Canada Giving Back
Bring joy and hope to families struggling in poverty this Christmas. Your gift to Mission Without Borders’ Operation Christmas Love delivers
Celebrating the People Who Power Our Communities
Life is busy with work deadlines, family commitments, and everything in between. But giving back doesn’t have to be complicated. Across Canada, volunteers are making a real difference every day, and you can, too.
Volunteers across the country are helping to drive the systems that sustain health, education, care, and community well-being. Whether formal — a neighbour who delivers meals to seniors or a parent who coaches a soccer team — or more informal — a youth who shovels the driveway for a neighbour or a family that contributes food to a neighbourhood pantry — volunteers are contributing in countless ways to the places we live, work, and play.
Dedicated to Empowering Our Communities
YWCA Toronto has been advancing positive change for over 150 years.
Kim Quashie, Manager of Communications and Marketing
In 2023, Canadians contributed 4.1 billion hours of volunteer work — the equivalent of 2.4 million full-time jobs and up to $50 billion in economic value. That’s people power! But here’s the thing: volunteering isn’t just good for your community — it’s good for you. It’s a chance to:
• Build your social network and make professional connections
• Boost your well-being — volunteers report feeling less isolated and a greater sense of belonging and mental and physical well-being
• Model values for the young people around you and inspire the next generation
The United Nations has designated 2026 as the International Year of Vol-
As one of the largest multi-service organizations in the City of Toronto, we provide transformative programs and services that empower women, girls, and gender diverse people at critical times in their lives. For many, YWCA Toronto is a beacon of hope in the face of staggering levels of gender-based violence, the housing crisis, and poverty in our city.
unteers for Sustainable Development — a global movement to celebrate and elevate volunteers.
So, let’s kick off 2026 with a Giving Tuesday to remember. Every year, this special day gives us the opportunity to celebrate the value of volunteers and volunteering, and to maybe give a little extra time or money ourselves.
This Giving Tuesday, take a moment to:
• Share your story of volunteering on social media using #ignitevolunteerism and #GivingTuesdayCA, and tag @volunteercanada.
• Give what you can — time, skills, or a donation.
• Challenge your friends, family, or colleagues to join you.
Notably, YWCA Toronto’s holistic, wraparound supportive services recognize that safety, housing, and economic security are interconnected. When survivors of gender-based violence find safe housing at one of our emergency shelters, they can also access transitional housing support toward permanent housing and gain pathways to sustainable futures through our Employment and Training programs. Each support strengthens the next — creating real, lasting change.
“We believe in the resilience of the human spirit to persist amidst adversity,” says Heather McGregor, CEO of YWCA Toronto. “Now more than ever, let us come together as a community to lift one another up. We know that with the right supports, women, girls, and gender diverse people can thrive.”
Join Volunteer Canada on December 4 to celebrate International Volunteer Day and ignite your volunteer journey! To learn more about Volunteer Canada, visit volunteer.ca
Volunteers across Canada make an incredible impact, and this Giving Tuesday is the perfect opportunity to join them.
Megan Conway, President & CEO, Volunteer Canada
Publisher: Meg Yutangco Business Development Manager: Luca Bidini Country Manager: Samantha Taylor Content & Client Success Manager: Nicole Kansakar
Building a Culture of Care for Canada’s 8 Million Caregivers
The Petro-Canada CareMakers Foundation and Volunteer Canada are teaming up to build a stronger support system for caregivers through volunteerism.
Emily Hellam
Caring for a loved one is one of the most meaningful acts a person can offer — but for over eight million family caregivers across Canada, it’s also one of the most challenging. Caregivers average 5.1 hours of care daily, balancing medical tasks, household responsibilities, emotional support, and employment. Many feel exhausted or overwhelmed.
The Petro-Canada CareMakers Foundation, a national charitable organization launched in 2020, aims to support family caregivers. The foundation, supported in part by Suncor, the proud owner of Petro-Canada, raises awareness of the realities facing caregivers and provides grants to charities that off er programs and resources, conduct research, and strengthen caregiver supports Canada-wide. Since its launch, it has provided millions to local and national organizations supporting family caregivers and helped spark a conversation about building a more compassionate and sustainable caregiving ecosystem.
