Ottawa-Gatineau Region Grandmothers Network (O-GRGN)
The O-GRGN is a a loosely formed network of 19 granny groups in the Ottawa - Gatineau region spreading out from as far west as Perth, north to Deep River and Pembroke, south to Morrisburg and east to Metcalfe and Quebec in the towns of Aylmer and Wakefield. The O-GRGN convenes meetings of key leaders in the regional granny groups, hosts the Granny Fest, a learning and sharing one day conference every 18 months and organizes from time to time information and awareness events.
The grandmothers groups share three goals
- Raise funds to meet the needs of African grandmothers and children in their care
- Raise awareness about the expertise and leadership of Africa's grandmothers and their struggle to secure a hopeful and healthy future their children in their care
- Build solidarity among grandmothers in order to better understand and sustain the vital work being done at the grassroots to turn the tide of AIDS in Africa
Canadian grannies
supporting
African grannies
INCREDIBLE
Since 2006, when the Grassroot Grannies first began, we have raised $1,319,000 for the Stephen Lewis Foundation.
WELCOME to the Grassroot Grannies website.
Grassroot Grannies
are celebrating 20 years of success
Some historical milestones
2012- Grandparents Rally on the Hill advocating for Bill C-398 which would allow Canada to make a cheaper generic anti-viral drugs for HIV/AIDS for sub-Saharan Africa.
2007 - The first Plant Sale and Garden Tour hosting grannies from sub-Saharan Africa.
2009 - The Ride To Turn The Tide (RTTTT)
Fundraising bike tour took place under the capable guidance of Nancy Hough and her team.
2010 - Breakfast, Books and Bijoux was held for the first time at the Kanata Golf and Country Club. It is now called the Books and Breakfast Buffet.
2016 - Grassroot Grannies participated in the Grand Market at Lansdowne Park.
2011 - The Grassroot Grannies participated in the 3rd Granny Fest - a day-long event of learning, sharing and celebrating with other grandmother groups in the Ottawa-Gatineau Region.
2019 - The last 3-day RTTTT event before Covid 19 hit.
2008 - The first Solidarity March on the Hill in Ottawa
2025 - The Ride to Turn The Tide has raise over $1,000,000 for the Stephen Lewis Foundation.
2025 - The first ever Fall Book Event with local author Brett Popplewell.
The Impact of the Grandmothers to Grandmothers Campaign
Since its launch in 2006, the Grandmothers to Grandmothers Campaign, an initiative of the Stephen Lewis Foundation, has raised more than $40 million in support of African grandmothers and the community-led organizations that support them.
Key Facts About the Campaign's Fundraising:
Total Raised: Over $40 million has been raised as of the 15th-anniversary milestones.
Goal: The campaign supports grandmothers in 14 countries across Africa who are raising grandchildren orphaned by the AIDS pandemic.
Support Base: More than 10,000 Canadian grandmothers and "grandothers," along with groups in Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States, participate in the campaign.
Impact: These funds provide support for school fees, food, housing, grief and trauma counseling, and micro-credit grants for income generation.
Grassroots Action: Over 220 groups across Canada hold fundraising events, including lunches, sales, and community walks.
It is with profound sadness that the Foundation shares the news of the passing of our co-founder Stephen Lewis.
Stephen was a respected humanitarian who spent his life championing social justice and human rights. Throughout his political and international careers, he was committed to creating a more equitable world.
Remembering Stephen Lewis 1937-2026
A Message from the Stephen Lewis Foundation
Stephen began his career as an NDP member of the Ontario legislature from 1963 to 1978, during which time he became party leader and leader of the official opposition. In 1984 he was appointed across party lines as Canada’s ambassador to the United Nations, where he served until 1988.
Stephen served as the UN Secretary-General’s special advisor on Africa from 1986 to 1991, and he was the deputy executive director of UNICEF from 1995 to 1999.
During this period, Stephen worked on several significant reports. In 1992, as the special advisor on race relations to the Premier of Ontario, he was responsible for the “Stephen Lewis Report on Race Relations in Ontario.”
Working with UNICEF in 1993, he coordinated the “Graça Machel study,” which was the first global study on the impact of armed conflict on children. Ms. Machel’s report was presented to the UN General Assembly in 1996.
To read the rest of the article click here.
An extraordinary Canadian committed to creating a better world
"I'm in a great rage now, as I understand how many lives we have lost."
“We learned, early on, that the strength and resilience of communities and community projects is the road to hope, to empathy, to survival. The Stephen Lewis Foundation will never let its guard down. We know the tasks are herculean.”
– Stephen Lewis, Grassroots, 2021
For those who do not get emails from the Stephen Lewis Foundation, there is a site (link below) where people can leave their messages of condolence to his family as well as memories and celebration of Stephen's life:
Stephen Lewis, The Early Years
It was the end of an epoch when Stephan Lewis passed away on March 31st. He will be lovingly remembered, as passionate, principled, uncompromising. Countess other adjectives could be ascribed to this remarkable man. So yes, the man who provided our inspiration has left us, but his impact will remain. While we mourn his death, we will celebrate his spirit, and we will go on.
And carry on WE GRASSROOT GRANNIES WILL: our annual plant sale on Mother’s Day weekend; on September 2nd, the FIRST ANNUAL STEPHEN LEWIS MEMORIAL RIDE (17th year); and on November 9th, the book talk, craft sale, sweets and coffee.
Nancy & Stella, co-chairs
Grassroot Grannies Remember Stephen Lewis
