SEPAW
Safety, Emergency Preparedness and Wellness
Co-Chairs:
Stefanie Bowles,
Susan Fisher,
Rosangela Guerra
SEPAW seeks to build a safe, low-crime, healthy and well Centretown that is ready to face whatever emergency may come our way.
Centretown has consistently among the highest crime rates in the City, and local residents are regularly affected
by provincial, national and international issues. The CCA’s Safety, Emergency Preparedness and Wellness Working Group (SEPAW) was created in July 2023 to reduce incidents of crime, address social determinants of crime and
overdoses and get prepared for emergencies as a community.
The goals of SEPAW are to:
bring down the crime rate in Centretown by working collaboratively with a range of stakeholders to increase enforcement and to address root causes of crime and social disorder particularly as crime rises and the ward faces growing mental health and addiction challenges.
empower local residents to avoid becoming victims, to be prepared for emergencies, to know their neighbours and to take care of each other when there is a crisis and when there is not.
Areas of activity are:
holding regular monthly meetings on the third Thursday of every month on safety related-topics,
including inviting guest speakerswriting articles for media such as the Centretown Buzz which highlight statistics and empowering
actions we can all take (link)advocating for solutions from the community’s perspective including by publishing letters,
lobbying relevant officialscollaborating with other community groups who also have a Safety focus
championing victims voices
advancing programming that will improve emergency preparedness and wellness
Interested in joining this working group? Become a CCA Member today and contact us at Sepaw-chair@centretowncitizens.ca
Read the Terms of References.
Terms Of Reference
September 30, 2026
Name: Safety, Emergency Preparedness and Wellness Working Group
Type: Working Group
Purpose: To work with residents and various groups in and neighbouring the community such as the Councillor’s
office, our neighbourhood police contact, local BIA’s, Crime Prevention Ottawa and other city committees, social
services agencies and community health centres to have some influence on our high crime rate and to do whatever is possible to ensure our community is safe.
Rationale: This Working Group was created in 2023 as a follow up to the recommendations of the Ottawa People’s
Commission - Part II. In addition, the goal is to carry forward the sentiments and concerns expressed by
residents in safety-related petitions and meetings in Centretown.
Responsibilities:
The Working Group will:
Work collaboratively with the various aforementioned organizations;
Engage interested people to develop recommendations and initiatives designed to ensure that people in the community feel safe;
Invite key stakeholders and subject matter experts to educate CCA members and the public;
Take action and present motions to the Councillor and/or other city of Ottawa staff after the approval of the CCA Board;
Work with other community associations who have similar goals and problems;
Learn more about the roles and responsibilities of social services agencies and understand how their work can help everyone in our community;
Work collaboratively with the Councillors and their staff.
Composition: SEPAW consists of a working group facilitator, co-chairs, someone prime for taking minutes
and any individual interested in the working group’s goals and who adhere to the group’s objectives.
Meetings: Meetings are held on a monthly basis. The Working Group may also extend invitations to members of
the local BIA’s, the neighourhood constable, city staff, a representative from the Councillor’s office and subject
matter experts for education on various social services and projects.
Reporting: The Working Group submits reports and recommendations to the board as needed.
TOR review: The Terms will be reviewed and recommendations for amendments made as needed.