The caregiver reality Canada’s caregiving landscape is shifting rapidly. Families are taking on more caregiving responsibilities than ever before, often while managing emotional strain and costs such as transportation, home adaptations, and medical supplies. For some — particularly those in rural, Indigenous, or racialized communities — these stressors may be intensified by systemic barriers and reduced access to services.
Amid these pressures, volunteerism is emerging as a vital source of caregiver support. Volunteers can offer everything from everyday acts of kindness to trained support that helps families navigate complex health and social systems. Practical help — grocery pick-ups, transportation to appointments, or assistance with chores — can ease burnout, while friendly visits and check-ins remind caregivers they’re not alone.
Building a culture of care
Together with Volunteer Canada, the Petro-Canada CareMakers Foundation emphasizes that both formal volunteer programs and informal neighbour-to-neighbour help can strengthen Canada’s circle of care. The organizations are working to reduce barriers to volunteering, support volunteer infrastructure, and build cross-sector collaborations that strengthen community-led solutions.
“Caring for a loved one is an act of deep compassion, but it often comes with immense challenges. At CareMakers Foundation, we believe no family caregiver should feel alone in that journey,” says Leila Fenc, Executive Director of the Petro-Canada CareMakers Foundation. “By expanding volunteer support, we can create a culture of care where communities step up to share the load. Together with volunteer networks, we can make caregiving more sustainable and ensure those who give so much receive the support they deserve.”
Supporting caregivers “Caregivers are the foundation of com-
DITCHING DEPENDENCE
FOR
SELF-RELIANCE:
A Shift Toward Local Solutions
A Burundi non-governmental organization has begun producing its own lifesaving peanut porridge, with support from a Canadian partner.
Janice Biehn
In the tiny and mountainous East African country of Burundi, more than half of children under five suffer from malnutrition. Doctors and nurses treat them with a shelf-stable peanut paste, fortified with powdered milk, soy, sugar, oil, and vitamins. A child who eats three packets a day can go from wasting to thriving in just six to eight weeks.
For years, USAID has produced this lifesaving food in Georgia and delivered it to Village Health Works (VHW) in Burundi. But when the Trump administration abruptly ended USAID in February, staff members at VHW were faced with the challenge of stretching what was on-hand, choosing which children would get fed first.
You can treat malnutrition in Burundi. Your gift of $85 supplies a sixweek course of peanut paste for one child. Scan the QR code and make a world of difference today.
Bringing innovation home
passion in Canada, sustaining families and community members in need of support through unpaid work that often goes unseen. Supporting caregivers is an investment in our nation’s resilience and health,” says Dr. Megan Conway, Volunteer Canada’s President and CEO. “Through Volunteer Canada’s collaboration with the Petro-Canada CareMakers Foundation, we’re proud to explore how communities can better support family caregivers by activating the full potential of volunteer networks. This collaboration can transform caregiving from a private struggle into a shared responsibility that strengthens the fabric of Canadian society.”
We all have a role to play in supporting family caregivers — whether through formal volunteering, everyday acts of kindness, or simply raising awareness. Canadians can help ensure no caregiver carries the burden alone.
Every smile makes a difference and for this leading global non-profit, delivering world-class cleft treatment is just the beginning.
Friesen
Sonya
It was a wake-up call.
VHW realized that rather than depend on imported therapeutic food, it could make its own product from locally sourced ingredients.
Alongside Hope, the relief and development agency of the Anglican Church of Canada, was keen to support VHW’s innovative idea. It not only solves the supply chain issue, but also creates jobs and income for the community. Much of Alongside Hope’s funding will support the cost of training local people to run and own a social enterprise business.
Farmers have begun planting peanuts, and a space for the new production facility on the VHW campus has been allocated.
“I cannot tell you how excited I am to be building this collaboration with Alongside Hope,” says Deogratias Niyizonkiza, VHW’s founder and CEO. “Whenever there’s a problem, it can be an opportunity to come up with a lasting solution. Relying on what’s produced locally and what’s grown locally is just the way it’s supposed to be done.”
One of the simplest forms of communication is something we all share: a smile. Every smile tells a story, and global non-profit Operation Smile has spent over 40 years helping communities better tell these stories. The organization delivers life-changing care to communities in need, transforming the lives of children born with cleft lip and palate.
