OUR TEAM
Meet our team of dedicated staff who help our street friends
MEET OUR TEAM
Gerry Potter
Executive Director
Gerry’s extensive experience in bi-vocational ministry spans over four decades. He has provided leadership within established churches, new church plants and non-profits across Canada, the US, Western Europe and Afghanistan. His service on short-term missions in Indonesia, Guatemala, Ukraine, and Poland, along with his 35 years in the Canadian Armed Forces and over ten years as a consultant, showcases his diverse and robust skill set.
“My faith in Jesus is simple: I believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God, and I take Him at His Word. Early in my journey as a follower of Jesus, three intertwined values began driving my thinking, doing, and aspirations. Two come from Mark 12:30-31, and the third comes from Matthew 28:19-20. In short:
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Love the Lord,
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Love others,
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Serve the mission.”
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“I am grateful to have the privilege of serving the OIM mission as a member of the OIM team. We are called to come alongside and support people in Ottawa’s Innercity who are experiencing poverty and homelessness by demonstrating the message of Christ in action and word. Together, we bring the hope of the gospel to those whom Jesus loves and gave Himself for.”
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Brian Griffin
Business Manager
Brian has a BA from Memorial University in Political Science, History and Economics. He has spent over 25 years as a Commercial Banker with 3 organizations across Canada. From 2013 to 2020 he worked as an independent consultant in the Ottawa area, helping clients meet their organizational, governance and financial goals.
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Volunteering has always been a part of Brian's life and he considers giving back to the community to be of the utmost importance professionally as well as spiritually. He has volunteered with Junior Achievement, Scouts, Meals on Wheels, Rotary Club as well as numerous church organizations.
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Joining OIM is providing Brian a way to serve the most deserving of our community. He is reminded constantly that no matter how good or bad things are, he remembers to be grateful and thankful to God and trust that what he has provided is enough.
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Jordan Levesque
Youth Coordinator
Jordan joined OIM in the role of Youth Outreach Coordinator in August 2021.
He studied Youth & Family Ministries at Emmanuel Bible College, graduating in 2016. He then worked as a youth pastor for a few years in Kitchener, Ontario, before moving to the Ottawa Valley to be closer to family.
Apart from working with youth, Jordan is also a passionate musician, enjoys playing sports, weightlifting, and spending time with his wife and dogs.
Elizabeth Sutherland-Beaven
IVOS (Veteran Program) Associate
After 15 years of administrative work at various government and private industries, Elizabeth (Beth) took 10 years off to concentrate on her family before returning to the workforce as an Adult Crossing Guard at a local school, then back into administration at a local church before trying the retail industry. Beth has never stopped volunteering at local charities and events since coming to Ottawa.
She obtained her Ministerial Diploma in 2014 at Ottawa School of the Bible.
Beth then took the plunge and joined OIM, first as Administrative Assistant. She progressed to Administrator in 2021 and mid-year 2022 joined the IVOS program to help deliver unique outreach and support to Ottawa's at-risk veterans.
Beth is married and has two grown sons, who often join her in various volunteering events.
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Peter Stuart
Veterans Housing Coordinator
Peter is a native of Quebec. After Basic Training in the Naval Reserve, Peter studied in English and French in Ontario and Quebec, eventually seeing all ten Canadian Provinces, and the Yukon.
Peter remained engaged as a volunteer and a worker for his faith community and in such fields as manual labour, customer service, PSW, travel and tourism (Tour Guide at Vimy Ridge, and the Citadel in Quebec City). Subsequent to a spiritual awakening resulting from recovery from a Concurrent Disorder, Peter felt called to minister to persons who were struggling with these conditions. He became involved in advocacy work with people with Concurrent Disorders, peer to peer advocacy in the Recovery Community, as well as a PSW with seniors.
Peter volunteered for the Mission in Afghanistan at CFB Valcartier to support spouses of CAF personnel deployed overseas. This motivated Peter, at 50, to train in Social Work at Niagara College and Trent University. Peter looks forward to the challenges of addressing issues facing Veterans at OIM in a Spirit of Gospel Truth.
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Ellen Niekoop
Administrator
After years employed in the private sector functioning in various roles as Relationship Manager, Quality Assurance Analyst and Network Support Engineer, Ellen followed her passion, and decided to make a switch to community work to be able to help those struggling.
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She began volunteering at OIM in 2020 in various outreach activities, such as door- and street outreach work. She has completed her chaplaincy training to be better equipped to further connect, support, and share the love of Christ with the vulnerable served by OIM. Whatever her roles, Ellen has always looked for opportunities to serve clients more effectively and more efficiently.
