Giving Back During the Holidays: Restaurant 18 x Operation Big Turkey

This year marks the ninth anniversary of Operation Big Turkey, a holiday tradition that began as something small and has grown into something truly meaningful. Every December, we come together as a team to cook a full Christmas turkey dinner for members of our community who need it most.

For the past few years, Restaurant 18 has proudly partnered with Cornerstone Housing for Women, an incredible Ottawa-based organization that provides safe housing, support, and essential services for women experiencing homelessness. The work Cornerstone does every day is life-changing, and we are honoured to support their mission through this initiative.

The Restaurant 18 team giving back this Christmas through Operation Big Turkey.

This Christmas, our kitchen team prepared traditional turkey dinners with all the fixings for over 200 residents. From roast turkey to classic holiday sides, every meal was made with the same care, pride, and attention that goes into everything we serve in our restaurant. For us, food is about more than nourishment. It’s about comfort, dignity, and connection, especially during a season that can be emotionally challenging.

Operation Big Turkey is one of our favourite charitable initiatives each year. It’s a true reflection of what hospitality means to us: showing up, giving back, and using what we do best to support our community.

None of this would be possible without our incredible team,

the dedicated volunteers, and the wider Ottawa community who continue to support Operation Big Turkey year after year.

From all of us at Restaurant 18, thank you. We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.