Toronto Community Champion Award

The Toronto Community Champion Award was launched in 2023 as part of the Stronger TOgether program.  It was developed as an initiative to recognize community organizations that supported residents in neighbourhoods across the city throughout the pandemic.  Due to its resounding success, the Toronto Community Champion Award has become an annual initiative, with a general focus on recognizing the importance and impact of community organizations in our city.

The Toronto Community Champion Award continues to recognize the extraordinary contributions that community organizations make to support the health, interests and well-being of Toronto residents, particularly those from Indigenous, Black, and other equity-deserving communities. This annual program is unique as it provides an opportunity for individual residents to recognize the hard work of community “champions” through their own lived experience by nominating an organization they feel is worthy of an award, rather than organizations or groups putting forth nominations themselves or recognizing individuals.

Once submitted, nominations are reviewed by a panel of community leaders, and award recipients are selected based on the program’s eligibility criteria.

To be eligible for a Toronto Community Champion Award, priority will be given to community-focused organizations that:

  • adapt services and approaches to respond to the needs of a geographical location, identity, interests, or other demographic characteristics of a neighbourhood/community
  • demonstrate an inclusive and innovative approach to their work
  • serve Indigenous, Black and/or equity-deserving groups and communities and areas
  • provide community service as their primary focus, rather than fundraising or grant making
  • have not been previously recognized for the same initiative with a Toronto Community Champion Award

Organizations must also be:

  • operating as a not-for-profit organization, a registered charity and/or serving Indigenous, Black and/or other equity-deserving groups and communities
  • based in Toronto
  • made up of at least three people
  • governed by a volunteer Board of Directors
  • nominated by a resident of Toronto

Organizations must not:

  • be nominated by someone at the organization itself
  • be a school or a hospital, or any other government institution

    Nominators must:

    • be a resident of Toronto with knowledge of the organization’s impact on the community, such as someone who has used their services or is a long-term supporter.

    Nominators must not:

    • work or volunteer for the organization,
    • be a board member of the organization,
    • be an elected official.

    Nominations open in early December 2024. Please return to this web page for more information.

     

    Watch videos honouring 2023’s award winners. There are six videos, one summarizing the awards and one for each neighbourhood listed below. Click the 1/6 playlist selection button to browse through the videos.

    Etobicoke

    • Amadeusz
    • Caribbean African Canadian Social Services
    • Elspeth Heyworth Centre for Women
    • Jane Alliance Neighbourhood Services
    • MABELLEarts
    • Rexdale Community Hub
    • Youth Without Shelter

    North York

    • The Neighbourhood Organization
    • Thorncliffe Park Autism Support Network
    • Toronto Black Farmers and Growers Collective

    Scarborough

    • Afghan Network for Social Services
    • Feed Scarborough – Scarborough Security Food Initiative
    • Organization of Canadian Tamils with Disabilities
    • Settlement Assistance and Family Support Services

    Downtown Area

    • The Bike Brigade
    • FCJ Refugee Centre
    • Fort York Food Bank
    • Reset
    • Stone Soup Network

    City-Wide

    • 2 Spirited People of the 1st Nations
    • Good Neighbour Project
    • The Neighbourhood Group Community Services
    • Silent Voice Canada
    • Toronto and York Region Métis Council
    • WoodGreen

    Partner

    United Way Greater Toronto logo