The Ottawa Community Immigrant Services Organization (OCISO) is delighted to announce that our Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mary Roman, has been named a recipient of the 2026 Order of Ottawa.
The Order of Ottawa is the City of Ottawa's highest honour, recognizing residents whose work has enriched the lives of others and strengthened the community we all share. The Board of Directors of OCISO congratulates Mary on this well deserved recognition, and thanks Mayor Mark Sutcliffe and the City of Ottawa for honouring her, and through her, the work of welcoming newcomers to Ottawa.
A first-generation immigrant, she is dedicated to making Ottawa a more welcoming city, especially by empowering immigrant women as they settle and build new lives here. Under her leadership, the OCISO team serves over 12,000 newcomers each year, has expanded settlement services to more than 200 Ottawa schools, secured a new client service hub, opened a dedicated youth lounge, and launched its first certified social enterprise. She has also helped strengthen Ottawa's employment sector through national initiatives in health care and green-economy training, and advocates for inclusive immigration policy through several governance boards.
"While this is a personal honour, I truly believe it reflects the incredible dedication and hard work of the entire team at OCISO," said Mary Roman. "This recognition speaks volumes about the impact of our collective efforts and the vital work we do for the community."
For 48 years, OCISO has helped immigrants and refugees make Ottawa home. We share this honour with our staff, our volunteers, our partners, and every client who has trusted us to walk beside them.
