Recognize Canada Nonprofit Appreciation Day
Petitioners ask the House of Commons to officially recognize the third Thursday of February as Canada Day of Appreciation for the Nonprofit Sector.
Why we would sign this petition
- It formally acknowledges nonprofits' economic and community contributions, validating their role in delivering essential services and supporting social infrastructure.
- A national day could raise public awareness, encouraging volunteering and donations at a time of rising demand and falling donation rates.
- Public recognition can boost morale among staff and volunteers and strengthen partnerships between nonprofits, government and business.
Why we wouldn’t sign this petition
- A commemorative day is largely symbolic and may not address urgent challenges like increased service demand or declining donations highlighted in the petition.
- Resources and attention devoted to marking the day could be better spent on concrete funding, policy reforms or operational support for nonprofits.
- Creating another observance risks tokenism and may dilute focus without guaranteed improvements to nonprofits' capacity or sustainability.
The summary and both sets of reasons are AI-generated from the petition and given equal weight. Claims are the petitioners’ own; consult the official record for the full text.
Official petition
Petition to the House of Commons Canada is home to one of the largest nonprofit sectors in the world with more than 170,000 organizations that work alongside governments to transform lives, strengthen social infrastructure, and build a better future for Canadians; Canada’s nonprofit sector is an "economic powerhouse" contributing 8.2% to the national GDP – an estimated $225 billion – and is a top 10 employer in Canada with 2.7 million staff and 13 million volunteers. Nonprofits stimulate economies by attracting investment and funding, thereby creating jobs; The nonprofit sector fosters innovation through social entrepreneurship and collaborates and partners with the business sector; Charities and nonprofits are widely trusted by Canadians, and are the delivery engine for services vital to the well-being of communities; Nonprofits ease pressure on public systems by providing essential services and delivering an exceptional return on investment; Nonprofit organizations enrich the quality of life in every riding through programs that promote food security, shelter, housing, mental and physical health, the environment, arts and culture, sports and recreation, child development, senior care and more; During these turbulent times, the Sector is navigating monumental change: increasing demand for services, and decrease in the donation rate; The time has come to recognize those individuals who enrich our communities. We, the undersigned, citizens and residents of Canada, call upon the House of Commons to officially recognize the third Thursday of February as the Canada Day of Appreciation for the Nonprofit Sector to celebrate the people and organizations that drive economic and social change, and build the social infrastructure to ensure the well being and vitality of communities across Canada.
Government response
No government response is available yet.