Bringing Hope to Canada's Homeless Since 1996
Our Story: Hockey for the Homeless was established in 1996 when a group of Toronto businessmen decided to turn an annual industry hockey tournament into a charitable event aimed at helping the homeless in the city of Toronto. The first "Hockey for the Homeless" tournament was held at Maple Leaf Gardens in November of that same year and easily surpassed the organizing committee's modest goal of raising $2,000 by bringing in close to $8,500.
The proceeds from the inaugural event were used to provide 50 "Life Kits" for people living on the streets of Toronto.
In 2008, based on the incredible ongoing success of Toronto and Montreal events and with the support of the NHL Alumni, the Hockey for the Homeless Board of Directors decided to expand the scope of the organization and launch the model in other Canadian cities. Volunteer committees now organize and host annual tournaments in five cities across Canada - Calgary, Ottawa, Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver - and the organization is actively seeking charitable individuals in other urban centres to launch committees as well. Since its first event in 1996, the organization has raised over $2,600,000 in support for over 18,000 homeless men, women and children across Canada.
OUR Mission: Hockey for the Homeless is a volunteer-driven charitable organization dedicated to ending homelessness in Canada through fundraising, education and partnering with solutions-based outreach organizations.
Get to know our Board of Directors.
