2018

OUR VISION

An inclusive society that values and supports the full engagement of it’s young people in the civic, social, economic and cultural life of diverse and environmentally healthy communities.

OUR mission

Laidlaw Foundation invests in innovative ideas, convenes interested parties, shares its learning and advocates for change in support of young people being healthy, creative and fully engaged citizens.

laidlaw foundation

annual report 2018

board

Rebecca Darwent

Tara Farahani

Paul Fensom

Cameron Laidlaw

James Laidlaw

Andre Lewis

Gave Lindo

Janine Manning

Bridget Sinclair

Lyon Smith

May Wong

Robert Smith (Chair)

Committee Members

FINANCE AND AUDIT

Andre Lewis (Chair)

Paul Fensom (Vice Chair)

Andrew Bedeau

Heather Brubacher

Tiffany Chang

Ken Gibson

INVESTMENT

Paul Fensom (Chair)

Andre Lewis (Vice Chair)

Derek Ballantyne

Andrew Bedeau

John Fox

Heather Hunter

Hanifa Kassam

Ed Kwan

staff

GRANTING

May Wong (Chair)

Tara Farahani (Vice Chair)

Cameron Laidlaw (Vice Chair)

Jamie Laidlaw

Janine Manning

Lyon Smith

YOUTH DIRECT

ACTION ADVISORY

Karen Ng (Chair)

Bridget Sinclair

Jamie Laidlaw

Jon Cada

Rebecca Darwent

Haley Moody

Nicole Watson

FAMILY

Cameron Laidlaw (Chair)

Rebecca Darwent

Paul Fensom

Jamie Laidlaw

Bob Smith

Lyon Smith

Jessica Hammell

GOVERNANCE AND RECRUITMENT

Gave Lindo (Chair)

Bridget Sinclair (Vice-Chair)

Tara Farahani

Cameron Laidlaw

Jamie Laidlaw

Andre Lewis

Hanifa Kassam

EXECUTIVE

Bob Smith

Paul Fensom

Gave Lindo

Andre Lewis

May Wong

INDIGENOUS YOUTH AND COMMUNITY FUTURES FUND

Jessica Bolduc

Max FineDay

Jerica Fraser

Erin Hayward

Quinn Meawasige

Sarah Nelson

Jacob Parcher

Tunchai Redvers

Jehad Aliweiwi - Executive Director

Veanna Octive - Grants Manager

Tamer Ibrahim - Youth CI Program Manager

Ana Skinner - Program Manager**

Betul Keles - Program Manager

Saeed Selvam - Public Policy Manager

Ajeev Bhatia - Program Animator **

(Not seen in the photo, Foundation House’s shared employees: )

Maryam Haghjoo - Receptionist and Office Assistant

Jonathan Hutchinson - IT and Data Coordinator

**left during the year

On to New Adventures:

Farewell Ann Skinner

Ana has been instrumental in co-designing the Foundation’s focus on youth strategy and played leading roles in developing funding streams and new granting programs. Throughout her 12 years at the Foundation, Ana has managed a number of programs with refreshing enthusiasm, passion and clarity. Her contributions to the Foundation and to the youth organizing field are significant and admirable. She brought creative energy to her role and advocated for a robust engagement with grantees. She will be greatly missed by all her colleagues at Laidlaw and Foundation House. We wish Ana all the best as she transitions into her next career opportunity with the Ontario Council on Articulation and Transfer.

Farewell Ajeev Bhatia

Ajeev joined the Foundation as a summer intern in 2014 and worked for each summer following that as a part-time grant administration support. In 2017, following his graduation from York University, Ajeev became a full-time employee overseeing the Youth Direct Action Fund. He’s brought a unique perspective to his work informed by his experience and deep roots in his community. Ajeev connected well with grantees and provided incredible leadership in the development of many of our events, activities and programs. We wish Ajeev all the best with the Centre for Connected Communities. He will be greatly missed by all his colleagues at Laidlaw and Foundation House.

Jehad Aliweiwi, Bob Smith,

Executive Director President

a year in motion

2018 was a year of action, reflection, planning and transition.

Over the past year, we made great progress and generated continued momentum that built on our committed strategy to support youth development focused on organizing, direct action, leadership and advocacy. In 2018, we made our first impact investing decisions, introduced operational changes to our work, developed a strategic direction for the next five years and supported new initiatives that further our mission. It is also the year that saw us build new and creative collaboratives with a wide range of partners. In 2018, we also started the planning process for commemorating the Foundation’s 70 years of philanthropy.

2018 marked the final year of the Foundation’s 2013-2018 Strategic Plan, which was adopted by the Board in the summer of 2013. In the past five years, the Foundation’s granting, convening and knowledge building agenda was guided by a clear set of priorities focused on systems change, knowledge generation, advocacy and expansion of reach. In 2013-2018, the Foundation made 467 grants for a total of $8,168,908.

