COVID-19 Response

In response to the COVID-19 crisis, the Peter Gilgan Foundation temporarily paused our Grant Program in 2020 and donated nearly $5 million to help address health, social, and economic needs in Canada. Funds were deployed in three phases: React & Research, Relief, and Rebuild.
49
organizations supported
6
months worth of reagent material provided for COVID testing
633,000+
meals served
$11.6 million+
funds leveraged in matching campaigns

Phase 1: React & Research

In the early days of the pandemic, Ontario struggled to reach the desired levels of testing, a critical tool to facilitate understanding and controlling the disease. Our first and largest COVID donation aimed to increase testing capacity in Ontario.

St. Michael’s Hospital
$3,276,000

To purchase a Perkin Elmer Chemagic Extractor testing machine and reagent material for six months of operation. This enabled St. Mike’s to significantly increase testing capacity and become a provincial leader.

Phase 2: Relief

The Peter Gilgan Foundation strives to address the root causes of problems, rather than the symptoms. Therefore, emergency relief is not one of our funding priorities. However, in light of unprecedented food insecurity faced by Canadians as a result of COVID, we provided no-strings-attached donations to seven leading food banks in Ontario and Alberta. We were impressed to learn what they achieved with the funds.

Community Food Centres Canada – The Alex Community Food Centre
$50,000

To provide delicious, healthy frozen meals for those unable to prepare food at home, meal hampers for those who can cook independently, and grocery cards for families in Calgary.

Daily Bread Food Bank
$200,000

To address food insecurity in Toronto and respond to a 60% increase in demand.

Food Banks Alberta
$150,000

To help pay for food, transportation, and operations in support of the network of over 95 food banks in Alberta.

Food for Life
$50,000

To augment rescued food as needed due to interruptions to supply chains and continue to serve the needs of individuals and charities in Halton.

Mississauga Food Bank
$150,000

To support the #MississaugaChallenge matching campaign and ensure that Mississauga food banks were stocked up despite cancelled community food drives.

Ottawa Food Bank
$150,000

To add fresh food including fruit, vegetables, milk, eggs, meat, and bread to emergency food hampers in Ottawa.

Second Harvest
$150,000

To support the purchase of a refrigerated truck to enable the supply and transportation of rescued perishable food across the Greater Toronto Area.

Phase 3: Rebuild

Recognizing that the social and economic consequences of COVID-19 are disproportionately affecting youth, women, Indigenous peoples, and racialized communities, we provided no-strings-attached donations to organizations both serving and led by these groups. The focus was on grassroots charities delivering community development and economic opportunities, and striving for a more equal, sustainable and just world.

  • Aboriginal Friendship Centre of Calgary
    $25,000
  • ACORN Institute Canada
    $10,000
  • Alberta Network for Immigrant Women
    $10,000
  • Alexandra Park Community Centre
    $10,000
  • Black Business and Professional Association
    $25,000
  • Business in the Streets
    $10,000
  • Canadian Native Friendship Centre
    $25,000
  • CEE – Centre for Young Black Professionals
    $25,000
  • Christie Refugee Welcome Centre
    $10,000
  • Coalition of Community Houses
    $25,000
  • Community Action Resource Centre
    $10,000
  • Community Laundry Co-operative
    $10,000
  • Council for the Advancement of African Canadians in Alberta
    $10,000
  • Creating Hope Society
    $10,000
  • Delta Family Resource Centre
    $25,000
  • East Scarborough Storefront
    $25,000
  • Edmonton Region Immigrant Employment Council
    $10,000
  • EntrepreNorth
    $10,000
  • Heartwood House
    $10,000
  • Immigrant Women Services Ottawa
    $10,000
  • Jane/Finch Community and Family Centre
    $25,000
  • Making Changes
    $10,000
  • Matthew House Ottawa
    $10,000
  • Native Canadian Centre of Toronto
    $10,000
  • Native Women’s Resource Centre of Toronto
    $25,000
  • Newcomer Women’s Services Toronto
    $25,000
  • Odawa Native Friendship Centre
    $25,000
  • Parents of Black Children – York Region
    $10,000
  • Peel Aboriginal Network Indigenous Friendship Centre
    $25,000
  • Scadding Court Community Centre
    $10,000
  • Social Planning Council of Ottawa
    $25,000
  • Success Beyond Limits
    $10,000
  • SuitsHisStyle
    $10,000
  • Toronto Council Fire Native Cultural Centre
    $25,000
  • Toronto Region Immigrant Employment Council
    $25,000
  • True North Aid
    $10,000
  • Trust 15 Youth Community Support Organization
    $10,000
  • Up With Women
    $10,000
  • Urban Society for Aboriginal Youth
    $25,000
  • Weston King Neighbourhood Centre
    $10,000
  • Women’s Centre of Calgary
    $10,000