On Tuesday, March 9, 2010, the W. Garfield Weston Foundation presented a donation of $1.5 million to The Salvation Army Homestead in Toronto, a residential recovery program for women who are struggling with substance abuse issues, for urgently needed building renovations.

The donation from the Foundation will provide much needed infrastructure renovations in the heating, plumbing and electrical systems, and the installation of an elevator will enable Homestead to support women with mobility restrictions.

“We greatly appreciate the generous support of The W. Garfield Weston Foundation,” says Major Elizabeth Price, Executive Director, Homestead. “The renovations will make our residential space cleaner, safer and brighter and will enable us to serve a broader population of women by offering new services as we give women new hope for recovery.”

The donation was made in honour of the late Miriam Burnett, who devoted 30 years of hard work as Chairman of the Foundation. Says Charles Burnett III, son of Miriam Burnett, “Over her lifetime, my mother dedicated herself to extending kindness and understanding to those in need.”

ABOUT THE HOMESTEAD

The Salvation Army Homestead, located in downtown Toronto and in Scarborough, is a residential, day and community-based program for women 18 and older who are dealing with substance abuse issues.
Treatment options are: a ten-week residential program that houses 18 clients at a time in downtown Toronto; a ten-week day treatment program at the downtown site; a ten- week day treatment program located in the heart of Scarborough.

Salvation Army programs are holistic and abstinence-based. The treatment model includes relapse prevention, life skills and twelve-step classes, group and individual counselling. Trained staff support women on their journey to recovery and self empowerment, in an atmosphere of warmth, acceptance and safety.

The Homestead also offers community-based programs for women who may not be participating in residential or day programs. They include relapse prevention, anger management and after care. It also offers a support and information groups for friends and families of its clients.

The Homestead was founded in 1955 in Toronto and was located in another building for a few years. In 1961, the present location at 78 Admiral Road, became available and has been helping women at this location since.

On Thursday January 28, The Moose 99.5 FM, in conjunction with Muskoka Lumber, The Bracebridge Examiner and the Canadian Government, opened up its phone lines and broadcast live to raise funds for the survivors of the Haitian earthquake.

Over 200 calls flooded the station’s phone lines. Every dollar donated was matched up to $50,000.00 through the support of Muskoka Lumber, and that was matched by the Canadian Government. More than $200,000 was raised and donated to The Salvation Army for its relief efforts in Haiti.

The Salvation Army says thank you to all the people of Muskoka who opened their hearts and partnered with us to help the hundreds of thousands affected by this terrible tragedy.

Over the month of December, Best Buy Canada ran a “vote for your favourite charity” contest on BestBuy.ca. $25,000 was distributed amongst select charities across Canada through the Best Buy for Kids program. The Salvation Army ended up in first place for English voting and third in French voting. Resulting in Best Buy graciously donating $13,000 to The Salvation Army

Sarah Petz of Best Buy said “With over 40,000 votes received on BestBuy.ca from across Canada, it is evident that the community wants to make a difference in the lives of children by directing donations to amazing organizations like The Salvation Army. The Salvation Army received the most votes throughout English Canada and came in third in Quebec, for a total donation of $13,000 from Best Buy. Congratulations and Merry Christmas.”

The Salvation Army wants to thank Best Buy Canada for their support of the charitable sector, for allowing Canadians to participate in the decision making process, and for their $13,000 donation to The Salvation Army!

Special thanks to all the Canadians who voted!

After hearing donations to the Salvation Army were down this Christmas – the prime time for fund-raising for social-service community organizations – Telus wrote a cheque today for $10,000 to the organization and challenged other businesses to also make last-minute Christmas donations.

“We heard they [The Salvation Army] were $500,000 behind in their goal for the B.C. region. We donate throughout the year but wanted to do a special contribution,” said Telus chief financial officer Rob McFarlane. Read full story…

Source: kelowna.com

North Vancouver, Calgary, Winnipeg, Halifax/Dartmouth, Tuesday December 22, 2009 – Walmart Canada is helping make Christmas a reality for Canadians coast-to-coast with a generous $100,000 donation to the Salvation Army’s Kettle Campaign. Read the full story

On Saturday December 12, 2009, an event called “Help Portrait” took place at Grace Mansion in the Vancouver Downtown Eastside.  A number of local professional photographers shot portraits of just under 300 individuals and families.  They event was run by an amazing team of volunteers.  Also on location was volunteers who provided make-up services for people prior to their photographs.

