14 Jun Deirdre Freiheit wins the 2022 Communicator of the Year Award from IABC Ottawa
Leading through change.
A phrase Deirdre Freiheit, the President and CEO of Shepherds of Good Hope, has worn like a badge of honour these past twelve months (and then some).
Deirdre has been named IABC Ottawa’s 2022 Communicator of the Year, IABC Ottawa’s highest achievement given annually to a leader or team who demonstrate excellence in the field of communications. Past winners of this award include the communications team at Ottawa Public Health and the communications and public affairs team at Hydro Ottawa.
“The expectations of business leaders have never been greater. People are looking for leaders to be present, communicate with them often, and be transparent — even when that information is hard to digest,” says Alexandra Sebben, President of IABC Ottawa for the 2021-2022 season. “Deirdre Freiheit has done all of this, and more, with Shepherds of Good Hope.”
Under Deirdre’s leadership, Shepherds of Good Hope has gone through a rebrand that has positioned the organization as a positive beacon of hope for those experiencing homelessness. The positive communications and fundraising campaigns, like Sing for Hope, put out by Shepherds has shifted the way those in Ottawa see homelessness and the viable solutions that are possible to end this crisis.
In January 2022, Shepherds made local, national, and international news as members of their community were harassed by people part of the Freedom Convoy. Deirdre and the rest of her team leveraged the power of transparent communications on social media to share the impact of these incidents on Shepherds members. The outpour of support from those in Ottawa and beyond came in the form of $750,000 in donations and a way for Deirdre and her team to continue Shepards mandate to increase supportive housing options for individuals who face barriers to obtaining adequate housing. The donations were funneled into building new housing to end chronic homelessness.
“Our team at SGH has worked tirelessly under challenging circumstances,” says Deirdre Freiheit. “The toxic drug supply on the streets that continues to kill people, a shortage of affordable housing that ensures shelter stays are much longer than they should be for many, negative effects from the Freedom Convoy and the pandemic.
These events have been in addition to our regular day to day challenges. On the upside, the support we receive from donors, community partners, volunteers, governments and caring individuals has allowed us to continue building supportive housing throughout all of these crises.
The answer to ending chronic homelessness is intrinsically tied to the availability of adequate housing. We are a part of the solution and will continue to build housing for those in need. This award is a lovely recognition of the work our entire team does every day and I accept it with sincere gratitude on behalf of all of us at Shepherds of Good Hope.”
Deirdre will formally accept the Communicator of the Year award at the IABC Ottawa AGM/Season Closer on June 16, where she has prepared a keynote presentation about how she led her team at Shepherds of Good Hope through a period of hardship and is now building a bright plan for the future. Tickets to the AGM/Season Closer are available for purchase on Eventbrite.
IABC Ottawa is the local chapter of the International Association of Business Communicators. We are part of a diverse global community working to advance the profession, create connections and develop strategic communicators. We offer a number of career development opportunities to help communicators learn and connect, including: professional development events and workshops, networking opportunities, a membership program, an event board, a podcast, volunteer opportunities and more. If you’re interested in joining us, visit our website to learn more.