Cleft conditions are common: a child is born with a cleft condition every three minutes. While cleft lip and palate vary in size and severity, they greatly impact quality of life. Frequently treated early in Canada, children in lowand middle-income countries often go untreated for years, if ever.
Delivering quality care to every smile Operation Smile and its 6,000 global volunteers bring worldclass cleft surgery and care to 37 resource-challenged countries,
offering surgery plus nutrition, psychosocial care, speech therapy, oral care, and other support. More than just immediate care, Operation Smile focuses on training strong local health care teams that can support children in their communities. “A child with a cleft led us back to the community to show us the need and get us to pay attention to the health system,” says Dr. Bill Magee, Jr., the organization’s co-founder and CEO emeritus.
The new Operation 100 initiative will deliver surgery closer to where children live. Through it, the organization will invest in 100 local hospitals and build 100 cleft surgical teams, all while bringing essential equipment and improved hospital spaces to these communities, increasing access to surgery for millions. Thanks to the organization’s generous donors, Operation Smile continues to change the world and build hope for the next child waiting.
Deogratias Niyizonkiza Founder & CEO, Village Health Works
Leila Fenc Executive Director, Petro-Canada CareMakers Foundation
Dr. Megan Conway President & CEO, Volunteer Canada
How Black Opportunity Fund Is Advancing Equity
Black Opportunity Fund aims to dismantle the ongoing impacts of systemic anti-Black racism in Canada.
Tania Amardeil
Black Opportunity Fund is dedicated to investing in and empowering Black communities across Canada. Amid growing pushback against diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), the charity’s work is critical to supporting grassroots organizations and strengthening communities.
We spoke with Craig Wellington, Black Opportunity Fund’s CEO, to learn more about how the organization is reshaping philanthropy.
What is Black Opportunity Fund’s mission?
We’re focused on the socio-economic empowerment of Black people in Canada through needs-informed capital and national advocacy across key pillars including justice, education, housing, and health. Recent initiatives include a $50-million housing fund to create pathways to homeownership for Black communities and a $100-million growth fund to invest in growthready Black-led businesses.
How does your work go beyond traditional philanthropy?
We’ve invested heavily in capacity-building. We support entrepreneurs with free business development resources, quarterly payments, and a charitable lending program with coaching and business tools.
What impact is the recent pushback against DEI having, and why does advancing equity matter to Canada as a whole?
The disingenuous anti-DEI blowback is eroding recent hard-fought advances in equity for historically disadvantaged communities. If any demographic is prevented from achieving their full potential, it’s a loss for Canada as a whole. Equity is additive, not subtractive. When there’s more opportunity for everyone, Canada benefits socially and economically.
How can individuals, allies, and corporate partners support Black Opportunity Fund’s mission? We welcome donations, mission-aligned partnerships, and amplification of our mission.
How Mazda Is Empowering Youth to Reach Their Full Potential
partnerships with Indspire and Pathways to Education are helping underserved youth across Canada build a rewarding future in
Across Canada, many young people face systemic barriers that limit their access to education — challenges rooted in fi nancial constraints, limited academic support, and long-standing inequities that disproportionately affect Indigenous youth, racialized communities, and students from low-income neighbourhoods. These gaps don’t reflect a lack of potential — they reflect an uneven playing field that restricts the opportunities young people can pursue.
This understanding — and a belief in human potential — is at the core of Mazda Canada. Known for its commitment to safety, innovation, and the joy of driving, Mazda designs vehicles that inspire confidence and connection, and carries that same people-fi rst philosophy into its approach to giving back.
Mazda Canada has partnered with Indspire and Pathways to Education, two national leaders in youth education and empowerment. Through these partnerships, Mazda is helping create clearer
From Digital Divide to Global Resilience: How to Help Bridge the Gap
For over 60 years, Canadians have helped Cuso International tackle inequality worldwide. Now, it’s sparking innovation and building resilience through digital inclusion. Laura Beamish, Content Writer/Editor, Cuso International
We often take for granted how much is at our fingertips.
But this isn’t everyone’s reality. And for many girls around the world, the digital divide is even greater.
Cuso International is helping bridge this gap, working with local organizations to enable faster access to markets, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
This includes Cuso’s TechWomen Factory, which trains students in data science, web development, and digital arts in Cameroon.
