Major Gift News
George Weston Ltd.
Gift:
Unspecified
Recipient:
York University
City:
Toronto
Province:
Ontario
To create a new centre in sustainable supply chain management at the Schulich School of Business. George Weston Ltd Centre for Sustainable Supply Chains. The size of the donation was not disclosed but was described as significant.
OCT 2020
Walter and Maria Schroeder
Gift:
$25,000,000
Recipient:
University Health Network
City:
Toronto
Province:
Ontario
To launch the Schroeder Arthritis Institute. Funds will go toward supporting top scientific talent and providing critical salary and infrastructure resources for the entire research team. Schroeder Arthritis Institute.
OCT 2020
Marc Bieler
Gift:
$15,000,000
Recipient:
McGill University
City:
Montreal
Province:
Quebec
To support environmental scholarships, research and outreach at the School of Environment. Bieler School of Environment. The gift is comprised of an initial cash commitment, as well as future support from Bieler and his estate for the next 25 years.
OCT 2020
Barrett Family Foundation
Gift:
$10,000,000
Recipient:
Rideau Hall Foundation
City:
Ottawa
Province:
Ontario
For a new fund that will help escalate work in civic and charitable engagement, Canadian innovation, and Indigenous education. The goal of the fund is to support projects that will contribute to a more equitable, kinder and smarter Canada. Barrett Canada Fund.
OCT 2020
The Riddell Family Charitable Foundation
Gift:
$10,000,000
Recipient:
Perimeter Institute
City:
Waterloo
Province:
Ontario
To launch a new research hub to accelerate discovery in quantum matter. Clay Riddell Centre for Quantum Matter. The gift was made in honour of the late Clay Riddell.
OCT 2020
The R.P. Bratty Family Foundation
Gift:
$10,000,000
Recipient:
York University
City:
Markham
Province:
Ontario
For the creation of the University’s Markham Centre Campus slated to open in Fall 2023. The gift will support high-quality student learning experiences, research, innovation, and creative activities. The Bratty Family Atrium.
OCT 2020
The Edmonton Oilers Foundation
Gift:
$5,000,000
Recipient:
Inner City Youth Development Association
City:
Edmonton
Province:
Alberta
The Edmonton Oilers Foundation donated the Inner City High School building and land valued at $5 million to the ICYDA, which the school is a part of. The gift will allow the school to become self-sufficient and will help set up ICYDA for long-term sustainability.
OCT 2020
Barrett Family Foundation
Gift:
$3,875,000
Recipient:
Toronto Symphony Orchestra
City:
Toronto
Province:
Ontario
Over five years, to support the TSO’s Education and Community Engagement programs, including the Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra. In recognition, the TSO’s conductor will now be known as the Barrett Principal Education Conductor & Community Ambassador. The Barretts have also invited other TSO supporters to contribute by offering $250,000 every year in matching funds.
OCT 2020
Archie Verspeeten
Gift:
$3,000,000
Recipient:
London Health Sciences Foundation
City:
London
Province:
Ontario
To create a new genetic research clinic. Archie and Irene Verspeeten Clinical Genome Centre. The gift was made in honour of Archie’s wife, Irene, and son, Alan, who passed away from cancer.
OCT 2020
Magna
Gift:
$3,000,000
Recipient:
Humber College
City:
Toronto
Province:
Ontario
Over five years, for 22 scholarships and other initiatives to develop, attain and enhance the skills needed for the future workforce, particularly in the advanced manufacturing sector. The gift will also support equipment needs and special initiatives at the Barrett Centre for Technology Innovation.
OCT 2020
The Trottier Family Foundation
Gift:
$2,400,000
Recipient:
McGill University Health Centre Foundation
City:
Montreal
Province:
Quebec
To support the McGill Interdisciplinary Initiative in Infection and Immunity’s Emergency COVID-19 Research Fund. $250,000 will support COVID-19 Resources Canada, a central hub designed to help those involved in COVID-19 research and development in Canada to locate human resources, expertise, reagents, equipment and information in a timely manner.
OCT 2020
Alpha Aquilae Foundation
Gift:
$2,000,000
Recipient:
University of King's College
City:
Halifax
Province:
Nova Scotia
To help restore three of the University’s five student residences. The Alpha Aquilae Foundation is the family foundation of the University’s Chancellor, Debra Deane Little, and her spouse, Robert Little.
OCT 2020
Bay of Quinte Mutual Insurance Co.
