Major Gift News
Novo Nordisk
Gift:
$20,000,000
Recipient:
University of Toronto
City:
Toronto
Province:
Ontario
To establish the Novo Nordisk Network for Healthy Populations. The new network is a partnership between the Dalla Lana School of Public Health, the Temerty Faculty of Medicine and University of Toronto Mississauga, and will focus on new ways to support healthier urban populations to impact the fight against diabetes and other chronic diseases. Novo Nordisk Network for Healthy Populations. The donations will be matched by the University of Toronto with a further $20 million in financial and in-kind contributions.
FEB 2021
Leon Judah Blackmore Foundation
Gift:
$15,300,000
Recipient:
BC Cancer Foundation
City:
Vancouver
Province:
British Columbia
To support lung cancer research and care.
FEB 2021
Anonymous
Gift:
$12,000,000
Recipient:
Silvera for Seniors
City:
Calgary
Province:
Alberta
To support the company’s commitment to housing and services for older adults. The donation has allowed Silvera to purchase a 2.9 acre parcel of land and townhouses, giving Calgary seniors a new housing option. This is the largest gift in the charity’s history.
FEB 2021
Pierre Lassonde Family Foundation
Gift:
$5,000,000
Recipient:
Mount Allison University
City:
Sackville
Province:
New Brunswick
For a number of new projects and programs including: new entrance and upper-year scholarships; internship opportunities; and a dynamic artist-in-residence program, giving students direct access to notable Canadian and international artists as part of their studies. Paul Lassonde School of Fine Arts; Claudette MacKay-Lassonde Scholarship; Gibbens Lassonde Scholarships
FEB 2021
Iron Ore Company
Gift:
$4,000,000
Recipient:
The Town of Labrador City
City:
Labrador City
Province:
Newfoundland and Labrador
To help build the new Tanya Lake Community Centre.
FEB 2021
Anonymous
Gift:
$1,500,000
Recipient:
The Royal
City:
Ottawa
Province:
Ontario
To support research on the biological underpinnings of depression and suicide; the mental and physical toll of the COVID-19 pandemic on healthcare workers; and Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation as a new treatment for depression.
FEB 2021
Amazon Prime Video
Gift:
$1,250,000
Recipient:
Indigenous Screen Office
City:
Toronto
Province:
Ontario
To provide funding to Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Colour (BIPOC) creators during the COVID-19 pandemic through the Solidarity Fund. This gift will also support a new pitch program which will provide 10 grants of $10,000 to BIPOC creators.
FEB 2021
Dr. Hugh Robertson
Gift:
$1,200,000
Recipient:
Northern Ontario School of Medicine
City:
Thunder Bay
Province:
Ontario
For social accountability initiatives. The gift will help address health inequity, advocacy for marginalized populations and access to care in Northern Ontario. Dr. Hugh Robertson practised in Cochrane and now works in the US (New Orleans, Louisiana). This is the largest private donation NOSM has ever received.
FEB 2021
Azrieli Foundation
Gift:
$1,000,000
Recipient:
Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital
City:
Toronto
Province:
Ontario
To support work in neurodevelopmental research at the Bloorview Research Institute. The gift was described as just over $1 million.
FEB 2021
Peter Wall
Gift:
$1,000,000
Recipient:
Vancouver Police Department
City:
Vancouver
Province:
British Columbia
To increase community policing in and around the Downtown Eastside. The donation will be funneled into two separate streams with $100,000 each year earmarked to support community-based mental health and addiction issues, and another $100,000 annually going to five different community policing centres in and around the downtown core.
FEB 2021
Suzanne Legge and Jeff Orr
Gift:
$1,000,000
Recipient:
McGill University Health Centre Foundation
City:
Montreal
Province:
Quebec
To create a new award that will provide funding to the McGill Interdisciplinary Initiative in Infection and Immunity (MI4) to support its leadership as it drives MI4’s mission forward. The Legge Orr MI4 Leadership Award. Suzanne is Co-Chair of the MUHC Foundation’s $200 million Dream Big Campaign.
FEB 2021
Walmart Canada
Gift:
$1,000,000
Recipient:
Food Banks Canada
City:
Mississauga
Province:
Ontario
To help combat food insecurity. The gift includes up to $820,000 from in-store customer donations; $100,000 for the retail food program; and $80,000 for the National Food Sharing System. The gift was made as a part of Walmart Canada’s annual ‘Fight Hunger. Spark Change.’ campaign.
FEB 2021
Cynthia Richards (Estate of)
Gift:
$741,000
Recipient:
Peterborough Humane Society
City:
Peterborough
Province:
Ontario
To help fund the building of the new animal care centre. Richards was a volunteer at the Peterborough Humane Society.