Since 2014, we have achieved remarkable milestones that include:

• The Youth Collective Impact Partnership: A multi-year partnership with the Provincial Government and the McConnell Family Foundation to deliver the Youth Collective Impact initiative. This resulted in more than $3.5 million additional investments supporting the youth-led and youth-serving sector;

• The move to Foundation House: A shared-location space that has become a recognised hub for philanthropy and a learning destination for space-sharing collaboratives;

• The Indigenous Engagement Strategy: A strategy that puts into action our commitment to Truth and Reconciliation as articulated by the Philanthropic Community’s Declaration of Action;

• Impact Investing: The development and implementation of an impact investing strategy that seeks opportunities with social return as well as financial ones.

We have strengthened our ability to effectively participate in policy development, challenged systemic and institutional barriers, advocated for change, and promoted research and knowledge that supports policy development and positive systems change.

In 2018, we made 31 additional grants supporting a range of initiatives led by young people from across the province and launched three thematic microgrants. Two Pop Up grants focused on engaging youth with the provincial and municipal elections held in June and October 2018 respectively. The third microgrant, entitled Disability Justice, focused on addressing issues facing young people living with disabilities. We partnered with The Disability Justice Network of Ontario to launch the Momentum Unconference in Hamilton on the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, which convened young disability justice activists for a day of learning.

Leading up to the Ontario provincial elections, we organized the first youth-focused Town Hall meeting with leaders of major political parties in Ontario. In addition to TVO and Twitter Canada, we partnered with a coalition of young people with the purpose of placing youth issues at the centre of the election campaign.

One of Laidlaw’s major accomplishments in 2018 was the development of a new five-year strategic plan that will continue to centre our work around the well-being of young people. The 2019-2024 Strategic Plan will focus on building the capacity of, engaging with, and advocating for youth in Ontario who are adversely impacted by the justice, education and care systems.

2018 saw Bob Smith, the senior living member of the Laidlaw Family, elected to serve as President. Bob is just the second member of his generation of the Family to serve as President.

The coming year marks the Laidlaw Foundation’s 70th Anniversary. In 2019, we will reflect on the last seven decades of our progressive philanthropic legacy that continues to guide and inspire the current and future work of the Foundation. We are planning a gala dinner, a publication, and a legacy gift to celebrate and commemorate Laidlaw’s 70 years of commitment to the public good.

Our message for 2018, that saw us accomplish so much, would not be complete without taking a moment to thank our dedicated Board Members, our committed Staff, and our loyal volunteer Advisors who all, in addition to their usual hours, have generously contributed further time and energy to our strategic planning process and the impact investment strategy.

As the year comes to an end, our Staff is eager and motivated to build an action plan for the next five years to bring to life, in creative and impactful ways, our vision, mission, and priorities as developed and approved by the Board in the 2019-2024 Strategic Plan. While we believe we have made significant strides towards fulfilling our mission, we will continue to reflect on the challenges ahead and lessons learnt in order to inform and build an evidence-based strategy for the next five years.

We invite you to read the 2018 report that highlights the work of seven grantees as examples of progress and momentum that we have been proud to enable through granting, convening and learning. We look forward to hearing your feedback and suggestions and invite you to be part of shaping the Laidlaw Foundation’s next 70 years.

2019 - 2024

Strategic Planning

As 2018 marked the fifth and final year of the 2013-2018 Strategic Plan, the Laidlaw Foundation began the process of developing its strategy for the next five years. Through a request for proposals (RFP), the Board’s Strategic Planning Committee selected StrategyCorp (“SCI”), a management consulting and government relations firm, to facilitate a meaningful, tailored and iterative engagement to explore and understand Laidlaw’s vision for the future.

The planning process began with a renewed commitment to youth wellbeing. This focus builds on priorities that were outlined in 2007, with a vision to invest in youth-led social infrastructure and to advocate for positive youth development approaches to public policy. The 2019-2024 planning process expands on this and deepens Laidlaw’s focus on youth-led systems change and youth inclusion.

Following a year-long process, the Board approved the 2019-2024 Strategic Plan in December 2018. The five-year plan will focus Laidlaw’s efforts on youth who are adversely impacted by, underserved and overrepresented in the justice, education and care systems.

The plan includes three clear strategic goals:

• Elevate the priorities and voices of youth with lived experiences in the justice, education and child welfare systems

• Promote equitable and accountable institutions and systems

• Advocate for evidence-based policy

The Laidlaw Foundation’s mission, vision and values have been revised to reflect these priorities and to ensure that the principles of Equity, Engagement, Responsiveness, Reconciliation and Accountability are deeply imbedded in our practices, governance and approaches.

In the first quarter of 2019, the Staff and the Board will engage in a process to develop a responsive strategy of sustained youth-focused granting, purposeful convening and strategic researching. With this plan, we aspire to be a collaborative leader in inclusive grant-making, rely on lived experience, focus on youth leadership and strive for an Ontario in which all youth are thriving, engaged and included. With the guidance and help of our dedicated Board, advisors and motivated Staff, in the next five years, we pledge to remain committed to supporting youth and their families that are disadvantaged by the justice, education and care systems in Ontario.

granting

PopUps:

38 Grants

$35,750

Youth Direct Action:

16 Grants

$363,904

Scaling Impact:

8 Grants

$662,093

Knowledge Building:

