NEWSROOM
Easter Seals Canada applauds passage of Bill C-22, looks forward to imminent Royal Assent and the work ahead for the implementation of the Canada Disability Benefit
June 21, 2023
Following its unanimous passage in the House of Commons earlier this year, Bill C-22 was accepted in the Senate of Canada and is expected to receive Royal Assent imminently. After years of hard work by many in Canada’s disability community, government, and the charitable, not-for-profit, and health sectors, this is an historic moment for people with disabilities in Canada. Read Easter Seals’ statement about the passage of Bill C-22.
Tugo partners with Easter Seals Canada to support people living with disabilities
April 5, 2023
TuGo will be providing financial support to Easter Seals camps and will encourage employees to volunteer with Easter Seals through their camps and other programs. “We are honoured to partner with Easter Seals Canada and support their important work,” said Kathy Starko, TuGo’s President & CEO. Read about the new partnership with TuGo here.
Governor General congratulates Easter Seals on 100th anniversary
October, 2022
Her Excellency, The Right Hon. Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada, sent a message to congratulate Easter Seals on its 100th anniversary. The message was read to attendees and guests at Easter Seals’ 100th anniversary event in Ottawa on September 28th. The Governor General is Viceregal Patron of Easter Seals Canada. Read the full announcement here…
We Care honoured with 2022 Patron Award
September, 2022
Easter Seals Canada is proud to announce We Care as the recipient of the 2022 Easter Seals Patron Award. The award is in recognition of We Care’s decades long support for Easter Seals and helping to send kids living with disabilities to Easter Seals camps across the country. To date, We Care has raised over $25.5M for Easter Seals camps. Read the full announcement here…
Heritage for All research project enters public engagement phase
September, 2022
The Heritage for All research project, funded by Accessibility Standards Canada, is aimed at eliminating physical barriers to Canada’s heritage buildings, as well as informing and advancing future national accessibility standards for federally-owned heritage buildings. In October 2022, the project will start its public engagement phase. Read the full announcement here…
Governor General of Canada extends Viceregal Patronage to Easter Seals Canada
August, 2022
Easter Seals Canada is proud to announce that that they have been granted Viceregal Patronage from Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada. The announcement comes in the midst of a milestone year for the organization as it celebrates 100 years since Easter Seals was first founded in Canada in 1922. Read the full announcement here…
We Care and its network of Member Sponsors raises $700,000 to help children with disabilities attend Easter Seals camps
June 13, 2022
Easter Seals Canada is pleased and grateful to announce that it has received a $700,000 donation from We Care at its recent virtual gala to help send children who are living with disabilities to Easter Seals’ accessible and inclusive camps across Canada. We Care is one of Easter Seals’ largest long-term annual donor. Read the full announcement here…
Open letter from Easter Seals on Canada Disability Benefit (CDB) published in The Hill Times
May 17, 2022
An open letter by Easter Seals Canada’s President & CEO, Dave Starrett, on the importance and urgent need to pass legislation on the Canada Disability Benefit (CDB) and implement it as soon as possible, was published in the April 27, 2022 edition of The Hill Times newspaper. Read the full text of the letter here…
Easter Seals Celebrates National Volunteer Week 2022 and announces recipients of National Volunteer Awards
April 25, 2022
Volunteers are often the heart and lifeline for any charitable organization, including Easter Seals. We kick off celebrations for National Volunteer Week 2022 by announcing the recipients of this year’s Easter Seals National Volunteer Awards. Read the full announcement and learn more about the award recipients here…
Scotiabank and Easter Seals partner to help high school students graduate, with aid of assistive technology and mentorship
April 21, 2022
Easter Seals Canada is pleased to announce a new partnership with Scotiabank that will provide resources for Canadian youth living with disabilities, to support them in reaching their full potential throughout their high school education. Read the full announcement about the partnership with Scotiabank here…
Helping children access essential accessibility equipment and technology with CIBC support
March 16, 2022
Easter Seals is pleased to announce that CIBC has donated $100,000 to help support access to essential accessibility equipment and adaptive devices for children with disabilities. Since 2018, CIBC’s support has enabled Easter Seals to directly help approximately 100 children and families. Read the full announcement about CIBC’s support here…
TD Bank Group provides support for new pilot financial literacy program
February 24, 2022
Easter Seals Canada is pleased to announce a new program, made possible with support from TD Bank Group. The “TD Secure Futures” pilot program will empower Canadians living with disabilities with the financial knowledge and skills to achieve their financial and life goals.
