Giving and helping are part of what it means to be a Canadian. Duke Chang thinks we sometimes just need to be reminded of that. From the historic run of Terry Fox to the residents of Newfoundland and Labrador opening their doors to stranded Americans after 9/11, from gala fundraisers to volunteering, Chang points to a history of generosity in deed and dollars in this country. “These are generosity stories. They are part of who we are,” says the president and CEO of CanadaHelps.
But many of the ways in which we have traditionally given are now bathed in nostalgia. Some would sound downright strange to entire generations. Writing a cheque at the kitchen table and sliding it into an envelope. Jerry Lewis and his telethons – indeed, any telethons. The influence of service clubs and places of worship, traditional conduits for giving, is on the wane, although there is some evidence of a rebound in church attendance. Canada has become more urban, erasing some of the giving advantage held by rural residents. New neighbourhoods are being built for cars, dulling the impact of mutual aid among neighbours who disappear into suburban garages each evening.
More than anything, those who give in this country are getting older. Figures compiled by Imagine Canada show that less than 10% of individuals give more than 70% of the money in Canada. Of the $12 billion donated by Canadians each year, more than half of that comes from people over 60, and half of that again comes from those over 70.
“The nation is changing, and it is time we talk about how we find pathways into generosity,” says Bruce MacDonald, president and CEO of Imagine Canada.
In these days when handheld banking machines are used at Salvation Army kettles and e-transfers are used to raise funds for peewee hockey teams outside grocery stores, digital platforms are one of those pathways...