5 Grants

$146,860

Indigenous Youth & Community Futures Fund:
10 Grants

$481,650

Youth Collective Impact Initiative - 21 Grants

$349,000

Investments in the leadership and well-being of young people

Indigenous Youth and Community Futures Fund

Through the Indigenous Youth and Community Futures Fund, Laidlaw invests in opportunities for Indigenous youth to develop and lead projects where they are immersed in their lands, languages and cultures; participate in everyday acts of resurgence, reclamation and well-being; build relationships within and across Indigenous communities; and learn about and define for themselves what reconciliation means.

ten

projects funded

$481,650

awarded

DwadewayęhstaˀGayogooho:nǫˀ

Eagle Lake First Nation Youth Council

MFN Youth Group

Ottawa Inuit Children's Centre

Sacred Seeds Collective/Mno Wiisini Gitigaanan

Shingwauk Kinoomaage Gamig (SKG)

Sudbury Three Fires

Tungasuvvingat Inuit

Waaseyaakosing Language Nest

The Wolves Den

ORGANIZATION NAME

$50,000

$30,000

$23,000

$50,000

$51,932

$63,505

$50,000

$59,513

$55,000

$48,700

Ohsweken, ON

Migisi Sahgaigan, ON

Blind River, ON

Ottawa, ON

Elmvale, ON

Sault Ste Marie, ON

Naughton, ON

Ottawa, Toronto, and Irondale ON

Parry Sound - Muskoka Region ON

Ohsweken, ON

LOCATION

AMOUNT

Spotlight- Aski Kistendamon Respecting the Land in Attawapiskat

Aski Kistendamon engaged Indigenous youth in cultural activities in order to re-familiarize them with their culture and to encourage youth-driven activities. As part of the project, a music video was produced showing youth's participation in land-based activities, including winter ice (net) fishing, spring goose hunt, and food processing on the land. Participants had the opportunity to try out instruments, discuss their experience with the land based activities, express it musically and write lyrics (language of their choice –Cree or English or both). The workshop was filmed and produced into a music video that has been shared with other young people and communities.

The project also included the creation of a felt art mural. The mural tells Attawapiskat’s stories using the river as the lead continuum. The river flows through three eras the Attawapiskat people have experienced in the last 500 years from pre-contact, through contact, mainly marked by the residential schools, to the present, which also looks into the future, interpreting the meaning of reconciliation.

Youth Direct Action

Through the Youth Direct Action Program, Laidlaw invested in grassroots youth-led groups to test and experiment with bold and creative ways to make our communities, institutions and systems more inclusive.

YDA grantees:

• Demonstrate creative, relevant & accessible ways of reaching young people who are not engaged effectively by educational, social & community services;

• Bring attention to social justice and community priorities of young people;

• Work towards having young people’s perspectives and priorities heard by decision makers.

sixteen

projects funded

$363,903

awarded

Assembly of Seven Generations c/o Kateri Native Ministry of Ottawa/ Weekly Youth Gathering

Be/Sadora Asefaw/Kaleidoscope Effect

Black Women in Motion c/o St. Stephens Community House/

Black Youth Mental Health Alliance (BYMHA)

BLMTO c/o Childrens Peace Theatre/Freedom School /
Youth Justice League

Canadian Tamil Youth Development Centre/Selvy’s Circle: Unpacking
and Addressing Gender-Based Violence in the Tamil Community

Crossing Borders

Developing Young Leaders Tomorrow, Today/ Candies
Kotchapaw/ Mentoring for major impact

FYOU: The Forgiveness Project/Tara Muldoon/NATION II NATION

Native Youth Sexual Health Network/Coming Together

New Era Pyramids/Lawrence Heights Art Collective

North York Community House/Little Lotherton Libraries

Opiates/ Opiodes Project / Cleis Neveau

Two Spirit Youth: Identity, Traditional Knowledges
& Community Service Needs

United Way Hastings and Prince Edward/Youth-2-Youth

Young Women's Leadership Network/Yasmin Rajabi/Sexual Violence Support Kit

Youth Elevating Youth Through the Arts Collective c/o Sheatre/ Youth Elevating Youth Collective

ORGANIZATION NAME

$25,000

$10,000

$8,800

$25,000

$20,103

$25,000

Ottawa, ON

Toronto, ON

GTA, ON

Etobicoke, ON

Scarborough, ON

Waterloo, ON

Etobicoke, ON

Toronto, ON

Toronto and South Western, ON

Toronto, ON

GTA, ON

Sault Ste. Marie, ON

Toronto, ON

Hastings and Prince Edward, ON

Toronto, ON

Owen Sound, ON

LOCATION

AMOUNT

PopUp : Disability Justice

Across Ontario, young people are taking action in real and immediate ways to improve the health and well-being of their peers, families, and communities. They are often learning by doing, and their efforts can go unnoticed or be underappreciated. In this round of PopUP funding, we partnered with The Disability Justice Network of Ontario to launch the Momentum Unconference in Hamilton on the International Day of Persons with Disabilities to convene young disability justice activists for a day of learning. The Disability Justice PopUp was launched at this gathering. Through this grant, we supported projects and activities that promote disability justice by focusing on increasing awareness and action on intersectional experiences, some of which include disability and race, disability and gender, disability and sexuality, disability and poverty.