Read the full announcement about the TD Secure Futures program here…
CENTURY 21 wraps up yet another outstanding year of fundraising for Easter Seals
February 16, 2022
CENTURY 21 Canada and its Companies and Network members have again demonstrated their unwavering commitment to supporting the well-being of Canadian children with disabilities and Easter Seals by raising an incredible $875,227 for the CENTURY 21 Kids to Camp program in 2021.
Read the full announcement about CENTURY 21 fundraising here…
Sun Life partners with Easter Seals on scholarship and mentorship initiative
Dec 29, 2021
Easter Seals Canada is pleased to partner with Sun Life on the Workplace Readiness & Mentorship Program – a new initiative to assist in removing financial barriers to post-secondary education for students living with disabilities, and to support them for success in school and to prepare for and transition to the workforce.
Read the announcement about the Sun Life scholarships on social media here…
CENTURY 21 Canada honoured with Easter Seals Patron Award for 2021
Dec 2, 2021
Easter Seals Canada is pleased to announce that the 2021 Easter Seals Patron Award is being presented to CENTURY 21 Canada for its decades-long support of Easter Seals, helping to send kids living with disabilities to Easter Seals camps.
Learn more about the Patron Award announcement here …
Easter Seals prepares to celebrate its centennial in 2022
Oct 19, 2021
Easter Seals will be reaching a monumental milestone in Canada as we celebrate 100 years of working to create a more inclusive and accessible society that honours the contributions and potential of Canadians of all abilities.
Learn more about the Easter Seals centennial here …
#UNSTOPPABLE BLOG® : Insights into the world of teaching, through the lens of an educator with a physical disability.
Oct 12, 2021
What could inclusive classrooms and instructional practices and strategies look like? Elementary school educator, Cynthia Berringer, offers her insights and several concrete and practical suggestions for what educators and teachers can do to make their classrooms and practices more inclusive of students of various abilities, including those with physical disabilities.
First episode of new BroadcastAbility podcast series on inclusive employment and workplaces now out!
Sept 25, 2021
Easter Seals Canada is pleased to announce that the first episode of BroadcastAbility – a podcast series by and about persons with disabilities, inclusive employment and workplaces is now available! The BroadcastAbility podcast series is a collaboration between Easter Seals and researchers from the PROUD Project at the University of Toronto.
The inaugural episode features an interview with Taylor Lindsay-Noel, a successful young entrepreneur and founder of a luxury tea brand that has been featured in O, The Oprah Magazine.
#UNSTOPPABLE BLOG®: Standing in solidarity with the Disability Community!
Sept 15, 2021
“As a person who has a visible, physical disability, I strongly believe one way to stand in solidarity with the disabled community is being an ally,” says our blog guest contributor, Emily. But what does it mean to stand in solidarity with the Disability Community? Social worker and speaker, Emily Chan, shares her thoughts and perspectives in this #UNSTOPPABLE® Blog article.
Third annual Red Shirt Day celebrates Canadians with disabilities
May 31, 2021
Easter Seals Canada, along with Canadians from coast to coast, will mark the third annual Red Shirt Day in a show of solidarity for people and families living with disabilities on Wednesday, June 2, 2021.
First observed in 2019, Red Shirt Day is held on the Wednesday of National AccessAbility Week every year. The event helps to raise awareness about disability, accessibility and inclusion by creating a visible display of support for Canadians living with disabilities, celebrating their achievements and contributions to society, and inviting Canadians to engage with disability and accessibility issues.
Empowering more young adults with disabilities for success in the workplace and in life
April 26, 2021
Easter Seals Canada is pleased to announce that RBC Foundation is renewing its support for the program with a $450,000 contribution over the next 3 years (2021-2023). This will enable Easter Seals Canada and Easter Seals provincial members organizations to offer the program to more young adults in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Newfoundland, Ontario, and Saskatchewan.
