Community

	Blakes and Gowlings compete in a friendly Family Feud game to help raise funds for the United Way campaign.
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	Blakes teams across Canada take part in the CIBC Run for the Cure.

Supporting thriving and caring communities is important to Blakes. It begins with respect and care for those who work at the Firm. For six years in a row, Blakes was named one of "Canada's Top 100 Employers" by an independent national survey recognizing exceptional organizations and work environments.

Blakes lawyers and staff support more than 135 charitable organizations, community agencies and volunteer boards through donations of time and money. For example, through our partnership with United Way across Canada, Blakes is helping to create positive social change and have impact in neighbourhoods where we live and work. Each year, our offices across the country support their local regions through participation in United Way activities. In 2009, our campaigns raised over C$800,000 nationwide. Over the coming year, these donations will provide vital stability to frontline United Way agencies, helping them to assist thousands of lives in communities where we do business.

The Firm also participates annually in the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation CIBC Run for the Cure. This year we had another successful fundraising campaign, raising over C$64,000 nationwide and placing in the top tier of the National Corporate Teams in Canada.

Blakes in Toronto annually participates in the Daily Bread Food Bank Holiday Food Drive. This year, we raised more than C$17,000 in just three weeks with activities that ranged from floor challenges to pie-throwing contests. The Toronto office has also been involved in the Holiday Angel program, which is run by New Circles. The organization works with families in neighbourhoods primarily made up of recent immigrants and refugees. The purpose of the program is to match donor families with families in need to ensure each family member will receive needed gifts during the holiday season.

The Firm and staff members are frequently recognized for their charitable efforts. Most recently, three Blakes employees – Louise Guay, Jennifer Sargeant and Marianne Smith – were presented with the Firm's Volunteer of Distinction Award. The purpose of the award is to honour individuals at Blakes whose voluntary contributions, social commitment and ongoing endeavours have contributed significantly to the advancement of a social cause and the well-being of the people in their respective communities. The recipients also received a donation to the charitable organization of their choice. For more on the recipients, click here.