Canadian organizations face growing digital risks. Strengthening national cyber resilience requires collaboration, trusted expertise, and a commitment to supporting communities. 

Canada’s digital landscape continues to evolve rapidly, and organizations of all sizes are working to keep pace. Businesses, charities, and public institutions across the country rely on trusted cybersecurity, compliance, and advisory support to protect data, maintain operational stability, and serve their communities.

As members of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce’s Cyber Security Council, we contribute to strengthening the country’s approach to cybersecurity and advancing responsible technology practices that benefit all Canadians. Through shared insights and collaboration, the council plays an important role in elevating national awareness and resilience.

“When organizations are protected, the people and communities they serve are protected too,” says Robert Spivak, Director of Technical Sales at Control Gap, a CyberGuard Advantage company.

Supporting nonprofits in protecting communities

Giving back is a core part of this work. Each year, organizations such as CanadaHelps and United Way receive gift-in-kind cybersecurity advisory services designed to help safeguard donor information, enhance system reliability, and ensure that critical community programs can continue uninterrupted. This commitment reflects a broader belief that strong cybersecurity is foundational to a thriving, equitable society.

To learn more about CyberGuard Advantage, visit cyberguardadvantage.com or get in touch at [email protected].

The post Building a Stronger, Safer Digital Future for Canada appeared first on HiveInnovates.

This holiday season, thousands of your neighbours are without a safe home. Your gift can provide warmth, food, and life-changing support.

During the holiday season, many people in Toronto are gathering with loved ones, sharing meals, and exchanging gifts. But for over 15,000 people who are homeless, this time of year brings a very different reality. For Maria, who has been living in an encampment since fleeing an unsafe situation, winter means battling the cold with little more than a thin blanket. Safe indoor spaces across the city fill quickly, leaving many people like her without a warm place to stay. Freezing temperatures increase the risk of illness, injury, and exhaustion — conditions that become dangerous as nights grow longer and colder.

People experiencing homelessness often face impossible choices during the winter. Maria spends her days looking for somewhere warm, a hot meal, and basic necessities while trying to navigate a system stretched beyond capacity. Rising rents and higher living costs push more people to the edge of losing their housing. These pressures make community support especially critical during the holiday season, when the contrast between comfort and crisis is felt most deeply.

How your support makes a direct impact

Your donations to Fred Victor can address urgent needs and provide immediate relief. Donations through our Shop for Good catalogue turn into tangible supports: warm meals, winter clothing, winter care kits, and safer spaces to sleep. For someone like Maria, these supports become lifelines during extreme weather. These services protect health, preserve dignity, and offer stability during a season when people need them most. A warm coat, a nutritious meal, or a safe bed can make the difference between surviving the night and facing serious harm.

“What Your Holiday Gift Makes Possible” — meals, winter essentials, safer nights, and housing support

Your contribution also strengthens long-term solutions. Housing workers, outreach teams, and program staff help people secure permanent housing, access health care, reconnect with family, and explore employment or training opportunities. Each Shop for Good purchase provides tools to help people move forward. Every donation helps someone take a step away from crisis and toward stability — no matter where they are in their journey.

A warm bed can be the start of a new beginning

For someone who is homeless, a warm bed and a safe place indoors can open the door to a different future. Maria says that on the nights she can sleep somewhere warm, she finally has the clarity to think beyond immediate survival. Stability — even for one night — and having supportive staff behind them helps people set goals, rebuild routines, and imagine new possibilities. 

This holiday season, choosing a gift from our Shop for Good catalogue is more than an act of generosity — it’s a practical way to support a neighbour facing homelessness and offer a foundation for change. Your gift can help someone survive today and begin rebuilding their life with dignity, confidence, and support. When we come together as a community, especially during the holiday season, we can ensure that more people have access to warmth, safety, and the support they need to move toward a brighter, more stable future.

Donate today at fredvictor.org/shop_for_good to help someone who is homeless stay warm and safe this holiday season.

The post No One Should Be Left Out in the Cold This Holiday Season  appeared first on HiveInnovates.

UNIQLO supports communities worldwide through The Heart of LifeWear, donating one million HEATTECH items to refugees, children, and disaster victims.

UNIQLO introduced the LifeWear concept in 2022, centered on creating high-quality, functional, and simple clothing that improves everyone’s lives. The LifeWear philosophy also extends beyond the product to a broader industry vision that prioritizes sustainability and people, the planet, and society — understanding the needs of local communities and providing support where needed to advance and strengthen them.  