Celebrating National Volunteer Week 2021 with National Volunteer Awards for outstanding volunteers
April 18, 2021
National Volunteer Week is an opportunity to thank and celebrate volunteers from coast-to-coast. Easter Seals Canada thanks all our volunteers for their contributions to the organization and helping to further our mission to help Canadians living with disabilities succeed and be #UNSTOPPABLE. We are also pleased to announce the names of eight outstanding volunteers and recipients of the 2021 Easter Seals National Volunteer Awards.
CIBC Children’s Foundation helps create brighter futures for kids with disabilities
April 1, 2021
Between 2018 and 2020, CIBC Children’s Foundation contributed $150,000 to Easter Seals’ AccessAbility Program, which enabled Easter Seals to provide assistance to families in multiple provinces in acquiring vital and essential accessibility equipment and devices that their children require for daily life. For these children, accessibility and adaptive equipment, devices and technology can truly be a life-changer, and enables them to live, learn, and play safely, confidently and with dignity, and empowers them to pursue their dreams and aspirations.
CENTURY 21 Canada raises over $452,000 for Easter Seals in 2020 in spite of COVID19 pandemic
February 23, 2021
Easter Seals is pleased to announce that CENTURY 21 Companies and Network members in Canada raised over $452,000 for Easter Seals via its C21 Kids to Camp Program – aimed at enabling children with disabilities across Canada to attend one of Easter Seals inclusive and accessible camp programs. This is a remarkable achievements in light of the challenges and upheavals caused by the COVID19 pandemic in 2020, and is a testament to the commitment and generosity of the realtors, real estate agents, brokers and staff at CENTURY 21 Canada.
Author Candice O’Sullivan donates proceeds from sale of her new book, A New Way to Play, to Easter Seals
February 9, 2021
Author Candice O’Sullivan is donating the proceeds from the sale of 500 copies of her brand new children’s picture book, A New Way to Play, to Easter Seals to celebrate its publication and to give back to community. The book follows the story of 3 young friends who find different and more inclusive ways to play. When asked why she chose to donate to Easter Seals, she said,” Easter Seals spreads awareness and focuses on enriching people’s lives, particularly for people and families living with disabilities.”
#UNSTOPPABLE BLOG®: Don’t Dis My Ability
January 28, 2021
“I was the only student in my entire elementary school to have a physical disability…. I thought no one could understand how I was feeling…. Growing up, I hated the idea of talking to someone about my problems. Upon reflection it has turned out to be the best thing I have ever done for myself.” For Bell Let’s Talk Day, author and former Easter Seals camper, Yale Gottesman, shares her experiences growing up with disability, bullying, and mental health and well-being in this #UNSTOPPABLE® Blog article.
Easter Seals Canada partners with Amway on Year-End Matching Gift Campaign
January 4, 2021
In December 2021, Easter Seals once again partnered with Amway Canada on its Year-End Matching Gift Campaign. Amway – a long-time corporate partner of Easter Seals – generously agreed to sponsor the campaign, for the second year in a row, by matching all donations made to Easter Seals in the month of December, dollar-for-dollar, up to a total of $20,000. Thanks to the support from Amway and generosity of Canadians, Easter Seals quickly surpassed that goal: raising critical funds for Easter Seals programs and services in support of children, youth, adults and families living with disabilities across the country.
Booster Juice donates $10,000 to Easter Seals
December 3, 2020
Easter Seals Canada is pleased to announce that it has has received a $10,000 donation from Booster Juice. Earlier in November, Booster Juice had pledged to donated $1 to Easter Seals for every download of its brand new Booster Juice app that month, up to a maximum of $10,000. The app allows people to order Booster Juice smoothies and other menu items and either pick it up or have it delivered from the nearest Booster Juice outlet. The donation will be directed toward Easter Seals programs and services which enables Canadians living with disabilities to lead more independent and healthy lives, and participate fully in society.
Easter Seals teams up with UGO Wallet app
August 6, 2020
Easter Seals Canada is pleased to announce that it has teamed up with UGO Wallet to provide Canadians with a simple and easy way to support and fundraise for Easter Seals. Simply download the UGO Wallet app, set up an account to fundraise for Easter Seals, and start buying e-gift cards from a growing list of 30+ major Canadian merchants to pay for regular everyday purchases like groceries, online shopping, gas and restaurants. You get the full value of the gift card, while Easter Seals receives a donation!
