NOW ANNOUNCING THE

35 VOLUNTEER GROUPS & CIVIC ENGAGEMENT PROJECTS SELECTED

Volunteer Toronto's Civic Spark Microgrant program provides $1,000 microgrants to resident-led groups, grassroots organizations, and informal collectives that are 100% volunteer-run to go towards projects that help build social connections and increase civic participation across the City of Toronto. The funded initiatives seek to create opportunities to activate neighbourhoods, animate public spaces, or bridge connections between people to increase a sense of belonging in our communities and address the growing challenge of social isolation.

  VOLUNTEER TORONTO IS THRILLED TO ANNOUNCE THE 2026 RECIPIENTS TO MARK NATIONAL VOLUNTEER WEEK

This project activates the Malvern Library courtyard, transforming an under-used public space into a welcoming gathering spot for all ages. With games like Connect‑4, Jenga, chess, and chalk art, it encourages casual conversation and community connection. The courtyard’s visibility makes it ideal for bringing residents together while reimagining how shared spaces can support neighbourhood belonging.

Ward: Scarborough-Rouge Park

A free, pop‑up mentorship series where youth (12–18) connect with university students in a relaxed, social setting. Instead of lectures, the café uses guided conversations to reduce barriers to post‑secondary guidance, especially for racialized and newcomer youth. It supports teens who may not otherwise seek academic advice, helping them build confidence, ask honest questions, and feel more informed about their future pathways. 

Ward: Scarborough-Rouge Park

Participants design carnival masks to express personal stories, challenges, and resilience. Through guided art sessions using paint, fabric, and found objects, they personalize masks while reflecting on their lived experiences. The process combines creativity and storytelling, helping community members connect, share safely, and explore identity through hands‑on artistic expression.

Ward: Eglinton-Lawrence

Created for young people excluded from decision‑making spaces, Civic Lab offers a supportive place to learn how systems work and how to influence them. Many marginalized youth hold valuable lived knowledge but lack tools to act on it. This project challenges that by providing clear, accessible learning without jargon or gatekeeping.

Ward: Spadina-Fort York

Craft Covens is a grassroots initiative to make art education accessible to anyone. It is a series of multidisciplinary art workshops hosted for and by local artists to share their practice through hands-on and communal activities. We want you to experiment, fail, learn, connect and grow with us, together.

Ward: City-wide

This initiative supports caregivers of individuals with autism and developmental disabilities who face chronic isolation. Because many traditional spaces aren’t accessible or accommodating, caregivers often lack community. This project offers flexible, inclusive gatherings where families can connect without judgment, share experiences, and participate in sensory‑aware activities designed to reduce isolation.

Ward: University-Rosedale

FCCAN aims to increase Filipino‑Canadian engagement in the 2026 municipal election. Through community‑led outreach at cultural festivals and neighbourhood events, the project offers plain‑language education on how municipal government works and why it matters. It builds on FCCAN’s non‑partisan civic education efforts to support a large but underrepresented community.

Ward: Toronto Centre

This project celebrates Rudy’s Garden and its 101‑year‑old creator through a community planting event and birthday gathering. Residents learn gardening skills, enjoy local food, and help sustain a beloved neighbourhood landmark. The event strengthens intergenerational connection and community pride in an informal green space maintained by local volunteers.

Ward: Humber River-Black Creek

A free community BBQ for local seniors, many of whom face isolation due to mobility, income, and language barriers. Featuring accessible seating, culturally inclusive food, and volunteer support, the event creates a welcoming environment for connection. It builds on existing senior programming to foster social ties and neighbourhood belonging.

Ward: Toronto Centre

This community barbecue celebrates youth leadership and the growing momentum of young people in the neighbourhood. With basketball, badminton, volleyball, music, and prize giveaways, the event creates a fun, supportive space where youth and community members can connect, build confidence, and feel valued. It strengthens community pride while inspiring the next generation to stay engaged and involved.

Ward: Scarborough-Guildwood

Teen girls—including those with physical disabilities—meet weekly to bake goods for local food programs. Guided by mentors, they build teamwork, leadership, and culinary skills while forming friendships. The program offers a supportive space that reduces isolation and shows youth the impact of contributing to their community through hands‑on volunteering.

