History
The Metcalf Foundation was established in 1960 by George Cedric Metcalf.
1960s
1960s
- The George Cedric Metcalf Charitable Foundation is established in 1960.
- The Vicky Metcalf Award for Children’s Literature is established in 1963 in honour of George Cedric’s wife, a noted children’s author. (Presented annually, it is currently administered by the Writers’ Trust of Canada.)
- Metcalf’s support is instrumental in the creation of the Centre for Tropical Medicine at Toronto General Hospital, now called the University Health Network.
1970s
1970s
- The Foundation officially relocates from Charlottetown to Toronto.
- George Jr. and Johanna Metcalf assume leadership of the Foundation and bring in Jane Conway, Herb Samuels, and Jean Wright as the first outside directors.
- Grants are made primarily to small, grassroots organizations across Canada. The Foundation supports the operational costs of groups and as a granter plays a modest, unassuming role.
1980s
1980s
- The third generation of family becomes more involved in the activities of the Foundation.
- The Foundation hires its first part-time staff member.
- Metcalf makes its earliest major grant to Casey House. Within five hours, founder June Callwood uses the pledge to confirm matching government funds and purchase their property on Isabella Street.
- Support for the League for Human Rights for B’nai Brith creates the innovative Holocaust and Hope program for Canadian secondary school teachers.
1990s
1990s
- Generous support for Victoria College, University of Toronto, allows the refurbishment of the E.J. Pratt Reading Room, creation of Crescam Serviando Awards, and establishment of the Kristallnacht lecture series.
- The Foundation’s support of Frontier College helps create Beat the Street, an important literacy program in urban Toronto.
- Metcalf is among earliest supporters of Second Harvest in Toronto.
- The Campaign Against Child Poverty is catalyzed by significant early support from Metcalf.
- Metcalf becomes one of earliest and largest donors to Creative Trust, enabling the growth of this innovative collaborative initiative of mid-sized performing arts organizations in Toronto.
2000s
2000s
- Sandy Houston becomes the Foundation’s first President and CEO.
- Metcalf launches formal funding programs in Performing Arts, Environment, and Community, hiring program directors and establishing advisory committees.
- The Foundation develops a series of strategies including internships and renewal opportunities to support non-profit sector leaders, and introduces a range of measures including policy development, research, convening, and network building to enable social change.
- Early, major support for the Green Arts Barns proves catalytic, prompting support for project from all levels of government.
- Legislation establishing Ontario’s Greenbelt is passed, largely due to Metcalf’s work with a broad coalition.
- Metcalf’s investments are formative to the creation of a number of innovative Ontario organizations including FarmStart, Local Food Plus, Ontario Nonprofit Network, and Sustain Ontario.
2010s
2010s
- In 2010, Metcalf celebrates its 50th anniversary funding four city-building ideas. Diaspora Dialogues, East Scarborough Storefront, Sustain Ontario, and Theatre Passe Muraille receive special one-time grants.
- The Community Program refines its poverty reduction focus, resulting in the creation of the Inclusive Local Economies Program.
- In response to a Metcalf Food Solutions paper, the Foundation becomes an integral agent in the creation of Community Food Centres Canada.
- The Performing Arts Program launches the Creative Strategies Incubator and Staging Change, both designed to help companies explore new strategies and innovative solutions.
- The Environment Program shifts its focus to support climate solutions across the country, helping to build a low-carbon, resource efficient, and resilient Canada.
- The Foundation replaces the Renewal Program with the Leading and Learning Program.
- Metcalf introduces The Johanna Metcalf Performing Arts Prizes/Les Prix Johanna-Metcalf des Arts de la scène, a new prize launched in memory of the Foundation’s long-serving board member.