Our Impact 2025-2026
The Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area’s hardest challenges do not belong to any one institution. CivicAction brings leaders, evidence, and communities together to turn shared problems into practical action.
In 2025–26, we advanced workforce housing solutions, created meaningful entry points for young people into civic leadership, connected emerging leaders across the region, and widened access to the governance knowledge strong boards need. This is how we help the GTHA become more inclusive, resilient, and ready for what comes next.
IMPACT IN 2025-2026
23
young people in Youth CivicCorps Cohort 1
350+
cross-sector leaders engaged on workforce housing
114
BoardShift graduates
27
new DiverseCity Fellows alumni
WHAT THAT IMPACT LOOKED LIKE
2,600
community-service hours contributed by Youth CivicCorps participants
79%
of Youth CivicCorps participants felt more confident in leadership
100
of Fellows met leaders they would not otherwise have met
405
additional learners building governance knowledge through BoardShift
OUR MODEL IN ACTION- PAST PROGRAMS
TRIEC
CivicAction co-founded the Toronto Region Immigrant Employment Council with the Maytree Foundation to connect skilled immigrants with employers and mentors across the region. It is now an independent organization.
Luminato
CivicAction helped launch Luminato to support Toronto’s global profile and cultural life. It now operates as an independent arts festival.
Race to Reduce
CivicAction’s Greening Greater Toronto initiative mobilized commercial landlords and tenants to reduce energy use. The model was later taken up and relaunched independently by industry partners.
HireNext
CivicAction built HireNext with Accenture to help employers create more inclusive job postings and reach diverse young talent. It transitioned to CharityVillage.
Housing and Affordability
Mission: Affordable is the current proof point. More than 350 cross-sector leaders helped develop the Workforce Housing Affordability Playbook for Action. The next test is adoption and implementation.
IMPACT IN ACTION
HOUSING & AFFORDABILITY
A winning workforce housing agenda
We engaged 350+ leaders to build the case and tools for workforce housing solutions across the GTHA.
350 +
cross-sector leaders engaged on workforce housing
85
leaders participated in the Mission: Affordable Forum
10.8M
media impressions on our housing affordability messaging in 66+ media hits
4.2/5
insight rating
YOUTH CIVICCORPS
The Next Generation Ready to Lead
Youth CivicCorps gives young people a paid, practical route into civic leadership.
In its first six-month cohort, 23 participants aged 18 to 30 combined learning, action and reflection through 16-week community placements, professional certifications and direct connections with community leaders.
Together, they contributed more than 2,600 service hours across six community projects.
79%
volunteers felt more confident in leadership
84%
grew their professional networks
89%
felt more motivated to support and serve others
79%
felt more confident and effective when collaborating with others
LEADERSHIP ECOSYSTEM
Great leaders build great cities
From emerging leaders to aspiring directors, we strengthen the relationships and skills that help the region act together
2,600
ELN members
65%
identify as racialized
27
new Fellows alumni
114
BoardShift graduates
OUR REACH ACROSS THE REGION
CivicAction works across the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area, where the conditions shaping people’s lives cross municipal boundaries and sector lines.
Regional coordination is not optional: it is the capacity that allows progress to compound.
6
Census Divisions
26
Municipalities
50%
of Ontario’s GDP generated by the GTHA
HOW WE CREATE CHANGE
OUR LEADERSHIP ECOSYSTEM
PARTNERSHIP POWERS THE WORK
READ THE FULL REPORT
IMPACT REPORT 2025-2026
Dive deeper into CivicAction’s 2025–26 work, outcomes and partnerships and see how collective action is helping move the GTHA forward.
GET INVOLVED
FOR COMPANIES
Bring your expertise, people, assets and investment to a challenge that matters to the region.
FOR INDIVIDUALS
Join the Emerging Leaders Network, apply to DiverseCity Fellows, build governance knowledge through BoardShift or take part in a Policy Jam.
FOR INSTITUTIONS & FUNDERS
Invest in the civic infrastructure that makes cross-sector action possible.