After my mother died a few years ago, my father’s health quickly declined. As a firefighter, he had dedicated his life to the safety of our community. But with no family close by, he had become isolated and vulnerable. On one of my routine trips home, I pulled into my […]

    Physical distancing has put a sharp focus on what we lose when we’re apart, including our access to the healing power of art. The Association for Native Development in the Performing and Visual Arts (ANDPVA) identifies, promotes, and creates opportunities for Indigenous artists to preserve traditional knowledge and advance […]

In COVID-19, many of us are choosing to avoid the hospital in order to ease the burden on frontline healthcare workers and limit our exposure to the virus. But life does not stop, and births continue to happen. Midwives are highly skilled primary health care providers who provide sexual and […]

  In our third research brief, we discuss Toronto’s growing mental health crisis amid COVID-19. The pandemic’s impact is being referred to as a “tsunami” hitting the mental health and addictions sector. Breakaway Addiction Services provides seamless, comprehensive and effective harm reduction services and a full range of addictions treatment […]

    As we reported in our latest research brief, there is an imminent food crisis in Toronto amid COVID-19. As one of Canada’s first food banks, The Stop Community Food Centre offers a broad range of programs that provide healthy food, foster social connections, build food skills, and promote […]

  In our ongoing series about love and philanthropy, we spoke with Lars Boggild and Samantha Luc, who launched the Hygge Fund during their time in the two-year Vision 2020 philanthropic learning program. After moving to Toronto from Halifax in 2014, it took Lars and Samie some time to find […]

As a foundation, we know a thing or two about love. Philanthropy, after all, means “love of humanity” when translated from its original Greek. So, throughout this season of love, we’re celebrating relationships that have been strengthened through philanthropy. First, we spoke with married couple Alicia Mathlin and Jarel Cockburn, […]

  Stella’s Place is a Toronto-based organization created to help young adults get the mental health supports they need. Located in the heart of the city’s Queen West neighbourhood, Stella’s offers a place for anyone aged 16-29 to receive support from peers with lived experience of mental health issues. “We […]

  Please join us in welcoming the newest members of our Board of Directors Jarel Cockburn and Salima Rawji. We are thrilled and honoured that Salima and Jarel will be sharing their expertise and leadership with us.   Jarel Cockburn is the Vice President of Strategy at the Athlete Institute. He was […]

  Congratulations to our 2020 Toronto’s Vital Signs Grants grantees! The Toronto’s Vital Signs Grants aim to surface and support high-impact organizations and their visionary leaders working to tackle the ten issue areas highlighted in the Toronto’s Vital Signs Report. The grant includes a one-time $10,000 unrestricted donation along with […]