Participant Matchim Kouan Lucrece Jacky, 24, wants to work on a solution for malaria. Graduating from the data science program, she now has the skills to analyze data and evaluate risk factors.
“When people have digital tools, they can overcome traditional barriers and unlock new possibilities,” says Yvette Macabuag, Director of Program Quality and Impact at Cuso International.
Training the next generation of girls in tech
In 2026, Cuso plans on starting a project that will help strengthen the confidence, technology skills, and ambitions of 80 underprivileged youth in Cameroon — many girls aged 15 to 18 — by training and connecting them with opportunities and encouraging peer mentorship in schools.
Donate today or visit cusointernational.org/ gt2025 for more details.
Matchim, 24, wants to work on a solution for malaria. Graduated from a data science program supported by Cuso International in Cameroon, she now has the skills to analyze data and evaluate risk factors.
Like Matchim, these girls can dream bigger about what’s possible, thanks to Cuso’s donors. For $125, a girl can access one month of training in key technology skills and positively influence her community.
Whether it’s this project or supporting girls in STEM in Jamaica or in Ethiopia, Cuso knows the importance of creating safe spaces for learning, leadership, and self-expression.
This Black Friday, Cyber Monday, or Giving Tuesday, #UPGRADEALIFE, not your phone.
pathways into science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM), supporting the next generation as they build the skills and confidence needed to achieve their aspirations.
Indspire
Indspire is a national Indigenous charity that invests in the education needs of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis people from kindergarten to grade 12 and beyond.
Since the partnership began in February 2024, Mazda has supported 47 Indigenous post-secondary students in STEAM programs across the country through scholarships, bursaries, and awards. “Not only does Mazda’s support help address the current disparity regarding Indigenous students in STEAM studies, especially Indigenous women, but it also helps ensure that students will be well-equipped to enter the workforce,” says Tracie Léost, Laureate and Bursary Alumni
Discover how you can help open doors to brighter futures for young people across Canada at indspire.ca and pathwaystoeducation.ca
Fundraising Associate at Indspire.
The partnership is also helping strengthen understanding between Indigenous Peoples and the broader Canadian society. “I think a partnership like this is a tangible sign of reconciliation in action, and we’re grateful for Mazda’s support,” says Léost.
Pathways to Education
Pathways to Education helps students living in low-income communities graduate from high school and build the foundations of a successful future. “Many of our students come from underserved areas with a lot of newcomers to Canada, and their parents are still learning how the Canadian school system works,” says Mark Raghu, Senior Manager of the Pathways to Education Program in Scarborough Village, Toronto.
Pathways bridges that gap through mentoring, individualized support such as free after-school tutoring, and enriched STEAM
programming. Through Pathways, students may also receive financial support to cover short-term needs such as bus tickets, as well as longer-term support through a scholarship of $500 for each completed school year, to a maximum of $2,000. The impact of Mazda’s support has been immediate. “What I really like is that the Mazda team visits the site to see our impact on the ground and learn exactly what we need,” says Raghu. Seeing Pathways’ work in action, one of Raghu’s key contacts at Mazda now volunteers at Pathways Scarborough Village as an after-school tutor. Giving back is one small piece of Mazda’s broader corporate social responsibility (CSR) commitment. The company that pioneered the rotary engine many decades ago continues to be a trailblazer in developing innovative solutions that protect the environment, foster a positive workplace culture, and uplift local communities.
Craig Wellington CEO, Black Opportunity Fund
This article was sponsored by Cuso International
Mazda Canada Charity Committee delivering employee-donated school supplies to the Pathways to Education Program in Scarborough Village, Toronto.
THE
HEART
OF LIFEWEAR: UNIQLO’s HEATTECH Global Giving Campaign
UNIQLO supports communities worldwide through The Heart of LifeWear, donating one million HEATTECH items to refugees, children, and disaster victims.
UNIQLO Canada
UNIQLO introduced the LifeWear concept in 2022, centered on creating high-quality, functional, and simple clothing that improves everyone’s lives. The LifeWear philosophy also extends beyond the product to a broader industry vision that prioritizes sustainability and people, the planet, and society — understanding the needs of local communities and providing support where needed to advance and strengthen them.
