OCRI & The Breakfast Program
OCRI
The Ottawa Centre for Research and Innovation (OCRI) is Ottawa's leading member-based economic development corporation for fostering the advancement of the region's globally competitive knowledge-based institutions and industries. OCRI delivers its economic development services through a unique partnership with the City of Ottawa, where the City and OCRI, through its members set the strategy and manage the programs that move Ottawa's economy forward.
OCRI is a non-profit, partnership organization that operates on an annual budget that comes from a variety of sources including: municipal, federal and provincial government; membership fees; professional development programs; and private sector contributions.
The School Breakfast Program
Children who arrive at school hungry do not perform well in the classroom. Numerous studies have shown that students who are fed are more alert, develop greater self-esteem, have better attendance and fewer discipline problems. Children who receive a healthy, nutritious head start to the day show a marked improvement in academic achievement.
In the City of Ottawa, 8445 children in 130 schools begin each school day with a nutritious meal provided by the School Breakfast Program. The four school boards that participate in the program are:
- Ottawa-Carleton District School Board
- Ottawa Catholic School Board
- Conseil des écoles catholique de langue française du Centre-Est
- Conseil des écoles publiques de l'Est de l'Ontario
The School Breakfast program is open to all children enrolled in the City of Ottawa school boards. The students may be identified by teachers, by social agencies or by parents who contact the school principal to enlist help. The philosophy of the program is that no child is turned away.
The program provides funding for equipment, monitors and food. Other objectives of the program are to teach and encourage children to make healthy food choices. OCRI provides program administration and innovative community partners provide funding and food.