Residents of Friendship House. | Facebook/Ottawa Friendship House
Residents of Friendship House. | Facebook/Ottawa Friendship House
The Ottawa City Council recognized a community leader's milestone birthday with a proclamation in her honor at the Dec. 6 city council meeting.
Jane McCormick, one of the original founders of Echo School, now Friendship House, celebrated her 100th birthday Dec. 11. The city council honored McCormick for "her long life and prosperity" with a proclamation at the Dec. 6 meeting.
Mayor Daniel Aussem read the proclamation recognizing McCormick "and a small group of moms (who) pioneered care for their children with special needs."
The mothers formed the Mother’s Club for Exceptional Children in 1953, which provided daily structured programs for children with intellectual disabilities, according to the Friendship House website. In 1955, the newly formed Echo (Every Child’s Hope and Opportunity) School began offering courses to children and young adults with intellectual and physical challenges, where "students were challenged, according to their capabilities, to develop their skills and achieve greater independence and self-reliance."
Friendship House was launched in 1966 to provide adult graduates of Echo School a place where they "were an integral part of the living community and grew to become productive, self-respecting citizens."
"Today, Friendship House continues Jane McCormick’s trailblazing legacy," the website states. "We have a 22-acre site and currently serve 100 individuals from Ottawa and the surrounding communities in three program areas."
"Friendship House exists today because of the dedication of this group of caring and determined moms," Aussem said.
"On behalf of the city council," the mayor said, "we hereby recognize these efforts and honor Jane McCormick for her long life and prosperity, and wish her a very happy 100th birthday on Dec. 11, 2022."
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