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Scotiabank Charity Challenge Archives - Page 3 of 3 - Canada Running Series

Apr 11 2016
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Superheroes Lead Fundraising at Scotiabank Charity Challenge. By Paul Gains

By | Scotiabank Charity Challenge, Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon | No Comments

TORONTO April 11th 2016. Spectators lining this year’s Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon course will not only experience the thrill of seeing world class runners compete for prize money in this IAAF Gold Label race, but also a group of costumed runners dressed as their favourite superheroes.

Batman, Superman and Thor may not be as fast as those chasing course records, but they run with passion and with a grand objective in mind – to raise awareness and to fundraise for local charities.

For more than 180 official charities, the 2016 Scotiabank Charity Challenge will provide much needed fundraising and awareness opportunities. This is an enormous source of pride for Kyle McNamara, Scotiabank’s Executive Vice President and co-head, Information Technology and Business Systems, who is himself an avid runner.

“Scotiabank believes in giving back to the communities where we live and work. We started the Scotiabank Charity Challenge in 2003 to help charities meet ambitious fundraising goals while giving runners the opportunity to race for causes close to their hearts,” says McNamara.

“Since we launched the Scotiabank Charity Challenge, runners in six community races across the country have collectively raised over $46 million for charities nationally and in 2016, together, we aim to surpass the $50 million fundraising milestone. We want to thank everyone for their fundraising efforts.”

Scotiabank hosts a Charity Challenge at each of their six marathon events in Montreal, Halifax, Ottawa, Calgary, Vancouver and Toronto. Each race profiles 3 featured charities. In 2016, the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon’s featured charities are Asperger’s Society of Ontario, Epilepsy Halton Peel Hamilton and Oolagen Youth Mental Health.

This year ‘Batman versus Superman’ comes to the streets of Toronto as the now familiar and growing group of Justice League Runners will be among the thousands raising money for hundreds of causes.  A year ago it was Toronto’s Sick Kids Foundation who was the beneficiary. This year it will be Oolagen Youth Mental Health, a Toronto children’s mental health charity.

JP Hernandez aka The Dark Knight Runner at STWM 2015. Photo Credit: Tribe Fitness

“As someone who was bullied in Grade 9, I reached out to superheroes to find hope or courage,” says JP Hernandez, also known as ‘The Dark Knight.’ “I know people who have gone through that and they have found different avenues. It can be either tragic or an opportunity to do something positive.

“I have always been a comic fan; I kind of knew that superheroes stand up for those who can’t. I can see why some kids identify with that and I felt it was a great time to switch to something more personal. And that’s why we chose Oolagen. I was looking for any charity that typically dealt with or helped with children dealing with this.”

Hernandez who runs up to 75 kilometres a week, originally met his colleagues on social media. Some would attend training sessions with him.  Others he met for the first time in person just before the start of last year’s marathon.

“I will soon be putting out the call on our Facebook page recruiting new members asking if anybody wants to join us,” he adds. “The interest has grown. We had two teams last year at the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon. One ran the half marathon as well as the four of us that were the full marathon team.”

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Captain Epilepsy at STWM 2015

While the Justice League group dress in recognizable, and, not so comfortable costumes, David Charchalis has created his own super hero in order to draw attention and raise money for Epilepsy Halton Peel Hamilton where he works.

Inspired by the glamour and colour he experienced at the Caribbean Carnival, his alter ego has become Captain Epilepsy, a figure he hopes will empower people with epilepsy. The condition afflicts one in a hundred Canadians. Other than an annual Gala event, the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon offers the largest fundraising opportunity for this charity. Charchalis plans to walk the 5km in costume and, along with a team of dozens, he plans to raise more than $25,000 this year.

“It’s extremely important,” Charchalis declares. “The Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon is a great way to raise money for our Sunny Days Kids’ Camp. It really helps us keep all of our programs free for our clients. It’s also a great way to get awareness and the name out there. We have a great time doing it.”

