Major Gift News
Allied Properties
Gift:
Unknown
Recipient:
Massey Hall
City:
Toronto
Province:
Ontario
For the Massey Hall revitalization project. The gift expands the project’s original scope and introduces a new multi-purpose performance facility. The new Allied Music Centre will be home of historic Massey Hall. Allied Music Centre. The value of the donation was not disclosed but was described as ‘a landmark contribution’ and ‘transformative’.
DEC 2020
Gulshan and Pyarali Nanji
Gift:
Unknown
Recipient:
Markham Stouffville Hospital Foundation
City:
Markham
Province:
Ontario
The funds will support the hospital as a whole and will also serve to inspire and innovate change in the mental health services provided at the hospital. Gulshan & Pyarali G. Nanji Mental Health Services. The family has supported the hospital since 1993, often anonymously, and this is their largest gift to date. The value of the donation was not disclosed but was described as a substantial multi-million dollar gift.
DEC 2020
Mary Rozsa de Coquet and the Rozsa Foundation
Gift:
Unknown
Recipient:
Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra
City:
Calgary
Province:
Alberta
The gift endows the Resident Conductor position. The value of the donation was not disclosed.
DEC 2020
Lance Uggla and Family
Gift:
$34,100,000
Recipient:
Simon Fraser University
City:
Burnaby
Province:
British Columbia
The gift will establish scholarships for students in the Beedie School of Business or the Faculty of Applied Science who may not otherwise be able to afford a university education and will address social mobility, equity, diversity and inclusion. The gift will support 10 undergraduate students per year who are members of the LGBTQ2S+ community, are living with a disability or who identify as Indigenous, Black, or a person of colour. Uggla Family Scholarship. Lance Uggla is an alumnus of the University. This is the largest gift ever received in the university’s history and the largest gift of its kind ever given to a Canadian university.
DEC 2020
Walter Schroeder and Family
Gift:
$10,000,000
Recipient:
McMaster University
City:
Hamilton
Province:
Ontario
To support research into a cure for allergies through treatment and prevention. The gift will create and new research institute that will support senior scientists and scholars in allergy investigation, and will help the facility analyze data for a national allergy study. Schroeder Allergy and Immunology Research Institute. Walter Schroeder is an alumnus of McMaster University.
DEC 2020
Emmanuelle Gattuso
Gift:
$5,000,000
Recipient:
University Health Network
City:
Toronto
Province:
Ontario
For the social medicine program at Toronto General Hospital which is relaunching as the Gattuso Centre for Social Medicine Innovation. Gattuso Centre for Social Medicine Innovation.
DEC 2020
Green Shield Canada
Gift:
$4,000,000
Recipient:
Ottawa Community Foundation, Foundation of Greater Montreal, Toronto Foundation, Fondation Quebec Philanthrope, and Haida Gwaii Community Foundation
City:
Province:
Various
To support communities dealing with the fallout from COVID-19. A $500,000 grant to Kitchener Waterloo Community Foundation is being made in honour of Sherry Peister, Green Shield Canada’s recently retired Chair of its Board of Directors who lives in Waterloo Region. This grant is inclusive of a $200,000 permanent endowment fund that will be named the GSC Sherry Peister Community Impact Fund. The company is also making contributions totaling over $200,000 to address the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on specific segments of the population through the creation of three national funds.
DEC 2020
Mary Marsh (Estate of)
Gift:
$4,800,000
Recipient:
McGill University
City:
Montreal
Province:
Quebec
For the Faculty of Education. The gift will boost the suite of entrance bursaries, scholarships and fellowships she established in 2009. Mary Marsh was a primary school teacher.
DEC 2020
Anonymous
Gift:
$2,500,000
Recipient:
The Anglican Church of the Good Samaritan
City:
St. John's
Province:
Newfoundland and Labrador
To buy a new complex for the congregation. Multiple anonymous donors provided the funds.
DEC 2020
The Molson Foundation
Gift:
$2,500,000
Recipient:
McGill University
City:
Montreal
Province:
Quebec
For the CoLab, a new partnership between the Faculty of Education and Montreal’s Trafalgar School for Girls. The CoLab aims to bring researchers and educators together to develop best practices in teaching and learning practices that can be directly applied to the classroom experience. The investment represents the first half of a $5 million commitment from the foundation in honour of McGill’s upcoming bicentennial.
