By Steve de Eyre, Director of Public Policy and Government Relations

Last year, as COVID-19 upended everyday life for communities around the world, TikTok pledged to support frontline medical workers, educators, and local communities deeply affected by the pandemic through our global Community Relief Fund

Beginning last fall in Canada, we have donated $1 million to a number of charitable and not-for-profit organizations across every province and territory, to support them in their continuing delivery of services to some of the most vulnerable communities and those most impacted by the pandemic, including youth, Black and Indigenous communities, LGBTQ2S+, and organizations providing mental health services.

Today we’re pleased to share the work being done by by a few of the inspiring Canadian organizations that received a donation from TikTok Canada's Community Relief Fund:

  • Business is Jammin’ (Halifax, NS): supports Black youth in Nova Scotia through entrepreneurship, leadership and career development learning strategies.
  • BYTE (Whitehorse, YT): empowers and promotes youth throughout the Yukon and Canada’s north to help to develop confidence, skills, openness, and a sense of belonging.
  • DESTA (Montreal, QC): supports Black youth across Greater Montreal in reaching their educational, employability, and entrepreneurial goals through a holistic and individualized approach.
  • Embrace Life Council (Iqaluit, NU): a suicide prevention organization dedicated to addressing the high rates of suicide in Nunavut, particularly among young Inuit males.
  • EthioCare (Calgary, AB): provides support to new immigrants from east Africa, through food donations and mental health support.
  • The Kickback (Toronto, ON): a youth-led organization that uses new and gently worn sneakers to empower and mentor youth.
  • LGBT YouthLine (Toronto, ON): a Queer, Trans, Two-Spirit youth-led organization that affirms and supports the experiences of youth across Ontario through peer support, training, and providing resources to make informed decisions.
  • Rainbow Resource Centre (Winnipeg, MB): supports Winnipeg’s 2SLGBTQ+ community in the form of counselling, education, and programming.
  • The Saskatoon Downtown Youth Centre (EGADZ) (Saskatoon, SK): to help fund the opening of its “Ground Zero” program, a safe space for vulnerable youth age 15-18.
  • Thrive CYN (St. John’s, NL): provides support and services to youth and young adults who live in poverty and have limited access to mainstream programs and services.
  • Urban Native Youth Association (Vancouver, BC): provides meaningful opportunities for Indigenous youth in the urban setting by providing a diverse continuum of advocacy, preventative and support services that respond to their immediate and long-term needs.

We are thankful to these organizations - and many others not listed - who continue to work tirelessly to support Canadians. TikTok is committed to continuing to support, elevate, and contribute to communities across the country