Peter Tilley

Executive Director, Ottawa Mission
Business Administrative Management – Class of 1984

Peter Tilley’s career trajectory is a remarkable one. Peter left behind a ‘suit and tie’ career to drive for the Ottawa Food Bank and, for 14 years, led an organization that distributed a whopping $16 million in food annually and fed 45,000 people each month—including 16,000 children! Through a combination of business smarts, hard work and gutsy determination, Peter turned the Ottawa Food Bank into an award-winning model that is copied across the country in much larger urban centres. In the 10 years of his leadership, food distribution increased by 250%, 67 food programs grew to 140, and revenues increased from $1.1 million to $3.5 million.

In 2013, Peter left the Ottawa Food Bank to become the Executive Director of the Ottawa Mission. Through Peter’s leadership, the Mission served close to 500,000 meals last year, provided 1900 individuals with shelter, successfully housed 173 men and facilitated close to 1,726 patient visits to medical clinics. Under his direction, the Ottawa Mission has expanded their services in the areas of mental health support, addiction and trauma service, hospice care and housing outreach.