FEB 2021
Anonymous
Gift:
$700,000
Recipient:
Sandgate Women's Shelter
City:
Georgina
Province:
Ontario
To help purchase property needed to expand the facility. This is the largest gift in the charity’s history.
FEB 2021
Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds
Gift:
$500,000
Recipient:
Food Banks Canada
City:
Toronto
Province:
Ontario
The gift is in USD. The gift was announced with an additional $500,000 (USD) donation to Feeding America. These two organizations were also the beneficiaries of an earlier contribution from the couple of equal size.
FEB 2021
Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities
Gift:
$500,000
Recipient:
City of Thompson
City:
Thompson
Province:
Manitoba
To help build a multi-sport outdoor recreation area.
FEB 2021
Five Nations Energy
Gift:
$500,000
Recipient:
Timmins and District Hospital Foundation
City:
Timmins
Province:
Ontario
For equipment needs. This gift was part of Five Nations Energy’s two-year campaign to donate $1.7 million to first nations communities and healthcare providers in northern Ontario. The final gift of the campaign was made in February 2021. This gift was described as more than $500,000.
FEB 2021
Medavie
Gift:
$500,000
Recipient:
Riverview Recreation Complex
City:
Moncton
Province:
New Brunswick
To help support healthy living and modern recreational spaces for individuals and families.
FEB 2021
Leader-Post Foundation Inc.
Gift:
$400,000
Recipient:
University of Regina
City:
Regina
Province:
Saskatchewan
To establish a chair position at the School of Journalism. Leader-Post Foundation Chair. The Leader-Post Foundation is in the process of dissolving operations.
FEB 2021
MLSE Foundation and Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities
Gift:
$300,000
Recipient:
Toronto Community Housing Corporation
City:
Scarborough
Province:
Ontario
For a new multisport court in the community of Gordonridge. MLSE Foundation and Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities and working with the Toronto Housing Corporation to support the project. The contribution from MLSE and Jumpstart was described as more than $300,000.
FEB 2021
TD
Gift:
$255,000
Recipient:
Friends of Ruby
City:
Toronto
Province:
Ontario
Over three years, to support the mental health and life-skills programming, tailored to the needs of LGBTQI2S youth aged 16-29.
FEB 2021
Bernard Forster
Gift:
$250,020
Recipient:
Conestoga College
City:
Kitchener
Province:
Ontario
To support the expansion and growth of Conestoga’s School of Creative Industries. Forster is a graduate of the college’s Broadcasting – Radio & Television program.
FEB 2021
Five Nations Energy
Gift:
$250,000
Recipient:
Weeneebayko Area Health Authority
City:
Moose Factory
Province:
Ontario
This gift was part of Five Nations Energy’s two-year campaign to donate $1.7 million to first nations communities and healthcare providers in northern Ontario. The final gift of the campaign was made in February 2021.
FEB 2021
Giustra Foundation
Gift:
$250,000
Recipient:
University of Ottawa
City:
Ottawa
Province:
Ontario
To help support refugee resettlement at the University’s Refugee Hub. Frank Giustra made the donation through the Giustra Foundation and is founding partner of the hub. Since 2016, the Foundation has given more than $1.5 million to the Refugee Hub.
FEB 2021
Five Nations Energy
Gift:
$200,000
Recipient:
Northern College
City:
Timmins
Province:
Ontario
For a bursary fund. This gift was part of Five Nations Energy’s two-year campaign to donate $1.7 million to first nations communities and healthcare providers in northern Ontario. The final gift of the campaign was made in February 2021.
FEB 2021
RBC Foundation
Gift:
$200,000
Recipient:
Huron University College
City:
London
Province:
Ontario
Over four years, to help develop the next generation of innovators. The gift, a part of RBC’s Future Launch program, will fund the RBC Community Innovation Bootcamp.
FEB 2021
Scotiabank
Gift:
$200,000
Recipient:
Canadian Women's Foundation
City:
Toronto
Province:
Ontario
To support the Building Women’s Economic Security in the Pandemic Project, which aims to provide women with the funds necessary to remain operational throughout the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.
FEB 2021
Anonymous
Gift:
$175,000
Recipient:
The Bridge Youth & Family Services
City:
Kelowna
Province:
British Columbia
For the Youth Recovery House.
FEB 2021
Five Nations Energy
Gift:
$150,000
Recipient:
Sagashtawao Healing Lodge
City:
Moosonee
Province:
Ontario
To help support a kitchen remodel, a new furnace system, bedroom and living room furniture, and backup generators at the addictions facility. This gift wraps up Five Nations Energy’s two-year campaign to donate $1.7 million to first nations communities and healthcare providers in northern Ontario.