The idea was to bless people with photographs and in so doing to identify the idea that all people have worth and value.

After the photographs were taken, the people were given the opportunity to pick the image they liked best, and the photos were printed immediately, so that they could be taken with the person right away.  Christmas cards and postage was provided by The Salvation Army for those who desired to mail a photograph to a loved one.

This event was made possible with support of a number of Ministries in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver such including The Salvation Army Grace Mansion, Nehemiah Foundation Vancouver, Union Gospel Mission, and MoreThan12 Church Vancouver.

Other sponsors with this event included Canon & Epson who provided printers and ink.

Help Portrait is a movement of photographers who are using their time, equipment and expertise to give back to those who are less fortunate this holiday season.

* Cineplex Entertainment partners with CTV for CTV TORONTO’s annual holiday toy drive benefiting the Salvation Army
* CTV News broadcasts live from SilverCity Fairview Mall Cinemas with a free movie, regular popcorn and regular fountain drink to the first 250 people to donate a toy

Toronto, ON (November 10, 2009) - Help CTV TORONTO and the Salvation Army build a mountain of toys with the most exciting Toy Mountain launch event ever. In partnership with Cineplex Entertainment, CTV’s 14th annual toy drive officially begins at SilverCity Fairview Mall Cinemas, located at Fairview Mall, 1800 Sheppard Avenue, Toronto, ON, on Wednesday, November 18. Viewers are asked to arrive by 6 p.m. and be a part of CTV TORONTO’s live 6 p.m. news broadcast

“I’m proud to say that this is our 14th year supporting CTV’s Toy Mountain,” said Paul Rogers, Senior Vice-President of CTV Toronto. “This incredible initiative brings joy to so many children across the GTA and this year, we’re hoping to reach more children than ever before.”

CTV’s TOY MOUNTAIN kicks off its campaign with a family friendly movie night. Cineplex Entertainment provides free admission to a special screening of a family holiday movie and a free regular popcorn and regular fountain drink with a toy donation to the first 250 guests in attendance. Viewers are invited to bring their families and meet CTV TORONTO’s Tom Brown and other CTV News personalities, be a part of the live news broadcast, and enjoy holiday music from the Salvation Army brass band.

“The Salvation Army is delighted to once again partner with CTV in helping bring Christmas to children across the GTA,” said Captain John Murray of the Salvation Army. “With requests for assistance up 20 percent across the Region we know that this Christmas season resources are going to be stretched.”

In 2008, TOY MOUNTAIN exceeded its goal of 100,000 toys, bringing in an incredible 102,000 toys for families in need in the GTA. Help CTV TORONTO build this year’s mountain of toy’s even higher. The public can participate by donating a new, unwrapped toy to one of the many drop-off locations listed on the official TOY MOUNTAIN website: toronto.ctv.ca/toymountain.

About Cineplex Entertainment

As the largest motion picture exhibitor in Canada, Cineplex Entertainment LP owns, leases or has a joint-venture interest in 129 theatres with 1,328 screens serving more than 63.5 million guests annually. Headquartered in Toronto, Canada, Cineplex Entertainment operates theatres from British Columbia to Quebec and is the largest exhibitor of digital, 3D and IMAX projection technologies in the country. Proudly Canadian and with a workforce of approximately 10,000 employees, the company operates the following top tier brands: Cineplex Odeon, Galaxy, Famous Players, Colossus, Coliseum, SilverCity, Cinema City and Scotiabank Theatres. The units of Cineplex Galaxy Income Fund, which owns approximately 99.6% of Cineplex Entertainment LP, are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (symbol CGX.UN). For more information, visit www.cineplex.com.

About the Salvation Army

The Salvation Army is an international Christian organization that began its work in Canada in 1882 and has grown to become the largest non-governmental direct provider of social services in the country. The Salvation Army gives hope and support to vulnerable people today and everyday in 400 communities across Canada and 117 countries around the world. The Salvation Army offers practical assistance for children and families, often tending to the basic necessities of life, provide shelter for homeless people and rehabilitation for people who have lost control of their lives to an addiction.