Rogers Family Foundation supports individuals and families impacted by COVID19
June 15, 2020
Easter Seals Canada is pleased to receive a major gift from The Rogers Family Foundation, announced earlier today. The gift from the Rogers family will enable Easter Seals and its provincial organizations to provide support and assistance to more persons and families who are living with disability/with diverse abilities, particularly those who have been impacted by the ongoing pandemic.
Celebrating National AccessAbility Week 2020 with Red Shirt Day and Children’s Art Contest
May 27, 2020
Easter Seals Canada will once again be celebrating National AccessAbility Week (NAAW) by encouraging Canadians to wear red on the Wednesday of NAAW – June 3rd this year – to create a visible display of solidarity with people and families living with disabilities, and to affirm our individual and collective commitment to accessibility and inclusion. As part of Easter Seals’ NAAW celebrations, children are also being invited to submit their artistic vision of “An Inclusive and Accessible Canada for Everybody.”
Celebrating and acknowledging our volunteers across Canada during National Volunteer Week 2020, including special Volunteer Awards
April 20, 2020
Volunteers are the lifeblood of any organization and at Easter Seals, we are particularly grateful for the dedication and contribution of our many volunteers across Canada. The support and assistance of volunteers in various capacities are critical in helping Easter Seals achieve its mission and mandate. In tandem with National Volunteer Week 2020, it gives us great pleasure to recognize a number of special outstanding volunteers who have gone above and beyond in their contributions to Easter Seals.
Easter Seals Canada is part of coalition of Canadian charities appealing for support from Federal Government
March 27, 2020
Easter Seals Canada, along with Imagine Canada and over 150 other Canadian charities have formed a coalition to appeal for financial support from the Federal Government in order to assist Canada’s charitable sector in weathering the effects of COVID-19, and to ensure that charities continue to be able to provide vital programs and services for vulnerable peoples and communities across the country.
Announcements regarding COVID-19 coronavirus
March 16, 2020
As of March 16, 2020, the Easter Seals Canada office will be temporarily closed as a precautionary measure to protect the safety and well-being of our clients, volunteers, staff, partners and supporters – which remains our highest priority at all times. As the situation related to the COVID-19 coronavirus evolves, we will continue to monitor and assess the situation as it pertains to our operations, in tandem with recommended guidelines from governments and health authorities.
Easter Seals Canada’s AccessAbility Innovations Student Competition brings together young visionaries and inventors to showcase ideas and concepts with the potential to enhance the lives of people living with disabilities
March 12, 2020
Easter Seals Canada is pleased to announce the winners of the inaugural Easter Seals AccessAbility Innovations Student Fair and Competition. Held in conjunction with the Community Conference, the Student Competition challenges students in grade 10 – 12 to propose a novel idea/concept for a product or application with the potential to enhance the lives of people living with disabilities.
Easter Seals Canada hosting community conference on March 11, 2020 to highlight issues and priorities for the disability community
February 11, 2020
Easter Seals Canada is inviting community members, families, government officials and representatives from the corporate, public and civic sectors to come together for a conference to discuss issues and identify actions to address pressing issues for the disability community. The day-long conference will be held at the MaRS Discovery District and feature a panel discussion that will be broadcast LIVE over the internet for participants that are unable to attend in person. Register today to reserve your spot at the conference!
CENTURY 21 Canada sets new all-time fundraising record in 2019 for its annual fundraising campaign for Easter Seals
February 5, 2020
CENTURY 21 Canada has been supporting Easter Seals since 1979, when it selected Easter Seals as its charity of choice. Each year, CENTURY 21 Network members donate and raise funds to help kids and youth across the country, who are living with disabilities, to Easter Seals summer camps. In 2019, CENTURY 21 Canada and its Network members (REALTORS®) broke all its previous records by raising over $946,044 for Easter Seals: enough to send 450 children and youth to Easter Seals camp in 2020.