Additionally, UNIQLO builds an authentic circular business model by offering RE.UNIQLO services in store, where customers can repair, remake, and reuse (donate) their UNIQLO clothes so items can be worn for longer.
The Heart of LifeWear
UNIQLO is proud to announce the second consecutive year of The Heart of LifeWear, a global initiative to support refugees, children, and disaster victims through the donation of one million HEATTECH clothing items.
Hunger Changes Everything
In the season of plenty, countless people are still going without. Here’s how one charity is fighting hunger in Canada.
Lori Nikkel, CEO, Second Harvest
Many families across Toronto are gearing up for the holidays: stringing lights, decorating trees, and planning festive meals. At the same time, there are others facing a very different reality. These families are worried about how to put food on the table tonight, let alone host a holiday feast. When hunger takes hold, even something as simple as a bright red ornament can look like an apple. That’s what hunger looks like in a season of plenty.
According to the City of Toronto, food insecurity aff ects 24.9 per cent of all households. For many families, the holiday season isn’t about abundance, but about survival.
Access to food isn’t enough — what matters most is access to nutritious food. Fresh fruits, vegetables, dairy, and protein are often the hardest to find for people living in vulnerable circumstances. Without these essentials, health suffers and so does dignity. Ending hunger isn’t just about fi lling plates, it’s about ensuring every person has the nourishment they need to thrive.
In Canada, UNIQLO will donate 20,000 HEATTECH units to provide warmth to individuals experiencing poverty, homelessness, food insecurities, and other challenges across the country.
For maximum impact at the local level, the brand will continue working with existing partners and affi liate organizations, such as Second Harvest (Canada’s largest food rescue organization), YWCA Canada (a national leader in supporting women and gender-diverse people), and Covenant House (Canada’s largest agency serving youth facing homelessness). The brand has also donated to hyper-local organizations supporting underserved communities, including homeless women (Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre), youth with learning disabilities (the Montreal Centre for Learning Disabilities), refugees and newcomers (Edmonton Emergency Response and Newcomers Services), and Indigenous students (awâsis waciston School).
Throughout October and November, UNIQLO volunteers distributed HEATTECH
bundles in Toronto, Quebec City, and Edmonton as colder weather set in.
At UNIQLO, we believe in the power of clothing to make a positive impact on people’s lives. Through The Heart of LifeWear initiative, we’re committed to supporting communities across Canada by providing warmth and comfort to those who need it most this holiday season.
“At UNIQLO, we believe in the power of clothing to make a positive impact on people’s lives,” says Jean Shein, Global Director of Sustainability at UNIQLO. “Through The Heart of LifeWear initiative, we’re committed to supporting communities across Canada by providing warmth and comfort to those who need it most this holiday season.”
In the spirit of giving, throughout December customers will be invited to contribute to the campaign by donating at checkout in all UNIQLO stores to support YWCAs in Canada. They can also donate their gently used UNIQLO clothing through the RE. UNIQLO program, which repurposes these items to further support communities.
Introducing Second Harvest
That’s where Second Harvest comes in. We are Canada’s largest food rescue organization, working to recover good healthy surplus food from across the supply chain and redirect it to non-profits that feed people in need. Food rescue is simple but powerful: instead of letting good food go to waste, we make sure it gets to food banks, school meal programs, community pantries, shelters, and countless other organizations that serve people every day. These groups access rescued food from Second Harvest for free and without barriers.
Food rescue doesn’t just help people — it strengthens the non-profits on the frontlines of support.
“If food wasn’t available through Second Harvest, we’d have to purchase food to feed the community. With Second Harvest’s help, we’re able to save thousands of dollars that can go to programming and a focus on our housing strategy,” a nonprofit shared.
That’s the ripple effect: rescued food frees up budgets for wrap-around services like housing, counselling, and job support. These are critical lifelines for people in crisis.
But the charitable sector is buckling under the weight of demand. Second Harvest recently surveyed 1,497 non-profits in our network across Canada. Nearly 9 in 10 reported rising demand for food over the past year. These numbers tell a story of a system stretched beyond its
“There have been times when we’ve had to turn individuals or families away due to a shortage of food or limited resources of cultural foods. These moments are some of the most difficult we face as a community service organization,” one non-profit from Toronto told us.
