As a participant with the Canadian Humanitarian Trust Donation Program, the Canadian Physicians for Aid and Relief (CPAR), the Escarpment Biosphere Foundation and a number of other charities, PCWF has been able to receive donations that have been used to send pharmaceuticals and medicals supplies overseas.
In the past 12 months more than $150,000,000 worth of supplies has been sent to some 25 hospitals, clinics or organizations in 20 countries. The Foundation applauds this global perspective and the generosity of Canadians who have made possible this aid to those suffering from Aids, HIV and other diseases in countries less fortunate than ours.
For more information on this program, or to donate, please contact:
An authorized CHT Donation Program representative at 905-281-3200
Or
Larry Rooney, Phoenix Community Works Foundation phone: 416-964-3380
A thirty unit housing project for retirees with a community centre for the residents and the community of LaFontaine.
PCWF is supporting the research and initial stages of this innovative housing project in order to promote other similar initiatives in Ontario and elsewhere.
The project has been undertaken by the Club de l’age d’or de Lafontaine. The organization was created to serve the French-speaking population of the area by providing housing for the elderly and employment for younger residents of the area.
Le Villageois de Lafontaine, a non-profit organization founded under the sponsorship of the Club de l’âge d’or de Lafontaine, obtained its letters patent in the summer of 2001. The objective of this organization is to develop a three-part housing project for retirees consisting of:
- 30 units intended for retirees;
- 10-20 units for semi-autonomous persons; and
- a community centre integrated with the residential components,
which provides the residents and the public with various services.
The organization hopes to serve on a priority basis the French-speaking population in the Township of Tilly, in Simcoe County, in north-central Ontario. The aim is to put a stop to the exodus of young people and retirees. Its plans call for accommodation for the elderly and employment for younger residents. Le Villageois will contribute to the development of the village through the creation of a community centre which will become a true regional cultural and social attraction.
Le Villageois wishes to be innovative in the area of affordable housing by offering a life lease. This is a model whereby each resident can purchase the right to occupy his or her unit for life. This right can be resold and turned over to the estate. Financial institutions apply to life leases those rules that normally cover co-ownership (condominium) financing. Since a non-profit organization remains the owner of the building, residents can expect lower purchase and operating costs. They can also receive support to maintain their units and services they could need.
For more information
Please contact PCWF
In honour of the memory of Irene Swift and Alan Fremes, this fund provides financial assistance to individuals in need of psychotherapy or those who wish to enter the profession.
Proceeds of the Fund are used to:
- Assist individuals in need of psychotherapy whose financial situation warrants such assistance.
- Assist individuals who wish to enter the profession and who require financial assistance to do so.
Recipients will be expected to repay loans in a timely manner. Repayment can be made in cash or through services performed.
For more information
Please contact PCWF
Dedicated to the protection and improvement of Toronto’s urban forests..
The activities of LEAF focus on residential tree planting within the boundaries of the new City of Toronto.
Staff and volunteers assist residents in one-on-one consultations in making educated decisions about the tree species that best suit their property and the location of the tree. Tree care information is provided to participants to ensure the best possible chance of long term surival. A recent study concluded that programs like this could significantly reduce energy demands: up to 40% for summer cooling and up to 10% for winter heating.
To date over 5000 native trees and shrubs have been planted in backyards throughout the City of Toronto. This program is an excellent model for other communities and environmental groups.
For more information
Please contact PCWF or
LEAF, 73 Bathurst St., Suite 303
Toronto, ON
M5V 2P6
Tel. 416-9244<
Fax. 416-413 91
info@leaftoronto.org
www.leaftoronto.org
Engaging citizens in environmental decision-making and public policy issues at City Hall.
This project is co-sponsored with the Toronto Environmental Alliance. Council Watch revises traditional public education programs to incorporate contemporary marketing and messaging techniques.
In TEA’s experience, the public is often quite knowledgeable on environmental issues and capable of expressing their concerns. However, local studies reveal that many are unable to access City Hall to engage
in public policy discussions. Others may be unable to order an environmentally friendly product or service.
Many citizens are also unclear about municipal jurisdiction in protecting the environment. For example, many wrongly assume that local water quality is the sole responsiblity of the provincial government.
Objectives:
- To employ convenient and effective tools to engage citizens in environmental decision-making and public policy issues at City Hall.
- To produce public education/communication materials that define the power municipal governments possess to protect the environment and public health.
- To create opportunities for the public to increase their level of participation and effectiveness in environmental change.
- To share TEA’s expertise in creating environmental change.
- To implement the recommendations in the City of Toronto’s Environmental Plan.
This project is made possible through a grant received from the Richard Ivey Foundation of Toronto. This Foundation was associated with creating the TO Council Watch News Online.
For more information:
Please contact PCWF
or contact www.torontoenvironment.org
The Community Environmental Stewardship Project is a group of annual events organized to restore and care for our urban forests in publicly owned parks and greenspaces.