DEC 2020
123Dentist
Gift:
$1,250,000
Recipient:
University of British Columbia
City:
Vancouver
Province:
British Columbia
To help build a new Simulation and Digital Dentistry Laboratory in the Faculty of Dentistry.
DEC 2020
AltaLink and Employees
Gift:
$1,001,024
Recipient:
United Ways across Alberta
City:
Province:
Alberta
The funds were raised through AltaLink’s Powerful Giving annual employee giving campaign. This is a record-breaking outcome of their annual campaign and includes a contribution from AltaLink itself.
DEC 2020
Anonymous (Estate of)
Gift:
$1,000,000
Recipient:
MacEwan University
City:
Edmonton
Province:
Alberta
For an endowment that will fund bursaries for computer science students. The Larissa Bursary.
DEC 2020
Elaine Keillor
Gift:
$1,000,000
Recipient:
University of Toronto
City:
Toronto
Province:
Ontario
To create a new fund that will help enhance music research at the University of Toronto as well as the science and practice of music and health. Elaine Keillor Music and Health Research Innovation Fund. Elaine Keillor was the first woman to earn a PhD at the University’s Faculty of Music. Part of the donation will be matched by the division of the vice-president and provost to support graduate and international students pursuing studies in music and health.
DEC 2020
The Faas Foundation
Gift:
$1,000,000
Recipient:
Wellspring Cancer Support Foundation
City:
Toronto
Province:
Ontario
For the Money Matters program, which helps cancer patients navigate through government and workplace income programs, drug coverage options and community resources available to help them when they are too sick to work. The Faas Foundation Money Matters Program at Wellspring.
DEC 2020
Iacobelli Family
Gift:
$1,000,000
Recipient:
The Journey Home Hospice
City:
Toronto
Province:
Ontario
To support expansion at the only hospice specifically for Toronto’s homeless community. The gift will allow the hospice to increase its capacity by 150%.
DEC 2020
Jim and Deb Westlake
Gift:
$1,000,000
Recipient:
Paralympic Foundation of Canada
City:
Ottawa
Province:
Ontario
To support athletes with a disability through supporting local programming, the purchase of equipment, providing quality training and competition opportunities, coaching, and to help ensure that families of Canadians with a disability are supported as their loved ones participate and compete. The couple’s son, Greg, is a Paralympian. The gift represents the largest private donation made to the Foundation to date.
DEC 2020
Johnny Fong and Rebecca Cheng
Gift:
$1,000,000
Recipient:
Richmond Hospital Foundation
City:
Richmond
Province:
British Columbia
$700,000 will support the hospital’s new acute care tower; $300,00 will support the Surgical Restart campaign. The $300,000 for the Surgical Restart campaign was a match of the community’s donations.
DEC 2020
Lois and Dale Keyes
Gift:
$1,000,000
Recipient:
Winchester District Memorial Hospital Foundation
City:
Winchester
Province:
Ontario
To help purchase a new CT scanner. In 2019, the couple served as Honorary Chairs for Boots & Bling, a fundraising event.
DEC 2020
OpenText
Gift:
$1,000,000
Recipient:
Various food banks
City:
Province:
Various
The gift, in USD, will support food banks in OpenText communities across 21 countries and 58 cities.
DEC 2020
The Wilson Foundation
Gift:
$1,000,000
Recipient:
Mount Allison University
City:
Sackville
Province:
New Brunswick
For the previously named L.R. Wilson Internships established in 2015. The endowment supports internships for students studying philosophy, politics, and economics.
DEC 2020
BC Egg Farmers
Gift:
$750,000
Recipient:
Food Banks BC
City:
Surrey
Province:
British Columbia
This is an in-kind donation of $750,000 worth of eggs. In addition to the in-kind donation, BC Egg Farmers also raised over $67,000 for the Union Gospel Mission, made weekly donations of eggs to Sheway, and supported many small organizations with emergency egg donations.