“We serve a lot of people who spend their entire ODSP/OW on rent, so they rely on outside sources for all or most of their food. This is especially hard for people who are infirm or disabled to the degree that they cannot physically go to a food bank,” we heard from another.
And here’s the contradiction: nearly half the food in Canada is wasted every year while millions go hungry. In fact, the total value of all avoidable food waste in Canada every year is more than $58 billion. Food waste doesn’t cause hunger, but it exposes a broken system.
When you’re hungry during the holidays, everything reminds you of food. Help us fight hunger at secondharvest.ca/donate
Make a difference this season Second Harvest works every day to fi ll these gaps, rescuing good food and redistributing it through an incredible network of non-profits in Toronto and across the country. Last year, we rescued and redistributed 95 million pounds of food across Canada and 31.1 million pounds right here in Toronto. Food rescue from Second Harvest reached 6.8 million people across Canada in 2025. We’re proud of what we’ve accomplished, but we know there’s more to be done.
This season, you can make a difference. During Giving Tuesday, all donations will be generously matched by The Sprott Foundation. That means every dollar donated will go twice as far, providing enough good food for 10 meals for someone in need.
Donate today at secondharvest.ca/ donate
This article was sponsored by Second Harvest.
Lori Nikkel CEO, Second Harvest
Scan here to learn more about UNIQLO’s Heart of LifeWear campaign.
This article was sponsored by UNIQLO Canada
Western Gives Back, from the Holiday Toy Drive to Year-Round Programs
From public health and housing to education and recreation, Western Communities Foundation is committed to giving back.
Tania Amardeil
WIN WOMEN REDUCES INCARCERATION:
Elizabeth Fry Explains
Community support and affordable housing show how investing in women reduces incarceration, strengthens communities, and saves public dollars.
Olivia Darwin HOW INVESTING
Women are the fastest-growing incarcerated population, with 82 per cent of incarcerated women jailed for behaviours linked to poverty and trauma. Elizabeth Fry Toronto provides gender-based programs and necessary supports to help people rebuild their lives.
In 2024, 7,455 individuals were released from jail without housing. Elizabeth Fry is building an affordable housing development for women and gender-diverse individuals. Housing is essential for successful reintegration without recidivism. Notably, supportive housing costs seven times less than prison.
Visit efrytoronto.org to learn more and to give today.
Understanding abuse and criminalization
Women’s criminalization cannot be separated from experiences of violence. Eighty-six per cent of federally incarcerated women have experienced abuse, many having been criminalized for acts of self-defence or engaging in survival strategies to flee violence. Elizabeth Fry addresses this through its Just in Time program, providing critical supports for escaping abuse, including financial literacy training that builds safety plans and stability. Breaking these cycles is possible, but requires community investment. Consider making a donation to Elizabeth Fry Toronto to support its vital work.
estern Financial Group has been providing Canadians with trusted insurance solutions for over a century, but the company’s commitment to serving Canadians goes far beyond insurance. Western Communities Foundation, its charitable arm, ensures that Western consistently gives back to the communities it serves. Through grassroots giving, infrastructure grants, bursaries, and initiatives like the annual Holiday Toy Drive, the foundation supports local programs that strengthen health, education, and community well-being Canada-wide. We chatted with Michelle Mak, Director of Western Communities Foundation, to learn more.
Why is charitable giving such a core part of Western’s strategy and culture?
Giving has been part of Western’s DNA for many years. It’s woven
into every fabric of how we operate. Western doesn’t exist without our customers and our community, and giving back is how we care for them.
How do Western employees and branches help shape your community impact on the ground? Most of our work is employee-driven, grassroots, and hyper-local. Our branches choose the causes that matter most to their communities, and they fundraise and support those charities throughout the year.
What sets Western apart, and what initiatives are you focused on this year?
We have an entire team focused completely on giving back. This year’s Holiday Toy Drive has over 80 collection points supporting over 50 local charities. We’re also focused on providing emergency relief when it matters and infrastructure grants to strengthen communities.
