On the Winter Solstice, we are blessed with Grandmother Moon’s gift of darkness, while Grandfather Sun is at his lowest point in our hemisphere. It is a time to acknowledge our resilience and strength, as well as honour our ancestors through storytelling and celebration.

On behalf of the Anishnawbe Health Foundation Board of Directors and Staff team, thank you for your generosity and reciprocity.
We wish you and your loved ones warmth and comfort this holiday season and much health and happiness in the New Year.

About the Artist

Brandon Jacko is an Ojibway artist from Wikwemikong, Manitoulin Island, Ontario. He struggled with his Indigenous ancestry as a child and was often bullied for being Indigenous. During this time, he received a scholarship to the Avenue Road Art School, in Toronto, and began painting professionally in 2018. Brandon practises art in the Woodlands style of First Nations art and is able to express his imagination and connect with his Indigenous ancestry through his art. Brandon signs his work with a bear claw to represent his spiritual Clan.

Volunteer and Donor Support Helps to Bring the Light at the Winter Solstice for 400 Clients and Families

On December 16 and 17, volunteers and staff delivered 120 holiday hampers including fresh food, frozen turkeys, and toys to Indigenous families in need this Winter Solstice. Chi Miigwetch to Anishnawbe Health Foundation donors and supporters, including The Rotary Club of Toronto, CP24 CHUM Christmas Wish, Nieuport Aviation, Patty Fleming and the Just Socks Foundation for supporting this much anticipated and appreciated annual program. With your help, we were able to grow the program and support 45 more families than last year.

In addition, an Anonymous Donor assisted us in a food security program for elders and clients with two or more chronic health conditions. 300 grocery gift cards were distributed this holiday season.

Thank you for helping us to make sure everyone's holidays were a bit more festive this year.

Anishnawbe Health Foundation Celebrates Campaign Success on National Philanthropy Day

On November 15, as part of National Philanthropy Day celebrations, Anishnawbe Health Foundation (AHF) announced some very exciting news! We have officially exceeded our inaugural campaign goal and raised over $10.3 million. At the heart of this campaign was raising funds to build a new home for Anishnawbe Health Toronto. A purpose-built facility with connection to land, light and ceremony will further support the reclamation of culture and identity as well as health and healing for the urban Indigenous community.

Pre-celebrations kicked off with a surprise video message to Anishnawbe Health donors, volunteers and staff from Andre Morriseau, AHF Board Chair, informing them first about the  

DONOR PROFILE

East-End Street and Canadian Tire Come Together to Support Indigenous Health

Bastedo Avenue is a short two-block street located in the Woodbine Corridor in Toronto’s East End. It’s a close-knit group of neighbours who often gather to hold local family-friendly events. Due to COVID-19 little activity had been happening on the street, so when Canadian Tire approached the group, via their local Facebook page, to hold a unique spring event on their little street, the residents were thrilled.

Old’s Cool General Store’s Orange Shirt Day Sales Reach Incredible New Heights

The results are in and they are outstanding! For the fourth year in a row, Old’s Cool General Store held its annual Orange Shirt Day sales. $5 from every t-shirt sale, designed by Ojibwe Artist Kindhearted Kwe, was donated to Anishnawbe Health. Prior to 2021 owners Zahra Dhanani and Mariko Nguyen raised over $7,000 to date. In 2021, with increased focus on the campaign because of the new National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, this small but might east-end community hub “disguised” as a convenience store sold 3,300 shirts – despite competition from sales at big box stores and a national shortage of orange shirts!  With the help of dedicated volunteers, the campaign contributed $16,500, bringing Old’s Cool four-year total to nearly $25,000!!  

Big thank you to Old's Cool General Store, to everyone who purchased a t-shirt and to all those across Canada who honoured residential school survivors by wearing their orange shirts.

Community Events Raise Funds for the Foundation Throughout the Fall

Every year, Anishnawbe Health Foundation is the grateful recipient of a number of third-party fundraising events held by amazing individuals and organizations. This past fall, AHF was chosen by several organizations as their charity of choice. In October, Left Field Brewery chose to support AHF through their Beer for Everybody Campaign. 100% of profits from all Beer For Everybody apparel was donated to AHF, along with $2 donations from the sale of every B4E 6-Pack. Beer For Everybody’s intention is to showcase and support local organizations that work to dismantle systemic inequities. In total the campaign raised $4,414.

Waylon Iserhoff Appointed to the Foundation’s Finance, Audit and Investment Committee

In September, the Foundation's Board of Directors Appointed Wayne Iserhoff to the Finance, Audit and Investment Committee. Waylon has over 25 years’ experience in finance with both public and private enterprises. Currently, he is the Senior Vice President, Finance with a Canadian licensed producer of cannabis, Thrive Cannabis. Prior to that, he was the Business / Economic Development Officer for his home community of Taykwa Tagamou Nation where he supported Chief and Council in the management of its business interests. He launched his career with Deloitte and has held senior finance roles with two retail organizations and a financial services company. He has also been involved in several go-public transactions. He is a CPA in both Canada and the United States, and holds an MBA from the University of Toronto. As a volunteer, he also serves as a director with Wigwamen and Coral Rapids Power, and as a member of the Finance Committee for Taykwa Tagamou Nation. Welcome Waylon!

Anishnawbe Health Foundation is a Top 5 Finalist in Charity Village Awards

We are excited to share that Anishnawbe Health Foundation was named a top 5 finalist for Best Fundraising Campaign (Under 20 Staff) by the Charity Village Awards. The virtual ceremony was held on November 3 at their national conference. We are proud of this recognition from our fundraising peers who selected us from over 500 submissions representing some of the very best across the nonprofit sector.

You have the Will Power to Improve Urban Indigenous Health and Wellness

You have more power to make a difference in Indigenous health and healing than you realize! Even 1% left to Anishnawbe Health Foundation in your will, while still leaving 99% of your estate for loved ones, can have an enormous impact.

Anishnawbe Health Foundation is part of the National WillPower Campaign encouraging Canadians to include a charitable bequest in their will. Try the easy to use legacy calculator on our WillPower page to see the impact of your potential gift. Visit bit.ly/willpowerca to learn more.

Our 2020-2021 Annual Report is now online​​​​​​​

The 2020-2021 Anishnawbe Health Toronto and Anishnawbe Health Foundation Annual Report is now available online to view or download.