Gift:
$1,500,000
Recipient:
Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Foundation
City:
Picton
Province:
Ontario
For the new diagnostic imaging department at the new Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital. The department will be named for Bay of Quinte Insurance Co.
OCT 2020
RBC
Gift:
$1,500,000
Recipient:
Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Foundation
City:
Ottawa
Province:
Ontario
To support the One Call/One Click program, a new initiative that aims to streamline access to mental health and addiction services in Eastern Ontario.
OCT 2020
Anonymous
Gift:
$1,110,000
Recipient:
P.E.I. Humane Society
City:
Charlottetown
Province:
Prince Edward Island
For the Expanding Our Paw Print capital campaign to renovate the facility. This donation marked the completion of the capital campaign.
OCT 2020
Anonymous
Gift:
$1,000,000
Recipient:
Prince County Hospital Foundation
City:
Summerside
Province:
Prince Edward Island
For equipment needs.
OCT 2020
Gerry and Paula Coleman
Gift:
$1,000,000
Recipient:
Huntsville Hospital Foundation
City:
Huntsville
Province:
Ontario
For technology and equipment needs. The couple has a seasonal home on Lake of Bays, and have semi-retired there.
OCT 2020
Gosling Foundation
Gift:
$1,000,000
Recipient:
University of Guelph
City:
Guelph
Province:
Ontario
The gift will be used to support cryopreservation technology at the previously named Gosling Research Institute for Plant Preservation (GRIPP), including hiring a new collection curator. It will also support additional upgrades to the Institute’s infrastructure.
OCT 2020
John Lacey
Gift:
$1,000,000
Recipient:
Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra
City:
Calgary
Province:
Alberta
To kick start the Ad Astra: Building to New Heights campaign focused on growing the organization’s endowment to support artistic excellence, strengthening the community, and ensuring a sustainable future.
OCT 2020
Sean and Ellie Zahedi
Gift:
$1,000,000
Recipient:
St. Joseph's Health Centre Foundation
City:
Toronto
Province:
Ontario
The donor’s children were born at the hospital, and Mr. Zahedi has served as an ambassador.
OCT 2020
Stober Family Foundation
Gift:
$1,000,000
Recipient:
University of British Columbia
City:
Kelowna
Province:
British Columbia
To support student scholarships, research and community health initiatives over the next five years. $500,000 will form a Stober Fellows Program within the School of Health and Exercise Sciences to help recruit the next generation of health scientists. Stober Fellows Program. More than half of the donation will be nearly doubled by Aspire, a fundraising initiative, which will create a total of $1.9 million of opportunities for students.
OCT 2020
Sunrise Credit Union
Gift:
$1,000,000
Recipient:
Assiniboine Community College
City:
Brandon
Province:
Manitoba
To support agricultural training opportunities at the Prairie Innovation Centre at the Len Evans Centre for Trades and Technology. This gift represents the largest philanthropic donation in the College’s history.
OCT 2020
Yves Tremblay and Sylvie Villeneuve
Gift:
$1,000,000
Recipient:
Montfort Hospital Foundation
City:
Ottawa
Province:
Ontario
For the Orleans Health Hub, which will provide residents of all ages a broad range of specialized and bilingual, community-based services.
OCT 2020
Amazon Canada
Gift:
$500,000
Recipient:
Breakfast Club of Canada
City:
Boucherville
Province:
Quebec
To provide over 300,000 breakfasts to Canadian youth this year. Announced as part of a commitment to support 1,000 organizations internationally over the holiday season. Amazon will also donate more than $250,000 annually as part of a new multi-year commitment. Amazon Canada has also pledged to give $250,000 per year to help distribute an additional 155,000 breakfasts annually. The time frame of this commitment was not specified.
OCT 2020
Canadian Tire
Gift:
$500,000
Recipient:
Rose Garden Hospice
City:
Prince Albert
Province:
Saskatchewan
To help build the facility and furnish it with equipment. The gift comes from the local Canadian Tire store, committed by its owner Malcolm Jenkins.
OCT 2020
IKEA Canada
Gift:
$500,000
Recipient:
National Association of Friendship Centres; Black Health Alliance; Save the Children; Boys and Girls Club of Canada; Furniture Bank
City:
Various
Province:
National
To support vulnerable communities across Canada in recovering from the impacts of COVID-19. This relief effort will help receiving organizations address issues of poverty, affordable housing, and health equity by ensuring those most impacted by the pandemic have an affordable and accessible place to call home. IKEA Canada has also donated in-kind products to the organizations.
