Media Advisory: The Society of St. Vincent de Paul of Halifax celebrate the grand opening of Ozanam Place, a supportive, deeply affordable housing facility in Halifax

Halifax, NS — October 9th, 2025 — Members of the media are invited to attend the official opening of Ozanam Place, a new supportive, deeply affordable, income-based housing facility dedicated to individuals aged 50 and older who are experiencing homelessness.

Representatives from the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul of Halifax (SSVP), the North End Community Health Centre (NECHC), funding partners, and community leaders will gather to mark this important milestone in addressing housing insecurity in Halifax.

Date: Thursday, October 9, 2025

Location: Ozanam Place, 2445 Brunswick Street, Halifax, Nova Scotia

10:15 am- Media and VIP tours

10:35 am - Ribbon cutting & official first opening of the doors

11: 00 - 11:35 am - Formal speeches

● Indigenous Land Acknowledgement (11- 11:03 am)

● Ray Burke Welcome and introductory statements (11:03- 11: 10 am)

● The Honourable Scott Armstrong, Minister of Opportunities and Social Development (11:10- 11:15

am)

● Marie-France LeBlanc, President and Chief Executive Officer of the North End Community Health

Centre (11:15- 11:20 am)

● Michaeal Kabalen, Affordable Housing Association of Nova Scotia (AHANS) (11:20- 11:25 am)

● Genèse, Girl Guides of Canada Representative (11:25- 11:28 am)

● Archbishop Dunn, Archdiocese of Halifax-Yarmouth (11: 28-11: 33 am)

● Ray Burke- Closing remarks (11: 33- 11: 35 am)

11: 35 12:00 pm- Informal Media interviews with speakers and networking opportunity

12:00- 12:30 am- Tours of Ozanam Place (occurring at 10-minute intervals)

Ozanam Place is owned by SSVP of Halifax and operated by the North End Community Health Centre. The facility provides 38 private, permanent housing units for individuals from the AHANS’ By-Name List ofpeople experiencing homelessness, ensuring support reaches those most in need.

SSVP Halifax, part of a century-spanning, globally connected, volunteer-driven charity, continues its mission of faith-grounded service and social justice by supporting thousands of people each year. Its work includes community meals, home visits, and direct assistance with food, rent, prescription costs, and utilities. The addition of Ozanam Place marks a new chapter in this mission that restores dignity and stability to some of the community’s most marginalized members. “Creating deeply affordable housing is a necessary pillar of navigating Canada's housing crisis. Projects like Ozanam Place help to eliminate barriers to housing while supporting all members of our community. I am grateful to those who were involved in making this happen, and I' m proud of our government's contributions that helped Ozanam Place become a reality." – Shannon Miedema, Member of Parliament for Halifax

“With the opening of Ozanam Place, 38 of Nova Scotia’s most vulnerable people will have safe, supportive housing that they can afford thanks the strong partnership between the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul and government.  By working together, we are building more housing faster.” – Colton LeBlanc, Minister of Growth and Development

Media Contact:

Ray Burke

President, Society of Saint Vincent de Paul of Halifax

Ken McClintock

Vice President, Society of Saint Vincent de Paul of Halifax

(902) 422-2049 or hpc.ssvp@gmail.com