four

projects funded

$2000

awarded

CEIDA Media Inc./Ask Us

Community Living Brant/ReachOut: Sharing our Stories

River Christie-White/Hooping for Hope

Shanel Shevena Smith/Wheeling-Beauty

ORGANIZATION NAME

$500

Whitby, ON/Canada Wide

Brantford, ON

London, ON

Toronto, ON

LOCATION

AMOUNT

PopUp: Supporting Youth Organizing in 2018 Provincial Elections

For the June 7th, 2018 provincial elections, the Laidlaw Foundation offered grants of up to $1,000 to support youth-led projects that made it easier for young people to be seen and heard during the elections. Through these grants, the Foundation wanted to make sure the issues and priorities most pressing to young people and their communities were on the radars of government officials and people running for office, it was also launched to ensure that the elections process was more accessible to young people, whether or not, they are old enough to vote.

nineteen

projects funded

$18,750

awarded

The Ascend Network/Ascend 2018: Centrality of Values London

Canadian Tamil Youth Development Centre/ Elections 101

Janelle Hinds/HELPING youth get a HANDle on the Election

Jon Farmer/ Grey - Bruce - Owen Sound Youth Town Hall - Provincial Elections 2018

Jun Kai Xu/Swan Effect: Voice of One, Voice of All

London Youth Advisory Council/ Candidate World Cafe -

National Campus and Community Radio Association (NCRA/ANREC)/NCRA/ANREC Youth Coverage of the Ontario Election

Peel Multicultural Council/Voices of Mississauga Youth

North York Community House/Village Votes - Junior Edition

Rosshane Vignarajah c/o Tamils in Public Service/
Get Out The Vote Campaign

Souleik Kheyre/Etobicoke North for All

Speqtrum Hamilton

TB West Community Services/Get Out

Vote Savvy/Vote Savvy Video Campaign

Welland Heritage Council and Multicultural Centre/
Global Youth Info-Series

Youth Housing Working Group/OPIRG McMaster

Youth Sports Unlimited

Young Women's Leadership Network/Tell Me What You Want

Zahraa Saab/Up for the Challenge?

ORGANIZATION NAME

$1,000

$750

$1,000

Waterford, ON

Scarborough, ON

Mississauga and Brampton, ON

Owen Sound, ON

GTA, ON

London, ON

Across Ontario

Mississauga, On

GTA, ON

Etobicoke, ON

Hamilton, ON

Toronto, ON

Welland, ON

Hamilton, ON

Scarborough, ON

GTHA, ON

Toronto, ON

LOCATION

AMOUNT

PopUp : Supporting Youth Organizing in 2018 Municipal Elections

For the October 22nd, 2018 municipal elections, Laidlaw offered grants of up to $1,000 to support youth-led projects that made it easier for young people to be seen and heard during the selection of local candidates. Through these grants, the Foundation wanted to make sure the issues and priorities most pressing to young people and their communities are on the radars of people running for office and looking to represent them in government and make the elections process more accessible to young people, whether or not, they are old enough to vote.

fifteen

projects funded

$15,000

awarded

Afghan Youth Engagement and Development Initiative (AYEDI)/Khalidha Nasiri/Afghan-Canadian Youth Get Out The Vote Project

Afropolitan (The AWFA) - Joue Ton Role

Brantford Youth Council/We Want to Hear From YOUth: A Candidate Meet and Greet

L.I.G.H.T c/o 360 Kids Support Services/York Region Youth Town Hall

London Youth Advisory Council/Youth Priorities - Mayoral Candidate Facebook Conversation

Lotherton Youth Councils c/o North York Community House/Lotherton

Newcomer Student Association of Ryerson/Newcomer Women's Democratic Engagement Project

Pollenize/Pollenize Toronto 2018

Speqtrum Hamilton/Young Women's Christian Association of Hamilton/Advocating for Queer, Trans and Two-Spirit Youth in Hamilton

Vision Brampton/Youth-Led Mayoral Debate

Young Diplomats of Canada/Our City 2018

Younger Owen Sound Folks/Youth Ask Video Project Owen Sound Municipal Election 2018

Youth 2 Kingston c/o The Students Commission of Canada/Kingston Municipal Electoral Forum: Count Youth In!

Youth of Scarborough/YO Scarborough

The Meli Collective c/o St. Stephen Community House/
Dear City Counsellors

ORGANIZATION NAME

$1000

$1,000

$1000

$1,000

$1000

$1,000

$1000

$1,000

$1000

$1,000

Scarborough, ON

GTA, ON

Brantford, ON

Richmond HIll, ON

Brantford, ON

GTA, ON

Toronto, ON

Ontario Wide

Hamilton, ON

Brampton, ON

GTHA, ON and Ottawa, ON

London, ON

Kingston, ON

Scarborough, ON

GTH, ON

LOCATION

AMOUNT

Spotlight : Youth Leaps LEARN2WORK!

Since 2008, Youth LEAPS has worked in Scarborough within needs improvement areas to develop educational tools and models to increase educational attainment for youth. Its Learn2Work! initiative is a response to the needs of young people who dropped out of the education system to join the labour market, only to face more barriers and overwhelming competition. The program provides academic support, skills and job development under one umbrella to support youth who are on Ontario Works to attain high school graduation and find employment.

