Make the Season Kind Raises $7.8 Million for food banks
Your generosity and kindness raised an astounding $7.8 million (and growing!) for food banks across the country through CBC's Make the Season Kind campaign.
From broadcast centres to community hubs and pubs, from local parks to high school auditoriums, CBC was proud to host 37 events across the country that brought together talent, holiday spirit and a way to channel generosity to those in need. And Canadians were not just kind, they were generous. This year, we helped to raise $7.8 million for local food banks as part of CBC's Make the Season Kind campaign. Read below for more details about the fantastic events that unfolded this past December.
Newfoundland and Labrador
On December 6, Newfoundland and Labrador hosted special shows at local businesses and outdoors, with each event including musical performances, special guests, giveaways and a few surprise acts of kindness. A special day of programming included live radio remotes and broadcasts live from Bannerman Brewing Co. in downtown St. John's. In Gander and Corner Brook, CBC hosted a special Newfoundland Morning Show broadcast in local coffee shops in Corner Brook and Lewisport and in Happy Valley-Goose Bay a special morning show broadcast was held outdoors for the annual turkey drive.
North
On December 6, CBC Whitehorse sponsored the Whitehorse Community Choir holiday concert at the Yukon Arts Centre, where food and sock donations were collected while funds from each ticket sale went to the Yukon Food Bank.
In Iqaluit, Qajuqturvik Community Food Centre was invited to the North of North community screening. They had a table where they did community outreach and shared country food with attendees as they entered the theatre.
CBC Yellowknife and Inuvik hosted an open house day of live programming on December 13. All shows were live from our lobby featuring local musical acts.
P.E.I.
On December 5, Mainstreet P.E.I. held a live broadcast from Founders' Food Hall & Market in Charlottetown. Special guests included musicians Craig Fair, Lawrence Maxwell, Brooke MacArthur and the Prince Street School Glee Club. We also heard from longtime Mainstreet columnist "Dutch" Thompson and comedian Patrick Ledwell. Claire Rankin, who plays mom, Mary Critch, on CBC's popular series Son of a Critch, came home to be part of the Mainstreet P.E.I. show.
On December 13, Island Morning held a live broadcast from The Upper Room Food Bank in Charlottetown. Hosts Mitch Cormier and Laura Chapin were joined by the Salt Water Dollies featuring Christine Cameron and Keelin Wedge and guest Kelley Mooney to lift their voices for the special show.
Nova Scotia
On December 5, host Jeff Douglas joined the CBC Mainland N.S. Mainstreet team in support of local food banks for a special show at the Stardust Bar & Kitchen in Halifax. Musical guests included Jenn Grant, Mo Kenney, Owen O'Sound Lee, Adam Baldwin, Kim Harris and Jade Bennett. Jeff asked people across the province how they make the season kind.
Information Morning Mainland N.S. with Portia Clark was joined by special guests singer-songwriter Old Man Luedecke and Jazz Voices, a high school choir. And Maritime Noon with Bob Murphy hosted The Halifax Camerata Singers live in Studio 60.
CBC's Steve Sutherland hosted a special broadcast of Information Morning Cape Breton in support of local food banks. Island favourites Jenn Sheppard, Stephen Muise and Jordyn Crocker brought a festive musical treat.
Wendy Bergfeldt of Mainstreet Cape Breton hosted a special holiday show featuring the many ways people bring kindness to their community. The audience enjoyed music by the Special Sacred Musical Ensemble lead by Rosemary McGhee, the Festival Special Wind Ensemble and the Cape Breton Chordsmen.
New Brunswick
Thank you to everyone in Fredericton who joined us at Picaroons Brewing Company on December 13 for a live broadcast with Information Morning Fredericton host Jeanne Armstrong and a community sing with musicians Mike and Josh Bravener.
CBC Information Morning Moncton host Jonna Brewer and special guest Ian Hanomansing hosted a live broadcast in support of the Peter McKee Community Food Centre and other local food banks. We celebrate community with musical guests, coffee, and special giveaways with students involved in the Anglophone East "Fill the Bus" campaign.
Thank you for joining us at the Saint John City Market for a live broadcast in support of Harbour Lights, featuring music by Preeper Rhaye MacKay, as well as for cocktail hour hosted by Fusion and Harbour Lights at Uncorked.
Throughout the campaign, Fredericton singer-songwriter David Myles brought his Singing for Supper shows to Dieppe, Saint John and Fredericton shopping malls to help support local food banks.