About CTV Inc.

CTV, Canada’s largest private broadcaster, offers a wide range of quality news, sports, information, and entertainment programming. It has the number-one national newscast, CTV NATIONAL NEWS WITH LLOYD ROBERTSON, and is the number-one choice for prime-time viewing. CTVglobemedia Inc. is Canada’s premier multi-media company which owns CTV Inc. and The Globe and Mail. CTV Inc. also owns radio stations across the country, and leading national specialty channels. Other CTVglobemedia investments include an interest in Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, and in Dome Productions, a North American leader in the provision of mobile high definition production facilities. More information about CTV may be found on the company website at www.ctv.ca.

-CTV-

In photo, from left to right, Marcello Piane, District Manager, Loblaw’s (Toronto), Garfield Mitchell, Director, The W. Garfield Weston Foundation, Territorial Commander, Commissioner William Francis and Chief Secretary, Lt. Colonel Don Copple

Toronto, Thursday November 5, 2009 - The W. Garfield Weston Foundation has donated $540,000 to The Salvation Army in an effort to assist with the dramatic increase in demand for assistance, particularly for its food bank and meal programs. This is part of a one-time $1.8 million grant program launched by the Foundation to support the efforts of over 150 programs run by registered charities. These programs provide the necessities of life to families affected by the current economic downturn.

Twenty-five (25) Salvation Army offices, from British Columbia to Prince Edward Island, have been awarded grants to restock their food banks, introduce new community kitchen programs, upgrade kitchen facilities and expand feeding programs for the homeless, the working poor and seniors who are living on a fixed income. Funds also have been provided for school breakfast programs as well as emergency clothing and shelter.

“The Salvation Army is well known to be one of the most effective organizations in delivering assistance to people in need across Canada. The Weston family and The W. Garfield Weston Foundation are delighted to continue their long history of support for The Salvation Army by making a significant commitment to its vital and hope-giving work” says Garfield Mitchell, Director of the Foundation.

“With demand for food assistance increasing between 10-40% across the country, this generous gift from the Foundation could not have come at a more opportune time, particularly as we enter the Christmas Season” says Graham Moore, Territorial Secretary, for Public Relations and Development of The Salvation Army. “We are most grateful for the continued generosity of the Weston family and the Foundation”.

The Weston family controls George Weston Limited which, today, includes not only the family’s original baking company, but also Loblaw Companies Limited, a group of food retailing, processing and distribution companies, including the No Frills franchise.

About The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army is an international Christian organization that began its work in Canada in 1882 and has grown to become the largest non-governmental direct provider of social services in the country. The Salvation Army gives hope and support to vulnerable people today and everyday in 400 communities across Canada and 118 countries around the world. The Salvation Army offers practical assistance for children and families, often tending to the basic necessities of life, provides shelter for homeless people and rehabilitation for people who have lost control of their lives to an addiction.

When you give to The Salvation Army, you are investing in the future of marginalized and overlooked people in your community.

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News releases, articles and updated information can be found at www.SalvationArmy.ca

For further information please contact:

Andrew Burditt
Territorial Public Relations Director
The Salvation Army
416-845-8231
andrew_burditt@can.salvationarmy.org
www.SalvationArmy.ca

For more than 100 years, The Salvation Army has made its officers/pastors available to military commands to serve as chaplains. In particular, thousands of officers served in the Red Shield Services in direct support of military troops at home and abroad during the Second World War.

While there are a number of Salvation Army officers serving as military chaplains worldwide, in the Canada and Bermuda Territory, there are presently two officers and one officer candidate serving as military chaplains. Major Fred Butler-Caughie became the first Salvation Army officer to serve as a military chaplain since the Second World War when he joined the Reserves (part-time military) in November 1993 with the Canadian Forces rank of captain. In addition to his Salvation Army appointments in addiction treatment centres as a court chaplain, he has served the military as regimental chaplain to the Lake Superior Scottish Regiment in Thunder Bay, Ont., with the 25 Service Battalion in Toronto and with The Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment in Belleville, Ont. He presently serves as group chaplain with the 70 Communication Group in Kingston, Ont.