The program’s top three outcomes for youth have been the following: decreasing the need for Ontario Works, boosting the self-esteem and confidence of students and increasing youth employability.

Learn2Work! has so far helped 120 youth to gain access to essential social services and to achieve their educational and employment goals. This on-going program caters, among others, to racialized, low-income youth, single parents, young women, youth in conflict with the law, as well as youth who have not completed high school.

Scaling Impact

Through the Scaling Impact grants, Laidlaw deepened its investments in grassroots, youth-led projects by providing longer-term funding to youth-led groups to expand their model and increase their influence.

Scaling Impact can be seen as the next step for grassroots youth-led groups that have an established model primed to scale.

SI Grantees: Grassroots Advocacy+Programming:

• Offers programs that concretely improve the lives of young people that are falling through systems cracks

• Are credible and powerful advocates for policy and institutional change in order to address the root causes of inequities

eight

projects funded

$662,093

awarded

Amadeusz c/o Albion Neighbourhood Services

Bad Subject c/o Leave Out Violence

Canadian Roots Exchange

Citizen Empowerment Project c/o York University

Literal Change

National OurTurn/OurTurn

Success Beyond Limits

YAAACE c/o Black Creek Community Health Centre

ORGANIZATION NAME

$100,000

$92,243

$100,000

$49,850

$20,000

$100,000

Toronto, ON

Sudbury, ON

Toronto and Mississauga, ON

GTA and Milton, ON

GTA, ON

Toronto, ON

LOCATION

AMOUNT

SPOTLIGHT : AMADEUSZ

After 10 years under an administrative partner, Amadeusz is now a not-for-profit organization that has built its own systems and infrastructure, giving Amadeusz the foundation it needs to scale up and scale out its work.

Through direct education programming, Amadeusz provides high school completion and post secondary courses for youth aged 18-30 held in remand in 3 detention centres in the Greater Toronto Area. In 2018, Amadeusz serviced 211 youth in remand, graduated 16 new high school grads and delivered 19 post-secondary courses. Amadeusz also engages in research publishing Responding to Neoliberalism: The Case of The Look at my Life Project in Critical Social Work in 2018.

In July 2018, in partnership with Humber College, the Laidlaw Foundation and the City of Toronto’s Toronto Youth Equity Strategy, Amadeusz launched a research project titled Look at my Life: ‘SPARKS’ for Firearm Possession Among Young People in Toronto. Based on the recommendations and actions identified through the research, Amadeusz launched and piloted a new project named Project Prosper. Project Prosper works with youth throughout incarceration and coordinates existing systems to support their transition to create a positive foundation for themselves in community.

SPOTLIGHT : LITERAL CHANGE

Literal Change is dedicated to providing remedial literacy support in vulnerable and marginalized communities across Toronto. It is currently operating in the city’s two major remand facilities, The Toronto East Detention Centre (7 Literacy Teachers, 14 Students) and Toronto South Detention Centre (16 Literacy Teachers, 22 Students). This year, Literal Change is looking to expand its volunteer base in both The Toronto East and Toronto South Detention Centres.

In September 2018, Literal Change launched its Youth Literacy Initiative in the Jane/Finch community which currently has 10 Literacy Teachers and 8 Students. In 2020, the program will be expanded to include Toronto’s east-end youth courts, open custody facilities, and additional students in need of remedial literacy support.

It is estimated that approximately 20% of the mainstream classroom does not learn in the same way as the majority. Literal Change’s volunteer teachers pride themselves on creating positive educational experiences that are individualized and student-centred. The goal is to help learners reach their potential while acquiring the skills and strategies required for navigating a world that is overwhelmingly dominated by print and text.

Knowledge Building

Through this grant, the Foundation has supported:

• Offers programs that concretely improve the lives of young people that are falling through systems cracks

• Are credible and powerful advocates for policy and institutional change in order to address the root causes of inequities

five

projects funded

$146,860

awarded

Level

Max Carney/ Two Spirit Youth: Identity, Traditional Knowledge and Community Service Needs

Peacebuilders International/The Future of Youth Court

Yellow Head Institute (Ryerson)

YouthLeaps

ORGANIZATION NAME

$9,950

$9,910

$20,000

$100,000

$7,000

GTA, Ontario

Toronto, ON

Across ON

First Nations from Treaty 3/5/9, ON

Toronto, ON

LOCATION

AMOUNT

SPOTLIGHT : YELLOWHEAD INSTITUTE

Yellowhead Institute is a First Nation-led research centre and think tank at Ryerson University. By prioritizing First Nation philosophy and self-determination, Yellowhead focuses on issues related to land and governance, while creating critical and accessible analysis and education.

A three year partnership with the Laidlaw Foundation will support the Institute in co-creating a multi-generational mentorship program, with a specific focus on the assertion of jurisdiction over lands and water in First Nation territories in Ontario.

