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Outreach

We share our time and our talent.

Supporting thriving and caring communities is important to Blakes. It begins with respect and care for those who work at the Firm. Blakes lawyers and staff support over 150 charitable organizations, community agencies and volunteer boards through donations of time and money.

Calgary Drop-In and Rehab Centre

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.

CIBC Run for the Cure

The Firm participates annually in the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation CIBC Run for the Cure to help fund research and support Canadians affected by breast cancer. 

Daily Bread Food Bank

For the past 22 years, Blakes has spearheaded the Daily Bread Food Bank Law Firm Challenge to support Daily Bread’s annual Holiday Food Drive. In 2024, participating firms raised over C$580,000 in donations. Blakes was once again in first place, raising C$124,021. Contributions to the Challenge — the food bank’s largest workplace drive of the holiday season — have exceeded C$4-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. 

Ronald McDonald House

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.

Terry Fox Run

Each year, Blakes participates in the Terry Fox Run to help raise funds and awareness for cancer research.  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.

Tour Alberta for Cancer
Blakes is proud to participate in the annual Enbridge Tour Alberta for Cancer bike ride. This two-day cycling journey benefits the Alberta Cancer Foundation and is dedicated to fighting cancer in all its forms. In 2024, Team Blakes raised more than C$144,000 for world-class care, research and urgent needs at Alberta’s 17 cancer centres. 
United Way
Through our partnership with United Way Centraide Canada, Blakes is helping to create positive social change in the neighbourhoods where we live and work. Each year, our offices across Canada support their local regions through participation in United Way activities. From 2010 to 2024, Blakes has been honoured with the distinguished Thanks A Million Award by United Way Centraide for raising more than C$1-million, a reflection of our commitment as a philanthropic leader among Canadian companies. These donations provide vital stability to frontline United Way agencies that help the communities where we do business.

We're also proud to support the following initiatives:

AIDSbeat
Blakes sponsors Bay Street's annual rock 'n' roll benefit concert put on by CANFAR (Canadian Foundation for AIDS Research), which is the only agency in Canada dedicated to privately funding HIV/AIDS research.
 
Bay Street Hoops
Since 1994, Blakes lawyers and law students have been participating in Bay Street Hoops, which helps raise funds for various charities focused on children.
 
BC Children’s Hospital
Blakes is an annual sponsor of the BC Children’s Hospital Crystal Ball. Since 2017, proceeds from the gala having been focused on transforming mental health care.
 
Becel Ride for Heart
Each year, a Blakes team participates in this event to help raise money for the Heart & Stroke Foundation.

Calgary Women’s Emergency Shelter
Blakes is a long-time contributor to the Women’s Emergency Shelter, which provides refuge and ongoing support for women and children suffering from domestic abuse.

Camp Oochigeas
Blakes donates annually to the Sporting Life 10K Law Challenge, which raises money for Camp Oochigeas, a camp for kids with and affected by childhood cancer.

Canadian Blood Services
We hold an office-wide blood drive in Toronto that includes a friendly competition among floors to see who can donate the most.
 
Moorelands Community Centre
We lend support through our participation in the Bay Street Volleyball tournament.
 
The Arthritis Society (Ontario Division)
Blakes is a long-time sponsor of the All-In for Arthritis Poker Gala and Rock the Joint events, which help raise funds for ground-breaking work in diagnosis, treatment and the search for a cure.