Ottawa Valley Family Health Team

07/25/2025

NEST Program at OVFHT!
The Newborn & Early Postpartum Support Team (NEST) is here to support new moms and babies during their first days at home.

This new program, in partnership with Almonte General Hospital, is now available at our clinic. Because your family deserves care that begins on day one. 💛

📍 Learn more on our website https://ovfht.ca/nest-program/
👩‍⚕️Meet the team here: https://ovfht.ca/fm-obs/

07/17/2025

We’re thrilled to have our Family Medicine Obstetrics physicians partnering with Almonte General Hospital on the brand-new NEST Program (Newborn and Early Postpartum Support Team)—now offered right here in our clinic! 🤱💙

The early days with a newborn can be overwhelming, and the NEST Program is here to help—with next-day support for moms and babies including jaundice checks, postpartum care, and follow-up for families without a provider.

07/16/2025

🚨 Job Posting Closing Soon! 🚨

The RN position at our clinic is coming down this Friday! If you've been thinking about applying — now's the time. ⏳

📩 Get those resumes in and don’t miss out on this opportunity to join an amazing team making a difference in primary care.

Tag someone who should apply! 👇

We are always looking for exceptional team members. If you are interested in joining our team, please send your resume to info@ovfht.ca.

07/10/2025

A huge shoutout to Rae Country Farm for absolutely making our day with the most stunning bouquets for our staff! 💐

It was truly the best surprise and the highlight of our week. Each arrangement brought joy, smiles, and a reminder of how lucky we are to be supported by such an amazing community. You truly brought sunshine into our clinic — brightening our spaces and our spirits! ☀️

Thank you for your generosity and for making our day so special! 🩷 🌸

07/07/2025

🌟 We’re Hiring! 🌟

The Ottawa Valley Family Health Team is currently looking for passionate and dedicated professionals to join our team!

Now Hiring:
• Social Worker
• Registered Nurse

Interested in making a difference in your community? Click the link below to view the full job descriptions and apply today! ⬇️

We are always looking for exceptional team members. If you are interested in joining our team, please send your resume to info@ovfht.ca.

06/27/2025

Our thoughts and prayers are with Archer’s family, friends, teachers and our whole community!

Hug each other tighter, support each other and ask for help if you need it!

Yesterday’s tragic event has touched our entire community. I want to acknowledge the pain, sadness, and grief that many of us are feeling. It’s okay to not be okay - and it’s more than okay to ask for help. Support is available, and reaching out is a sign of strength. Please share this list in case a friend or neighbour might need these resources.

🔵 Open Doors for Lanark Children and Youth has mobilized a Crisis Response Team that is available immediately to support children, youth, and families following yesterday’s tragedy.

They provide compassionate care and a safe space to process grief during this difficult time through free in-person, virtual and phone sessions. If you or someone you know needs support, reach out to Open Doors on weekdays 8:30am - 4:30pm by calling 1-877-232-8260 or visiting www.opendoors.on.ca

Other services you can reach out to:

🟢 Kids Help Phone is available 24/7. 1-800-668-6868 Text CONNECT to 686868 https://kidshelpphone.ca

🟣Distress Centre of Lanark, Leeds and Grenville - free, confidential and anonymous. Service provided from 5pm to midnight by nonjudgmental and empathetic volunteers by calling 1-800-465-4442. https://developmentalservices.com/services-distress

🟡 Lanark County Mental Health provides support for Lanark County residents over age of 17. www.lanarkmentalhealth.com 613-257-5915

🟠Parents Lifeline of Eastern Ontario – created by parents for parents. Speak to a Family Peer Supporter by calling 613-321-3211 or 855-775-7005. https://pleo.on.ca/

🔴Child, Youth and Family Crisis Line for Eastern Ontario provides professional help for children, youth and families in crisis, 24/7. www.icrs.can 1-877-377-7775

🔵Good2talkon provides free, confidential and anonymous helpline. Professional counselling and referral for mental health, addictions and well-being to post-secondary students. www.good2talk.ca 1-866-925-5454 or Text GOOD2TALKON to 686868

🟢 Counselling Connect - offers free online of phone counselling sessions for anyone in the Ottawa region. Same day or next day. www.counsellingconnect.org

🟣Connex Ontario - 24/7 access to mental health services or call 1-866-531-2600

➡️ Feeling overwhelmed and not sure how to navigate the healthcare system? If you’re over 16, www.accessmha.ca can help you find the right support for your mental health.

➡️ Call 211 or go to https://211ontario.ca/ to connect to social services, programs and community support including mental health services.

‼️ Remember if you are in crisis or worried about yourself or someone else, call or text 988 anywhere in Canada, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to get help in a safe space. Always call 911 in an emergency.

Know that you are never alone. We are a community that takes care of each other. If you need help, or know someone who does, please reach out.

