Award Winners

2025 Award Winners

Congratulations to the Winners and Finalists of the 2025 CharityVillage Conference & Awards
BEST NONPROFIT EMPLOYER – DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION

20+ Staff

Winner

Immigrant Women Services Ottawa

Finalists

  • Covenant House Toronto
  • Goodwill Industries of Alberta
  • Oxfam Canada
  • YWCA Metro Vancouver

20+ Staff

Semi-Finalists

    • ACCES Employment
    • Alberta Immigrant Women and Children Centre
    • Blue Door Support Services
    • CanadaHelps
    • Canadian Cancer Society
    • Catholic Crosscultural Services (CCS)
    • Circle of Care, Sinai Health
    • Covenant House Toronto
    • Edmonton Meals on Wheels
    • Elevate Aviation
    • EMBERS
    • Goodwill Industries of Alberta
    • Immigrant Women Services Ottawa
    • Indigenous Friends Association
    • International Women of Saskatoon (IWS)
    • Let’s Talk Science | Parlons sciences
    • Lookout Housing and Health Society
    • Milton Community Resource Centre
    • North York Harvest Food Bank
    • Oxfam Canada
    • Parents for Community Living – KW Inc.
    • Pinnguaq Association
    • Play Forever
    • Pleo – Parents’ Lifeline
    • Project SHARE
    • SafeLink Alberta Society
    • The Immigrant Education Society (TIES)
    • Toronto Humane Society
    • VHA Home Healthcare
    • WorkLink Employment Society
    • YMCA of the National Capital Region
    • YWCA Calgary
    • YWCA Metro Vancouver

Under 20 Staff

Winner

PEGASUS Institute

Finalists

  • CentreCanada Newcomer Services Society
  • Durham Family and Cultural Centre
  • Feed Ontario
  • iSisters Technology Mentoring

Under 20 Staff

Semi-Finalists

  • Alpha House
  • Bandology
  • CentreCanada Newcomer Services Society
  • Communauté Congolaise de la Région de la capitale du Canada – CCRCC
  • Cooperative Memorial Society
  • Durham Alliance Outreach
  • Durham Family and Cultural Centre
  • Feed Ontario
  • iSisters Technology Mentoring
  • PEGASUS Institute
  • Play Forever
  • Proset Autism / Autisme Proset
  • The John Howard Society of PEI
BEST NONPROFIT EMPLOYER – FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN

20+ Staff

Winner

Southlake Health Foundation

Finalists

  • 360°kids
  • AdaptAbilities
  • CanadaHelps
  • The Humane Society of Kitchener Waterloo and Stratford Perth

20+ Staff

Semi-Finalists

  • 360°kids
  • AdaptAbilities
  • ANIDA (All Nations International Development Agency)
  • CanadaHelps
  • FCJ Refugee Centre’s Fundraising Team
  • Southlake Health Foundation
  • The Humane Society of Kitchener Waterloo and Stratford Perth

Under 20 Staff

Winner

Cowichan District Hospital Foundation

Finalists

  • Lennox and Addington County General Hospital Foundation
  • Lupus Canada
  • Trek for Teens Foundation

Under 20 Staff

Semi-Finalists

  • Cowichan District Hospital Foundation
  • Hearts in Hands
  • Inside Education Society of Alberta
  • Lennox and Addington County General Hospital Foundation
  • Lupus Canada
  • Times Change Women’s Employment Service
  • Trek for Teens Foundation
BEST NONPROFIT EMPLOYER – WORKPLACE WELLNESS PROGRAM

20+ Staff

Winner

Canuck Place Children’s Hospice

Finalists

  • Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Durham
  • Circle of Care
  • Fred Victor
  • Windsor Family Health Team

20+ Staff

Semi-Finalists

    • British Columbia Construction Association
    • Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Durham
    • Canuck Place Children’s Hospice
    • Catholic Crosscultural Services (CCS)
    • Catholic Family Services of the Battlefords
    • Circle of Care
    • Connective Support Society
    • Covenant House Toronto
    • Creative Options Regina
    • Fred Victor
    • Futureworx Society
    • Goodwill Industries of Alberta
    • Greater Vancouver Food Bank
    • Harrow Health Centre: Family Health Team
    • Helping Hands, Orillia
    • Indigenous Primary Health Care Council
    • Louis Brier Home & Hospital
    • Parents for Community Living – KW Inc.
    • Vision Loss Rehabilitation Canada
    • Windsor Family Health Team

Under 20 Staff

Winner

Aura Freedom

Finalists

  • Centre for Family Literacy
  • Chinook Sexual Assault Centre
  • ReForest London
  • Thorncliffe Wellness Cafe Group

Under 20 Staff

Semi-Finalists

    • Armagh
    • Aura Freedom
    • Centre for Family Literacy
    • Chinook Sexual Assault Centre
    • Level Justice
    • Nimkee Nupigawagan Healing Centre
    • ReForest London
    • Rise
    • Thorncliffe Wellness Cafe Group
    • West Island Cancer Wellness Centre
BEST NONPROFIT EMPLOYER – VOLUNTEER PROGRAM

