65,000 community volunteers get behind local activities for Canada’s 150th – Community Foundations of Canada
April 23, 2017
(OTTAWA, ON) – With Canada’s 150th upon us, tens of thousands of volunteers across the country are taking part in 2017 activities supported by communities participating in the Community Fund for Canada’s 150th.
The Fund has so far granted to over 1,150 projects in more than 350 communities throughout Canada. Nearly 65,000 volunteers are helping to bring these activities to life by contributing their time and resources, which recipient organizations implementing 2017 projects have valued at more than $2.8 million. As the Fund continues to grant to initiatives in all parts of Canada, these figures will grow even further.
One of the key pillars of the Community Fund for Canada’s 150th is to engage the broadest possible array of Canadians, including volunteers from all walks of life, with a particular focus on initiatives involving youth, Indigenous Peoples, official language minorities, and groups reflective Canada’s cultural diversity.
“Volunteers are at at the heart of strengthening civic engagement, fostering social inclusion and building resilient communities,” says Laurel Carlton, Director, Leadership Initiatives and Governance with Community Foundations of Canada. “The participation of volunteers in 2017 activities and projects supported by the Community Fund for Canada’s 150th is a remarkable story. We’ve seen tens of thousands of volunteers from all corners of the country come together to contribute time and energy toward some inspiring initiatives for our sesquicentennial.”
Victoria Foundation, Central Okanagan Foundation, Edmonton Community Foundation, and Guelph Community Foundation are just a few of the philanthropic organizations supporting projects that specifically highlight volunteers, which include:
- 150 Reasons: An initiative organized by the Greater Victoria Volunteer Society to support a series of pop-up projects designed and led by youth to mark Canada’s 150th. 150 Reasons will train 20 young people in volunteer leadership and project management, and then engage 240 locals in youth-led and youth-inspired projects. (Victoria, BC)
- Canada 150 for 150 Volunteer Challenge: Taking up a national challenge from Volunteer Ottawa, the Kelowna Community Resources Society will encourage Central Okanagan residents to volunteer 150 hours during 2017. (Kelowna, BC)
- 150 Edmonton Volunteer Voices: A 2017-inspired digital media campaign from the Edmonton Chamber of Voluntary Organizations to share 150 unique stories throughout the year that are reflective of the city’s diverse volunteer community. (Edmonton, AB)
- Celebrating 150 Years of Volunteerism: A project from Volunteer Centre of Guelph/Wellington to create a mural that celebrates Canada’s 150th and pays tribute to the country’s long-standing history of volunteerism with a focus on local volunteer efforts in Guelph. (Guelph, ON)
Registered Canadian charities, municipalities and other qualified donees are eligible to apply to the Community Fund for Canada’s 150th through the community foundation that serves their area.
To learn more about the Community Fund for Canada’s 150th, including its funding priorities and which communities are currently accepting grant applications, visit www.communityfoundations.ca/cfc150.
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About Community Foundations of Canada
Community Foundations of Canada is the national network for Canada’s 191 community foundations. We are a philanthropic movement working across sectors to help Canadians invest in building strong and resilient communities.
About Community Fund for Canada’s 150th
The Community Fund for Canada’s 150th is a collaborative effort, seeded by the Government of Canada and extraordinary leaders from coast to coast to coast, and delivered locally by Canada’s community foundations.
Community Fund for Canada’s 150th contact:
Laurel Carlton
Director, Leadership Initiatives and Governance
Community Foundations of Canada
P: (613) 915-1637
E: cfc150@communityfoundations.ca
Media contact:
David Venn
Director of Communications
Community Foundations of Canada
P: (613) 236-2664 ext. 302
E: dvenn@communityfoundations.ca
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