The First Unitarian Congregation of Ottawa
Sharing Our Space
First Unitarian Ottawa has a wide variety of bright, open spaces that can be used for concerts, personal ceremonies, classes, group conferences and events, and non-profit office activities.
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Concerts and Events
Do you need a place for a musical event, an art exhibit, a lecture, or a conference? From a 300-seat auditorium with a Steinway to small meeting rooms for break-out groups, First Unitarian offers a variety of spaces for almost any function.
Email Jen for more information.
30 Cleary Centre for Non-Profits
Are you a non-profit organization looking for stable and affordable work space? We rent offices and provide services to arts organizations and groups who advocate progressive social change. Click here for information on Office Rentals.
Note: There are currently no office spaces for rent.
Weddings, Memorial Services and Child Dedications
First Unitarian's landmark building is a beautiful location for weddings, memorial services, child-naming ceremonies, and other rites of passage. We also have licensed Lay Chaplains, who can officiate for you. You can choose to have your ceremony only in our Worship Hall, or reserve the adjoining Fellowship Hall for your reception.
Click here for more information.
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Worship Hall
Fellowship Hall
Lower Level
Many community groups and musicians use our main hall for events and performances. This hall with its soaring, wooden ceiling and beautiful view of surrounding wooded areas, is designed for grand occasions.
Seating Capacity is 300.
A bright, open hall - about 2200 sq ft - is used for presentations, seminars, and luncheons. It has a kitchen adjacent to it and is close to the washrooms.
It seats 100 people using rows of tables, fewer if the seating is café style.
For a stand-up reception: 160.
We have many rooms to choose from for use as classrooms, meeting spaces, meditations, art classes and much more. Classrooms range from 480 to 1080 sq. ft.
General Rental Information
Rental costs are determined by the length of use of the facility, size of space needed, and the complexity of the preparation and set up. The capacity of Worship Hall is 300 persons. The capacity of Fellowship Hall is 160 for a standing reception and 100 for a sit-down meal. For capacity rates for all other spaces please call the church office.
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A Booking Agreement will be provided, and any services or time over and above the agreed amount will be additionally charged at the regular rate.
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A certificate of $2 000 000 general liability must be provided by the renter, with the First Unitarian Congregation of Ottawa included as the additional insured for the duration of the event (includes rehearsals). This certificate should be provided no later than one week prior to the event.
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A $100 non-refundable deposit is due immediately upon booking, and the balance is paid by a post-dated cheque, (dated two weeks prior to your event), credit card or e-transfer.
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Room rental is charged by the hour using a sliding scale after two hours.
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Custodial and administrative charges, as well as support services such as an AV technician, are custom to each event and can vary.
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A custodian will be present and a predetermined set up of the rented space(s) will be ready when you arrive.
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The piano can be used for a fee of $50, but you must provide your own pianist.
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Linens (tablecloths, tea towels, etc.) are not supplied by First Unitarian. You must provide your own.
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A liquor permit is required if you are consuming alcohol and must be presented at the office at least one week before the event.
Please note: as a registered charity, to comply with Canada Revenue Agency rules we are unable to give preferential rates or free space to any persons or groups. Information is subject to change – please confirm the most recent regulations by contacting the office at 613-725-1066.
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Office Rentals
The First Unitarian Congregation of Ottawa has established the 30 Cleary Centre for Non-Profits, designed to provide high-quality, stable, and affordable office rentals to a community of organizations that is in line with our congregation's goals of social justice and support of the arts.
Ethical Property Management
The Centre is committed to the ethical management of office rentals. We encourage collaboration, a sense of community, and a more sustainable use of resources among Ottawa organizations committed to progressive social change.
Spaces and Services
The Centre currently offers offices of 245 square feet with access to a kitchen, ample free parking and accessible washrooms. It also provides use of a separate meeting room.
Find Out More
Organizations interested in office rentals in Ottawa can visit our building, take a tour, and discuss their needs with church administrators. To schedule an appointment, please call the office at 613-725-1066 or:
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Rites of Passage
Rituals and ceremonies mark life's profound transitions. To affirm a vow of love, to welcome a child into the world, to mourn a death or celebrate a life well-lived - these are the rites of passage that hold a special place of honour in our Unitarian Universalist tradition.
We offer the services of Lay Chaplains to the community of Ottawa and the surrounding area. We serve people of any or no faith affiliation, regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation. Ceremonies may be performed in English, French, or be bilingual.
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Where would you like your service to be?
You may choose to hold your event in Worship Hall. This hall with its soaring, wooden ceiling and beautiful view of surrounding wooded areas, is designed for grand occasions. It includes excellent acoustics and a modern sound system, theatre style seating, and a Grand Steinway piano.
The capacity of Worship Hall is 300 persons.
