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A city of helpers. A city of volunteers. Toronto needs us more than ever.

The power of positive, solution-based journalism. December • 2021

ADVERTORIAL

Volunteers Impact Everyone

Whether you realize it or not, a volunteer has impacted your life. They are the dedicated people behind sports, arts, and community events. They’re active in almost every social service we rely on. Volunteers deliver thousands of meals to isolated seniors every day. They support hospitals, health charities, newcomer settlements, environmental initiatives, and everything in between. If you look for a volunteer, you will find millions uplifting and supporting our society. Each volunteer is a thread in the tapestry we call Toronto, Canada—our home.

Week after week, stories continue to pop up about volunteers helping their communities during the pandemic or fighting for human rights, some stepping up for the first time, others with a legacy of support. They are mask sewers, volunteer drivers, protest organizers, online advocates, connection-builders and neighbours helping neighbours.

Canada’s largest volunteer centre, Volunteer Toronto, sees the contributions of volunteers every day. This December 5th, 2021, on International Volunteer Day, six volunteers were recognized with Legacy Awards for their exceptional commitment to making Toronto a better place to live for everyone. It’s time we see and celebrate their incredible efforts as volunteers.

Take Susel Munoz, for example, a dedicated advocate for inclusivity for 16+ years. She is the founder and director of HAACO. This volunteer-run initiative raises awareness about the challenges of parenting neurodiverse children in ethnic minority groups, focusing on Hispanic immigrant communities. Through advocacy, she has started a dialogue with government, organizations, and the public. Her efforts have fostered learning, sharing, and community building that reduces stigma and isolation for racialized and religious groups, such as the Latinx, Black, Asian, Muslim, and Jewish Canadians.

How about Kaitlin Monkman? She’s one of the thousands of Volunteer Drivers, the most in need role in Toronto. Kaitlin has volunteered tirelessly with Community Connect Toronto, an Indigenous-led non-profit providing emergency food support to those disproportionately affected by COVID-19. Every evening after her full-time job, Kaitlin delivers emergency food hampers and shuttles food to community fridges as a volunteer. Kaitlin has taken on approximately 40 percent of deliveries, providing essentials to an astounding 7,200 people in need since March 2020.

Susel and Kaitlin are just two examples of the millions that uplift the community. The landscape of volunteerism is evolving and the effectiveness of mutual aid, grassroots organizing, and digital community engagement are not specific to today. This International Volunteer Day, take a moment to thank them—and any volunteer in your life—for giving back. We all need volunteers, whether we realize it or not.

Meet the six 2021 Legacy Award recipients and get involved at volunteertoronto.ca

The Best of Canada: Celebrating This Year’s Canada’s Walk of Fame Inductees

Canada’s Walk of Fame is celebrating ten new inductions during this year’s broadcast special airing on Friday, December 17, 2021, on CTV. The incredible achievements of these Inductees have educated, empowered, and inspired Canadians from coast to coast to coast. This year, the organization marks its 200th induction, recognizing outstanding Canadians not only for their distinctive accomplishments, but for their philanthropy, advocacy, and contributions toward the greater good.

THE 2021 CANADA’S WALK OF FAME INDUCTEES INCLUDE:

© CANADA’S WALK OF FAME

AJAY VIRMANI— TRAILBLAZING BETWEEN THE STREETS AND THE SKY Founder and CEO of Canada’s largest cargo airline, Cargojet, Dr. Ajay Virmani has committed $3 million to healthcare initiatives and social justice causes through the Virmani Family Foundation and the Cargojet Foundation.

© COURTESY OF WWE

BRET “HITMAN” HART—THE COURAGE AND GRIT OF A CHAMPION A 32-time champion, WWE Hall of Famer, and voted one of the top 50 Canadians of all time, Bret Hart put Canada on the map with his gold standard in wrestling.

BRUCE COCKBURN— THE VOICE OF A GENERATION © DOUG GRIFFIN With achievements spanning five decades, 350 songs, and 13 JUNO Awards, Bruce Cockburn is an Officer of the Order of Canada and is deeply respected for his activism on native rights and land mines to the environment and Third World debt, working for Oxfam, Amnesty International, Doctors Without Borders, and Friends of the Earth.

DAMIAN WARNER— THE GREATEST ATHLETE ON EARTH Damian Warner has © AJ MESSIER taken his place as the greatest athlete on the world stage. He shattered numerous records at the 2020 Olympic Games this summer and is only the fourth athlete to surpass 9,000 points in the all-time history of the decathlon.

