Chosen Grandma

chosen grandma ottawa

Building Intergenerational Connections

In every community there are:

đź’śSenior women with time, energy, wisdom, and skills to share.

đź’śFamilies, especially single parent-families, without extra external support and extra attention for their children.

What is Chosen Grandma?

CGO is a free, non-profit initiative based in Ottawa, Canada. CGO creates family-like connections between senior women and local families. By matching volunteer women aged 55+ with children, living between King Edward Ave. and St. Laurent Blvd., CGO helps build lasting, mutually supportive relationships. These “grandma/grandchild” bonds offer children added care and connection, while bringing joy, meaning, and a renewed sense of purpose to the grandmas. 

Our Mission

To foster positive, on-going, and fun relationships between senior women and local children, creating a sense of family and community for all.

Are you a good fit?

To become a ‘Chosen Grandma’, you…

  • Are healthy, active, and age 55+
  • Live between King Edward Ave. and St. Laurent Blvd.
  • Have no grandchildren or grandchildren nearby
  • Are open to building an ongoing relationship with a local child

To request a ‘Chosen Grandma for your child, you…

  • Have a child age 5-14
  • Live between King Edward Ave. and St. Laurent Blvd.
  • Have no nearby external support or grandparents
  • Are seeking extra care and experiences, guidance and connection for your child
  • Are open to building an ongoing cross-generational bond between your child and a Chosen Grandma

    

All grandma volunteers are carefully screened. The CGO Connection Team handles applications, interviews, references, and police checks. We provide orientation, training, and ongoing support. Monthly gatherings help grandmas share ideas, build friendships, and support one another.

đź’śMeet inspiring women.
đź’śExperience the joy of a grandchild.
💜 Give your child the gift of a caring grandma.

All parents wishing to have a grandma for their child will be interviewed. A meeting is arranged with the child to know them better. The Connection Team considers the age, needs and interests of each child and selects the best match with an approved grandma of similar talents and interests.

The Connection Team

Chosen Grandma Ottawa is run by a volunteer team with decades of experience in educational psychology, social work, school leadership, and child development. These team members will guide you through every step of the program.

Together, we can build stronger communities through care and connection.
To apply or ask questions: chosengrandmaottawa@gmail.com

Bien que le programme soit actuellement offert uniquement en anglais, des jumelages francophones sont possibles si les enfants et leurs parents parlent bien l’anglais.

Dr. Peg Herbert

Dr. Peg Herbert, PhD

Founder,
Educational Psychologist,
Founder (ret) Help Lesotho

Mailyn Collett

Marilyn Collette, M.S.W.

Director
Social worker and international development specialist (ret)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

FAQ FOR GRANDMAS

We ask each grandma to commit to one year (renewable). Trust takes time to build. A six-month review will help ensure everything is going well.

You can both determine how often you want to connect, but we hope you will connect a minimum of twice a  month  – at least one in person and a second time in-person, but if not by email, phone, video call or text in order to build a meaningful connection. The degree to which you integrate with the entire family over time is up to you as long as healthy boundaries are adhered to and everyone is comfortable.

  • Visits are typically 2–3 hours.
  • Activities can include crafts, reading, museum visits, walks, library time, etc.
  • For comfort and safety:
    • Children under 10: a parent/guardian joins the first 3 visits.
    • Children 10+: a parent/guardian joins the first 2 visits.

In the first year (to be reviewed in 12 months):

  • All outings are by foot, taxi, public transit or in a personal car (the latter, subject to certain conditions);
  • Visits inside the child’s home are permitted at the invitation and conditions set by the parents.

 

That’s fine! Please give notice and, if possible, send a postcard, email, or have a short video call during your time away.

 

  1. If you are a healthy, active woman aged 55+, live between King Edward Ave. and St. Laurent Blvd., Ottawa, have no grandchildren or no grandchildren nearby, email us at chosengrandmaottawa@gmail.com
  2. If you are still interested and meet the criteria, we will send you an application form.
  3. You will provide three non-family references and a photo of a government-issued ID with your picture.
  4. If the application is sound, we will send you the program information and schedule a phone chat.
  1. We contact your references.
  2. A team member or two will interview you in person.
  3. You will obtain a Volunteer Sector Police Check (we provide a fee-waiver letter). This is a standard procedure for any volunteer wishing to work directly with children.
  4. Accepted applicants attend an in-person orientation and meet fellow grandmas.
  5. You will be sent a questionnaire to further help with the matching.
  1. We match based on personality, age, preferences, needs and interests.
  2. Basic information is shared with both parties.
  3.  A team member accompanies the grandma to the family home for the first meeting.
  4. If all goes well, the match begins.
  1. A Connection Team member will be assigned to you and your matched child.
  2. You’ll attend orientation, training, and monthly support gatherings.
  3. Simple monthly check-ins and a short report help us track how things are going.
  4. Grandmas will use these meetings to make new friends, share ideas for outings and to learn from one another.

 

Not in this program. For the first year, all visits are exclusively between grandmas and children.

FAQ FOR FAMILIES

 

A one-year commitment (renewable) helps build meaningful connections. A six-month review ensures everything is going well.

Possibly, if the grandma is open to it.

 

Same as described in the grandma section above. You and the grandma agree on each outing.

 

 

You and your grandma will help manage expectations with your child. Ideally, your grandma stays in touch during the break.

 

  1. One parent should be the consistent contact for both your grandma and CGO.
  2. If you live between King Edward Ave. and St. Laurent Blvd., Ottawa, have a child aged 5–14, and no nearby support, email chosengrandmaottawa@gmail.com.
  3. We’ll send a program intro and schedule a phone call.
  4. If you’re still interested and meet the criteria, we’ll send you an application form.

     

See selection process under “How are grandmas selected?” above.

 

Same matching process as described in the grandma section. A team member will join the grandma for the first meeting.

 

  1. Each family is assigned two team members.
  2. You’ll attend an orientation and have regular check-ins.
  1. Monthly check-ins and short reports help track progress.
  2. Families and grandmas submit a quick monthly questionnaire.
  3. Feedback is shared (unless privacy is requested).
  4. Concerns can be addressed through monthly checkups or via our team support.

To apply or ask questions 

Contact: chosengrandmaottawa@gmail.com

© Chosen Grandma 2025 All rights reserved.