The Government of Canada invests close to $1.4 million to increase public knowledge of, and dialogue within, Canada's non-profit and voluntary sector

OTTAWA,– May 18, 2005—Ken Dryden, Minister of Social Development, today announced $1,399,850 for a national project with Imagine Canada to help Canadians understand the role of the non-profit and voluntary sector in Canadian society.

"The Government of Canada works with the non-profit and voluntary sector to strengthen our communities," said Minister Dryden. "The Community Awareness Project will encourage Canadians to talk about how non-profit and voluntary sector organizations shape their communities. It will help all Canadians gain a better awareness of what the sector means to our country."

"Recent research tells us that 161,000 charities and non-profit organizations in communities across this country, and involving more than 6 million volunteers and 1.3 million staff, help to build society and contribute the equivalent of 8% of the nation's GDP," said Georgina Steinsky-Schwartz, president and CEO of Imagine Canada. "Through the Community Awareness Project, non-profit and voluntary organizations will collaborate to position the sector so that its contribution to our country's way of life is understood by all Canadians."

Under the joint Voluntary Sector Initiative (2000-2005), the Government of Canada and the voluntary sector collaborated on a number of initiatives designed to strengthen the capacity of the voluntary sector. The Community Awareness Project will encourage dialogue among non-profit and voluntary sector organizations to increase awareness of the common issues and challenges that these organizations face.

One hundred "community conversations" will be held across Canada in the fall. Based on these conversations, a cross-Canada awareness and communications campaign with an agreed-upon and shared message will be implemented. The campaign will be targeted to a wide variety of audiences: the general public, media, government, academia, and the private sector.

Funding for this project has been provided for in the 2005 existing fiscal framework.

This project was funded by the Social Development Partnerships Programs and has been reviewed to ensure compliance with the Department's administration of its grants and contributions program.

See the backgrounder for more details.

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For more information, please contact:

Sarah Bain
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of State
(613) 941-0766

Media Relations
Social Development Canada
(613) 941-1110

Web site: www.sdc.gc.ca

BACKGROUNDER

Community Awareness Project

Duration: March 11, 2005 – September 30, 2006

Funding: $1,399,850

This national project with Imagine Canada is designed to increase public awareness and understanding about the non-profit and voluntary sector and the contribution this sector makes to the economic and social fabric of Canadian society. Imagine Canada is a registered charity that supports Canada's charities, non-profit organizations, and socially conscious businesses and champions the work they do. The project will involve organizations from all areas of the non-profit and voluntary sector.

The project will encourage dialogue among non-profit and voluntary sector organizations to increase awareness of the common issues and challenges that these organizations face. It will design and implement a cross-Canada awareness and communications campaign with an agreed-upon and shared message targeted to a wide variety of audiences: general public, media, government, academia, and the private sector.

The Community Awareness Project will result in a process for actively engaging communities, increasing awareness about the non-profit and voluntary sector, and securing a network for delivering the public awareness campaign. This will be done through 100 community conversations across Canada. As well, a bilingual Community Conversations report will be produced and distributed.

The Community Awareness Project is being managed by the Project Partners Committee. The committee includes representatives from the following national organizations:

• Imagine Canada
• The Canadian Council for International Cooperation
• The Canada Council for the Arts
• The Canadian Council on Social Development
• The Canadian Environmental Network
• The Sport Matters Group
• Volunteer Canada

Social Development Partnerships Program

The Social Development Partnerships Program (SDPP) is a grants and contributions program that provides financial support to organizations working in the social non-profit sector. The SDPP addresses the social development and inclusion needs of people with disabilities, children and their families, and other vulnerable or excluded groups.

The program has a mandate to help strengthen organizations in the social non-profit sector and to foster partnerships that advance social goals and enhance the quality of life of Canadians. The program also promotes the generation, dissemination, and application of knowledge, innovative solutions, and best practices.

Voluntary Sector Initiative

In June 2000, the federal government announced the Voluntary Sector Initiative (VSI), a $94.6 million joint venture with the voluntary sector. An innovative approach to enhancing the two sectors' relationship, the VSI brought together more than 125 representatives of both sectors to work together in key areas, including:

• developing a framework agreement, or accord;
• strengthening the voluntary sector's capacity;
• streamlining regulations affecting the voluntary sector;
• enhancing knowledge about the voluntary sector and its contribution to Canadian society;
• proposing a new, long-term, and sustainable approach to financing the voluntary sector; and,
• promoting and supporting volunteerism.

The VSI has made substantial progress, advancing its goals in many of the areas identified as priorities by both the Government and the voluntary sector. Through the VSI, the Government of Canada has made clear its recognition of the voluntary sector as the third pillar in Canadian society and its essential role in contributing to the social and economic well-being of Canadians.