Our provincial government has declared the third week in February 2022 the first-ever Non-Profit Sector Appreciation Week Ontario. The week is a new recognition of Ontario’s non-profit sector and its nearly 850,000 workers.
According to Bill 9, Nonprofit Sector Appreciation Week, 2021, the work by people in the non-profit sector is “…indispensable and heroic, but it is all too often invisible. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the remarkable contributions of the essential services provided by the non-profit sector… Their public service deserves to be recognized and honoured.” We couldn’t agree more!
During the pandemic, non-profit workers have innovated with live virtual events to keep us connected, re-purposing community kitchens for mobile food programs, telephone trees to reach isolated seniors, virtual sports programs for mental health and physical fitness, pre-loaded phones with wellness supports for Indigenous youth, and much more.
Non-profits are leading advocacy and change for a better, greener, more equitable economy and inclusive society.
Non-Profit Appreciation Week was championed by MPP Daisy Wai and the Bhayana Family Foundation.
Did you know?
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- The sector in Ontario includes 58,000 agencies, employs nearly 850,000 people, and contributes $65 billion to the economy.
- Non-profit workers have continued essential services through the pandemic, such as childcare, long-term care, shelter services, seniors support and more.
- Much of this work has been done by women workers who make up most of the non-profit workforce (77 per cent).
- Non-profit workers are your neighbours, your friends, your family, and your community leaders.
Be sure to celebrate your worker the next time you see them!
