History and Mission

Toronto Public Library Foundation was established in 1997 as a registered charity. Our mission is to provide essential resources for the enhancement of Toronto Public Library and to allocate funds to priority needs not supported by municipal funding.

The Foundation believes in the social benefits of a strong and healthy public library system. As a registered charity, we foster relationships with people of vision to provide Toronto’s Library with improved and expanded collections, enhanced programs and services, and revitalized community spaces.

In its short history the Foundation raised over $46 million in support of Toronto Public Library priority needs. Innovative partnerships established by the Foundation include the Toronto Star Newspaper Room, a $2.5 million cash and in-kind commitment, and the TD Summer Reading Club, a multi-year $1.2 million cash commitment that has grown from a local to a national initiative.

The Foundation's long-term goal is to build an endowment fund that will generate sufficient income to support enhanced library programs, collections and services in perpetuity.


Charitable Number: 886554476RR0001

Contact Information:

Toronto Public Library Foundation
789 Yonge Street
Toronto Ontario M4W 2G8

t. 416.393.7123
f. 416.397.5999
foundation@torontopubliclibrary.ca
www.tplfoundation.ca

 

Our People

Toronto Public Library Foundation Board of Directors

Janet McKelvey, Chair

Former Executive Director, Canadian Tire Foundation for Families
Former Vice President,  Xerox Canada
Board of Governors, Shaw Festival

Richard Boxer, Acting Vice ChairPresident, Buckingham Capital Corporation
Tim Pinnington, Treasurer

Corporate Director
 

Matthew Church (TPL Board Chair)

Director, Marketing and Communications, Evergreen

Sarah Fulford

Editor, Toronto Life

Steve GarmaiseCorporate Director
 
Donna Hayes

Publisher & CEO, Harlequin Enterprises Ltd.

Gillian Hewitt Smith

Senior Advisor, Corporate Affairs, Royal Bank of Canada

Patrice MerrinCorporate Director
Wendy Pitblado

Director, Pitblado Foundation

Jane Pyper

City Librarian, Toronto Public Library

Donna Shea

Senior Vice President, Finance & Chief Finacial Officer, Creststreet Asset Management

David StromChief Financial Officer, Whitecastle Investments Ltd.

Toronto Public Library Foundation Governors’ Council

The year 2004 marked the Toronto Public Library's 120th anniversary. With this landmark, the Library's Foundation launched an initiative to enlist the support of leaders from within the community to join Governors' Council.

The Toronto Public Library Foundation recognizes the importance of seeking the advice and support from our friends who are philanthropic leaders.  Through their vision and commitment we will succeed in advancing the needs of the Library in our city and communities.
 

Gail Rose AppelAlan BroadbentThe Hon. Margaret N. McCain
Margaret AtwoodDavid CrombieAnna Porter
A. Charles BaillieThor Edgar EatonJack Rabinovitch
Avie BennettJohn HonderichBob Ramsay
Joe BerridgeThe Hon. H.N.R. Jackman Edward Sorbara

Literary Circle Committee

The Literary Circle is a dedicated group of individual donors who give $1,000 or more annually to the Toronto Public Library Foundation in support of annual operations.  The Literary Circle Committee raises the profile of the Literary Circle Membership program and provides leadership and support to increase the membership within the program. 

Members:
John C. Williams, Chair, Founder, J. C. Williams Group Limited
David J. Bishop, President, D.J. Bishop Marketing
Kirsten Hanson,Editor, HarperCollins
Lisa Lyons, President, Kids Can Press Ltd.
Sindy Preger, Publisher, KidScren/Brunico Communications Ltd.
Julie Powers, independent designer
 

The Book Lover’s Ball Committee

The Book Lover's Ball Committee raises the profile of the Foundation's premiere fundraising gala and provides leadership and support to increase event revenue in support of Toronto Public Library Foundation.

Chair

John Cruickshank, Publisher, Toronto Star
 

Committee Members
Donna Hayes, Publisher & CEO, Harlequin Enterprises Limited
Colleen Clarke, Publicity Manager, HarperCollins Canada Limited
Janet McKelvey, Chair, Toronto Public Library Founadtion
Gillian Hewitt Smitt, Senior Advisor, Corporate Affairs, Royal Bank of Canada
Christina Sorbara, The Sorbara Group
Adria Iwasutiak, Senior Publicist, Random House of Canada Limited

The Corporate Committee
 

The purpose of the Corporate Committee is to raise the profile of the Toronto Public Library in the corporate world through advocacy, spreading the word and fundraising. The committee seeks to provide leadership and support for the library among firms and individuals in the corporate community in Toronto, and to further the Toronto Public Library’s corporate giving program.
  

Chair: 
Steve Garmaise                     Corporate Director
Committee Members:          
Gillian Hewitt SmithSenior Advisor, Corporate Affairs, Royal Bank of Canada
Jamsheed MehtaHead of Equity Sales, BMO Capital Markets
Kerry MitchellVP, Rogers Consumer Publishing, and Publisher, Chatelaine/Châtelaine
Tim PinningtonCorporate Director

 

Community Task Force Committee

The purpose of the Community Task Force is to raise the profile of the Toronto Public Library Foundatin throughout the many diverse and overlapping communities of Toronto. Reporting to the Board of the Toroto Public Library Foundation, committee members will serve as ambassadors of the Library to their social and work circles, ethnic and religious communities, volunteer and other groups.

Chair: 
Steve GarmaiseConsultant: Former Equity Research Analyst
Committee Members:         
Amalda AdaProgram Analyst, Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, Province of Ontario
Ashmead AliCivil Engineer
Anne BaumannManaging Director and C.O.O., Global Research, RBC Dominion Securities Inc.
Israel Ben-IshaiVice-President of Engineeering, SRM, Novell
Esther EnkinExecutive Editor of News Operations, CBC
Mona Q. FengSenior Consultant, Anom Kids Education Enterprise Ltd.
Melanie FernandezDirector, Community and Educational Programmes, Harbourfront Centre
Catherine HeddlePrincipal, Lamplighter Communications
Christie HepburnStaffing and Operations Manager, A.T. Kearney Consultants
Dayo KefentsePress Secretary, Ontario Minister of Education
Jonathan LauIn-Hosue Counsel, TVO
Teo SalgadoManager, Regional Programs, University of Toronto

 

Foundation Staff
 

Heather RumballPresident
hrumball@torontopubliclibrary.ca
416.393.7134
Liza FernandesManager, Individual Giving
lfernandes@torontopubliclibrary.ca
416.397.5924
Julie Flynn StillManager, Strategic Partnerships & Events
jflynn@torontopubliclibrary.ca
416.393.7225
Jessica BergermanDevelopment Assistant
Corporate & Special Events
jbergerman@torontopubliclibrary.ca
416.393.7237
Mitzi ReinsilberDevelopment Associate
mreinsilber@torontopubliclibrary.ca
416.393.7227
Liana ColacciAdministrative Assistant
lcolacci@torontopubliclibrary.ca
416.393.7123
Brinda Goswami

Database Coordinator
bgoswami@torontopubliclibrary.ca

416.393.7047

re:Vitalize
Toronto Reference Library Campaign

John R. FarrellCampaign Manager
jfarrell@torontopubliclibrary.ca
416.397.5977
Alla Steen

Campaign Associate
asteen@torontopubliclibrary.ca

416.393.7230

 

©2008 Toronto Public Library Foundation Charitable Number: 886554476RR0001