Two Decades of Keeping
Ontario’s Greenbelt is one of the largest in the world, covering two million acres of protected farmland, forests, and waterways. It borders one of the most populated areas of the country, nestled in the Greater Golden Horseshoe alongside a projected 13.5 million people. The Greenbelt is far more than a collection of trees, fields, and rivers; it is one of the most biologically rich areas in Canada and plays an integral role in providing Ontarians with fresh air, clean water, local food as well as world-class recreation and tourism. Ontarians all have a stake in the Greenbelt’s health and longevity, particularly given the economic role it plays with nearly $10 billion in annual economic impact, $224 million in flood mitigation, and supporting over 175,000 full-time jobs. This region represents more than just an area necessitating protection; it’s a vital provincial resource with immense economic and social benefit for those living in Southern Ontario. Protecting it means protecting the quality of life Ontarians currently enjoy, for generations to come.
Two decades of sustainable impact
For 20 years, the Greenbelt Foundation has played an instrumental role in protecting, maintaining and strengthening the Green-
belt, supporting the area's natural diversity while encouraging people to take advantage of their unique access to the world class region. It’s a mission two decades in the making, and while centered on conservation, true stewardship requires continuous investment and innovation. “To us, conservation isn’t a static idea. It’s about investing in and thinking wholistically about the systems and landscapes around us,” explains Greenbelt Foundation CEO, Edward McDonnell. Being situated amongst one of the fastest growing regions in the country may be intimidating, but it’s something Edward and his team have embraced: “Our vision is to support and sustain in conjunction with a growing province and region,” he says.
The organization helps fund investments that work in alignment with their vision: promoting the Greenbelt as a vital, valuable, and permanent safeguard for the province's future. Since its implementation in 2005, The Foundation hasfunded over 300 grants and distributed over $37 million in funding. In 2025 alone, over 40 grants will be awarded.
Community critical to success Stewarding the Greenbelt is no easy feat. The organization is responsible for investing in the protections of over 721,000 acres of wetlands, grasslands and forests; over 75
species-at-risk, and overseeing waterways that impact drinking water to over seven million people. Partnerships and donations are critical to enabling the Greenbelt Foundation to continue supporting the region and community is key.
“When the Greenbelt doesn’t work for people in the Greenbelt, it doesn’t work,” Edward says. “We support local communities and organizations who have a vision. We’re able to help them realize their vision.”
Those visions come in many forms, from creating new recreational trail systems and improving a water system to better farmland and soil. The Greenbelt Foundation prides itself on being an organization not only for the Greenbelt but for the many communities that call the region home.
“These groups are the catalysts,” Edward says, “they know what’s needed; we just give them a helping hand.”
To date, the Foundation has invested and leveraged matching dollars totaling over $47 million, giving a voice to projects that continue to make the Greenbelt a great place to live, work, play and grow. Continued support from donors ensures this work can scale to meet the growing pressures of climate change, development, and population growth and helps directly strengthen the natural systems that sustain Ontario’s communities.
To learn more and contribute to the Holiday Toy Drive, visit westernfinancialgroup.ca/toydrive
This article was sponsored by Western Financial Group Communities Foundation
This article was sponsored by Elizabeth Fry Toronto
This
Sonya Friesen
No One Should Be Left Out in the Cold This Holiday Season
This holiday season, thousands of your neighbours are without a safe home. Your gift can provide warmth, food, and life-changing support.
Fred Victor
During the holiday season, many people in Toronto are gathering with loved ones, sharing meals, and exchanging gifts. But for over 15,000 people who are homeless, this time of year brings a very different reality. For Maria, who has been living in an encampment since fleeing an unsafe situation, winter means battling the cold with little more than a thin blanket. Safe indoor spaces across the city fi ll quickly, leaving many people like her without a warm place to stay. Freezing temperatures increase the risk of illness, injury, and exhaustion — conditions that become dangerous as nights grow longer and colder.
People experiencing homelessness often face impossible choices during the winter. Maria spends her days looking for somewhere warm, a hot meal, and basic necessities while trying to navigate a system stretched beyond capacity. Rising rents and higher living costs push more people to the edge of losing their housing. These pressures make community support especially critical during the holiday season, when the contrast between comfort and crisis is felt most deeply.
How your support makes a direct impact
Your donations to Fred Victor can address urgent needs and provide immediate relief. Donations through our Shop for Good catalogue turn into tangible supports: warm meals, winter clothing, winter care kits, and safer spaces to sleep. For someone like Maria, these supports become lifelines during extreme weather. These services protect health, preserve dignity, and offer stability during a season when people need them most. A warm coat, a nutritious meal, or a safe bed can make the difference between surviving the night and facing serious harm.