💙 A special thank you to the local practitioners who have also offered care and support to our community 💙

06/17/2025

📢 We’re thrilled to welcome Ashley Killeen as our new Executive Director!
Ashley brings more than 17 years of healthcare experience, ranging from frontline work as a Recreation Therapist to leadership roles working with interprofessional teams on quality improvement, change management, and clinical excellence. Most recently, Ashley held leadership positions at CHEO and Pinecrest Queensway Community Health Centre.

Ashley is deeply rooted in the community. Raised in Almonte, she now lives in Pakenham with her husband and enjoys spending time with her parents and extended family who live in Carleton Place.

“With a depth of healthcare leadership experience, Ashley has a proven ability to think strategically, foster a strong team environment, and facilitate multidisciplinary collaboration with physicians and allied health professionals,” says Dr. Lawrie Ray, Board Chair, OVFHT. “Our Board is thrilled to have Ashley’s leadership and understanding of our community as the Family Health Team expands into Beckwith and Carleton Place.”

Ashley will officially join the team on July 7.
Read more ↓

06/04/2025

📣 We’re Hiring: Medical Office Assistant (6-Month Contract) 📣

The Almonte Family Health Organization, part of the Ottawa Valley Family Health Team, is looking for a Medical Office Assistant to join our team in Almonte!

This is a 6-month contract position with the possibility of extension. We’re seeking someone dependable, organized, and ready to thrive in a fast-paced healthcare setting.

📍 Location: Almonte, Ontario
🕐 Status: 6-month contract (possible extension)
📅 Start Date: June 2025
📧 To Apply: Email your resume to ckealey@ovfht.ca
🔗 View Full Job Description: https://ovfht.ca/careers/

Join a compassionate and collaborative team committed to providing excellent care to our community 💙

We are always looking for exceptional team members. If you are interested in joining our team, please send your resume to info@ovfht.ca.

05/28/2025

🌟 A Heartfelt Moment 🌟 Congratulations, Krista!

We’re incredibly proud to share a touching moment that reminds us why we do what we do. One of our amazing team members, Krista, was honored with an Angel Pin from a grateful patient—a symbol of deep appreciation for the exceptional care and compassion they received.

This small but powerful gesture reflects the impact our staff have on the lives of those we serve every day. 💙

We cherish your stories and written notes of gratitude for the care, comfort and kindness provided by a member of our team. Sometimes people don’t quite know how to thank that special person who helped them and their loved ones.

The Guardian Angel Program offers that special acknowledgement to those outstanding medical staff, caregivers, support staff, co-workers and volunteers.

Krista Kennedy of the Ottawa Valley Family Health Team is a true angel and was recently presented with her pin. The donor chose to remain anonymous sending a note thanking Krista saying that her humility would not allow her to fully accept his praise but that it comes from a place of gratitude.

Our donor wrote that “he had listened to a Leonard Cohen interview in which he basically said that he was not afraid of death but was anxious about the preliminaries to death. If he had been a patient of yours as a terminal person, he would have no need for anxiety.

The purpose of this note, and the small token with it, is to inform you of my gratitude times infinity to you for bringing your special gifts to remove my wife’s anxiety during her preliminaries to death. We found you to be kind, gentle, caring, loving, lovable and compassionate. You are highly competent and humble – a rare combination in your field. Your sense of humour is the frosting on your care giver cake. We knew you had our backs. We were both very grateful.

The coincidences that transpired to enable my wife to be graced as your patient greatly increased my faith. She loved you and said so often.❤

Words alone do not seem adequate to express my heartfelt thanks."

Do you want to recognize your special angel? Contact Cheryl Moore at chmoore@mrha.ca.

05/26/2025

Reminder: Today at Noon 🧘‍♂️🧘‍♀️

Take a pause on Mondays to reset your mind with Mindful Mondays with Kassy! 🌿

Join her for a 50-minute lunchtime practice that will leave you feeling calmer, more centered, and ready to take on the rest of the week.

💡 Whether you’re new to mindfulness or already a pro, this is the perfect way to give yourself a mental refresh.

📅 When: Every Monday in May at 12 PM (during lunch hour) There will be no session on May 19th

📍 Where: Zoom - ID: 874 6487 1578 Password: OVFHT

👇 Tag a friend who could use a mindful break below!

05/18/2025

Please note that our clinic will be closed on Monday, May 19th for the Victoria Day holiday.
We will reopen on Tuesday, May 20th with our regular hours.

We wish everyone a safe and happy long week!

05/07/2025

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Join Nicki Affleck, Registered Psychotherapist for a FREE one-time workshop designed to empower caregivers with practical tools for connecting with kids through BIG feelings. 🌟

💬 Reserve your spot today! 📞613-256-9370 ext. 4056