Multi-Year Grantees

BC Wheelchair Basketball Society, School & Community Participation Program, $7,500

The BCWBS Schools and Community Participation Program educates students, teachers, and communities about the sport of wheelchair basketball and disability awareness through experiential learning utilizing sport wheelchairs and an instructor. The program will expand to target indigenous youth/communities in addition to children with disabilities instilling awareness, confidence and opportunity.

Canvas Arts Action Programs, Speak OUT: Cultivating Safer Schools for Marginalized 2SLGBTQ+ Youth, $7,500

The Speak OUT program is an evidence-informed 2SLGBTQ+ inclusion program striving to make schools safer for marginalized 2SLGBTQ+ students. Using interactive programming, students learn about 2SLGBTQ+ identities, alliship, and ways to challenge homophobic and transphobic bullying. Speak OUT brings together education and arts to create safer, more inclusive communities.

Children's Rehabilitation Foundation Inc., Discovering Potential and Promoting Participation, $7,500

The Discovering Potential and Promoting Participation initiative tailors therapeutic and recreational programs to children/youth with disabilities, improving lives. L.I.F.E. Programs include Sun & Fun Summer Camps, Music Therapy, and Cooking Clubs, fostering life skills, well-being, and social interactions. Operating year-round, L.I.F.E. empowers participants, fostering community engagement and enrichment.

Comox Valley Family Services Association, The Duenna Project, $7,000

The Duenna program empowers female, two-spirited and non-binary youth (~13-18) through skills-building workshops focused on safety, cultural connection and resilience. By fostering self-confidence and providing a supportive peer and adult community, the goal is to mitigate trauma (sexual violence and/or intergenerational trauma) for youth from diverse socio-economic backgrounds.

Elora Centre for the Arts, Teen Addiction Recovery Program, $7,500

In partnership with the Portage Ontario Residential Drug Addiction Rehabilitation Centre for youth in Elora (“Portage”), the Elora Centre for the Arts (ECFTA) will offer a weekly program for teen residents through the 2024-25, 2025-26 and 2026-27 school years, linking the creative process to life skills for recovery.

Fort McKay Metis Nation Association, Nikotwâsik Mocassin Kinanâskomitin, $7,500

Nikotwâsik Mocassin Kinanâskomitin,the 'Moccasin Unity Journey,' organized by the FMMN, fosters reconciliation, healing, and community support. Through traditional moccasin making workshops, cultural discussions, and empowerment initiatives, we aim to uplift community members, ensuring they feel connected to their heritage and supported in social, emotional, and physical well-being.

Graffiti Art Programming, Art as Action 2024 (AaA24), $7,000

Art As Action 2024 will bring youth together with Indigenous Elders and artists to choose a TRC Call to Action to amplify with a public art project/performance/exhibition. Projects can include murals, songs, videos, social media campaigns or dance, and will educate audiences of the importance of reconciliation for Canada’s future.

Kawartha-Haliburton Children's Foundation, Child Development Fund, $7,500

The Child Development Fund was established to help children involved with the Kawartha-Haliburton Children's Aid Society overcome barriers to extracurricular participation. With the goal of enriching development, increasing social contact, building self-esteem and confidence, we fund a variety of extracurriculars - sports and arts activities, lessons, courses, cultural events and more.

Lakeshore Arts Committee, Q Summit, $7,500

Q Summit is a poetry and spoken word mentorship program providing creative development space for 2SLGBTQ+ youth ages 19 to 29. The program supports the growth of participants in poetry skills and personal development. Workshops are taught by two artist-educators in a safer space for self-expression, professional development, and friendship-building. The program culminates in a published anthology of poetry written by the participants, as well as a live poetry showcase for friends, family, and the public.

Lay-Up Youth Basketball, School-Year Program, $7,500

In our school-year program, Lay-Up provides 22-week cost-free, high-quality program to approximately 600 youth in under-resourced neighbourhoods. The program includes basketball skill development and activities rooted in the creative arts/education. To reduce barriers to access, we are placed-based and provide participants apparel and equipment.

Lush Valley Food Action Society, Indigenous Youth Food Systems Project, $7,500

The Indigenous Youth Food Systems Project tackles food insecurity experienced by vulnerable youth, specifically Indigenous youth. We take a multifaceted approach that includes food access through providing school lunches, food literacy through young cooks programs, and cultural as well as environmental connection by connecting with the land in our gardens.

OrKidstra – Sistema Ottawa, Empowering Children and Youth Through Music, $7,500

OrKidstra helps youth from equity-deserving Ottawa communities to reach for success through music. Children and youth build vital life skills – including respect, compassion, teamwork, self-confidence, and responsibility – through our free weekly after-school programs by singing and playing music together.

SKETCH, Studio Programming, $5,000

Studio Programming engages marginalized young people through free arts workshops in a variety of disciplines so they can build transferable skills and discover their own forms of self-expression and community. All workshops are paired with wellness provisions so participants can meet their immediate needs and move towards a sustainable livelihood.

Some Assembly Arts Society, Engaging with Intention, $7,500

Some Assembly's Engaging with Intention initiative brings together diverse at-risk youth and professional artists to create a trilogy of theatre productions, evolving one from the other over three years, to address growing apathy among youth and promote ideas for positive social change. Free performances with community dialogues and post-show workshops.

YouthSpeak Charity, Youth Facilitators, $7,500

Youth Facilitators represent diverse lived experiences, socio-economic, and cultural backgrounds, including the BIPOC, LGBTQ+ and neurodivergent communities. They are trained in leadership skills to develop and deliver our youth-led interactive presentations that include their personal stories with mental health, bullying, racism, homophobia, substance use, gender inclusivity, and online issues.