Additionally, UNIQLO builds an authentic circular business model by offering RE.UNIQLO services in store, where customers can repair, remake, and reuse (donate) their UNIQLO clothes so items can be worn for longer.

The Heart of LifeWear

UNIQLO is proud to announce the second consecutive year of The Heart of LifeWear, a global initiative to support refugees, children, and disaster victims through the donation of one million HEATTECH clothing items.  

In Canada, UNIQLO will donate 20,000 HEATTECH units to provide warmth to individuals experiencing poverty, homelessness, food insecurities, and other challenges across the country. 

For maximum impact at the local level, the brand will continue working with existing partners and affiliate organizations, such as Second Harvest (Canada’s largest food rescue organization), YWCA Canada (a national leader in supporting women and gender-diverse people), and Covenant House (Canada’s largest agency serving youth facing homelessness). The brand has also donated to hyper-local organizations supporting underserved communities, including homeless women (Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre), youth with learning disabilities (the Montreal Centre for Learning Disabilities), refugees and newcomers (Edmonton Emergency Response and Newcomers Services), and Indigenous students (awâsis waciston School). 

Throughout October and November, UNIQLO volunteers distributed HEATTECH bundles in Toronto, Quebec City, and Edmonton as colder weather set in.  

“At UNIQLO, we believe in the power of clothing to make a positive impact on people’s lives,” says Jean Shein, Global Director of Sustainability at UNIQLO. “Through The Heart of LifeWear initiative, we’re committed to supporting communities across Canada by providing warmth and comfort to those who need it most this holiday season.”  

In the spirit of giving, throughout December customers will be invited to contribute to the campaign by donating at checkout in all UNIQLO stores to support YWCAs in Canada. They can also donate their gently used UNIQLO clothing through the RE. UNIQLO program, which repurposes these items to further support communities. 

Learn more about UNIQLO’s Heart of LifeWear campaign. 

The post The Heart of LifeWear: UNIQLO’s HEATTECH Global Giving Campaign  appeared first on HiveInnovates.

Sarain Fox speaks about the power of community, the importance of uplifting youth, and why meaningful partnerships with Indigenous peoples begin with listening and working alongside one another. 

When you think about ‘giving back,’ what does that mean in the context of Indigenous communities, and how can Canadians outside of these communities engage in meaningful ways?

You often speak about responsibility to future generations. How do you see youth playing a role in giving back to their communities today? 

For organizations or individuals looking to support Indigenous causes, what makes a partnership authentic and impactful rather than performative? 

If someone wanted to give back this season, what are some tangible ways they could make a meaningful difference?

The post Building Futures Through Belonging  appeared first on HiveInnovates.

Shaleen Latchman is facing ALS with courage, supported every step of the way by the ALS Society of Canada.

The day Shaleen Latchman was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in 2022, her first thoughts were of her sons. “I thought, ‘I won’t be at their weddings. I won’t hold my grandchildren. I won’t be able to give them my love and support throughout their lives,’” she says.

But Shaleen hasn’t let fear define her. “I try to stay in the moment each day,” she says. “I don’t live my life in the darkness when there’s still so much light.”

ALS is a neurodegenerative disease that progressively paralyzes people because the brain can no longer communicate with the muscles of the body, losing the ability to walk, talk, eat, swallow, and eventually breathe. Most people diagnosed live only two to five years. There is no cure, and few treatments. 

Finding strength through support

From the moment of her diagnosis, the ALS Society of Canada was by Shaleen’s side. A Community Lead connected with her, offering guidance on navigating the health care system and helping her access essential equipment. “Having someone guide me and give me strength I didn’t know I had, has been incredible,” she says. “With their support, I’m not facing ALS alone.”

Life has changed dramatically: breathing is difficult, meals require assistance, and her 19-year-old son, Joshua, helps manage her medications and respiratory care. Still, Shaleen focuses on what she can do: bringing friends, family, and neighbours together to fundraise and participate in her local ALS Canada Walk to End ALS.

The ALS Society of Canada works to change what it means to live with ALS. It funds Canada’s most promising research to develop treatments, offers support services, provides trusted information and resources, and advocates for equitable access to therapies, care, and research funding. ALS Canada’s work is powered by donors who share the vision of a world free of ALS.

This Giving Tuesday, give generously to support people affected by ALS at als.ca.

The post Finding Light, Strength, and Support While Living with ALS  appeared first on HiveInnovates.

The Women’s Centre of Calgary empowers girls with the support and tools they need to become thriving women. 