Community partner groups like Rotary Clubs, Boy Scouts, Girl Guides, school and corporate groups plant indigenous trees, shrubs, flowers and ferns, as well as remove invasive alien plants and do a variety of educational projects related to nature. Staff and volunteers work with the partner groups to plan and implement projects, and teach them how to plant successfully and take care of the plants.
The projects aim to restore the natural forests and wetlands of the Toronto area using species that occurred here historically. We use up-to-date techniques and science to design the sites to ensure the best possible results over the long term.
The project has been going on since 1991 in many parks throughout the city and suburbs. Over 250,000 trees and shrubs have been planted by thousands of volunteers. Hundreds of acres have been reforested with native species and nature is returning to the parks.
We can organize events for any group, please call us to help restore our urban forests!
For more information:
Urban Forest Associates
restore@ufora.ca
www.ufora.ca
Tel/fax 416-423-3387
The purpose of this project is to support the creation of a documentary film about very young children learning through gardening, art and play in an outdoor school.
Project Goals
- To increase awareness of outdoor interdisciplinary art and gardening programs in Canada and elsewhere for young children
- To provide inspiration and ideas to educators, parents, artists and gardeners interested in developing experiential art and gardening programs
- To illustrate the value of the arts in our culture and in the education of young children
For more information:
Julie Jarvis, Project Co-ordinator
416-925-4688
julie.jarvis [at] sympatico.ca or contact PCWF
The Pugly Awards were established to raise awareness of and elevate architectural and planning standards in the City of Toronto. This is a 5 year project intended to implement an online architectural awards program, and a student educational outreach program.
The Awards Program is a two-pronged approach which consists of:
a) informing the public so that it can evaluate architecture and planning in a more constructive manner, and
b) holding developers, architects and city planners responsible for poor building design.
By voting for the best and worst residential, commercial and institutional developments and participating in Pugly-sponsored educational outreach programs, the public will finally be able to express their voice on the state of current architecture and join a growing movement that not only shuns mediocre design but also inspires civic beauty.
The Pugly Advisory Board consists of 20 individuals civic leaders and experts in their respective fields and passionate about improving architecture and urban planning. The Advisory Board includes:
David Crombie, former Mayor of Toronto and CEO of the Canadian Urban Institute;
Allan Gotlieb, former Canadian Ambassador to the United States and Honourary Chairman of the Ontario Heritage Foundation;
James Fleck, Chairman of the Art Gallery of Ontario;
Galen Weston, Jr., founder of the Spoke Club and Senior Vice President of Loblaw Companies.
For more information visit puglytoronto or call the Phoenix Foundation at 416-964-3380.
This trust fund was created in Galen’s honour.
A graduate of the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design, Galen was committed to living and working as an artist until an unfortunate collision took his life in May 2004, one day before his 30th birthday. His photographic skills and eye were in demand, especially amongst the artists’ community.
Mission Statement: To find artists active but unrecognized working in a manner which broadens vision and raises consciousness while incorporating artistry into everyday life.
The directors of this fund will meet to consensually award that artist a prize. The prize will be awarded without an application process as a surprise and could consist of raw materials, resource materials, and/or money towards encouraging further work. The youthful aspect will be appraised on a basis of the originality of the vision and approach rather than chronological age.
For More Information, please PCWF.
To see samples of Galen’s photography:
http://www.galenkuellmer.ca
This project involves the writing, editing and publishing of a book, And Sew it Begins, written by a woman who found her way out of years of abusive relationships and alcohol and drug addiction. Phoenix Community Works Foundation, has undertaken this project as one of many of its artistic endevours focused on bringing creativity to the heart of resolving social issues. This is in line with our mandate to build healthy and sustainable communities.
Shadows of the Mind is a true story of a young mother and her spiritual emergence from a long period of substance abuse and her marriage into a family of unsuccessful fraud artists and bank robbers. The story takes place in the 60′s and 70′s and follows the author’s struggle to raise three children in an unstable world of drugs, alcohol, prison, homelessness and mental illness.
The author, Debbie Roxborough, (referred to in the book as Droxy) was inspired to write her story in order to help, encourage and bring hope to other women who find themselves in similar situations. While trying to raise awareness about the generational effects of sexual abuse and addiction, the author intends to show readers where hope for healing truly lies and how she found her way out of the darkness.
Once published, free copies of the book will be distributed to Toronto’s Red Door (a shelter for women and children escaping abuse) as well as other organizations doing similar work. A portion of sales will also be donated.
To find out more about the project, please contact Debbie Roxborough/Project Coordinator at (416) 519-8207 or write, dlroxb@hotmail.com
If you would like to make a donation to the project, please click on CanadaHelps.org located on the sidebar. Please be sure to scroll down the menu and select Shadows of the Mind when making your contribution.