Perspective on Community, The Arts and Charities

Blakes employee Kim Arthur receives award from Project Work, presented by the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, The Honourable David C. Onley.

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

Across Canada and worldwide, Blakes lawyers and staff support more than 200 charitable organizations, community agencies and volunteer boards through donations of time and money. For example, Blakes in Vancouver achieved gold sponsor status by raising C$15,000 (which the government matched) for the local Raise-a-Reader program. For the United Way alone, Blakes offices across Canada raised more than C$835,000 in the past year.

Blakes charitable and volunteer efforts are recognized regularly. Blakes received a national literacy award from ABC CANADA Literacy Foundation for pro bono work on its behalf since 1990. Project Work, a community-based employment organization serving people who have an intellectual disability, presented Blakes and one of its employees, Kim Arthur, with awards. Blakes was honoured for being the longest-supporting employer of Project Work, and Kim for the longest employment with an organization — 18 years. The awards were presented by the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, The Honourable David C. Onley.

And, in early 2008, three Blakes individuals were awarded the Firm’s second annual Volunteer of Distinction Award in recognition of their outstanding contribution to the community. Each recipient received a C$10,000 donation to the charitable organization of his or her choice. The recipients were: Frank Durnford, Mario Nigro and Leslie Yedon.