Ward: Eglinton-Lawrence

A culturally responsive social evening for Gujarati‑speaking seniors living in a NORC building. With Carrom, fun games, arts and crafts, and a traditional meal, the event reduces isolation and strengthens neighbour relationships. Hosting it inside the building removes mobility barriers and creates a warm, familiar, and fully accessible space.

Ward: Don Valley West

An Indigenous‑led rooftop agroecology project supporting ancestral seed stewardship and hands‑on food growing. Participants learn about soil care, planting, and traditional crops in an accessible garden space. The gatherings focus on connection, shared responsibility, and relationship‑building, helping community members reduce isolation while engaging in meaningful land‑based learning.

Ward: Toronto-Danforth

A creative women's health workshop combining painting and guided reflection. Held in 

a relaxed, outdoor picnic setting, it blends artistic expression with interactive discussion on self-advocacy and health empowerment. Participants explore how to navigate healthcare conversations and systems, connect with resources, and build confidence 

in managing their own health and well-being, all while forming supportive peer connections through shared creative experiences.

Ward: Scarborough-Rouge Park

A combined river clean‑up and public mending workshop teaching basic repair and upcycling skills. Participants help care for the riverside, then learn to mend garments while sharing stories and connecting with neighbours. The event blends environmental stewardship, sustainability, and cross‑cultural community building.

Ward: York South-Weston

A youth arts workshop where girls express themselves through painting, collage, 

and mixed media. Activities focus on creativity, confidence, and community, helping participants build communication skills and friendships. The program encourages self‑expression without pressure, giving girls space to explore identity and support 

one another in a safe environment.

Ward: Don Valley West

A multisensory arts showcase exploring systemic racism, mental health, and community resilience. Building on the long‑running “Just Between Us” program, the event will feature the creative works of young Scarborough artists and spark deeper dialogue. It strengthens community understanding, visibility, and ongoing connections in Scarborough. 

Ward: Scarborough Centre

What’s Your Story? brings people together in a welcoming space to share, listen, and connect. Participants are invited to share their voices and reflect on their experiences, identities, and what helps them feel a sense of belonging. The initiative aims to foster meaningful dialogue, reduce isolation, and strengthen community connection. A companion podcast offers an optional space for participants to tell their stories in their own words and help amplify diverse voices across the community.

Ward: Toronto Centre

A youth program building financial and digital literacy through interactive workshops. Participants learn financial basics—budgeting, saving, credit, investing—then explore personal branding and social media skills. Designed for youth in Lawrence Heights, the sessions reduce isolation, build confidence, and equip young people with practical tools for their futures.

Ward: Eglinton-Lawrence

A play‑based language and cultural program for Marathi‑speaking families with young children. Each session includes songs, stories, movement, and caregiver connection time. Designed by immigrant parents, it helps families reduce isolation, build friendships, and strengthen cultural ties, while supporting children’s early social and language development.

Ward: City-wide

A community bus trip to the Indigenous‑led Bidaasige Park, offering guided walks, cultural learning, and shared reflection. The outing brings isolated residents—especially seniors—together for gentle movement and meaningful connection. It supports cross‑cultural understanding and encourages participants to engage with environmental and social justice topics.

Ward: Toronto-Danforth

A relaxed outdoor gathering where neighbours of all ages share performances or simply enjoy the show. With no auditions or pressure, the event fosters genuine connection through music, storytelling, and shared picnic time. It creates a welcoming space for newcomers, families, seniors, and residents with disabilities to meet.

Ward: Eglinton-Lawrence

A four‑session basketball and leadership program for girls in the Jane and Finch community. Participants learn basic basketball skills alongside workshops on teamwork, communication, and confidence, while youth mentors act as role models, fostering community leadership.The program creates a safe space for girls to stay active, connect with others, and grow on and off the court. 

Ward: Humber River-Black Creek

A trauma‑informed mental‑health program supporting families who have lost children to police and gun violence. Sessions include peer support, creative healing, and psychoeducation in a safe, culturally responsive environment. The initiative reduces isolation and helps families process grief with others who understand their experience. 

Ward: Toronto Centre

A group of seniors who continue gathering for monthly arts workshops after bonding through East End Arts programs. Sessions explore painting, collage, textiles, and more, fostering creativity and connection. The collective reduces isolation, builds confidence, and strengthens an inclusive arts community for older adults.

Ward: Toronto-Danforth

A participatory Garba‑inspired dance event where community members create a collective painted mandala by dancing on a shared canvas. The open‑air gathering celebrates South Asian-Gujarati culture, encourages movement, and builds connection across ages and abilities. Volunteers support accessibility and inclusive participation. 