“What Your Holiday Gift Makes Possible” — meals, winter essentials, safer nights, and housing support.
Your contribution also strengthens longterm solutions. Housing workers, outreach teams, and program staff help people secure permanent housing, access health care, reconnect with family, and explore employment or training opportunities. Each Shop for Good purchase provides tools to help people move forward. Every donation helps someone take a step away from crisis and
Building a Stronger, Safer Digital Future for Canada
Canadian organizations face growing digital risks. Strengthening national cyber resilience requires collaboration, trusted expertise, and a commitment to supporting communities.
Sophia Khan, Director of Marketing
Robert Spivak
Canada’s digital landscape continues to evolve rapidly, and organizations of all sizes are working to keep pace. Businesses, charities, and public institutions across the country rely on trusted cybersecurity, compliance, and advisory support to protect data, maintain operational stability, and serve their communities.
As members of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce’s Cyber Security Council, we contribute to strengthening the country’s approach to cybersecurity and advancing responsible technology practices that benefit all Canadians. Through shared insights and collaboration, the council plays an important role in elevating national awareness and resilience.
“When organizations are protected, the people and communities they serve are protected too,” says Robert Spivak, Director of Technical Sales at Control Gap, a CyberGuard Advantage company.
When organizations are protected, the people and communities they serve are protected too.
Supporting nonprofits in protecting communities
Giving back is a core part of this work. Each year, organizations such as CanadaHelps and United Way receive gift-in-kind cybersecurity advisory services designed to help safeguard donor information, enhance system reliability, and ensure that critical community programs can continue uninterrupted. This commitment reflects a broader belief that strong cybersecurity is foundational to a thriving, equitable society.
toward stability — no matter where they are in their journey.
A warm bed can be the start of a new beginning
For someone who is homeless, a warm bed and a safe place indoors can open the door to a different future. Maria says that on the nights she can sleep somewhere warm, she finally has the clarity to think beyond immediate survival. Stability — even for one night — and having supportive staff behind them helps people set goals, rebuild routines, and imagine new possibilities.
This holiday season, choosing a gift from our Shop for Good catalogue is more than an act of generosity — it’s a practical way to support a neighbour facing homelessness and offer a foundation for change. Your gift can help someone survive today and begin rebuilding their life with dignity, confidence, and support. When we come together as a community, especially during the holiday season, we can ensure that more people have access to warmth, safety, and the support they need to move toward a brighter, more stable future.
Shaleen Latchman is facing ALS with courage, supported every step of the way by the ALS Society of Canada.
Justin Edmonstone
The day Shaleen Latchman was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in 2022, her first thoughts were of her sons. “I thought, ‘I won’t be at their weddings. I won’t hold my grandchildren. I won’t be able to give them my love and support throughout their lives,’” she says. But Shaleen hasn’t let fear define her. “I try to stay in the moment each day,” she says. “I don’t live my life in the darkness when there’s still so much light.”
ALS is a neurodegenerative disease that progressively paralyzes people because the brain can no longer communicate with the muscles of the body, losing the ability to walk, talk, eat, swallow, and eventually breathe. Most people diagnosed live only two to five years. There is no cure, and few treatments.
Finding strength through support
From the moment of her diagnosis, the ALS Society of Canada was by Shaleen’s side. A Community
Lead connected with her, offering guidance on navigating the health care system and helping her access essential equipment. “Having someone guide me and give me strength I didn’t know I had, has been incredible,” she says. “With their support, I’m not facing ALS alone.”
Life has changed dramatically: breathing is difficult, meals require assistance, and her 19-year-old son, Joshua, helps manage her medications and respiratory care. Still, Shaleen focuses on what she can do: bringing friends, family, and neighbours together to fundraise and participate in her local ALS Canada Walk to End ALS.
The ALS Society of Canada works to change what it means to live with ALS. It funds Canada’s most promising research to develop treatments, offers support services, provides trusted information and resources, and advocates for equitable access to therapies, care, and research funding. ALS Canada’s work is powered by donors who share the vision of a world free of ALS.
Director of Technical Sales, Control Gap
This article was sponsored by Fred Victor