Holiday Hamper 2022
[December 2022] In celebration of the holidays, we partnered with BGC Toronto Kiwanis for their Holiday Hamper Program. The Holiday Hamper Program is an annual holiday program run by the BGC Toronto Kiwanis to provide holiday support to its members and families. The program has provided support such as toys and gifts, clothing, household and hygiene items, food vouchers and other wish list items for families, children and youth that may otherwise go without.
Our volunteers become Holiday Hamper Elves to shop for gifts and wrap them to be handed out to the children in the program. This year’s holiday hamper supported over 328 children and youth, which comprised 178 families!
Kiwanis One Day 2022
[October 22, 2022] On Kiwanis One Day 2022, we partnered with The Leacock Foundation and Woburn Local Planning Table and participated in a community clean-up with our volunteers, community members, and children at Woburn Junior Public School in Scarborough.
The annual Kiwanis One Day took place on October 22. In partnership with The Leacock Foundation and Woburn Local Planning Table, the Kiwanis Club of Toronto participated in a community clean-up at Woburn Junior Public School.
Volunteers were provided tools such as trash pickers and garbage bags for the activity. The clean-up was also a great way to teach the children and youth how to segregate trash properly to ease and reduce our impact on landfills.
Board Induction with Mayor John Tory
[October 12, 2022] The 2022-2023 Board Installation Lunch with guest speaker Mayor John Tory wrapped up on Wednesday at The National Club!
The lunch event was a huge success, with our Kiwanis Club of Toronto board members officially installed in their roles by Mary Ellen Trimble, the Lt. Governor of Division 9. She also acknowledged our Foundation board members for their continued dedication to serving the children and youth in our communities.
Our Foundation Board Member, the esteemed Art Eggleton- the 59th Mayor of Toronto, introduced Mayor John Tory. Mayor Tory shared his vision for the city and lauded service organizations for keeping our city resilient and safe. As an Honorary member of the Toronto Club, Mayor Tory received his official membership pin from President Tim Simpson.
High Park West Playground Opening
[October 1, 2022] In celebration of the Kiwanis New Year, the Kiwanis Club of Toronto Foundation facilitated the official reopening of the Kiwanis High Park West Playground in Toronto’s High Park on October 1, 2022.
The High Park West playground was officially reopened after two long years of delay due to the COVID lockdown. It was a short ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by some of our club and foundation members, MP Arif Virani and MPP Bhutila Karpoche.
Cabbagetown Youth Centre Reopening
[September 10, 2022] In 2020, the CYC merged with the BGC Toronto Kiwanis to continue serving the children and youth in the community. The facility faced problems that almost caused children and youth programming to stop. The merger proved valuable, with the Kiwanis Club of Toronto and the BGC TK stepping in to support and fund CYC’s restoration.
On September 10, the CYC and its boxing club were officially reopened. The reopening was attended by over 150 people, including Mayor John Tory, former Mayors Barbara Hall, and Art Eggleton.
Lucy McCormick Playground Opening
This year, we officially opened the playground at Lucy McCormick Senior School. The project started in 2020 but could not open formally due to the ongoing pandemic restrictions.
The playground aims to become a safe space that helps students with varying abilities and needs to enjoy, explore, and be active. It also offers the opportunity to help the children and youth reach their learning goals in all areas. The playground provides them with the opportunity to develop their communication skills by selecting their preferred activities and through their interaction with others.
Kiwanis Cares Service Project at the RMHC
(May 26, 2022) Our Kiwanis members volunteered at the Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC)! We helped their outdoor spring clean-up by raking and collecting leaves, putting down mulch in the gardens, sanitizing the outdoor playground, cleaning outdoor furniture, and cleaning up the BBQ area.
In addition to our service, we have made a donation of $1500 to the organization.