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Aspergers Society of Ontario at STWM 2015

Though their fundraisers will be slightly less flamboyant, another charity that is celebrating its tenth year with the Scotiabank Charity Challenge is the Aspergers Society of Ontario. At the 2015 Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon they raised more than $25,000. They hope to double that figure this year.

For their executive director, Alexandra Prefasi, involvement with the Scotiabank Charity Challenge is the most effective opportunity they can imagine.

“We are a small volunteer driven organization and we can’t run large scale campaigns like some of the larger Canadian charities do,” she says. “We just don’t have that kind of a profile. So events like this afford us the opportunity to, yes, raise funds for the society but also to raise our profile in communities like Toronto. We are able to talk about Aspergers and shine a light on our cause.”

Prefasi proudly claims a 100 per cent participation rate amongst staff and board members all of whom have personal experience with Aspergers, a form of autism. Prefasi’s daughter has Aspergers.

“Our staff and board of directors are all committed to our success in the marathon,” she explains. “So pretty much everyone participated in last year’s Scotiabank Charity Challenge in some way with our campaign from recruitment to fundraising and from promotion to actually walking and running with us.

“We bring together individuals from our community. That’s one of the things that’s pretty special. We have runners and walkers who can overcome the unique challenges of Aspergers Syndrome to participate in this kind of fundraising event for us.”

Runners don’t have to be superheroes to fundraise. Anyone looking to participate can register for the race and sign up for the Scotiabank Charity Challenge here. Participants are also invited to share their stories on social media using the hashtags #runScotia and #STWM.

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For more information and to register for the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon, Half Marathon & 5k: http://www.torontowaterfrontmarathon.com/en/index.htm

To join Asperger’s Society of Ontario, Epilepsy Halton Peel Hamilton, Oolagen Youth Mental Health or any of the other charities in the Charity Challenge:
http://www.torontowaterfrontmarathon.com/en/charity.htm

Sep 14 2015
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Scotiabank Charity Challenge Feature: A Mile is a Miracle

By | Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon | No Comments

By Max Erenberg via Sofie Yang

“In the fall of 2013, along the Toronto waterfront, thousands of people were sprinting towards a common goal. I was one of those runners in the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon 5K. What caught my eye in the midst all the participants was the Autism Ontario team crossing the finish line with linked arms. In that moment, I felt inspired and newly energized.” –Sofie Yang

Road running is something special. It’s amazingly inclusive; people who run a six-minute mile are on the same course and awarded the same glory as those walking. It’s also an avenue for giving back to the community.

To bring this spirit to the Bayview Secondary School community, Sofie, then in Grade 10, and her friend Julia decided to found A Mile A Miracle (AMAM for short). Many others also joined, including myself, who were interested in raising money for local charitable causes. The goal was to bring the joy of running and giving to youths.

Starting the club wasn’t easy, but thanks to our teacher supervisor, Mr. B. Israel who doubles as a Cross Country coach, we were able to raise $760 for the Sunnybrook Foundation in our first year. As our club grew to include 46 members, we created a voting system for our race charity. We always try to keep it local by pledging to charities we see working nearby and participating in local races.AMAM 2

In true democratic fashion, by the time the 2014 Scotiabank Charity Challenge rolled around, we elected to run for the St. Michael’s Hospital neurosurgical research team. The whole team felt a sense of accomplishment and community; our very own Dalton even brought back 3rd place in the 13-19 age group!

It isn’t always serious running for us though. A Mile A Miracle trains regularly alongside the cross-country and Track and Field teams. As a member myself, the sense of accomplishment after a long run and the friendly competition between other students always motivates me to push myself during training. During the summer and winter breaks, the members get a chance to eat together, play Frisbee, or chat about school at our socials. AMAM isn’t just about winning a race; as Mr. B. Israel reminds us, “when you run, your only opponent is the clock.”

The Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon has been our cornerstone event every year since 2013 with a bus-load of 20 students participating last year. This year, we will be supporting the Learning Disabilities Association of York Region. Come cheer us on at the finish line!

Please connect with us! We’d love your support!

Twitter: @amileamiracle

Facebook: A Mile A Miracle

Email: mailto:mile.miracle.bss14@gmail.com

Jul 07 2015
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On your mark, get set, fundraise for the 2015 Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon Charity Challenge!

By | Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon | No Comments

Runners set to raise millions for 173 local charities this fall.

Toronto, Ontario – (Marketwired – July 8, 2015) – Over 27,000 runners will hit the streets of Toronto on October 18 for the 26th annual Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon (STWM), Half-marathon & 5k. Many will be raising funds for 173 mostly local Official Charities in the 2015 Scotiabank Charity Challenge, including three featured charities:

  • Autism Ontario
  • Ontario Shores Foundation for Mental Health
  • Romero House

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society will be the National Charity Partner.

For a complete list of 2015 charities participating in the Scotiabank Charity Challenge, please visit the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon website.

Since the introduction of the Scotiabank Charity Challenge to Canada in the 2003 Toronto Waterfront event, the fundraising initiative has raised almost $25 million for hundreds of charities in the Toronto area. The participating charities keep 100 per cent of the proceeds raised, as Scotiabank pays for all transaction and credit card fees. Given its resounding success in Toronto, the program has been expanded nationally in recent years. So far in 2015, $4.4 million has been raised for hundreds of Scotiabank Charity Challenge official charities across Canada in Montreal, Calgary, Vancouver, Ottawa and Halifax.

“The success of the STWM Scotiabank Charity Challenge is due to the tremendous support from the City of Toronto, the thousands of runners, and the energy of the 173 charities involved,” said Rob Mattacott, District Vice-President, Toronto Centre District at Scotiabank.” The IAAF Gold Label Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon has become one of Canada’s finest road races and its Charity Challenge fundraising has grown from $198,000 in 2003 to $3.67 million in 2014.”

“The enthusiasm and dedication toward giving back to the community demonstrated by the Scotiabank Charity Challenge participants is what makes race day extra special,” said Alan Brookes, Canada Running Series Race Director. “From dressing up in crazy costumes to chasing Guinness World Records, and running the race three times in one day, the determination, creativity and spirit we see on the course is what makes the Charity Challenge so unique.”

Please visit the website at www.STWM.ca for more information.

Part of the Scotiabank Charity Challenge is a friendly competition between the charities for $33,000 in cash prizes consisting of $6,000 for 1st place, $3,000 for 2nd, and $2,000 for 3rd in the following categories:

  • The Official Charity that has the most fundraising participants.
  • The Official Charity that raises the most fundraising dollars.
  • The Official Charity that raises the largest amount of pledge dollars per fundraising

How to get involved!

  • Register for an event: Register for one of the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon events (Marathon, Half-Marathon, 5k) on the event website www.stwm.ca
  • Fundraise: Once registered, you can sign up for the Scotiabank Charity Challenge and raise funds for a participating official charity or donate directly to their cause.
  • Donate: Visit the Scotiabank Charity Challenge to select an Official Charity and make a one-time donation.
  • Cheer: Come out and support friends and family along the race route and as they cross the finish line. You can also show your support to runners online by using the hashtags #STWM and #runScotia.

About Scotiabank

Through our global philanthropic program, Scotiabank and its employees support causes at a grassroots level. Recognized as a leader for our charitable donations and philanthropic activities, Scotiabank has contributed on average $50 million annually over the last five years to community causes around the world.

Scotiabank is Canada’s international bank and a leading financial services provider in North America, Latin America, the Caribbean and Central America, and parts of Asia. We are dedicated to helping our 21 million customers become better off through a broad range of advice, products and services, including personal and commercial banking, wealth management and private banking, corporate and investment banking, and capital markets. With a team of more than 86,000 employees and assets of $837 billion (as at April 30, 2015), Scotiabank trades on the Toronto (TSX: BNS) and New York Exchanges (NYSE: BNS). Scotiabank distributes the Bank’s media releases using Marketwired. For more information, please visit www.scotiabank.com and follow us on Twitter @ScotiabankNews.

