Tamir was founded in 1980 by a group of dedicated individuals and families who identified a need for community living in a Jewish environment for adults with developmental disabilities in the Ottawa area. Tamir opened its first group home in 1985 and today is a vibrant organization offering a variety of residential and other services.

Funded in part by the Ontario Ministry of Community and Social Services, Tamir also receives support from the Jewish Federation of Ottawa and our contributing members. Tamir is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors, and has a growing membership of over 500.

Today Tamir provides quality services to more than 100 individuals through 12 programs offered by over 100 staff and has an annual budget of approximately $6.2 million.

Meaning of Tamir

The Hebrew word Tamir means tree and/or tall. Tamir's use of the word and the logo is meant to infer a tree, strongly rooted in the community, able to provide support to those around it.