Ward: Etobicoke North

A community clean‑up and resource fair connecting newcomers and long‑time residents. The event includes hands‑on activities, service‑provider booths, arts, crafts, and refreshments. It activates shared spaces, promotes neighbourhood pride, and helps residents access culturally relevant supports while building meaningful connections.

NWard: Beaches-East York

We are a neighbourhood organization for the residents of Scarborough’s historic Highland Creek Village, designed to serve as a blueprint for community engagement everywhere. By hosting everything from silent book clubs and skill-building workshops to plant exchanges and outdoor adventures, we are bringing ""social"" back to our streets. Open to all, our activities are built to turn neighbours into friends and serve as a model for connection in the modern world.

Ward: Scarborough-Rouge Park

A community‑run food pantry where adults and youth volunteer together to unload, sort, and distribute healthy food. The model fosters teamwork, mentorship, and shared responsibility while supporting low‑income families. Weekly gatherings strengthen connections, reduce isolation, and help neighbours care for one another.

Ward: Eglinton-Lawrence

Families are the foundation of civilization. The family unit is based on love. This love connects other families together and creates society. Love and unity fosters a civilized behavior that causes the birth of civilization. The primary function of a family is to prepare the individual to be a contributing member of society. Having our lives shaped by social constructs that distort the family’s original purpose has caused this truth to be ignored. We are bringing it back at a one‑day picnic centering Black family wellness through music, movement, storytelling, and shared meals. 

Ward: Humber River-Black Creek

A free chess tournament for children and youth in Etobicoke, with all equipment and rating fees covered. The event encourages strategic thinking, confidence, and friendly competition in an accessible, welcoming environment. Student volunteers support tournament operations, fostering leadership and community involvement.

Ward: Etobicoke Centre

A volunteer‑led outreach initiative distributing care packages to people experiencing homelessness. Volunteers assemble hygiene kits and offer respectful, human‑centered support through conversation and presence. The project deepens civic awareness, builds compassion, and fosters meaningful connection through repeated outreach.

Ward: Toronto Centre

A series of free, accessible character‑led storytimes in parks, libraries, and community spaces. Designed for families facing economic barriers or disability, the events blend storytelling, movement, and crafts. Volunteers in handmade costumes create joyful, inclusive experiences that reduce isolation and strengthen neighbourhood connection.

Ward: City-wide 

IG: @whimsyworking and website: whimsyworks.ca

An annual vigil honouring women killed by men, featuring an Indigenous opening, speakers, music, and a collective moment of remembrance. With new sound equipment, all attendees can fully participate. A post‑vigil gathering offers warmth, food, and emotional support, helping build community around ending gender‑based violence.

Ward: University-Rosedale

Photo credit: C. Musgrave

An inclusive soccer tournament for youth in York South–Weston, supported by weekly training sessions. The program removes financial barriers to sports and offers a safe space for teamwork, leadership, and play. The final match day gathers families and neighbours in celebration, strengthening community ties.

Ward: York South-Weston

Congratulations to the 2026 Civic Spark Recipients!

Civic Spark is generously supported by the following organizations and donors:

Laurence Goldberg

& Diane Spivak

Kanta Wadwan   

Patricia Fleming  

Kathy Killinger  

Lindsay Wolfson  

Lisa Douglas  

Kate Schatzky  

Horace Wright  

Nathan Geda  

Tony Nguyen  

Martin Casazza  

Vernis Cheung  

Polina Kosareva  

Anonymous donors 

• Alexander Singh, Co‑Founder & Executive Director & Past-Micrograntee

• Anick Silencieux, Founder & Executive Director, Support Black Charities

• Harar Hall, Policy and Research Manager, Volunteer Canada

• Maysam Fadel, Manager, Volunteer & Student Services, Woodgreen

• Polina Kosareva, Program Manager, Community Investments at Ontario Trillium Foundation & Volunteer Toronto Board Member

• Randy Alexander, St James Town Residents Council and St James Town Safety Network, Co-Founder

If you have questions about the Civic Spark Microgrants, please contact:

civicspark@volunteertoronto.ca

If you are with the media, please contact: ceaton@volunteertoronto.ca

T. 416-961-6888

E. info@volunteertoronto.ca

CRA# 119287092RR0001

www.volunteertoronto.ca