“We are often the first point of contact for people in need of mental health and addiction support. Once a first contact has been made, people are able to access a whole continuum of care within one agency.” — Pam Tobin, CEO, CMHA Thames Valley Addiction and Mental Health Services When Pam Tobin first joined the Canadian Mental Health Association Thames Valley Addiction and Mental Health Services (CMHA TVAMHS), she... Read More
November 13, 2026
"Hopefully my kids and my grandkids get to live in the shade that we decided to plant here." - Shaquille Sealy, Executive Director, Reforest London A redbud seed is tiny, "essentially the size of fish food," says Shaquille Sealy, Executive Director of Reforest London. You plant it, water it, and weed it. "You're insisting on this thing having a chance at life and growing." After a year, the seedling stands... Read More
November 12, 2026
"People know our events, but they don't know the faces behind the events." - Dhira Ghosh, Director of Operations, London Heritage Council If you've wandered through a building during Doors Open London, visited the Heritage Fair, or celebrated Canada Day at the downtown night market, you've experienced the work of the London Heritage Council. You just might not have known it. "People think it's the city," says Dhira Ghosh, the... Read More
November 11, 2026
"You don't have to have anything. You can just freely walk in and feel loved." - Jess Jones, Founder, Jess Jones Recreation Therapy (JJRT) "Mom, do you want to hear what I wrote for the open mic?" Jess Jones hears that question at home now, as her daughters sit at the piano or pick up a guitar to try out songs they've written. On Tuesday nights, they take the stage... Read More
November 10, 2026
"It gives me a lot of joy and pride, knowing that we can play a role in transforming the trajectory of our community." - Diane Silva, President and CEO, London Community Foundation Since the early days of Pillar Nonprofit Network (Pillar), the London Community Foundation has always been there. From Pillar's "imagining journey," when the idea of a network for the non-profit sector was still taking shape, to Innovation Works,... Read More
November 9, 2026
"It's good to know where you're going and what your intentions are because it's easier to say no because you have a very deep yes." - Amanda Acosta, Executive Director, London Environmental Network On the morning of her interview, Amanda Acosta had just come from a Pillar Nonprofit Network (Pillar) Impact Chat focused on resources for newcomers. It wasn't her sector. As executive director of London Environmental Network (LEN), she... Read More
November 8, 2026
"I think we should always be working to put ourselves out of work." - Michelle Palmer, Executive Director, Community Living London It started with an announcement at her high school. A family was looking for someone to take a part-time job: greet their son, who had a disability, when he came home from his day program each afternoon, and stay with him until his parents got home from work. Michelle... Read More
November 7, 2026
"The celebration is not for the food bank; it's for the community." - Glen Pearson, Co-Executive Director, London Food Bank In 1986, hunger in London was a quiet secret. "Back then, hunger didn't seem like such a big issue. London didn't know about it," says Glen Pearson, co-executive director of London Food Bank. "But it turned out there was actually a fair bit, and the agencies knew those stories, but... Read More
November 6, 2026
"You belong to the community regardless." - BoWaine (Bo) Ma, Co-founder and Director, Siren Section Siren Section started with a wetsuit fitting. BoWaine (Bo) Ma was learning to teach surfing at a local surf shop when she met her future co-founder, Amber Harding. "We bonded right away over the fitting of a wetsuit, and we took the chance to connect with one another," says Bo, now co-founder and director of... Read More
November 5, 2026
"It's strengthening the people behind the work and not just the work itself." - Jenny Calder, Regional Manager, Social Impact, Southwestern Ontario, RBC Jenny Calder spent more than 15 years as a fundraiser before she moved to the other side of the table. For the past four years, she has worked at RBC as Regional Manager, Social Impact, Southwestern Ontario. “It’s really a unique experience to be able to have... Read More
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