Over the course of the project, Yellowhead will take a stepped approach to engage youth meaningfully through learning and training opportunities, which will be integrated within the Institute’s research agenda. Youth input and experiences will actively inform the processes and outputs of the project in three areas: research and policy analysis, capacity building and knowledge sharing. Moreover, this partnership will cultivate opportunities for both the Yellowhead team and the Laidlaw Foundation to learn lessons that can be applied to future project design, program evaluation and partnership development related to First Nation-led initiatives.

Photograph: Stan Williams

Youth CI

4 years ago we launched Youth Collective Impact and, in 2017, we announced the program’s renewal for three more years. With our partners at Innoweave and with the support of the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services, Youth CI has adapted its program structure to better meet the needs of those it serves. Our goal remains the same: support collaboratives to develop significant strength and clarity around their work toward addressing systemic issues facing young people across Ontario.

As the program continues, Youth CI now offers larger grants, which includes the addition of five new resources to the existing workshop-to-coaching-to-funding model. These new elements support grassroots youth-led groups, youth leaders, very-early-stage collaboratives, and collaboratives implementing their initiatives that could benefit from developmental evaluation support as they execute their plan.

We also offer a more direct approach to informing participants about Youth CI resources as well as the collective impact framework. Youth CI outreach sessions now offer facilitated discussions with prospective collaboratives to discuss their ideas, the issue areas they intend to address, and how Youth CI can offer support.

twenty two

projects funded

$336,000

awarded

Conversation Starter Grant

Black Women in Motion

Culture as healing: a “Two-Eye Seeing” Perspective in Pursuit of Wellbeing

Rural Ottawa Youth Mental Health

Supporting Education, Empowerment and Development through
Science (SEEDS)

We the Youth

ORGANIZATION NAME

$1000

$1,000

Toronto, ON

James Bay, ON

Osgoode, ON

Toronto,ON

Toronto, ON

LOCATION

AMOUNT

Youth Leadership & Training

Philippa French

Sabrina Gollan

ORGANIZATION NAME

$2,000

Toronto, ON

South Bruce Peninsula, ON

LOCATION

AMOUNT

Exploration Grant

Caledon Youth Voice

Halton Granters Roundtable

Rural Ottawa Youth Mental Health

Youth Employment Support Committee

ORGANIZATION NAME

$10,000

$1,000

$10,000

Caledon

Halton

Osgoode, ON

Kingston Frontenac, Lennox and Addington

LOCATION

AMOUNT

Grassroots Youth Leadership in Collective Impact

Bright Futures

CI to Reduce Incarceration

CP Planning: Housing in Focus

LIFTing Academic Success

Sprout Academy

Unity Charity

Viability Employment Services

Youth Social Financial & Economic Collective (YSFEC)

Youth Violence Awareness

ORGANIZATION NAME

$25,000

$15,000

$25,000

Waterloo, ON

Toronto, ON

East Scarborough, ON

Toronto, ON

East and West Scarborough, ON

York—South Weston, ON

LOCATION

AMOUNT

Launch Grant

Rexdale Collaborative for Youth Employment

Transcend: Neighbourhood Working with Youth (TOBY)

ORGANIZATION NAME

$47,500

Rexdale

Victoria Park, Flemington Park, Ionview,
Eglinton East & West Hill

LOCATION

AMOUNT

SPOTLIGHT : COLLECTIVE IMPACT TO REDUCE INCARCERATION

The Collective Impact to Reduce Incarceration Group is currently developing a pilot project with the goal of improving community re-entry outcomes for young people aged 18-34, leaving adult provincial custody, as an avenue for reducing the likelihood of re-incarceration, re-arrest and/or re-conviction. The CI Group and its pilot project are led by Nikki Knows, a grassroots initiative that leverages the lived experiences of criminalized young people to build capacity for social change in and around the justice system. The pilot is informed by the preliminary research results of Project LUCID, a Nikki Knows community-based action research project (funded by the City of Toronto and Laidlaw) aimed at identifying gaps in programs, services, and supports for those who are, and have been, held in adult (18+) provincial custody in and around the GTA.

As the CI to Reduce Incarceration Group believes that adequately addressing needs for, and mitigating gaps in, supports is critical to improving community re-entry outcomes, the Group is seeking to adapt a wraparound approach and provide CI Group member services in a continuous, integrated, and holistic manner pre-release through post-release. The pilot will provide services according to each participant’s identified needs (e.g. literacy, education, housing, employment, family supports, etc.) incorporating the physical, mental, social, and spiritual aspects of their well-being, and engaging any existing support systems they may already have. In order to test the developed wraparound approach, the CI Group intends to run the pilot in 1-2 adult provincial correctional facilities, before going on to evaluate and determine the feasibility of scaling the project to a larger number of correctional facilities within Ontario.

SPOTLIGHT : CP PLANNING HOUSING IN FOCUS

CP Planning, led by young urban planner Cheryll Case, designed Housing in Focus to be an inclusive consultation process that welcomed underserved residents to discuss access to adequate and affordable housing.

Today, most community planning consultations, which are more frequently attended by higher-income residents or homeowners, do not attract much attention from underserved residents, as noted by the City of Toronto. This has a negative and indirect impact on underserved residents because wealthier residents and homeowners are less likely to experience issues accessing adequate and affordable housing and therefore are less likely to support changes that may improve access to affordable housing.