A message from Courtney Taylor, Senior Development Officer at RMHC:
“I wanted to thank you all again for taking time out of your day to come and spend time with us at RMHC Toronto. We are so very appreciative of your support and hard work! It is only because of the wonderful community support we receive that we are able to keep this beautiful home operating for seriously ill children and their families, so THANK YOU for your support!”
Since 1981, RMHC Toronto has served as a place to call home for families with seriously ill children undergoing treatment. We at the Kiwanis Club of Toronto are proud to serve and donate to RMHC Toronto.
Cocktail Royale 2022
(Jun 1, 2022) We held our biggest fundraising event of the year: Kiwanis Club of Toronto’s COCKTAIL ROYALE.
It was an exciting night full of entertainment, casino games, and fundraising! We celebrated our club’s accomplishments, raffled off incredible prizes, as well as announced our 2022 Kiwanis Club of Toronto Foundation Grant winners.
Through our grants, we funded over $200,000 to various charities across Toronto. We live out our mission to serve youth and children in the city. We are truly honored to support and strengthen such incredible organizations.
A special thank you to our generous sponsor: the Air Canada Foundation with the raffle prize of:
– Two Economy Class return tickets valid for travel to any Air Canada scheduled destinations in North America, Hawaii, Mexico and the Caribbean
– Plus 80,000 Aeroplan points
(Approximate retail value $3000)
Kiwanis One Day 2021
(Oct 23, 2021) The Kiwanis clubs of the GTA united in service on Kiwanis One Day. Members dedicated their time and service at GlobalMedic, a global disaster relief organization.
Over 1000 emergency food kits were packed and ready to be shipped to countries including Syria.
Kiwanis One Day 2020
(Oct 23, 2020) On Kiwanis One Day 2020, our Kiwanis Club of Toronto members dedicated their service at GlobalMedic. Along with that, our club made a donation of $7500 to the Feed the Six Program to support fellow Torontonians in need.
Kiwanis Community Champions
(2020) We launched our Kiwanis Community Champions Program as a means to respond to the overwhelming need for COVID-19 relief across the city. This program allowed our club to invest over $75,000 with community partner organizations identified by our membership.
In addition, we also directed $16,000 to the Toronto Foundation for Student Success (TFSS) to ensure food security of students. TFSS went from providing 212,000 meals a day in schools, to putting $50 grocery gift cards directly in the hands of families.
“Fundraising during this pandemic is very challenging. There is so much need and we know that our regular donors are stretched. This generous donation from the Kiwanis Club of Toronto was an amazing surprise. We were so happy that our work spoke for itself,” exclaimed TFSS Executive Director Catherine Parsonage. “The KCT’s donation will allow us to provide 320 more students with grocer gift cards.”
Centennial Grants
(2017) To celebrate our Centennial year, the Kiwanis Club of Toronto awarded $2500 grants to 100 different Toronto charities that help children and youth. Congratulations to all!
Centennial Gala Dinner
(Sept 21, 2017) We hosted a wonderful evening with the Former Mayor and Senator Art Eggleton and close to 100 Toronto charities whom we supported through our grants in 2017. What an inspiring group!
Fireside Chat with Chief Justice, Hon. George R. Strathy
(March 23, 2016) The Club was honored to be able to host a special luncheon with the Chief Justice of Ontario at the National Club. We let the legal community in particular know, and filled a room. Chief Justice Strathy did not disappoint; and in a relaxed interview style hosted by President Joe, he provided some great insights and entertaining stories about his role on the bench and within the provincial government.
Mandela in Toronto!
(June 30 and July 4, 2016) Toronto Kiwanis was thrilled to be the presenting sponsor of Nbada Mandela’s first visit to Toronto. Ndaba, grandson of Nelson Mandela and Chair of the Africa Rising Foundation was here to promote his positive messages of youth empowerment, community action, and volunteerism.
We helped with two events during his stay, including the awards evening at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre on June 30, and an intimate and special visit to the Toronto Kiwanis Boys and Girls Club on July 4.