As one of the few women’s resource centres in Alberta, the Women’s Centre of Calgary served more than 11,000 women, girls, and gender-diverse individuals in 2025, nearly double the amount served in 2024.  

The Women’s Centre provides basic needs, peer support, and a wide range of free programs to an incredibly diverse community. Women and girls turn to the Women’s Centre for help with challenges like poverty, hunger, homelessness, unemployment, settlement, domestic violence, isolation, and discrimination. They may be new to the city, experiencing family breakdown, looking for work, or simply seeking a place to belong. Whatever brings them through the doors, Women’s Centre staff and volunteers strive to ensure women and girls leave feeling more empowered than when they arrived.  

An empowering space for girls  

One of the Women’s Centre’s most vital programs is the Girls Program. Hosted in the Women’s Centre’s humble basement, it has been a source of empowerment for thousands of girls for more than a decade. Participants gather nearly every week to build leadership skills, discuss social issues, and engage with community in meaningful ways. Most importantly, the Girls Program offers a safe, empowering space for girls to both find their voice and use it. They learn that their words and opinions matter, and that there’s a real impact to be made in expressing themselves.  

Whatever brings them through the doors, Women’s Centre staff and volunteers strive to ensure women and girls leave feeling more empowered than when they arrived.  

“There’s something special that happens in gender-specific spaces. Girls are socialized around not talking too much, or not being too knowledgeable, or too outspoken. It’s a powerful thing… this plays into ‘space’ and how much space girls can take up,” says a former Girls Program staff member. 

Changing the story  

When girls’ voices go unheard, their needs go unmet. This can lead to decades of quiet adversity and increasingly complex stories of hardship. By meeting girls where they are and providing them with meaningful resources, the Women’s Centre interrupts these stories. Better, it completely changes the narrative. A young girl once struggling to speak English becomes a confident activist rallying the very people she once couldn’t communicate with. A shy girl, once uncertain of her ability to make friends, now brings joy and knowledge to those around her.  

This is the magic of the centre: revealing the potential inside every girl through support and connection.  

“I’ve never met a girl at the Girls Program who was the same as another one,” says a former Girls Program participant. “We all have our own opinions and ideas and thoughts and feelings in different matters, and we all have different knowledge and different passions.”  

“I wish a place like this existed when I was growing up for my own mom,” says a Women’s Centre volunteer. 

With help from Canadians like you, we can continue to instill confidence into girls, building generations of women who uplift one another and contribute to thriving communities.  

Consider donating to the Women’s Centre of Calgary today. Your donation will positively impact women and girls not just during the holiday season, but all year long.   

Help make girls’ and women’s season a little brighter. Donate today at womenscentrecalgary.org/donate.  

The post How the Women’s Centre of Calgary Supports and Uplifts Girls appeared first on HiveInnovates.

This nonprofit has dedicated two decades to sustaining and protecting one of Ontario’s most important resources: its Greenbelt. 

Ontario’s Greenbelt is one of the largest in the world, covering two million acres of protected farmland, forests, and waterways. It borders one of the most populated areas of the country, nestled in the Greater Golden Horseshoe alongside a projected 13.5 million people. The Greenbelt is far more than a collection of trees, fields, and rivers; it is one of the most biologically rich areas in Canada and plays an integral role in providing Ontarians with fresh air, clean water, local food as well as world-class recreation and tourism. 

Ontarians all have a stake in the Greenbelt’s health and longevity, particularly given the economic role it plays with nearly $10 billion in annual economic impact, $224 million in flood mitigation, and supporting over 175,000 full-time jobs. This region represents more than just an area necessitating protection; it’s a vital provincial resource with immense economic and social benefit for those living in Southern Ontario. Protecting it means protecting the quality of life Ontarians currently enjoy, for generations to come. 

Two decades of sustainable impact

For 20 years, the Greenbelt Foundation has played an instrumental role in protecting, maintaining and strengthening the Greenbelt,  supporting the area’s natural diversity while encouraging people to take advantage of their unique access to the world class region. It’s a mission two decades in the making, and while centered on conservation,  true stewardship requires continuous investment and innovation. “To us, conservation isn’t a static idea. It’s about investing in and thinking wholistically about the systems and landscapes around us,” explains Greenbelt Foundation CEO, Edward McDonnell. Being situated amongst one of the fastest growing regions in the country may be intimidating, but it’s something Edward and his team have embraced: “Our vision is to support and sustain in conjunction with a growing province and region,” he says. 

