Outreach

Blakes lawyers and students volunteer at the Calgary Drop-In and Rehab Centre, which seeks to ensure the needs of people who are homeless and at risk are met in a respectful, comprehensive and safe way. In recent years, Blakes has provided financial support by purchasing gift cards to help clients of the Drop-In Centre outfit themselves with work boots and other work wear in order to be able to obtain paid employment.

The Firm participates annually in the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation CIBC Run for the Cure. Through generous donations and participation by Firm members in various fundraising events, we had another successful fundraising campaign in 2019.

For the past 17 years, Blakes has been spear-heading the Daily Bread Food Bank Law Firm Challenge to support Daily Bread’s annual Holiday Food Drive. In 2019, 20 firms participated, raising over C$180,000 in cash donations. Blakes was once again in first place, raising C$40,839. Contributions to the Challenge have exceeded C$2-million since it began. Blakes also volunteers at the food bank with sorting food and assisting those in need in the food bank grocery store.

Blakes is a proud supporter of Ronald McDonald House (RMH), which seeks to provide a home away from home for seriously ill children and their families to heal better together. Blakes has adopted one of the rooms at RMH in Toronto, the largest RMH in the world. In addition, Blakes lawyers in Toronto and Calgary serve on boards and committees, participate in various activities, such as hosting “Home for Dinner” for families staying at the house, and regularly provide pro bono services.

Each year, Blakes participates in the Terry Fox Run to help raise funds and awareness for cancer research. In 2019, Blakes raised more than C$45,000 nationally in memory of one of our partners who passed away from cancer. Also known as the Marathon of Hope, the run began in 1980 with the simple objective of informing Canadians of the importance of finding a cure for cancer.