With a background in Business, IT and Community Work, she accepted the role of Administrator within OIM in mid-2022. She is excited by the opportunity to work alongside her brothers and sisters, to contribute to OIM's vision, and serve and empower our street friends in downtown Ottawa.
Andrew Murphy
Strategic Communications & PR Manager
Andrew joined OIM in February 2024. At his local church, he leads an outreach ministry that serves those facing poverty and homelessness, which is where he found his passion and desire to help the vulnerable population.
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Andrew received his B.A. in Communications from the University of Ottawa and his M.A. in Strategic Communications from Liberty University.
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Coming from a diverse background in non-profit, church, retail, and construction communications and social media management, Andrew is excited to bring his passion for communications and passion for serving those facing poverty and homelessness to OIM.
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When Andrew is not working, he serves at his church's outreach ministry, works on his research project, and freelances as a social media coordinator. He also enjoys spending time with friends, building LEGO, playing board games and watching movies.
Giovanna Miranda
Communications Coordinator
Giovanna supports OIM through communications, storytelling and digital content, helping share the heart of the Mission and the stories of the people it serves with care and clarity. Originally from Brazil, she grew up in a Christian family and throughout her life her faith has continued to grow and become more personal. Through different seasons, she has experienced God’s presence in meaningful ways, shaping her desire to serve others with dignity and bring hope. A creative at heart, Giovanna values thoughtful communication and the small grounding moments of daily life, often found in creative projects, her mug collection and time with coffee or tea.
Andrew Bailey
Development Officer
Andrew grew up in the Ottawa Valley. Pursuing full-time ministry & missionary work, Andrew is a graduate of both the Honour Academy (Texas) and Bethany Global University (Minneapolis). He spent over 10 years abroad in Southern Africa and Southeast Asia participating in ESL ministries, anti-human, trafficking projects, and pastoral roles in high risk communities. Andrew has returned to Canada and is currently a pulpit fill-in minister for local Ottawa Valley churches. Both his passion and ministry goals are to share the needs of the community, engage in church partnership development, and allow the church to truly be the hands and feet of Jesus of Jesus.
Andrew has several years experience of doing wellness checks, homelessness prevention services, and community outreach in both the Ottawa and Ottawa Valley area. He is well known to be a passionate participant of Coldest Night of the Year for the ministry and is excited to share the vision and mission of Ottawa Innercity Ministries with the community!
Andrew believes in not only being a hearer of the word, but also a doer. Reflecting on Isaiah 6:8 “Here I am, send me!” Andrew believes we are all called to respond to the practical needs that we see daily, as Jesus would.
Jelica Zdero
Senior Research & Grants Coordinator
After volunteering with OIM in 2007/2008, Jelica responded to God’s call to join the team in October 2008. She is honoured to be working alongside the caring staff and volunteers of OIM who joyfully give of themselves to work alongside our street community.
Jelica brings with her a skill-set that includes university teaching, research, and writing as well as a variety of volunteer experiences in her church and community.
Richard MacCallum
Building Manager
Richard is originally from Toronto, Ontario. Growing up, he spent most of his summers at his grandparent's lodge. His Grandfather inspired him to serve in the Royal Canadian Navy, where he served for 18 years. He is also a member of St. Barnabas Anglican Church, where he faithfully serves as an usher and greeter. Richard has a special place in his heart for Veterans, which is evident in his service for OIM's Innercity Veterans Outreach and Support (IVOS). Every week, he walks the streets of downtown Ottawa looking for homeless Veterans. In particular, he enjoys helping them with any problems they might have. He also enjoys OIM's team spirit.
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Phoebe Willard
Resource Coordinator
Phoebe has a passion to see Jesus Christ known and exalted amongst all the nations of world. She sees her role at OIM as an opportunity to extend to the needy the practical love that flows from the gospel, and to equip and encourage other Christians in Ottawa as they seek to do the same.
Phoebe's work and ministry experience includes being the manager of a Christian thrift store, office administrator for a Bible camp, a support worker in the hospital, as well as involvement in several foreign missions projects. Phoebe loves people, and appreciates every opportunity to connect with others. She has lived in the Ottawa area for over a decade.
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Board of Directors
Chair
Doug Cooper
Lieutenant-Commander (ret'd)
Vice-chair
Walter Semianiw
Lieutenant-General (ret'd)
​Secretary
Alysia Lau
Treasurer
Kari Yli-Renko
Area Manager, Leader Impact Ministries (A Division of Power to Change)
Director
Karen Fishwick
VP of Admin & Finance, Evangelical Fellowship of Canada
Director
Taffy Nahas
Legal Counsel, City of Ottawa