FREDERICK BANTING, CHARLES BEST, JOHN MACLEOD, JAMES © CANADA’S WALK OF FAME COLLIP—THE TEAM THAT SAVED 300 MILLION LIVES A team of scientists at the University of Toronto were responsible for one of the most important breakthroughs in modern medical history—the discovery of insulin. 2021 marks the 100th anniversary of the discovery of insulin and the first Nobel Prize to be awarded to Canada.

© CANADA’S WALK OF FAME GRAHAM GREENE —A BELOVED CANADIAN ACTOR Born on the Oneida Six Nations Reserve, Graham Greene is an Academy Award nominee who attributes his success to theatre training at Native Earth Performing Arts and the Stratford Festival.

JULLY BLACK— CANADA’S QUEEN OF R&B/SOUL Jully Black is a © ANNA KENNAN platinum and multiaward-winning international recording artist, songwriter, and Canada’s Queen of R&B/Soul. Her passion for philanthropy led her to found the 360 health, wellness, and lifestyle organization ‘100 Strong and Sexy’ and fitness movement ‘The Power of Step.’

KEANU REEVES— GLOBAL SUPERSTAR AND HOLLYWOOD’S NICE GUY © JACK GUY An iconic actor, producer, and director who has entertained audiences worldwide for more than three decades, Keanu Reeves was raised in Toronto and performed in various local theatre productions and television before becoming one of Hollywood’s most sought-after leading men.

© MARTIN GIRARD

LIEUTENANTGENERAL (RET) THE HONOURABLE ROMÉO A. DALLAIRE— ADVOCATE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS The Honourable Roméo A. Dallaire served with great distinction in the Canadian Forces for over 30 years. He became a war hero as Force Commander of Rwanda’s United Nations Assistance Mission during the 1994 genocide and continues to dedicate his life to international humanitarian work and eradicate child soldiers.

SALOME BEY— CANADA’S FIRST LADY OF BLUES Salome Bey is a © DOUG GRIFFIN cultural icon whose influence in music and theatre reaches worldwide. Known for her extensive activism and advocacy work in the community, Bey contributed vocals to the 1985 song “Tears Are Not Enough,” recorded by a supergroup of Canadian artists to raise funds for Ethiopian famine relief. (Source: Canada’s Walk of Fame)

Giving Youth a DAM Chance at a Brighter Future

Youth are asking for programs that don’t label them as troubled.

At just 16 years old, Philip found himself in an unimaginable position. Alone and overwhelmed, he struggled to figure out his next move. Where would he go for help? What would he do for food? How would he maintain a roof over his head? He heard about food being served at lunch at a youth drop-in and thought he’d begin there.

A few blocks away, 15-year-old Jahsaviour was motivated, looking for volunteer hours to complete his high school requirements early. Desiring something that would make a difference, he checked out The Dam, a drop-in youth program across from the school.

Philip and Jahsaviour were greeted at the door, immediately noticing the buzz of voices and laughter in the air. In the distance, they heard the sound of billiards and video games. The two boys sat together on the big leather sofa and struck up a conversation as they gathered their food. Led to The Dam through different circumstances, one looking for belonging, the other for leadership opportunities, Philip and Jahsaviour found a connection over food and a pool table.

The Dam was founded 26 years ago in Mississauga with a vision to stop the flow of youth from becoming homeless in Toronto. Now operating two drop-ins in the neighbourhoods of Cooksville and Meadowvale, The Dam has discovered the importance of a community space that supports all youth.

Although Philip and Jahsaviour came from different backgrounds, with different needs, they both found what they were looking for and so much more. Philip found daily meals at The Dam, giving him peace of mind and the space to focus on completing high school and keeping his part-time jobs to pay for his rent. Jahsaviour more than completed his volunteer hours at The Dam, gaining significant skills that he knows will benefit him as he moves into his chosen career path. On top of that, the friendship that

© ALL PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE DAM Philip and Jahsaviour forged with each other and their mentors at The Dam made a positive impact on their high school journey. There are so many stories like Philip and Jahsaviour’s, stories about youth not just overcoming adversity but also finding the support that they may not have even thought they needed.

The pandemic has taken the natural support found in schools, sports, arts, and extended family—youth need the inclusive community of The Dam to help them move on. The dropin program at The Dam provides the resources that youth require while also creating a safe space for discussion and support.

A regular donor of The Dam says, “Coming out of the pandemic, there are many challenges for youth, so this is a particularly great time to make sure that the staff at The Dam have all of the resources required to meet the needs of the youth. Their focus on building relationships with youth in the community and mentoring them matches our idea of investing in people. When we invest in The Dam financially, they can invest in the lives of youth relationally, creating impactful and lasting change!”

Invest in The Dam by donating, volunteering, or walking with us Feb. 22nd at thedam.org/getinvolved