On 3 June 2012, Eli El-Chantiry, Deputy Mayor of Ottawa and Father Jacques Kabanga, Chairman of the Capital Regional Interfaith Council, awarded a certificate of recognition to Natalia de Savigny, a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in a formal presentation at Ottawa City Hall.
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Ottawa, the capital of Canada, has in recent years become a large, multicultural city with a population of 850 000. In order to address the challenges of ethnic and religious diversity, Mayor Bob Chiarelli founded Interfaith Ottawa as a joint undertaking of the Mayor, Chief of Police, and the Capital Region Interfaith Council (CRIC) in 2001.
de Savigny was instrumental in helping to launch both the CRIC and Interfaith Ottawa. Since its inception, Interfaith Ottawa has annually honored a resident of the Ottawa area that has made a special contribution to the advancement of understanding between local faith groups.
Highlights mentioned de Savigny's contribution to the organization and oversight of:
- Queen Elizabeth II’s Silver Jubilee nationally televised interfaith event where Natalia personally met the Queen
- A nationally televised memorial service for victims of the Asian tsunami in 2004
- A photographic exhibit depicting the history of each faith group in Ottawa
- A United Way campaign in 2005, for which Interfaith Ottawa received the Community Building Partnership of the Year award
de Savigny's efforts as a pioneer in building interfaith relations have not only benefited the community at large but have also brought The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints into greater prominence, promoting increased acceptance in the nation’s capital.