Welcome to FirstU
A liberal, spiritual congregation
located on the shores of the Ottawa River
Welcome to the First Unitarian Congregation, a liberal, spiritual congregation located on the shores of the Ottawa River. We're a diverse, multigenerational community built on a variety of philosophical and faith traditions, and we're committed to turning compassion into action.
We're inclusive and caring, offer small group ministry, several choirs, social and personal growth events, Religious Exploration for children and youth,
and much more. Our social justice action groups are committed to climate action, mental health, affordable housing,
Indigenous reconciliation, food security, and supporting our 2SLGBTQ+ community.
Our Church Isn't Just for Sunday Services - It's a Gathering Place
Where We Co-Create Our Community of Like Minds and Shared Values Every Day!
We're inclusive and caring, offer small group ministry, several choirs, social and personal growth events, Religious Exploration for children and youth,
and much more. Our social justice action groups are committed to climate action, mental health, affordable housing,
Indigenous reconciliation, food security, and supporting our 2SLGBTQ+ community.
Our Church Isn't Just for Sunday Services - It's a Gathering Place
Where We Co-Create Our Community of Like Minds and Shared Values Every Day!
'We kindle the light within and inspire courage to nurture the web of life and to create a just and compassionate world.'
Reverend Lara Cowtan, Minister
Reverend Lara Cowtan, Minister
get to know firstu
The Ottawa Unitarian Association was formed in February 1898, and we've been worshipping together ever since!
The first Church was built at the corner of Elgin and Lewis Street, and the congregation moved to our current location on Cleary Avenue in 1967.
Throughout the decades our commitment to our faith, our community at large, and each other has remained constant.
The first Church was built at the corner of Elgin and Lewis Street, and the congregation moved to our current location on Cleary Avenue in 1967.
Throughout the decades our commitment to our faith, our community at large, and each other has remained constant.
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FirstU is a lively, multi-generational congregation of passionate people who care about their world and the overlapping communities they're part of. You'll find us marching at Capital Pride, conducting shoreline clean-ups along the edge of the Ottawa River where our Campus is located, feeding our friends and neighbours through our food cupboard, sponsoring refugees, hosting tree give-aways, and sharing our campus with seniors' housing, childcare, Or Haneshamah, and the Ajashki Food Security Initiative.
Use the buttons below to find out what's happening at FirstU and how you can take part! |
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Sundays and beyond - spirituality at firstu
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At FirstU, we share our vibrant, living Unitarian Universalist culture in ways that are relevant to current and future generations. Understanding that we choose to walk diverse spiritual paths demands of each of us to seek and foster our own and others' spiritual growth. We encourage and support each other in striving towards social and environmental justice by respecting the interdependence of all existence.
Use the buttons below to find out what to expect on a Sunday, and more about ministry and spiritual exploration at FirstU!
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Take a Video Tour of FirstU's Campus
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We are a fully Accessible Facility.
We are a Welcoming Congregation, a UU-UNO Sixth Principle Congregation, a Designated Lifespan Learning Congregation and will be a Green Sanctuary Congregation by 2030. 
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Congregational Focus History
2020-2023 - Environmental Action
Focusing on Environmental Action included developing the Ajashki food security project, making significant mitigation and resilience upgrades to our church building, and following through on our action plan of activities and projects including our Affordable Housing development and our Earth Speaks lecture series, to meet the requirements for Green Sanctuary accreditation. In 2024, after four years of work, FirstU and our Environmental Action Group were notified by the UUA that we had met all the criteria to receive Green Sanctuary 2030 accreditation!
Focusing on Environmental Action included developing the Ajashki food security project, making significant mitigation and resilience upgrades to our church building, and following through on our action plan of activities and projects including our Affordable Housing development and our Earth Speaks lecture series, to meet the requirements for Green Sanctuary accreditation. In 2024, after four years of work, FirstU and our Environmental Action Group were notified by the UUA that we had met all the criteria to receive Green Sanctuary 2030 accreditation!