Quebec
On Thursday, December 12 at our Make the Season Kind holiday market in Montreal. Daybreak, Radio Noon and Let's Go went live from Studio C at La Maison Radio-Canada. Nantali Indongo, host of The Bridge, and Sonali Karnick, host of All in a Weekend, were also present. Live music performances by Siibii, Gráinne and Taigenz. All in support of Food Banks of Quebec.
Over 20 local vendors and artisans were selling all-natural, eco-conscious gifts and goodies — all made right here in Quebec. Inspired by the values of the Food Banks of Quebec, the Make the Season Kind Holiday Market creates a space for equitable, transparent, and mindful consumption.
In Quebec City, On December 4, we joined VEQ (Voice of English-speaking Quebec) at a Holiday Happy Hour at the Morrin Cultural Center in Quebec City. The event is in support of the local Community Hamper Campaign and food insecurity. Celtic trio Irish Tree provided music for the evening.
Ontario
In Toronto, we hosted a full day of fun and fundraising in the Glenn Gould Studio. Radio programs planned a day of programming with live morning and afternoon local shows. Laugh out Loud and Bookends radio shows were broadcast in the late morning and early afternoon. Local shows featured William Prince, Zenesoul, Peter Dreams, Katie Tupper, AHI, Free Label and Anjulie.
In Ottawa, we headed to the 'burbs, Sacred Heart High School in Stittsville, for a memorable evening of live music, comedy and community, all in support of the Ottawa Food Bank. CBC Radio hosts Hallie Cotnam and Alan Neal hosted the evening with appearances from CBC Radio personalities Amanda Pfeffer from Ontario Today and In Town and Out host Giacomo Panico.
Kitchener-Waterloo's 'The Evening Edition' broadcast live from THEMUSEUM, an art and technology museum in Kitchener, Ontario. They featured live music and entertainment and interviewed local changemakers fighting food insecurity in the Waterloo Region.
London Morning and Afternoon Drive was on-site December 13 at the London Food Bank, broadcasting live and collecting food and funds for those in need. Featuring live music and special guests.
On December 5, Windsor Morning hosted live musical performances, special guests and interviews with people fighting the hunger crisis. CBC Windsor News at 6 broadcast live from Bright Lights at Jackson Park.
Manitoba
On December 6, CBC Manitoba Radio hosted local musicians, special guest interviews and great storytelling to inspire support for Harvest Manitoba. In Winnipeg, the CBC team also held a volunteer day with friends and family at the Harvest Food Bank.
Saskatchewan
Guests decorated cookies with Regina's Stephen Nhan from Season 5 of CBC's The Great Canadian Baking Show, learned some Indigenous beading with Regina's Katelyn Ironstar and made holiday cards with Regina's family-owned Black Dog Art Supply. Guests also had the chance to sit, watch the show, and enjoy music by local musician, Megan Nash.
Alberta
Edmonton AM went live from Edmonton's newest community centre connected to Dr. Anne Anderson High School, a school with 1,800 students in Edmonton's fast-growing southwest neighbourhood. Radio Active was live on location to wrap the launch day from The Glow Christmas Festival at the Edmonton Expo Centre.
On December 6, Calgary kicked off the campaign Calgary Eyeopener's Loren McGinnis and Angela Knight at Fratello Coffee Roasters to kick off this year's campaign. We sold our special roast of Grounds for Giving coffee beans from Fratello and our limited edition holiday mug in support of the Calgary Food Bank. On December 11, The Homestretch with Chris dela Torre and Jenny Howe broadcast live on location at the Ironwood Stage & Grill with musical performances by the house band Kinjo & Young, Ashley Ghostkeeper, Kaiya Gamble and Tissa Rahim.
British Columbia
The event date in Vancouver lined up as a perfect pre-concert gathering for Taylor Swift fans and Vancouverites alike! Attendees got creative at our DIY friendship bracelet station for the concert (or just for fun!), showed off their style at the 360 video booth, and entered for a chance to win tickets to the upcoming JUNO Awards and events. Beyond the pre-concert and pre-hockey game fun, the event featured live music, programming and performances that celebrate the spirit of giving while spotlighting our city's unique sounds and vibrant talent. We also invited the public to be part of a small, intimate live studio audience at the CBC Vancouver Broadcast Centre for a free special program of The Early Edition from 6:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. Thank you for your generosity and continued support of B.C.'s food banks and the many people who rely on them