“I think it would be fantastic and a real game-changer if we could have a development that was led by under-served residents, who would have control over the entire process and remain involved from start to finish,” says Cheryll.

Through partnerships with over 11 community groups to engage 140 residents across the City of Toronto, CP Planning produced and led consultations in East York, Etobicoke Lakeshore, York, Scarborough, and Downtown Toronto, as well as trained 12 youth, aged 16-20, to host their own workshops in their local communities. The consultations centred around the lived experience of residents and concluded with the generation of over 18 maps which illustrate how residents imagine their neighbourhood could look like if affordable housing was made a priority. Through the Housing in Focus platform, underserved residents were also able to share their stories, thoughts and offer their own housing solutions.

public policy

Public Policy at Laidlaw

The Foundation has been fortunate enough to work with grantees, stakeholders, partners, government and community leaders as we strive to advocate for better outcomes for Ontario’s youth. Education, youth justice and child welfare are three main areas of focus for the Foundation and we have been working diligently in these areas to fund, convene and facilitate progress for young people who are often marginalized by the system. We acknowledge our responsibility and privilege as a funder and aim to be proactive in our research and advocacy.

Enabling a Milestone for the Foundation and the Province

On May 7th, 2018 the Laidlaw Foundation, in partnership with TVO, Twitter, CivicAction, For Youth Initiative and many other youth-led organizations, rallied together to hold Ontario’s’ first youth-focused Town Hall featuring the leaders of three of Ontario’s political parties. The event was hosted at Daniels Spectrum in Regent Park and provided an incredible opportunity for young people to voice their concerns and hopes to leaders during the election period. The event was covered widely by media organizations, trended nationally on Twitter and was attended by over 200 youth from across Ontario. While the young people in attendance were enthusiastic to participate, they did not hold back, their questions were pointed, thoughtful and honest, a true example of civic engagement in action.

Enhancing the Advocacy Capacity of Grantees

On November 9th, 2018 the Laidlaw Foundation organized a workshop to enhance the advocacy skills of our grantees. The workshop featured our Manager of Public Policy, Saeed Selvam, former Deputy Minister, Alex Bezzina, and Democracy XChange Founder, Chris Cowperwaithe. The workshop was designed to provide insights into how grantees can organize around their unique systems change objectives, while overcoming some of the financial barriers they face. Grantees gained insight from Mr. Bezzina on what the government and members of the public service look for and are facing in terms of constraints. Mr. Cowperwaithe provided grantees with a series of free tools and resources that they could use to make organizing and advocating more effective

Championing Progressive Youth Justice Legislation

The Foundation worked closely with one of our grantees in her tireless efforts to reform the youth justice system. Laidlaw provided training and guidance to our grantee along with securing meetings with the Minister’s office so that they could be informed directly. As a result, we managed to facilitate a historic submission by our grantee to the Standing Committee on Justice Policy in reference to the Correctional Services Transformation Act, which received Royal Assent and became law. The Act included a suite of progressive reforms designed to improve conditions for those on remand along with enhanced access to justice initiatives.

Addressing Gaps Faced by Youth-In-Care

The overrepresentation of Black and Indigenous youth within Ontario’s child welfare system remains highly problematic. Laidlaw has convened sector experts, service providers and grantees in an ongoing effort to address some of the challenges faced by young people, who are most negatively affected by the system in Ontario. From a public policy and funding standpoint, we remain committed to supporting those actively advocating for progressive reform along with providing evidence-based recommendations to the government that are candid and actionable. .

impact investing

Overview of Impact Investing

The Global Impact Investing Network defines impact investments as investments made in companies, organizations and funds with the intention to generate social and environmental impact alongside a financial return. The term “impact investing” was coined by the Rockefeller Foundation in 2007, creating a movement and bringing together a community of investors that were already working to address social and environmental challenges through investments that also deliver financial returns. Over a decade later, there has been significant growth in the industry with more individuals and institutions entering the space and large amounts of capital flowing into the market. According to the Global Sustainable Investment Alliance, global sustainable investment assets reached $30.7 trillion by the start of 2018– was invested in sustainable, responsible and impact investing strategies.

Impact investing challenges the established view that investments should focus solely on achieving financial returns, while social and environmental issues should be addressed only by philanthropic capital or public support. The most critical problems faced by society have become increasingly complex and entrenched and it is now apparent that financial capital alone will be insufficient to advance solutions to global, social and environmental challenges.

The impact investing market now offers a diverse set of high-quality investment opportunities that can be successfully implemented across most recognized asset classes, sectors and geographies. Impact investing attracts a broad spectrum of investors, from individual to institutional, with a diverse set of impact goals and financial return expectations. For foundations in particular, impact investing can enable them to utilize more of their assets in service of mission and be a powerful tool for creating greater impact.

About Wetherby

Founded in 1990, Wetherby Asset Management (Wetherby) is one of the largest independent employee-owned advisory firms in the United States, currently managing over $5 billion in assets. From their headquarters in San Francisco and offices in New York, Wetherby’s team of over 70 employees serve institutions, families and high-net-worth individuals across the U.S. and Canada. Wetherby has been advising clients on impact investing for over a decade, making them one of the most experienced impact-focused financial advisors in the market. Wetherby can recommend impact investments across asset classes and through a variety of structures, evaluating a range of investment options based on a client’s specific mission and theory of change.