The organization helps fund investments that work in alignment with their vision: promoting the Greenbelt as a vital, valuable, and permanent safeguard for the province’s future. Since its implementation in 2005, The Foundation hasfunded over 300 grants and distributed over $37 million in funding. In 2025 alone, over 40 grants will be awarded. 

Community critical to success

Stewarding the Greenbelt is no easy feat. The organization is responsible for investing in the protections of over 721,000 acres of wetlands, grasslands and forests; over 75 species-at-risk, and overseeing waterways that impact drinking water to over seven million people. Partnerships and donations are critical to enabling the Greenbelt Foundation to continue supporting the region and community is key. 

“When the Greenbelt doesn’t work for people in the Greenbelt, it doesn’t work,” Edward says. “We support local communities and organizations who have a vision. We’re able to help them realize their vision.” Those visions come in many forms, from creating new recreational trail systems and improving a water system to better farmland and soil. The Greenbelt Foundation prides itself on being an organization not only for the Greenbelt but for the many communities that call the region home. “These groups are the catalysts,” Edward says, “they know what’s needed; we just give them a helping hand.” 

To date, the Foundation has invested and leveraged matching dollars totaling over $47 million, giving a voice to projects that continue to make the Greenbelt a great place to live, work, play and grow. Continued support from donors ensures this work can scale to meet the growing pressures of climate change, development, and population growth and helps directly strengthen the natural systems that sustain Ontario’s communities.

This Giving Tuesday, Ontarians are invited to join the Greenbelt family by making a donation that will continue to support the organization’s work to help safeguard clean water, local food, and the landscapes millions of Ontarians rely on every day. Visit greenbelt.ca/donate to learn more. 

The post Two Decades of Keeping Ontario’s Greenbelt Protected  appeared first on HiveInnovates.

From public health and housing to education and recreation, Western Communities Foundation is committed to giving back.

Western Financial Group has been providing Canadians with trusted insurance solutions for over a century, but the company’s commitment to serving Canadians goes far beyond insurance. Western Communities Foundation, its charitable arm, ensures that Western consistently gives back to the communities it serves. Through grassroots giving, infrastructure grants, bursaries, and initiatives like the annual Holiday Toy Drive, the foundation supports local programs that strengthen health, education, and community well-being Canada-wide.

We chatted with Michelle Mak, Director of Western Communities Foundation, to learn more.

Why is charitable giving such a core part of Western’s strategy and culture?

Giving has been part of Western’s DNA for many years. It’s woven into every fabric of how we operate. Western doesn’t exist without our customers and our community, and giving back is how we care for them.

How do Western employees and branches help shape your community impact on the ground?

Most of our work is employee-driven, grassroots, and hyper-local. Our branches choose the causes that matter most to their communities, and they fundraise and support those charities throughout the year. 

What sets Western apart, and what initiatives are you focused on this year?

We have an entire team focused completely on giving back. This year’s Holiday Toy Drive has over 80 collection points supporting over 50 local charities. We’re also focused on providing emergency relief when it matters and infrastructure grants to strengthen communities.

Join Western in Giving Back

To learn more and contribute to the Holiday Toy Drive, visit westernfinancialgroup.ca/toydrive.

The post Western Gives Back, from the Holiday Toy Drive to Year-Round Programs  appeared first on HiveInnovates.

Community support and affordable housing: how investing in women reduces incarceration, strengthens communities, and saves public dollars.

Racialized women represent the fastest-growing group in Canada’s incarcerated population, a trend rooted in long-standing inequities that continue to shape society. An estimated 82 per cent of incarcerated women are jailed for behaviours linked to poverty, trauma, and mental health. These well-documented patterns are a reflection of systems failing to provide support that meet the needs of the community. Elizabeth Fry Toronto works at this critical intersection, providing programs that connect women and gender-diverse individuals to the supports necessary to rebuild their lives with dignity. 

Addressing the root causes of incarceration 

The path from incarceration to stability is complex, and racialized women face disproportionate barriers. In 2024, 7,455 individuals were released from provincial prisons without a fixed address, many having lost housing and income during incarceration, further compounded by the inability to secure employment and housing due to the stigma of a criminal record. Vulnerable individuals become trapped in a cycle of poverty and reoffend to survive their circumstances.  

Elizabeth Fry Toronto is directly confronting these inequities. The charity is near finishing its affordable housing development, which will provide 32 apartments for women and gender-diverse individuals, recognizing that stable and barrier-free housing is key to successful reintegration and reduced recidivism. Recent estimates show that supportive housing costs seven times less than a jail bed, making a compelling case for saving taxpayer dollars.  

