Members of the Toronto Chinatown Land Trust with elders of the Wong Kung Har Wun Sun Society, youth-led Community Lion Dance, and Four Winds Mahjong collectives at an intergenerational community event. Photo: Maylynn Quan
Inclusive Local Economies
Announcing Metcalf’s 2025 Opportunities Fund Grantees
2025

Our Inclusive Local Economies program’s Opportunities Fund is focused on improving the economic livelihoods of low-income people and communities in Toronto. We support strategies that improve low-wage work and support the upward mobility of low-wage workers, increase access to good jobs for low-income people, and leverage neighbourhood assets to improve the economic livelihoods of low-income residents. 

We are pleased to share the seven grantees and projects that have collectively received over $700,000 in funding through the 2025 Opportunities Fund.   

 

City of Toronto – Cecil Community Centre

Cecil Community Centre is a multi-service neighbourhood centre located in the heart of the Kensington-Chinatown neighbourhood. Their project will strengthen and streamline CecilVenues’ business model and operations as a low-cost event space rental venue.   

Haven Refugees

Haven is a Toronto-based national charity focused on helping refugees settle in Canada by leveraging technology to accelerate economic independence and social integration. Its online platform provides one-on-one support for professional networking, language acquisition, and community building. Their project will establish new community relationships and leverage community outreach through its online platform to improve the employability of Toronto-based refugees. 

The Neighbourhood Group Community Services

The Neighbourhood Group Community Services (TNGCS) is a longstanding social service agency that delivers community, anti-poverty, and health programs to over 47,000 people across Toronto annually. Through their project, TNGCS will audit its peer programs and develop a framework to assess how they can advance stable employment. It will also explore the feasibility of a resource hub. 

Neighbourhood Land Trust – Toronto Chinatown Land Trust

The Neighbourhood Land Trust (NLT) owns and manages land in a community ownership model while advancing community economic development. The Toronto Chinatown Land Trust is a community-controlled, nonprofit effort focused on building a culturally competent and ever-evolving Chinatown in Toronto. In partnership with Solid State Community Industries, their project intends to formalize two cooperatives and create a scalable model.  

Parkdale Queen West Community Health Centre

The Parkdale Queen West Community Health Centre is a community-based health services organization serving southwest Toronto. Their project will expand the scope and relationships of the Nail Technicians Network, a grassroots group that advocates for rights and safe working conditions, by outreaching to Black and Latinx nail technicians.  

United Way Greater Toronto – Centre for Inclusive Economic Opportunity, Golden Mile

The Centre for Inclusive Economic Opportunity, Golden Mile (CIEO) was co-created by United Way Greater Toronto and 10 community organizations in 2020 to action United Way’s Inclusive Local Economic Opportunities (ILEO) commitment to expanding access to jobs and economic opportunities for Golden Mile residents. Their project will test its interagency framework as it implements a construction-union employment pathway project for local residents.  

University of Toronto Scarborough – Institute for Inclusive Economies and Sustainable Livelihoods

The Institute for Inclusive Economies and Sustainable Livelihoods is a research institute dedicated to advancing interdisciplinary research and partnerships that promote alternative, inclusive, and sustainable economic practices. Their project aims to build neighbourhood engagement, civic involvement, and learning exchanges to enhance grassroots and community organizing capacity regarding the decommissioned Scarborough Rapid Transit lands.