
Highlights of the event included the presentation of awards to police officers in recognition of their dedication, alongside cultural performances that showcased the diversity of Ottawa’s communities.