DEC 2020
BMO
Gift:
$750,000
Recipient:
Thompson Rivers University
City:
Kamloops
Province:
British Columbia
To fund awards for Indigenous students and support undergraduate research. $400,000 will support a mentorship program that guides Indigenous researchers starting at the undergraduate level; $250,000 will support awards at the School of Nursing.
DEC 2020
Pfizer Canada
Gift:
$600,000
Recipient:
McGill University and McGill University Health Centre
City:
Montreal
Province:
Quebec
For awards that will provide early career scientists and researchers across the McGill and MUHC community with the opportunity to undertake research to curb the threat of infectious diseases. Over a three-year period, $100,000 will be awarded to each of two recipients per year. Pfizer Early Career Investigator Awards.
DEC 2020
Amazon Canada
Gift:
$500,000
Recipient:
Breakfast Club of Canada
City:
Boucherville
Province:
Quebec
To provide 300,000 breakfasts to Canadian youth.
DEC 2020
CN
Gift:
$500,000
Recipient:
Wilfrid Laurier University
City:
Waterloo
Province:
Ontario
To support research and education at the Centre for Supply Chain Management at the Lazaridis School of Business and Economics. This is a renewal of a commitment made in 2015.
DEC 2020
Jordan Historical Museum of the Twenty Gift Shop volunteers
Gift:
$500,000
Recipient:
Jordan Historical Museum of the Twenty
City:
Lincoln
Province:
Ontario
To help build the new museum.
DEC 2020
Li Ka Shing (Canada) Foundation
Gift:
$500,000
Recipient:
Pallium Canada
City:
Ottawa
Province:
Ontario
To increase the capacity of frontline health care professionals to provide palliative care. The two organizations are collaborating on the Li KaShing Palliative Care Skills Development Project to build palliative care capacity among Canada’s frontline health care professionals through Pallium’s Learning Essential Approaches to Palliative Care (LEAP) courseware.
DEC 2020
SNC-Lavalin
Gift:
$500,000
Recipient:
McGill University Health Centre Foundation
City:
Montreal
Province:
Quebec
For the Interprofessional Skills and Simulation Network. The gift was announced with a $250,000 donation to Montreal Children’s Hospital Foundation.
DEC 2020
The Brick
Gift:
$467,000
Recipient:
Children's Miracle Network
City:
Woodbridge
Province:
Ontario
The funds were raised through two fundraising initiatives: $45,000 from Cooking for Kids, a virtual cooking class where 100% of the registration fee supported the cause; and $422,000 through The Brick’s recent Buy More, Save More, Give campaign. The Brick has raised more than $7.8 million in support of children’s hospitals since partnering with the charity in 2014.
DEC 2020
Royal Canadian Mint
Gift:
$400,000
Recipient:
Breakfast Club of Canada
City:
Boucherville
Province:
Quebec
For the COVID-19 Emergency Fund. The funds were raised through the Royal Canadian Mint’s Recognition Medal program.
DEC 2020
Bruce Power
Gift:
$350,000
Recipient:
Various organizations in Bruce, Grey and Huron counties
City:
Province:
Ontario
To help health and long-term care workers as well as children and families of Bruce, Grey and Huron counties. The gift will support a number of initiatives including breakfast programs, providing grocery store gift cards to families, and Christmas toy drives. The gift was made as a part of Bruce Power’s $1 million campaign, Be a Light: Beating COVID-19 Together.
DEC 2020
Amazon Canada
Gift:
$250,000
Recipient:
True North Aid, Backpack Buddies, Breakfast Club of Canada, Daily Bread Food Bank Toronto and Food Banks of Quebec
City:
Province:
National
To help the charities address hunger and the well-being of children and families impacted by COVID-19. Amazon Canada matched 100% of employee donations up to $10,000 per employee made in October and November.
DEC 2020
Amazon Canada
Gift:
$250,000
Recipient:
Breakfast Club of Canada
City:
Boucherville
Province:
Quebec
To help provide 155,000 breakfasts to Canadian youth per year. This is a new multi-year commitment.
DEC 2020
Brookfield Asset Management
Gift:
$250,000
Recipient:
The Nature Foundation
City:
Ottawa
Province:
Ontario
For the museum’s Centre for Arctic Knowledge and Exploration. The gift will create a new fund that will focus on supporting Arctic field research. D.K. Beckel Arctic Fieldwork Fund. The Nature Foundation, launched in October 2020 with approximately $4 million in gifts, is the fundraising arm of the Canadian Museum of Nature.
