Since 1982, the Ottawa Snowsuit Fund has been providing local children with warm winter gear so they can focus on just being kids.
Mayor Mark Sutcliffe was on hand this morning to help launch the 44th annual Ottawa Snowsuit Fund campaign. After thanking the volunteers and corporate supporters gathered at the Snowsuit Fund depot, he remarked that the organization embodies the spirit of the city itself: “There is no better example of the community spirit of our city than the Snowsuit Fund.”
Last year was a record-breaker, with more than 19,500 snowsuits distributed to children in need. The Snowsuit Fund accepts new and gently used snowsuits and also purchases new ones with money raised through various fundraising events. Thanks to a partnership with Brown’s Cleaners, anyone can drop off a gently used snowsuit, which will be cleaned and delivered directly to the Fund.
Volunteer Chair Martin Masse said the initiative resonates with so many because it’s simple yet powerful—it’s about giving kids “the dignity of warmth.” He added that the program ensures parents don’t have to make the difficult choice between “keeping the lights on and keeping their children warm.”
Masse thanked the Fund’s corporate and Community Match Partners—including Intega IT, CLV Group, InterRent, and Giant Tiger—who match individual donations, doubling the impact and helping even more children stay warm this winter.
But it was the story of Dorcas Abili, a Ugandan immigrant to Canada, that truly captured the audience. With warmth and humour, she recounted her family’s arrival in Ottawa, her husband and young son in tow, and the shock of experiencing a Canadian winter for the first time.
Abili said she had learned “little bits about Canada” at school, but nothing prepared her for the cold. She held up the “snowsuit” she bought at a thrift store—a fall jacket, really—thinking it would suffice for her son. At the time, the family had only $100 left for food, nothing for a snowsuit.
A friend told her about the Snowsuit Fund, but Abili couldn’t believe such help existed. She laughed as she recalled telling her friend to go first and “show me what you got once you have it.” Still skeptical, she insisted her neighbour come along “in case I go there and it is not free, your wallet is the one that is going to come out.”
Her anxiety vanished the moment she walked into the Donald Street depot. The atmosphere, she said, felt like a “party.”
Abili joyfully recalled how her son could hardly wait for the first snowfall. When it finally came, she woke him up early, and the two went to the park, throwing snow, building a snowman, and even eating the snow.
She praised the kindness of the Snowsuit Fund staff and said the experience inspired her to become a volunteer. As she put it, she wanted to “give back that warmth.” For her, the snowsuit is symbolic: “A snowsuit is not just a piece of clothing; it is the confidence you are giving to these children, it is the comfort, it is the care, and all that—everything stitched together.”
When you multiply Dorcas Abili’s story by more than 19,000, you begin to see the scale of the Snowsuit Fund’s impact on families across Ottawa.
The event concluded with Abili presenting a snowsuit to Salia Sanogo and his young daughter, Jamila. Sanogo, who arrived in Ottawa just 99 days ago with his family, thanked the organization for the warm welcome—both literal and symbolic—he has found in his new home.
The Snowsuit Fund is entirely community-driven and volunteer-powered. It receives no government funding and relies on the generosity of individuals, organizations, and local businesses to keep kids warm. The public can take part by supporting its signature fundraising events, including:
Dinner Party in a Box – November 29, 2025
The sixth annual luxurious at-home dining experience for two, curated by Beckta, returns to celebrate Canada. Each box includes signature cocktails by Dunrobin Distilleries, beer by Kichesippi Beer Company, a premium bottle of wine, fresh focaccia from Nat’s Bread, as well as luxury gift items – all beautifully packaged and home-delivered by Trexity for enjoyment with family, work colleagues or friends. On sale now at snowsuitfund.com.
50/50 for the City: November 24, 2025 – January 16, 2026
Produced in partnership with Rogers Sports & Media, the fifth annual online raffle will feature a $100K guaranteed Jackpot and over $15K in weekly early bird prizes donated by local businesses, including Canadian Tire Ottawa Dealers and Expedia Cruises – Westboro and Kanata. It’s the second largest 50/50 raffle in Ottawa and past winners have taken home over half a million dollars! On sale November 24 at 5050forthecity.com.
SnowBall, A Cool Winter’s Eve, Presented by Intega IT – March 4, 2026
The much-anticipated annual all-inclusive cocktail party boasting sumptuous décor, multiple chef stations and bars, live music, auctions, beauty bars, and more returns to 50 Sussex Drive. Tickets and corporate 10-packs on sale soon at snowsuitfund.com.
Header Image: Dorcus Abili (pictured right) presents Salia Sanogo’s young daughter, Jamila, with her first snowsuit.