OCT 2020
MNP Saskatchewan
Gift:
$500,000
Recipient:
STARS Air Ambulance
City:
Calgary
Province:
Alberta
For the Pegasus Project, supporting STARS’ campaign to update its fleet of helicopters.
OCT 2020
Carlos Guedes
Gift:
$400,000
Recipient:
Malson McCulloch Hospice
City:
Sudbury
Province:
Ontario
To support operating costs.
OCT 2020
Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities
Gift:
$354,000
Recipient:
City of Windsor and Riverside Minor Baseball Association
City:
Windsor
Province:
Ontario
To help complete several elements of Miracle Park designed for children with special needs. Through the Jumpstart Accessibility Grant program.
OCT 2020
Cavendish Farms
Gift:
$250,000
Recipient:
O'Leary Community Sports Centre
City:
O'Leary
Province:
Prince Edward Island
To help support a major restoration initiative.
OCT 2020
James and Jessie Fedorak
Gift:
$250,000
Recipient:
Royal Inland Hospital Foundation
City:
Kamloops
Province:
British Columbia
For a new operating room in the new patient-care tower. The couple made the gift to mark their 60th wedding anniversary.
OCT 2020
The Schulich Foundation
Gift:
$250,000
Recipient:
North York Harvest Food Bank
City:
Toronto
Province:
Ontario
To help with increased demand because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Foundation will match donations up to $250,000.
OCT 2020
The Christopher Society
Gift:
$200,000
Recipient:
South Okanagan Similkameen Medical Foundation
City:
Penticton
Province:
British Columbia
To help purchase a CT scanner at Penticton Regional Hospital. The funding stems from the sale of a property in the 90s; the Society has donated annual interest from the proceeds since the time of the sale, but recently decided to make a major gift.
OCT 2020
Anonymous
Gift:
$175,000
Recipient:
Oak Ridges Hospice of Durham
City:
Port Perry
Province:
Ontario
For furniture and necessary equipment for the new hospice. The donor pledged to match community donations up to $175,000.
OCT 2020
Nexicom
Gift:
$126,000
Recipient:
Peterborough Humane Society
City:
Peterborough
Province:
Ontario
For the ‘Our Pet Project’ campaign to build a new Animal Care Centre. Nexicom will be sponsoring the centre’s Adoption Technology Hub which provides in-person and online visitors the chance to view animals available for adoption.
OCT 2020
Westman Charitable Foundation
Gift:
$102,250
Recipient:
HomeSpace
City:
Calgary
Province:
Alberta
This gift was a part of four of equal size made by Jayman Built through founder Jay Westman’s foundation, the Westman Charitable Foundation. Jayman Built is a new home builder, and the funds were donated to organizations researching multiple sclerosis or working to end homelessness in Alberta.
OCT 2020
Westman Charitable Foundation
Gift:
$102,250
Recipient:
Homeward Trust
City:
Edmonton
Province:
Alberta
This gift was a part of four of equal size made by Jayman Built through founder Jay Westman’s foundation, the Westman Charitable Foundation. Jayman Built is a new home builder, and the funds were donated to organizations researching multiple sclerosis or working to end homelessness in Alberta.
OCT 2020
Westman Charitable Foundation
Gift:
$102,250
Recipient:
Hotchkiss Brain Institute
City:
Calgary
Province:
Alberta
This gift was a part of four of equal size made by Jayman Built through founder Jay Westman’s foundation, the Westman Charitable Foundation. Jayman Built is a new home builder, and the funds were donated to organizations researching multiple sclerosis or working to end homelessness in Alberta.
OCT 2020
Westman Charitable Foundation
Gift:
$102,250
Recipient:
MS Society of Canada
City:
Toronto
Province:
Ontario
For the Society’s research program. This gift was a part of four of equal size made by Jayman Built through founder Jay Westman’s foundation, the Westman Charitable Foundation. Jayman Built is a new home builder, and the funds were donated to organizations researching multiple sclerosis or working to end homelessness in Alberta.
OCT 2020
Scotiabank
Gift:
$100,000
Recipient:
Prince County Hospital Foundation
City:
Summerside
Province:
Prince Edward Island
For equipment needs. The funds were raised through local branch fundraising.
OCT 2020
Diane Blake and Stephen Smith
Gift:
$100,000
Recipient:
The Walrus
City:
Toronto
Province:
Ontario
The donors will match gifts up to $100,000.