FEB 2021
Rexall Care Network
Gift:
$150,000
Recipient:
Canadian Mental Health Association
City:
Toronto
Province:
Ontario
To support caregiver mental health during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Rexall stores across Canada also hosted an in-store fundraising campaign from November 17 to December 24. Proceeds supported caregiver programs and services across Canada.
FEB 2021
Rio Tinto
Gift:
$150,000
Recipient:
Prince George Community Foundation
City:
Prince George
Province:
British Columbia
For the foundation’s ongoing support of health, sports, arts, social service, education and environmental organizations, but also to address the immediate impacts of COVID-19 across northern B.C.
FEB 2021
SC Johnson
Gift:
$150,000
Recipient:
Kids Can Fly
City:
Brantford
Province:
Ontario
To help the local Dolly Parton’s imagination Library to mail free books each month to children in Brantford and Brant County. The funds will help double the number children the program serves.
FEB 2021
Rama First Nation
Gift:
$115,000
Recipient:
Orillia Soldiers' Memorial Hospital Foundation
City:
Orillia
Province:
Ontario
To support the purchase of medication-dispensing cabinets and a mental-health safe room in the emergency department.
FEB 2021
Canfor
Gift:
$100,000
Recipient:
Spirit of the North Healthcare Foundation
City:
Prince George
Province:
British Columbia
For a molecular diagnostic lab at the University Hospital of Northern BC.
FEB 2021
Dean Reidt and Debbie Hubbard
Gift:
$100,000
Recipient:
The Bridge Youth & Family Services
City:
Kelowna
Province:
British Columbia
For the Youth Recovery House.
FEB 2021
Farm Credit Canada
Gift:
$100,000
Recipient:
4-H Canada
City:
Winchester, North Lancaster, Ingleside, Newington, and Crysler
Province:
Ontario
To support local actives at the youth development organization’s locations in Ontario.
FEB 2021
Five Nations Energy
Gift:
$100,000
Recipient:
Attawapiskat First Nation
City:
Attawapiskat
Province:
Ontario
This gift was part of Five Nations Energy’s two-year campaign to donate $1.7 million to first nations communities and healthcare providers in northern Ontario. The final gift of the campaign was made in February 2021.
FEB 2021
Five Nations Energy
Gift:
$100,000
Recipient:
Fort Albany First Nation
City:
Fort Albany
Province:
Ontario
This gift was part of Five Nations Energy’s two-year campaign to donate $1.7 million to first nations communities and healthcare providers in northern Ontario. The final gift of the campaign was made in February 2021.
FEB 2021
Five Nations Energy
Gift:
$100,000
Recipient:
Kashechewan First Nation
City:
Kashechewan
Province:
Ontario
This gift was part of Five Nations Energy’s two-year campaign to donate $1.7 million to first nations communities and healthcare providers in northern Ontario. The final gift of the campaign was made in February 2021.
FEB 2021
Five Nations Energy
Gift:
$100,000
Recipient:
Moose Cree First Nation
City:
Moose Cree
Province:
Ontario
This gift was part of Five Nations Energy’s two-year campaign to donate $1.7 million to first nations communities and healthcare providers in northern Ontario. The final gift of the campaign was made in February 2021.
FEB 2021
Five Nations Energy
Gift:
$100,000
Recipient:
Taykawa Tagamou Nation
City:
Taykwa Tagamou
Province:
Ontario
This gift was part of Five Nations Energy’s two-year campaign to donate $1.7 million to first nations communities and healthcare providers in northern Ontario. The final gift of the campaign was made in February 2021.
FEB 2021
George Bassett
Gift:
$100,000
Recipient:
Queen Elizabeth Hospital Foundation
City:
Charlottetown
Province:
Prince Edward Island
To help purchase equipment for cancer care. George and Abla Bassett Endowment. The gift was made in honour of George’s wife, Abla, as a way of thanking the P.E.I. Cancer Treatment Centre.
FEB 2021
Jim De Gasperis
Gift:
$100,000
Recipient:
Lake Simcoe Conservation Foundation
City:
Newmarket
Province:
Ontario
The gift was made in memory of Mary Jane Brinkos, one of the original “Ladies of the Lake”, a group of local volunteer residents committed to preserving and improving the health of Lake Simcoe.
FEB 2021
Mike Howell
Gift:
$100,000
Recipient:
City of Thompson
City:
Thompson
Province:
Manitoba
To help build a multi-sport outdoor recreation area. Mike is the owner of Canadian Tire. Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities also made a $500,000 gift to the project.
FEB 2021
Tricar Group
Gift:
$100,000
Recipient:
Guelph General Hospital
City:
Guelph
Province:
Ontario
To support the expansion of the hospital’s emergency department and Special Care Nursery, and to help purchase equipment and technology.