CoPower Green Bonds

Laidlaw’s $350,000 investment in CoPower’s 4-year, 4.0% compounding green bonds was completed with an effective issue date of December 1, 2018. Proceeds from the bonds were used to refinance loans made to clean energy projects which have been warehoused by CoPower’s credit facility. This refinancing replenishes the capital available within the credit facility to invest in additional distributed renewable energy and energy efficiency projects – such as solar photovoltaic (PV), LED lighting, energy storage, geo-exchange, building retrofit and waste-to-energy projects – in North America.

Through January 2019, CoPower invested over $21 million in a residential geo-exchange project in Quebec; three operational rooftop and ground-mounted community solar projects in Hamilton; a portfolio of LED lighting retrofits in over 300 condo buildings in BC, AB and ON; a community solar project in Ontario; a portfolio of 658 geothermal projects in British Columbia; and a geothermal installation in a Toronto townhouse complex. Geothermal systems operate at 250-380% efficiency – for every unit of electricity used, 2-3 units of heating energy is provided by the system. This latest geothermal project in ON will result in 82 tonnes of carbon pollution avoided each year and 55 homes saving energy and money.

As of December 31, 2018, Laidlaw’s investment in CoPower’s green bonds had resulted in the avoidance of 10,655 kgs of greenhouse gas emissions; generated 78,453 kWh of clean energy; and delivered $9,869 in energy savings.

Artscape Launchpad Community Bonds

Laidlaw’s $500,000 investment in Toronto Artscape’s Launchpad Community Bonds was funded on November 1, 2018. Proceeds from the bonds were used to finance the development and construction of its Artscape Daniels Launchpad Project, an entrepreneurship centre for arts and design professionals within the City of the Arts development on Toronto’s waterfront.

Founded in 1986, Toronto Artscape Inc. (Artscape) is a non-profit urban development organization that makes space for creativity and transforms communities. The new Launchpad space opened on November 1, 2018. The centre provides arts and design professionals with tools, training, resources and mentorship to build successful careers; fills a gap in entrepreneurship development for creative professionals in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area; strengthens the business incubation ecosystem in Canada; and supports the revitalization of Toronto’s central waterfront, enhancing the cultural richness and vibrancy of the city.Artscape is working to create a new impact reporting tool aimed at testing if, by virtue of access to the supports offered at Launchpad, Artscape’s members achieve measurable improvements in their financial empowerment; access to professional opportunities; and satisfaction in their practice/artistic fulfillment. This new tool, the Thriving Artist Index, will be fully embedded in the membership intake and follow up process for Launchpad. The creation of the Thriving Artist Index reflects Artscape’s belief that the impacts of supporting creativity and creative enterprises and access to arts and culture infrastructure are not currently well-captured in existing standardized tools.

Robert A. Laidlaw

1886 - 1976

Founder, Laidlaw Foundation

Robert A. Laidlaw’s mission and public interest philanthropy continues to inspire our work 70 years later.

Example of projects supported under the Family Fund:

1. Christ Church Anglican, Roches Point: In support of new lighting fixtures and important electrical safety work at a historic Church with a very long and significant association with the Laidlaw Family

2. Abbey Gardens, Haliburton: In support of the development of a youth engagement strategy and youth council

3. Trans Canada Trails Foundation: In support of the ongoing improvement of the trails (24,000 kms) to provide greater access to Canadians

4. Moose Cree First Nation: In support of the Project George Camp – To facilitate the participation of at-risk youth and their families in camping activities

5. Toronto Zen Centre: In support of renovations in order for the Centre to continue to serve both the Zen Buddhist community and the wider community at large.

In addition to the Fund, the Committee is planning a number of activities in 2019 to engage the Family with the Fund and the Foundation. This includes a summer gathering to bring the Family together for a picnic, and the development of a web portal with Family-only access that will serve as an information and communications platform.

Family Committee

2018 is the first full year of the Family Discretionary Grant Fund. In 2017, the Board approved a Fund of $150,000 per year, initially for a three-year term, to encourage Family Members to actively engage with philanthropy and, by association, to increase their long-term involvement with and support for the Foundation.

All descendants of the Foundation’s Founder, Mr. R.A. Laidlaw, 18 years of age and older, are eligible to make an application to the Fund on behalf of a recognized Canadian charitable organization, to a maximum of $10,000 per year, per Family Member. Applications could be in the form of one grant in the amount of $10,000 or a series of smaller microgrants. Family Members are encouraged to consider the Mission of the Foundation when submitting their applications.

The Family Committee oversees the administration of the Fund. It is comprised of the four Family Members on the Board, one other Family Member and two other Board Members. In the past year, 16 Family Members supported 20 initiatives for a total of $143,000. Many of the initiatives were funded by more than one Family member, including a donation to the Escarpment Biosphere Conservancy (Willisville Mountain), where 10 Family Members came together to contribute a total of $12,000. Emerging general areas of interest included themes around built environment, nature, mental health and well-being.

expenditures and revenue

Operational Expenditures:

$703,714