The Firm is committed to improving the quality of life for members of the communities in which we all live and work. That commitment is reflected in the substantial contribution our firm pledges each year collectively to community organizations across Canada. Our lawyers and staff also volunteer their time and talents, and make considerable personal contributions, to many diverse community-based undertakings and initiatives. Some recent endeavours include the following:
- The Firm’s
extraordinary United Way fundraising efforts exceeded expectations yet
again in 2010, topping the list of Toronto-based law firms for the
eleventh year in a row. “This is a significant achievement,” says John
Macfarlane, a partner at Osler and the Leadership Chair of Osler’s United
Way (Toronto) campaign. “It’s something I take extraordinary pride in.
It’s the single, most unifying thing we do as a Firm.” View the
video and hear John’s full campaign message.
- Together, the
Firm’s Canadian offices have raised over $4 million in the past four years
to support the United Way/Centraide and its network of agencies in
delivering vital social services. In 2010, the total amount raised
nationally by Osler offices was over $1 million. “This is a phenomenal
result, particularly given the uncertainty of the economic recovery -
which is exactly when contributions are most needed” says John.
- Firm members at
Osler participated in the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation’s Ride for
Diabetes Research - which brings corporate Canada together in a friendly
competition for a worthwhile cause. This year’s Law Firm Challenge included
approximately 25 law firms, and Osler raised almost $6,000.
- Osler launched their annual Give
a Day to World Aids campaign on November 14. An exciting initiative spearheaded
by the firm was the production of a public service announcement created to help
broaden the reach and to create awareness of HIV/AIDS within the legal community. Bringing together
legal professionals from other leading law firms was truly an exceptional feat
of coordination but most importantly illustrates how important this campaign
resonates within our community. Click here to view the video.
- For the past four
years, as part of the Give a Day to World AIDS campaign, many Osler
lawyers and staff donate one day’s income to the Stephen Lewis Foundation
and Dignitas, two Canadian organizations founded specifically in response
to the AIDS pandemic. In 2010, Osler lawyers and staff donated more than $104,000.
- For more than two
decades, Osler has offered a pledge matching program and participated as a
corporate team sponsor in the Terry Fox Run. In 2010, the Firm raised over $21,000.
- Osler staff
donated $10,000, with Firm-matched funds for a $20,000 contribution to
flood relief in Pakistan.
- Since
2009, Osler has been involved with WoodGreen Homeward Bound, a four-year
program created to get single mothers out of poverty and into fulfilling
careers in order to support their families. Homeward Bound combines many
supports under one roof – affordable housing with on-site daycare, access to
college education, training and academic upgrading. Osler is pleased to partner
with a number of other top-tier law firms as well as Canadian banks and
corporations. Recently, Osler hosted a career day in their Toronto
offices for a number of program participants interested in pursuing law clerk
careers. One successful graduate will soon begin covering a maternity
leave in the legal talent pool.
- OHH
So Pink participated in the annual Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation CIBC Run for
the Cure and raised over $25,000.
- For the past four years, Osler has
been a proud sponsor of Clara Hughes, one of Canada’s most accomplished Olympic
athletes.
- Lawyers and staff
in our Ottawa office participated in a significant community initiative to
provide affordable housing to a local family of four. Through numerous
creative fundraising events over a two-year period, we raised $60,000 and
were involved in the on-site construction of Osler House, part of a
Habitat for Humanity build.
- Osler helped
sponsor a law school student who cycled nearly 2,000 km among four native
reserves in western Canada to encourage native teens to attain university
degrees and bring back valuable skills to their reserves.
- In December 2009,
Osler donated $2,500 each to Toronto’s Yonge Street Mission, Montreal’s
Old Brewery Mission, New York’s Our Children’s Foundation, Ottawa’s Centre
Youville Centre Ottawa- Carleton Inc., and Calgary’s Women’s Emergency
Shelter to help them make the holiday session brighter for those in need
in their communities.
- For the past four
years, our Montréal office has donated wrapped gifts to Opération Père
Noël so that children in the city’s social services network for youth and
their families may experience the magic of Christmas.
- In 2009, our New
York office participated in the Rock & Run on the River event held at
Hudson River Park's Pier 84, raising nearly $12,000 in support of the
Cancer Survivorship Initiative at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer
Centre.
- Osler makes annual
contributions to law schools across the country to fund student bursaries
and scholarships, seminars and conferences, research, visiting
professorships and chairs as part of our Programs of Excellence.