About the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon

An IAAF Gold Label race, the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon is Canada’s premier, big-city running event, and the Grand Finale of the 8-race Canada Running Series. In 2014, it attracted more than 26,000 participants from 60 countries, raised $3.67 million for 173 charities through the Scotiabank Charity Challenge, and contributed an estimated $35 million to the local economy. In 2014, it also became the first marathon to be livestreamed globally on YouTube, attracting viewers from 115 countries. In 2015, it will host the Athletics Canada National Marathon Championships and the international Bridge The Gap movement www.STWM.ca.

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For media enquiries only:

Joanna Hatt
Narrative PR
(416) 922-2211 x3349
(416) 557-5333
Joanna.Hatt@Narrative.ca

 

 

Jun 15 2015
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RCH Foundation – the Van Marrewyks

By | Scotiabank Vancouver Half | No Comments

Vancouver, BC – June 15

When you google the phrase “making lemonade out of lemons” Ron and Stephanie Van Marrewyk’s name should appear at the top of the page. After finding out they were expecting triplets in 2009 they were even more surprised to learn that the Stephanie would have to have an emergency c-section at 29 weeks.

Their three girls were born just over 2lbs each and spent over 88 days in the hospital dealing with breathing issues, feeding issues and meningitis. Most of that time was spent at the Royal Colombian Hospital in the NICU.

The care and support that the family received from the health care team over that time was overwhelming. Determined to say thank you, the Van Marrewyks spent two years fundraising over $110,000 for the NICU to help other families in similar situations.

This year, with their triplets turning a happy and healthy 5 years old next week, they have teamed up with the Scotiabank Vancouver 5K Charity Challenge on June 28th, and are aiming to raise $55,000.

“We felt so blessed to be surrounded by amazing nurses and doctors, and now we want to raise money for Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation to purchase a jet ventilator so other fragile newborns can receive life-saving care.” – Ron & Stephanie Van Marrewyk

Royal Columbian Hospital provides the highest level of care to some of the most critically ill and injured patients in the province. It is the only hospital in BC with cardiac, trauma, neurosciences, high-risk maternity and neonatal intensive care on one site. Its Foundation relies on the generous support of individuals, businesses, community groups and other foundations to achieve its vision — to inspire giving and grow funding so patients have access to the best in health care at Royal Columbian Hospital.

Find out more about the foundation and how you can support them here.

 

May 22 2015
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Team VOKRA: Unstoppable

By | Scotiabank Vancouver Half | No Comments

One of our Scotiabank Charity Challenge Partners, Vancouver Orphan Kitten Rescue Association (VOKRA) is a no-kill, non-profit, registered charity dedicated to the rescue of cats in the Lower Mainland.

This year, local elite athlete Natasha Wodak is acting as Team Captain for VOKRA at the Charity Challenge. Natasha’s also a contender for the top spot in the Half-Marathon on June 28th.

Find out more about the Scotiabank Charity Challenge, and how you can get involved, here.

May 04 2015
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Neighbourhood House Week

By | Scotiabank Vancouver Half | No Comments

Neighbourhood House Week marks 121 years of Neighbours Growing Neighbourhoods

05-04-mpnh-photoOriginally from Eritrea, Adiam Haile arrived in Vancouver via Germany. Adiam did not find that her new home was very welcoming. She said that “where I grew up, there was a strong sense of community” but found it difficult to find the same sense of belonging and neighbourhood connections in Vancouver.

Luckily she found Mount Pleasant Neighbourhood House.

Ever since the first BC neighbourhood house opened in Vancouver in 1938 (Alexandra House, which had been an orphanage since 1894 and is now called Kitsilano Neighbourhood House) a wide diversity of people have found a home in neighbourhood houses.