Celebrating the 2019 International Day of Persons with Disabilities and Giving Tuesday with Amway Canada Matching Gift Campaign
December 3, 2019
This year, the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) and Giving Tuesday falls on Dec 3rd. In honour of this double celebration and as a demonstration of its support for persons with disabilities and accessibility, Amway will match every dollar donated to Easter Seals starting December 3 to December 31, 2019, up to a maximum of $10,000.
Easter Seals honours Danny and Martie Murphy of DP Murphy Inc for 40 years of unwavering support in PEI
September 8, 2019
Easter Seals Canada is pleased to honour Danny and Martie Murphy of D.P. Murphy Inc., based in Charlottetown, PEI, with a 2019 Easter Seals Canada Community Partner Award. The award – which recognizes outstanding community organizations or individuals who have demonstrated excellence in partnering with Easter Seals to promote access and inclusion – was presented to Danny and Martie at an event, hosted by The Hon. Antoinette Perry, Lieutenant Governor of PEI, at Government House.
Easter Seals celebrates National AccessAbility Week 2019 with Red T-Shirt Day of Action for Accessibilty and Inclusion on Wednesday, May 29
May 29, 2019
Easter Seals Canada joins Canadians across the country in observing National AccessAbility Week (May 26 to June 1, 2019), celebrating the contributions of Canadians who are living with disability, and the progress that have been made towards creating a truly accessible and inclusive society in Canada. Easter Seals is also inviting all Canadians to wear red on Wednesday, May 29, as a visible show of support for persons living with disabilities, and to raise awareness of the physical and attitudinal obstacles and barriers that still remain.
RBC Foundation supporting skills training and employment preparation program for youth in five provinces with $300,000 Future Launch grant
April 23, 2019
Easter Seals Canada is pleased to announce that RBC Foundation is supporting a 21st century skills training and employment preparation program for youth between the ages of 15 and 29 in five provinces over the next two years with a $300,000 Future Launch grant. The support from RBC Foundation builds and expands upon a pilot project – also funded by RBC – which was implemented in Ontario in 2018. In addition to Ontario, the program will take place in BC, Alberta, Newfoundland & Nova Scotia.
Support from CIBC Children’s Foundation enables families to acquire assistive devices and equipment for kids living with disabilities.
April 17, 2019
Easter Seals Canada is pleased to announce a generous $75,000 donation in 2018 from CIBC and CIBC Children’s Foundation for Easter Seals’ AccessAbility program. The funding enabled families to acquire various essential assistive devices and equipment, and communications and learning technologies that will dramatically improve the quality of life of their child who is living with disability, and equip them for future success. The donation was distributed across five provinces and benefited approx. 100 children….
Easter Seals honours contributions of six volunteers with National Volunteer Awards, in observation of National Volunteer Week 2019.
April 8, 2019
In observance of National Volunteer Week (April 7 – 13, 2019), Easter Seals Canada – in conjunction with Easter Seals provincial member organizations – is honouring the contributions of six outstanding volunteers from across the country with the National Volunteer Awards. The award recognizes the time, and outstanding dedication and commitment that these volunteers have demonstrated in helping Easter Seals advance its mission of enhancing the quality of life, well-being and independence of Canadians living with….
Easter Seals honours Amway Canada with the 2019 Patron Award for its longstanding support for Canadians living with disabilities.
March 27, 2019
Easter Seals Canada is proud to announce that the 2019 Patron Award – Easter Seals’ highest honour – will be presented to AMWAY Canada for its decades of unwavering support and commitment to Easter Seals’ mission and work in support of Canadians who are living with disabilities across Canada. Amway is a family-owned, global direct-selling company dedicated to helping people live healthier and more empowered lives.
The Easter Seals Paper Egg Campaign is back in participating stores nation-wide starting March 25, 2019 – with a fresh new look!
March 21, 2019
With Spring finally here and warm weather on its way, Easter Seals is pleased to announce that it’s popular annual grassroots fundraising initiative – the Paper Egg Campaign – will be back in participating stores Canada-wide starting March 25, 2019. The Paper Egg is also getting a fresh new look that is more reflective of Easter Seals’ mission and vision. Canadians can make a donation by requesting Paper Eggs at the cashier at Booster Juice, Peavey Mart, and Lawtons Drugs stores, and at other participating stores.