DEC 2020
Cosineau Family and OCP Construction Supplies
Gift:
$250,000
Recipient:
NEO Kids Foundation
City:
Sudbury
Province:
Ontario
To support the highest-priority needs of the NEO Kids & Family Program at Health Sciences North such as the purchase of specialized pediatric equipment and the new MRI scanner.
DEC 2020
Eric S. Margolis Family Foundation
Gift:
$250,000
Recipient:
Iqaluit Humane Society
City:
Iqaluit
Province:
Nunavut
To help replace its old facility.
DEC 2020
SNC-Lavalin
Gift:
$250,000
Recipient:
Montreal Children's Hospital Foundation
City:
Montreal
Province:
Quebec
For the Music Therapy Program. The gift was announced with a $500,000 donation to McGill University Health Centre Foundation.
DEC 2020
Parrott Foundation
Gift:
$215,000
Recipient:
Hospice Quinte
City:
Belleville
Province:
Ontario
$200,000 will support the capital campaign to build a new hospice; $15,000 will support general operations.
DEC 2020
Beth and Graydon Nicholas
Gift:
$210,000
Recipient:
St. Francis Xavier University
City:
Antigonish
Province:
Nova Scotia
To establish a new bursary for Indigenous Canadian students. Hatchette Nicholas Bursary Endowment. Beth and Graydon Nicholas are alumni of the University. The bursary honours the memory of Beth’s brother, Richard (Rick) Hatchette, who also graduated from the University. The donation is matched by the Jeannine Deveau Educational Equity Foundation, doubling the endowment fund to $420,000.
DEC 2020
Jeannine Deveau Educational Equity Foundation
Gift:
$210,000
Recipient:
St. Francis Xavier University
City:
Antigonish
Province:
Nova Scotia
The donation matches a gift from Beth and Graydon Nicholas to establish a new bursary for Indigenous Canadian students.
DEC 2020
Newfoundland and Labrador Medical Association
Gift:
$200,000
Recipient:
Community Food Sharing Association
City:
St. John's
Province:
Newfoundland and Labrador
To help replenish supplies at the network’s 55 food banks. The gift was made because the Newfoundland and Labrador Medical Association discovered a surplus in their budget and decided to donate the funds.
DEC 2020
The Rizzardo Family
Gift:
$200,000
Recipient:
Royal Inland Hospital Foundation
City:
Kamloops
Province:
British Columbia
For medical equipment and technology in the new patient care tower.
DEC 2020
Brice, Cathy, Dean and Brian Miller
Gift:
$150,000
Recipient:
Okanagan College
City:
Okanagan
Province:
Colombie-Britannique
Pour le nouveau Centre des sciences de la santé. Le don soutiendra la salle de collaboration des étudiants, une unité de lits de soins et un autre salon de rassemblement et d’étude pour les étudiants. Le don a été fait à la mémoire de Mary Miller, qui était infirmière.
DEC 2020
B2Gold
Gift:
$125,000
Recipient:
Covenant House Vancouver
City:
Vancouver
Province:
British Columbia
To support at-risk youth. The gift was announced with three others totaling $500,000 in support of community services in Vancouver. It matches an initial $500,000 contribution made in April 2020, $125,000 of which was to Covenant Foundation.
DEC 2020
B2Gold
Gift:
$125,000
Recipient:
Greater Vancouver Food Bank
City:
Vancouver
Province:
British Columbia
To help meet the increasing demand for food. The gift was announced with three others totaling $500,000 in support of community services in Vancouver. It matches an initial $500,000 contribution made in April 2020, $125,000 of which was to the Greater Vancouver Food Bank.
DEC 2020
B2Gold
Gift:
$125,000
Recipient:
PHS Community Services Society
City:
Vancouver
Province:
British Columbia
To assist with housing, health care and harm reduction efforts to those struggling with issues of homelessness, poverty, mental health and substance dependencies. The gift was announced with three others totaling $500,000 in support of community services in Vancouver. It matches an initial $500,000 contribution made in April 2020, $125,000 of which was to PHS Community Services Society.