Now there are 15 neighbourhood houses in the Lower Mainland, offering programs, services and initiatives to more than 100,000 children, youth, adults and seniors annually. From May 3-9 Vancouver is celebrating Neighbourhood House Week.

For Adiam, finding Mount Pleasant Neighbourhood House three years ago offered the lonely but eager-to-learn newcomer the opportunity to connect with friendly people from many cultures who lived in the neighbourhood. Adiam, now with an infant, attends other programs in the community, but is especially connected to Mount Pleasant Neighbourhood House because of the early positive experiences she had in multicultural programs. Now with an eight-month old, she says “the neighbourhood house has helped me build a history, especially now that I have my child. I am so thankful the memories and connections I have made here.”

Mount Pleasant Neighbourhood House Executive Director, Jocelyne Hamel said that
“Neighbourhood Houses have amazing capacity to help people discover their strengths and find ways to grow into leadership roles. Adiam came to us looking for and finding a community. Now she’s a parent leader for one of our parenting programs.” Adiam’s experience of finding a sense of belonging is typical for those who engage in neighbourhood houses. “That’s why, for Neighbourhood House Week this year we’re celebrating around the theme, ‘Neighbours Growing Neighbourhoods’. It’s people like Adiam who get engaged in neighbourhood houses and find a way to express their passions or follow a dream who help make neighbourhoods friendlier for all.”

Operated by not-for-profit societies, Lower Mainland neighbourhood houses have combined annual operational budgets of more than $50 million, engage more than 3,000 volunteers and employ close to 1,500 individuals.

05-04-mpnh-weekFor more information on Neighbourhood House Week, visit this site.

To find out more about the Mount Pleasant Neighbourhood House, and how you can support them in the Scotiabank Charity Challenge, click here.

 

May 04 2015
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Tapestry Foundation for Health Care

By | Scotiabank Vancouver Half | No Comments

We care for seniors.

At Tapestry Foundation, caring never gets old.

We’re dedicated to improving the care experience of hospital patients, and residents in seven healthcare facilities operated by Providence Health Care – one of the largest faith-based health care organizations in Canada. Sites that we support include Mount Saint Joseph Hospital, Holy Family Hospital, Youville Residence, St. Michael’s Centre, and St. Vincent’s: Brock Fahrni, Langara and Honoria Conway-Heather.

05-04-tapestryhifiveImproving Healthcare for Seniors
Tapestry Foundation also raises funds for the largest number of seniors care beds in Metro Vancouver. Our donors help to shine a light on the needs of a growing seniors’ population. Generous donations help purchase life-saving medical and diagnostic tools for acute hospital care, as well as equipment for physical rehabilitation services. Donations also support purchases of medical equipment and quality of life programs for elders in our care homes. To donate to Tapestry Foundation, click here.

Senior couple riding motor scooter having fun.

Senior couple riding motor scooter having fun.

Dialogue on Aging Education Program
Education and research are also top priorities. Through our Dialogue on Aging Education Program we reach out to the community to foster greater understanding of seniors’ health needs. Our spring and fall Public Presentation Series offer timely topics on health, aging and wellness, and our annual Geriatric Services Conference provides ongoing education for geriatric medicine professionals from across B.C. Funding is also provided for geriatric research projects that ensure future generations can benefit from new and better ways of caring for the elderly.

You are welcome to sign-up for our free Public Presentation, Learn How to Prevent Falls at VanDusen Gardens on May 12th. Click here to reserve your seat!

05-04-tapestryteamScotiabank Charity Challenge
You are invited to join our team in the 2015 Scotiabank Charity Challenge! Since 2010, Team Tapestry Foundation has raised nearly $300,000 for elder care research and site-specific fundraising priorities. In 2012, 2013 and 2014, we were awarded Scotiabank’s $5,000 prize for having the largest fundraising team in Vancouver!