To further support stability and economic opportunity, Elizabeth Fry offers free record suspension, removing the barriers that limit chances to meaningful employment, volunteer, and educational opportunities. 

Gender-based violence and criminalization 

Women’s criminalization cannot be separated from their experiences of violence. Research shows that 86 per cent of federally incarcerated women have been physically abused, and 91 per cent of Indigenous women have experienced sexual or physical abuse. Many become criminalized for acts of self-defence or engaging in survival strategies while attempting to flee violent situations.

Elizabeth Fry addresses these realities through programs that aim to improve access to the critical supports needed to leave or avoid abusive relationships. Their Just in Time program combines evidence-based and trauma-informed practices to deliver financial literacy training that helps participants recognize financial abuse, develop safety plans for exiting, and build long-term stability. 

Breaking these cycles of trauma, poverty, and incarceration is possible, but requires community investment. Consider making a donation to Elizabeth Fry Toronto and supporting their vital work helping communities find hope, strength, and justice. 

Visit Elizabeth Fry Toronto to learn more, and make a donation this holiday season.

The post How Investing in Women Reduces Incarceration: Elizabeth Fry Breaks it Down appeared first on HiveInnovates.

Dr. Megan Conway

President & CEO, Volunteer Canada

The Petro-Canada CareMakers Foundation and Volunteer Canada are teaming up to build a stronger support system for caregivers through volunteerism.

Caring for a loved one is one of the most meaningful acts a person can offer — but for over eight million family caregivers across Canada, it’s also one of the most challenging. Caregivers average 5.1 hours of care daily, balancing medical tasks, household responsibilities, emotional support, and employment. Many feel exhausted or overwhelmed.

The Petro-Canada CareMakers Foundation, a national charitable organization launched in 2020, aims to support family caregivers. The foundation, supported in part by Suncor, the proud owner of Petro-Canada, raises awareness of the realities facing caregivers and provides grants to charities that offer programs and resources, conduct research, and strengthen caregiver supports Canada-wide. Since its launch, it has provided millions to local and national organizations supporting family caregivers and helped spark a conversation about building a more compassionate and sustainable caregiving ecosystem.

The caregiver reality

Canada’s caregiving landscape is shifting rapidly. Families are taking on more caregiving responsibilities than ever before, often while managing emotional strain and costs such as transportation, home adaptations, and medical supplies. For some — particularly those in rural, Indigenous, or racialized communities — these stressors may be intensified by systemic barriers and reduced access to services.

Amid these pressures, volunteerism is emerging as a vital source of caregiver support. Volunteers can offer everything from everyday acts of kindness to trained support that helps families navigate complex health and social systems. Practical help — grocery pick-ups, transportation to appointments, or assistance with chores — can ease burnout, while friendly visits and check-ins remind caregivers they’re not alone. 

Building a culture of care 

Together with Volunteer Canada, the Petro-Canada CareMakers Foundation emphasizes that both formal volunteer programs and informal neighbour-to-neighbour help can strengthen Canada’s circle of care. The organizations are working to reduce barriers to volunteering, support volunteer infrastructure, and build cross-sector collaborations that strengthen community-led solutions.

“Caring for a loved one is an act of deep compassion, but it often comes with immense challenges. At CareMakers Foundation, we believe no family caregiver should feel alone in that journey,” says Leila Fenc, Executive Director of the Petro-Canada CareMakers Foundation. “By expanding volunteer support, we can create a culture of care where communities step up to share the load. Together with volunteer networks, we can make caregiving more sustainable and ensure those who give so much receive the support they deserve.”

Supporting caregivers

“Caregivers are the foundation of compassion in Canada, sustaining families and community members in need of support through unpaid work that often goes unseen. Supporting caregivers is an investment in our nation’s resilience and health,” says Dr. Megan Conway, Volunteer Canada’s President and CEO. “Through Volunteer Canada’s collaboration with the Petro-Canada CareMakers Foundation, we’re proud to explore how communities can better support family caregivers by activating the full potential of volunteer networks. This collaboration can transform caregiving from a private struggle into a shared responsibility that strengthens the fabric of Canadian society.”

We all have a role to play in supporting family caregivers — whether through formal volunteering, everyday acts of kindness, or simply raising awareness. Canadians can help ensure no caregiver carries the burden alone.

To learn how you can get involved or support caregiver-focused initiatives, visit caremakers.ca.

The post Building a Culture of Care for Canada’s 8 Million Caregivers  appeared first on HiveInnovates.