DEC 2020
B2Gold
Gift:
$125,000
Recipient:
The Bloom Group Community Services Society
City:
Vancouver
Province:
British Columbia
To assist with housing, health care a harm reduction efforts to those struggling with issues of homelessness, poverty, mental health and substance dependencies. The gift was announced with three others totaling $500,000 in support of community services in Vancouver. It matches an initial $500,000 contribution made in April 2020.
DEC 2020
Jawl Family
Gift:
$125,000
Recipient:
Times Colonist Christmas Fund
City:
Victoria
Province:
British Columbia
The Times Colonist Christmas Fund assists individuals and families in need at Christmas.
DEC 2020
SGI Canada
Gift:
$125,000
Recipient:
Canadian Red Cross
City:
Ottawa
Province:
Ontario
To assist in disaster relief in each of the five provinces where SGI Canada operates. Each provincial branch will receive $25,000.
DEC 2020
Corby Spirit and Wine
Gift:
$100,000
Recipient:
Bartenders Benevolent Fund
City:
Toronto
Province:
Ontario
To support industry professionals impacted by COVID-19 restrictions.
DEC 2020
David Bird
Gift:
$100,000
Recipient:
Times Colonist Christmas Fund
City:
Victoria
Province:
British Columbia
The Times Colonist Christmas Fund assists individuals and families in need at Christmas.
DEC 2020
DiCenzo family
Gift:
$100,000
Recipient:
St. Joseph's Healthcare Foundation
City:
Hamilton
Province:
Ontario
To help the hospital purchase personal protective equipment. The gift was made by Anthony DiCenzo and his sisters, Rita and Silvana.
DEC 2020
iA Financial Group
Gift:
$100,000
Recipient:
Children's Health Foundation
City:
London
Province:
Ontario
The charity was a top three finalist in iA Financial Group’s annual philanthropic contest and received $100,000 along with two other organizations. An additional 7 organizations received $10,000 each.
DEC 2020
iA Financial Group
Gift:
$100,000
Recipient:
Crossroads for Women
City:
Moncton
Province:
New Brunswick
The charity was a top three finalist in iA Financial Group’s annual philanthropic contest and received $100,000 along with two other organizations. An additional 7 organizations received $10,000 each.
DEC 2020
iA Financial Group
Gift:
$100,000
Recipient:
Fondation prevention du suicide Accalmie
City:
Trois-Rivieres
Province:
Quebec
The charity was a top three finalist in iA Financial Group’s annual philanthropic contest and received $100,000 along with two other organizations. An additional 7 organizations received $10,000 each.
DEC 2020
Jay Elinesky and Tom Schuett
Gift:
$100,000
Recipient:
The Foundation of Guelph General Hospital
City:
Guelph
Province:
Ontario
To help purchase new equipment.
DEC 2020
Maxim Truck & Trailor
Gift:
$100,000
Recipient:
Harvest Manitoba
City:
Winnipeg
Province:
Manitoba
To help buy a refrigerated delivery truck.
DEC 2020
Samsung Canada
Gift:
$100,000
Recipient:
SickKids Foundation
City:
Toronto
Province:
Ontario
Samsung is matching community donations until December 24th, 2020 up to $100,000.
DEC 2020
Southside Construction Group
Gift:
$100,000
Recipient:
The London Food Bank
City:
London
Province:
Ontario
For the homeless meal program. Southside Construction Group is also challenging other businesses to raise a matching total through the London Community Foundation.
DEC 2020
Vito Frijia
Gift:
$100,000
Recipient:
The WISH (Winter Interim Solution to Homelessness) Coalition
City:
London
Province:
Ontario
To help support two temporary 24-7 shelters and two more day shelters for people who don’t fit in or prefer not to use traditional shelters. The WISH coalition is comprised of a number of front-line agencies that support London’s homeless population. Vito Frijia is President of Southside Group.
DEC 2020
Walmart Canada
Gift:
$100,000
Recipient:
The Salvation Army
City:
Toronto
Province:
Ontario
Walmart Canada will match donations made by individuals to Salvation Army kettles located in its stores nationwide, to a maximum of $100,000.