While we’re all Team Tapestry Foundation, most of our team members create smaller teams under the Foundation umbrella. There are many teams to choose from, each representing a specific care facility or cause. To learn more about this year’s causes, visit our website or contact Katie Clogg-Burmeister at kclogg@providencehealth.bc.ca or 604.806.9486. See you on June 28th!

Apr 20 2015
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WAVAW – Eliminate the Wait

By | Scotiabank Vancouver Half, Uncategorised | No Comments
Vancouver – April 20, 2015

This year Women Against Violence Against Women Rape Crisis Centre, WAVAW is running/walking to #EliminateTheWait, because no women should have to wait for counselling after being sexually assaulted. It’s appalling that the demand for sexual assault support services in our community exceeds the resources available:  currently, there is a 1.5 year waiting list for women to access WAVAW’s free one-to-one counselling.  A woman is sexually assaulted every 17 minutes in Canada, WAVAW is working harder than ever to raise money to fulfill the huge need for support services in our community—and to challenge the culture of violence that contributes to such shocking rates of sexual assault.

To put it in perspective, our waitlist is comprised of women in the following age brackets:

19yrs: 7 women                20-25: 44 women             26-29: 23 women

30-39: 49 women             40-49: 33 women             50-59: 10 women

60-70: 5 women

Counselling services at WAVAW include individual and group counselling for self-identified women who have experienced sexualized violence.  Our counsellors work within a feminist perspective with anti-oppression analysis. Our goal is to support women and understand the impact of violence in all aspect of their lives as well as acknowledge their strength and resilience to continue in their journey from trauma to strength and healing.

We currently have three support groups:

  • Women Connect is a monthly drop in group for women on our waitlist.  The group offers the space, time, and opportunity for women to connect with each other, have conversation that will expand their understanding of the impact of trauma in their lives.
  • Visioning Safety is a 4 week group using psycho-educational tools to focus on understating the impact of violence, containment strategies, resistance, self-care and exercises for grounding.
  • Recharging Support Group is an 8 week group with a focus on empowerment and reconnections.  This is a self-awareness and empowerment group that focuses on rebuilding and reconnect with self and life and recharging.

All of the money raised will help maintain and expand WAVAW’s counselling services to girls and  women who have survived sexual assault.  For over 30 years, WAVAW has been providing a wide range of direct services—including counselling, 24-hour crisis line support, accompanying women to the hospital, court and police station—while also addressing the root causes of violence through public education.

On June 28th WAVAW: Women Against Violence Against Women Against Women Rape Crisis Centre will participate in the Scotiabank Vancouver Half-Marathon or 5k Run/Walk as a featured charity to bring awareness and education about sexual assault. Join the team or discovery other ways you can help here.

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Apr 08 2015
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Featured Charity – Music Heals

By | Scotiabank Vancouver Half | No Comments

What Is Music Heals?

The Music Heals Charitable Foundation raises awareness and fundraises for music therapy across Canada. Their mission is to increase patient access to music therapy for children, seniors, palliative care, burn units, bereavement, rehabilitation and more. Music Heals donated $250,000 to music therapy programs in Canada in their first two years.

Read more about Music Heals here.

If you HAVE NOT registered for the race, click here to register for the race and to fundraise in the Scotiabank Charity Challenge.

 

If you have already registered for the Race (Half Marathon or 5k), click here to create a fundraising account.

Mar 31 2015
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Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon becomes first event in Toronto to earn Silver Level Certification from the Council for Responsible Sport

By | Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon | No Comments

We are proud to announce that the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon has achieved Silver Level Certification from the Council for Responsible Sport. The Council’s certification program is for social and environmental responsibility at sporting events. The Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon joins the Scotiabank Vancouver Half-Marathon & 5K as the only two events in Canada to currently achieve this recognition. We are also honoured to join a select group of major international marathons including Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Austin, and Mexico City who are also certified “green” by the Council for Responsible Sport. For full details, see the official press release below.

Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon becomes first event in Toronto to earn Silver Level Certification from the Council for Responsible Sport. 

Eugene, OR—March 19, 2015—The Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon (STWM), held October 19th, 2014 and hosted by Canada Running Series, has achieved Silver Level Certification from the Council for Responsible Sport. Organizers earned credit on 38 of the best practice standards offered in the Council’s certification program for social and environmental responsibility at sporting events. The marathon, which hosted over 26,000 participants in 2014, is now the first-ever event in Toronto to be certified by the Council for Responsible Sport.

Certification is achieved by complying with standards across five categories: planning and communications, procurement, resource management, access and equity and community legacy.

In an effort to be greener, the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon Running, Health & Fitness Expo was held at the Allstream Centre, a building that features a 30-storey wind turbine and a geothermal plant that replaces conventional heating and cooling systems to save electricity and natural gas. It was the first conference center in Canada to achieve LEED silver status from the Canada Green Building Council.

The Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon also scored points through its waste prevention efforts. The entire event utilizes paperless registration both online and in person at their Expo. Of the trash produced by the event, nearly half (47 percent) was diverted from the landfill through recycling efforts. Additionally, 120 pairs of lightly used running shoes were collected for redistribution to those in need, and organizers sent 2,900 pounds of food to Second Harvest, a local food bank who diverted the food to those in need. Also, in an effort to reduce vehicle carbon emissions, a free bike valet service was offered to participants and spectators in partnership with Cycle Toronto.

“This is a huge accomplishment for our event and within the sporting event industry as a whole,” said Senior Manager of Operations and Certification Director David Gilchrist.  “With the help of our entire crew, suppliers, partners, and participants, Silver Certification acknowledges the hard work, dedication and values we apply year over year, in order to leave a positive lasting impression on our planet.  It’s an honor to be at the forefront of the movement where Canadian events are becoming more environmentally sustainable and socially responsible.”

The Scotiabank Charity Challenge helps to make runner’s participation meaningful by fundraising for causes important to them. Scotiabank adds an additional total of $33,000 in cash awards to the participating charities who recruit the most runners, fundraise the most dollars and who raise the most on average per fundraiser. In 2014 the Scotiabank Charity Challenge hosted 173 charities who raised over $3.6 million for their causes through the event platform.

Overall the total economic activity of STWM and The Running, Health and Fitness Expo is estimated at $33.5M for the city of Toronto.

“We are hugely grateful to The Council for Responsible Sport for their help, encouragement, and wonderful recognition,” said Race Director Alan Brookes. Canada Running Series is passionately committed to ‘building community through running’ – and that means the cities we live in as well as the sport we love. Sustainable communities; green, healthy cities for people, and the organizing of environmentally responsible runs are core values for us. Thanks for moving us forward along the right road. We’re proud of this achievement for our city, and the certification will inspire us to do more.”

About the Council for Responsible Sport: 

The Council’s vision is a world where responsibly produced sports events are the norm and its mission is to provide objective, independent verification of the socially and environmentally responsible work event organizers are doing and to actively support event organizers who strive to make a difference in their communities. The current version of the Council’s Certification standards (v.4.2) was developed by an outside working group of both sustainability and sport industry experts, reviewed by a wide range of stakeholders throughout 2013 and implemented in January 2014. www.CouncilforResponsibleSport.org

About the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon:

An IAAF Gold Label race, the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon is Canada’s premier, big-city running event, and the Grand Finale of the 8-race Canada Running Series. In 2014 it attracted more than 26,000 participants from 60 countries, raised $3.67 million for 173 charities through the Scotiabank Charity Challenge, and contributed an estimated $35 million to the local economy. In 2014 it also became the first marathon to be livestreamed globally on YouTube, attracting viewers from 115 countries. In 2015 it will host the Athletics Canada National Marathon Championships and the international Bridge The Gap movement. www.torontowaterfrontmarathon.com