Major Butler-Caughie deployed on active service to provide pastoral and welfare support throughout the ice storm of 1998. More recently, he was assigned as the notification officer to Trooper Marc Diab’s family following his death due to an improvised explosive device (IED) in Afghanistan in March 2009. At the family’s request, he remained with them through the repatriation of their son to CFB Trenton and the planning of the military funeral. He worked closely with the family’s priest developing the liturgy and co-officiating at the funeral.

In 2003, Captain Patrick Lublink became the first Salvation Army officer since the Second World War to join the Canadian Forces on a full-time basis. He has since served as chaplain to the 1st Infantry Battalion 22nd Regiment in Valcartier, 3 Air Force Wing in Bagotville, U.S. Army Regional Medical Centre in Landstuhl, Germany, and the East Coast Navy in Halifax. In his most recent deployment, he sailed with the navy in the world’s most dangerous ocean, off the coasts of Somalia, where his ship provided trade route security for commercial cargo ships against modern-day pirates.

In another historic moment for The Salvation Army Canada and Bermuda territory, Captain Lublink was recently promoted to the rank of major in the military (he remains a captain in The Salvation Army). Major/Captain Patrick Lublink, assisted by his wife, Captain Valerie Lublink, is presently appointed as the Protestant chaplain to the Royal Military College in Kingston, Ont., with pastoral responsibility for more than 1,000 officer-cadets and 200 staff members.

In 2008, Salvationist Mark Kalvaitis joined the Canadian Forces as a military chaplain for a unique two-year program. Mark is currently completing a master of divinity degree at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ont., and is also a Salvation Army officer candidate applying for training in 2010. He is enrolled in a program designed to introduce full-time theological students to the operational environments of the navy, army and air force. His reserve training, spread over the past two summers, included appointments to the navy in Halifax and in Victoria.

During this time, he ministered on board different military ships and through preaching and leading chapel services at the base.

A highlight for Kalvaitis included trips aboard Sea King Helicopters and HMCS Calgary during a NATO warfare exercise. At times, he finds that being the only chaplain on board a ship can be isolating but trusts the words of Psalm 139 that remind him he is never alone in his ministry. Mark considers it a privilege to work with military personnel and serve them with the love of Christ. He holds the military rank of lieutenant and plans to continue as a reservist chaplain within the Canadian Forces ministering to an Army unit in his hometown of Hamilton, Ont.

With reports from Captain Patrick Lublink.
Photo: Caption: Cpt Patrick Lublink receives his Canadian Forces promotion to major from Commodore Mark Norman, Commander for the East Coast Fleet. Present at the ceremony are his wife, Cpt Valerie Lublink, and Mjrs Larry and Velma Martin, Maritime divisional leaders

Halifax Mooseheads forward Gabriel Desjardins announced today his personal intention to raise funds for the Salvation Army this season. The 17 year old second year forward from Montreal has decided to donate $21 to The Salvation Army for every point he records this season. Desjardins wears the number 21 jersey for The Mooseheads.

“I spoke with Mooseheads management in the off-season and told them I wanted to help out in the local community. The Salvation Army is a great fit. They help so many families and kids,” stated Desjardins. “Hopefully I can have a good year, raise some money for a great cause, and help our team win some games.”

“The Mooseheads have been wonderful supporters of The Salvation Army over the years. However, this tremendous gesture by an exceptional role model not only raises money, it raises the profile of The Army’s work during the important winter-relief season,” said Diane van Der Horden, Public Relations & Development, Salvation Army, Maritime Division.

Desjardins has 2 assist through 2 games so far this season, adding up to $42 in contributions to The Salvation Army so far.
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For more information, contact:
Ron Zima
Fund Development & Public Relations
Cell: 902-456-2550
Ron_zima@can.salvationarmy.org

About The Salvation Army:

The Salvation Army is an international Christian organization that began its work in Canada in 1882 and has grown to become the largest non-governmental direct provider of social services in the country. The Salvation Army gives hope and support to vulnerable people today and everyday in 400 communities across Canada and 113 countries around the world. The Salvation Army offers practical assistance for children and families, often tending to the basic necessities of life, provides shelter for homeless people and rehabilitation for people who have lost control of their lives to an addiction.

News releases, articles and updated national information can be found at www.SalvationArmy.ca