20+ Staff

Winner

Canadian Courage Project

Finalists

  • Calgary Seniors
  • Community Development Council Durham
  • Connections Early Years Family Centre
  • The Depot Community Food Centre

20+ Staff

Semi-Finalists

    • Calgary Seniors
    • Canadian Courage Project
    • CHATS- Community & Home Assistance to Seniors
    • Community Development Council Durham
    • Community Living Mississauga
    • Community Living Oakville
    • Connections Early Years Family Centre
    • Covenant House Toronto
    • Crossroads International
    • Cuso International
    • Fair Haven Homes Society
    • Greater Vancouver Food Bank
    • KCR Community Resources
    • North Okanagan Hospice Society
    • PLASP Child Care Services
    • Regional Animal Protection Society
    • Ronald McDonald House Charities Saskatchewan (RMHC-SK)
    • Saskatoon Open Door Society
    • Souls Harbour Rescue Mission
    • The Depot Community Food Centre

Under 20 Staff

Winner

Moms Against Racism Canada

Finalists

  • Centre for Family Literacy
  • Play Forever
  • Strathcona Community Policing Centre
  • The Kelowna & District Society for People In Motion

Under 20 Staff

Semi-Finalists

    • Army Cadet League of Canada
    • CanU Canada
    • Centre for Family Literacy
    • East York Learning Experience
    • Fored BC Society
    • Hutton House
    • Kids Up Front Foundation (Calgary)
    • Moms Against Racism Canada
    • NatureKids BC
    • Ontario Schools Cricket Association
    • PEGASUS Institute
    • Peace Arch Hospice Society
    • Play Forever
    • Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue
    • Strathcona Community Policing Centre
    • The Hangar Flight Museum
    • The Kelowna & District Society for People In Motion
    • Vancouver Adaptive Snow Sports – VASS
    • Vancouver Food Runners
    • Vantage Point
BEST NONPROFIT COLLABORATIVE PROJECT (FEATURING 2 OR MORE ORGANIZATIONS)

Winner

Alison Neighbourhood Community Centre, Cambridge Food Bank, Community Living Cambridge, Fiddlesticks, Forward, Greenway Chaplin Community Centre, Hespeler Village Neighbourhood Association, Hospice Waterloo Region, House of Friendship, Kinbridge Community Association, Knox United Ayr, Langs Community Health Care, Preston Heights Community Group, RARE, St Andrews, St Vincent Du Paul, Temple, YWCA Cambridge

Finalists

  • Aura Freedom International
  • Elements Society and Unbounded Canada Foundation
  • Immigrant Women Services Ottawa and World Skills Employment Centre Ottawa
  • sc̓e:ɬxʷəy̓əm Foodlands Restoration Corridor, Rivershed Society of BC

20+ Staff

Semi-Finalists

  • Aura Freedom International
  • Cecilia Concerts & Halifax Public Libraries
  • Collaborating organizations for Durham Non-Profit Network (DNN): Affiliation For Inspiring Youth Upliftment (AFIYU) Enterprise, AIDS Committee of Durham Region (ACDR), Back Door Mission, Bawaajigewin Aboriginal Community Circle (BACC) Boys and Girls Club (BGC) Durham, Community Development Council Durham Region (CDCD), Durham Community Foundation (DCF), Feed the Need Durham (FTND), Women’s Multicultural Resources and Counselling Centre (WMRCC), United Way Durham.
  • Community Living Essex County, Partners for Planning and Ontario Disability Employment Network (ODEN)
  • Contact North and Literacy Link South Central
  • Elements Society and Unbounded Canada Foundation
  • Alison Neighbourhood Community Centre, Cambridge Food Bank, Community Living Cambridge, Fiddlesticks, Forward, Greenway Chaplin Community Centre, Hespeler Village Neighbourhood Association, Hospice Waterloo Region, House of Friendship, Kinbridge Community Association, Knox United Ayr, Langs Community Health Care, Preston Heights Community Group, RARE, St Andrews, St Vincent Du Paul, Temple, YWCA Cambridge
  • Grand Erie Public Health, SOAR Community Services, The Boys and Girls Club of Brantford, Six Nations Child and Family Services, and Woodview Mental Health & Autism Services
  • HENS – Home Essentials Newcomer Support and The Donway Covenant Untied Church
  • Immigrant Women Services Ottawa and World Skills Employment Centre Ottawa
  • Mishka Social Services
  • North Island Employment Foundations Society (NIEFS) and Multi-cultural & Immigrant Services Association of North Vancouver Island (MISA) also known as the Immigrant Welcome Centre.
  • Seniors Services Society of BC
  • Six Nations Child & Family Services and Woodview Mental Health & Autism Services
  • Sunshine Foundation and Straz Strong Foundation
  • sc̓e:ɬxʷəy̓əm Foodlands Restoration Corridor, Rivershed Society of BC
  • The Old School Community Gathering Place and the St. John of the Cross Parish/Two Tunics
  • Tikva Housing, BC Rental Protection Fund, Ronald S. Roadburg Foundation
  • Victim Services of Durham Region, Dnaagdawenmag Binnoojiiyag Child and Family Services, Durham District School Board, Durham Catholic District School Board, Durham Regional Police, Kids Safety Village, Zemind Studios
  • Woodgreen Community Services, Black Opportunity Fund, CivicAction, Sustainable Impact Foundation, Aga Khan Council for Canada
MOST OUTSTANDING INDIVIDUAL IMPACT – STAFF
&
MOST OUTSTANDING INDIVIDUAL IMPACT – VOLUNTEER