We have an adjoining space for receptions. The capacity of Fellowship Hall (reception room) is 100 for a sit-down meal, or 160 for a standing reception.
You can also choose your home, a reception hall, outdoors, or any location of your choice within the Ottawa area.
You may choose to hold your celebration or service at our church, or off-site.
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Weddings
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The Lay Chaplains of the First Unitarian Congregation of Ottawa perform wedding ceremonies for couples who are not from the congregation but who wish to commit themselves to a loving relationship. They hold services for couples who do not have a faith background, couples who come from differing faiths, and same-sex couples.
A Lay Chaplain will work with you to plan a wedding that reflects your vision, belief, and relationship goals. You can have a wedding that is traditional in nature, combines traditional and non-traditional elements, or is completely non-traditional.
Click here for the Wedding Booklet
Click here to apply for a Marriage Licence
Our carefully-tended Meditation Gardens are an Ontario Communities in Bloom award-winner. With walkways and a pond, they are a perfect spot for photographs, or an outdoor wedding.
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Memorial Services
We are a welcoming and inclusive church, available to any family requiring assistance during a time of bereavement. This includes our members, their extended families, and members of the wider community. Although memorials would be conducted in a Unitarian Universalist tradition, you are encouraged to work with the lay chaplain or the minister to incorporate your own spiritual or religious content as well as music selections.
A Lay Chaplain can help you work through issues of grief and the planning of a memorial service. They will work with your family and close friends to create a service that is personal, meaningful, and memorable.
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Child Dedication Ceremonies
Unitarian Universalism celebrates the birth of a child with a Baby Dedication or Baby Naming ceremony. The purpose of this ceremony is to welcome your child into the family and circle of friends.
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Other Rites of Passage
Our Lay Chaplains can also work with you to provide meaningful ceremonies for other rites of passage such as renewing wedding vows, coming of age, graduation, loss of a pet, retirement, or dissolution of a relationship.
Our Lay Chaplains​ perform many types of rites of passage, but most often, weddings, memorials, and child naming/parent dedication services. They officiate these services primarily for people who are not associated with our congregation, but can serve our members as well. Lay Chaplains take intensive training to be appointed and additional advanced training courses during their time as a Lay Chaplain.
Click here to learn more about FirstU's current Lay Chaplains.
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Kind Words About Our Lay Chaplains and Ceremonies
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"Thank you so much for officiating our wedding. Everything at the church was absolutely perfect. We were so impressed at how smoothly everything ran throughout the entire process of planning the ceremony. You are very good at what you do and made planning the ceremony effortless, meaningful, and fun! From the first emails and meeting you we had such a positive impression of you, your professionalism, and that you seem to truly live the values you preach. Thank you for everything. We feel very lucky that we found you to share in such an important day in our lives".
- J & A​​​
"On behalf of the entire family I want to thank you for your participation and guidance throughout the difficult process of organizing and carrying out the funeral services. Your meticulousness, eloquence, and your calm and caring presence was appreciated by all of us. Thank you ! May you find happiness and the root of happiness."
- AB
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"Thank you so much for your words of comfort and your presence at my late husband's Celebration of Life. I imagine you have helped many in their time of grief. We are very grateful and feel blessed that it was you who came into our lives at this difficult time."
- K
"You were delightful in our back and forth preparing for this service. I received many comments from among those who attended on how beautiful and memorable the service was. You made this day especially memorable. I am so grateful you agreed to do this."
- DF
"Thank you again for your contributions to Mom's service. It really was a lovely experience and we were delighted with your words, prayers and poems which many people commented on at the reception afterwards."
- BGW
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"Our wedding was beautiful - just how we dreamed and with (your) guidance was truly representative of both our spiritual beliefs and secular views."
- Anon
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From theknot.com:
This church is very accepting of ALL types of people - religious or not.
We met with our officiant, Alex, months prior to our wedding to discuss what we were looking for in our ceremony. He also asked a few questions about our relationship so he could get to know us better and make the experience more personal! We were assisted the whole way through planning the ceremony. We opted in for a rehearsal as well the day before. and it ran smoothly. On the day of the wedding, our officiant did everything in his power to make sure everything went according to plan! We did a candle ceremony with our parents and it went perfectly. We couldn't have had a better experience. I recommend getting married or having celebrations at this church.
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Church - Posted 2014-11-05
"We didn't want religion to be the center of our ceremony and this is why we decided on a Unitarian church, which allows people of any faith or belief system to be married there. Our lay chaplain was amazing. She was warm, welcoming, and sincere. She allowed us to develop or wedding ceremony the way we wanted and she was on board with all of our ideas. The church includes a one hour rehearsal, meeting with the chaplain, and a sound technician in the rental cost. You can have live music or recorded music. Our ceremony was beautiful and we were so happy we picked this location..."