CENTURY 21 Canada companies and network members raise over $704,000 in 2018 to send kids living with disabilities to Easter Seals summer camps
February 12, 2019
CENTURY 21 Canada – one of the world’s largest residential real estate sales organizations – has raised over $704,000 in 2018 for Easter Seals through its C21 Kids to Camp Program. This brings its historical fundraising total for Easter Seals Canada to over $11.1 million since 1979. Funds raised will help send more than 330 kidsliving with disabilities to an Easter Seals summer camp in 2019, where they can enjoy and benefit from a transformative experience of a lifetime.
EASTER SEALS WEB ANNOUNCEMENT: STATEMENT ON RESULTS OF THE 2017 CANADIAN SURVEY ON DISABILITY
Dec 3, 2018
Toronto, ON – Last week, Statistics Canada released the results of the latest 2017 Canadian Survey on Disability (CSD). The new data points to significant labour and income disparities faced by people living with disabilities. It also serves as a reminder of the ongoing challenges that Canadians living with disabilities face 365 days of the year.
GIVING TUESDAY 2018: 365 #UNSTOPPABLETM STORIES CAMPAIGN
Nov 14, 2018
Toronto, ON – To mark Giving Tuesday 2018, Easter Seals is inviting Canadians to take part in the 365 #UNSTOPPABLETM Stories campaign by sharing their personal story or a story of someone in their life who have smashed stereotypes and misconceptions of persons living with disabilities and transformed the world around them. Easter Seals will begin sharing the stories – one a day for the next 365 days – starting Dec 3, 2018, the International Day of Persons with Disabilities.
EASTER SEALS WRAPS UP THE RBC 21st CENTURY LEADERSHIP PILOT PROGRAM
Oct 15, 2018
Toronto, ON – This summer, Easter Seals Canada and Easter Seals Ontario piloted an exciting new program, the RBC 21st Century Leadership Pilot Program, to provide the opportunity and support for young Canadians, aged between 15 and 29 years old, to develop and hone their skills and competencies in a number of 21st century skills areas such as critical thinking, communications, teamwork, financial literacy and more. Generously funded by RBC Bank, the program took place in two locations in Ontario.
CALLING ALL SUPERHEROES: THE RETURN OF DROP ZONE
August 13, 2018
Toronto, ON – Easter Seals’ annual signature fundraising event, The Drop Zone (www.thedropzone.ca), is back again this August and September, with events taking place in 7 cities across Canada: Victoria, Vancouver, Regina, Winnipeg, Toronto, Ottawa, and Halifax. The annual event sees ordinary Canadians shedding their everyday clothes for their superhero outfits and taking a leap off a high-rise tower in support of people living with disabilities.
EASTER SEALS’ PAPER EGG CAMPAIGN RETURNS TO STORES THIS SPRING
March 5, 2018
Toronto, ON – The beginning of March usually signals that spring is almost here. It also marks the start of the annual Easter Seals Paper Egg Campaign. From March 5 – April 1, communities big and small all across Canada will come together to raise funds for Canadians living with disabilities through the annual Easter Seals Paper Egg Campaign. The Paper Egg Campaign is one of Easter Seals’ signature national fundraising and awareness programs, and a key initiative of our Easter Seals Month celebrations.
KIDS ARE UNSTOPPABLETM CAMPAIGN
January 4, 2017
Toronto, ON – Dave Starrett, President and CEO of Easter Seals Canada, today announced the launch of a new multimedia fundraising and awareness campaign airing on Corus specialty channels and appearing on transit shelters, column ads and interior transit cards across Canada. The national campaign, titled ‘UnstoppableTM’, is the first large-scale effort Canadians will have seen from Easter Seals in quite some time.
EASTER SEALS CANADA RECEIVES ACCREDITATION UNDER IMAGINE CANADA’S STANDARDS PROGRAM
November 1, 2016
Toronto, ON – Easter Seals Canada is pleased to announce that it has been accredited under Imagine Canada’s national Standards Program. With this achievement, Easter Seals Canada joins a growing community of more than 200 organizations dedicated to operational excellence.
The Standards Program is a Canada-wide set of shared standards for charities and non-profits designed to recognize and strengthen practices in five fundamental areas: board governance; financial accountability and transparency; fundraising; staff management; and volunteer involvement.
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