Staff

Winner

Ashlyn Koebel (Distribution Assistant Manager, Greater Vancouver Food Bank)

Finalists

  • Annie Kidder (Co-Founder and Executive Director, People for Education)
  • Lanelle Big Eagle (Operation Manager, OUTSaskatoon)
  • Monika Verma (Executive Director, Dixon Transition Society)
  • Sharon Abel (Manager, Double Take Thrift Store)

Staff

Semi-Finalists

  • Annie Kidder (Co-Founder and Executive Director, People for Education)
  • Ashlyn Koebel (Distribution Assistant Manager, Greater Vancouver Food Bank)
  • Colin Jessome (Executive Director at Crime Stoppers of Halton)
  • Darren Greer (Clinical Case Manager, Alpha House)
  • Jane Kenny (Executive Director Rosalie Hall)
  • Jason Shawana (Executive Director, NPAMMB Indigenous Youth Employment and Training)
  • Lanelle Big Eagle (Operation Manager, OUTSaskatoon)
  • Laura Monastero (Senior Manager, Organizational Performance and Privacy)
  • Manda Aufochs Gillespie (Executive Director, Cortes Island Community Foundation)
  • Marie Klassen (Executive Director)
  • Mohammed Al-Salem (Founder, Play Forever)
  • Monika Verma (Executive Director, Dixon Transition Society)
  • Nathalia Prieto (Program Manager, Innovation Specialist at North York Community House)
  • Pulcherie Ngoie Mwepu (Senior Program Director – The Outreach Social Care Foundation)
  • Robert Gill (National Executive Director; Army Cadet League of Canada)
  • Sarah Pritula (Director of Philanthropy & Major Gifts)
  • Shannon Douglas (Engagement and Training Coordinator, Community Living Oakville)
  • Sharon Abel (Manager, Double Take Thrift Store)
  • Stacy Murphy (Community Outreach Coordinator – The Humane Society of Kitchener Waterloo & Stratford Perth)
  • Victoria Berry (Social Services Manager – Centre for Grief & Healing)

Volunteer

Winner

  • Ashid Bahl (For the Love of Children Society of Alberta)

Finalists

  • Brenda Okorogba (Immigrant Women Services Ottawa, Students Commission of Canada, Results Canada, Crossroads International, and Ottawa Community Housing Corporation)
  • Margaux Wosk (BC People First Society)
  • Mark Kirton (ALS Action Canada)
  • Matthew Varey (Breakthrough T1D Canada (formerly JDRF); Breakthrough T1D International)

Volunteer

Semi-Finalists

  • Amber Craig (Breaking Free Foundation)
  • Ashid Bahl (For the Love of Children Society of Alberta)
  • Barb Estey (Vancouver Food Runners Society)
  • Barbara Kay (Learning Disabilities Association of York-Simcoe)
  • Brenda Okorogba (Immigrant Women Services Ottawa, Students Commission of Canada, Results Canada, Crossroads International, and Ottawa Community Housing Corporation)
  • Cathy Cowen (Canadian Center for Women Empowerment)
  • Chris Kennedy (pflag Canada)
  • Dianne Persall (Norfolk County Agricultural Society)
  • Frank Posta (Georgian Triangle Humane Society)
  • Gerry Pageau (Sunshine Coast Community Solar Association)
  • Ida Marchese (Women’s Nonprofit Network, The ONE Campaign Canada, Go Girls (Big Brothers Big Sisters Peel | York), the Together Project, IMACC Program for international students at the University of Toronto Mississauga, UNITE 2030)
  • Jana Bell (Amazon Rainforest Conservancy)
  • Kari Lindsay (Hamilton Children’s Choir)
  • Manpreet Dhesi (GenConnect)
  • Margaux Wosk (BC People First Society)
  • Mark Kirton (ALS Action Canada)
  • Matthew Varey (Breakthrough T1D Canada (formerly JDRF); Breakthrough T1D International)
  • Melissa Lawson (Community Living Oakville)
  • Rebeccah Raphael (YouthinspireED)
  • Riddhima Naithani (Music For Every Child)
  • Wade Chouinard (Breaking Free Foundation)