WHERE: Bobcat of Barrie – 614 Dunlop St W, Barrie, ON L4M 4S4
WHEN: Thursday, May 22nd – 9:00am – 2:00pm
Strategies to Address the Impact of Tariffs in Construction in Canada: An Article and a Webinar
The Canadian construction industry is bearing the weight of both tariffs applied and threatened by the United States and Canadian retaliatory tariffs applied by both federal and provincial governments. In the context of an ongoing trade war, circumstances are at once complicated and ever-changing. In this article, we will discuss who is likely to bear the brunt of the additional costs and principles of contract interpretation to tariff-related provisions of common standard form contracts, before delving into practical strategies construction stakeholders can use to manage tariff-associated risks. We will also discuss these strategies in a one-hour free webinar scheduled for April 1, 2025, from 8:30-9:30 am. For a list of our upcoming webinars, and to register, please visit click on our webinar page.
As a starting point, owners generally want their chosen design, and they want it built on time and to budget. To address the impact of tariffs, parties can (and perhaps should) consider reallocating their priorities between design/quality, cost and schedule. Parties may also, at times, be better off foregoing the strict enforcement of their contractual rights in favour of working together to address problems that may arise. This is particularly the case when strict enforcement might trigger defaults, delays, claims or potential insolvencies – any of which can drive the parties toward litigation. Parties will, nevertheless, want to understand their contractual rights, options and obligations before deciding on tariff-related strategies.
Contract Clauses
We firstly note that contractual interpretation follows several general principles. The starting point is a straightforward reading of the contract’s words, using their natural and ordinary meaning. The contract should be interpreted as a whole [1], avoiding isolating individual provisions and considering the effect of the entire agreement.[2] The interpretation should reflect sound commercial principles and good business sense. While negotiations are not usually taken into account, surrounding circumstances known to the parties at the time of contract formation might be considered – but would not override the words of the agreement. In reconciling inconsistencies, specific terms supersede general terms. Courts will imply a term into a contract (i) only if it is so obvious that “it goes without saying” or it is necessary to give business efficacy to the contract or (iii) if the term is implied by common law or statute. If ambiguity remains after applying the above principles, the interpretation that benefits the party who did not draft the ambiguous clause is favoured. There are exceptions to the general principles of interpretation, so if a straightforward reading of the contract does not provide certainty about who bears the risk of an increase in costs due to tariffs, then care should be taken to read provisions in the context of the overall contract, the surrounding circumstances and their commercial context, as called for by the Supreme Court, and parties are encouraged to seek legal advice.
Where it is difficult to confidently say how a court would interpret the existing contractual provisions vis-à-vis the risk and impact of tariffs, parties should be wary about taking hard-line positions. Few assumptions should be made about how non-standard terms should be interpreted in any circumstance. This might be good news for some, as uncertainty over whether contractual relief is available might allow parties to negotiate common-sense solutions.
Many Canadian standard form prime contracts appear to expressly allocate the risk of cost increases due to tariffs and generally it is the owner who bears the risk of the increased cost. Under the CCDC2 and CCDC 14, for example, GC 10.1.2 provides that “Any increase or decrease in costs to the Contractor due to changes in taxes and duties after the time of the bid closing shall increase or decrease the Contract Price accordingly”. Similar provisions are contained in the CCDC17 trade and the contract CCA-1 subcontract, while under the CCDC3 and CCDC5B contracts the contractor is paid in part for the cost of the work, which includes “customs, taxes and duties” incurred. The OPSS General Conditions of Contract for Roads and Public Works (November 2019), at GC 8.02.08, takes a slightly different approach: it provides for a change in the contract price (either up or down) where there is a change in Canadian federal or provincial taxes which “could not have been anticipated at the time of Tender”. Although these various provisions don’t mention “tariffs”, tariffs are generally understood to be a form of “tax” inextricably tied to “duties”. Contractors should accordingly be entitled to rely on them to claim price increases equal to what they have paid in additional tariffs. While the owner bears the risk under many Canadian standard-form prime contracts, Canadian contractors who enter into bespoke prime contracts, or participate in P3 projects, or projects on foreign soil may find the risk allocation under their contracts less favourable.
Subcontractors and suppliers tend to have a wider variety of subcontract forms ranging from single page purchase orders to the CCA1 standard subcontract, to a broad incorporation of the provisions of the prime contract. While the CCA1 documents follow the CCDC documents in assigning risk for changes in taxes and duties upward to the contractor, other subcontacts and supply contracts vary widely and may not expressly allocate the risk to any party. References to “exclusive of applicable taxes” are usually intended to refer only to value-added taxes like HST, for example.
Even where additional compensation is available under the contract, anyone seeking that compensation will still have to show how, and to what extent, additional tariff costs were incurred. This can be difficult in many circumstances, for example where the tariff impact is hidden in the cost of products or materials purchased from suppliers who themselves paid the tariffs at first instance. Or, where a product crosses the border multiple times during its manufacturing process, thereby incurring multiple applications of tariffs before reaching its final form for use on an improvement. Players in the construction pyramid should work with their subcontractors and suppliers (and their manufacturers) to develop a practice of separately identifying what tariffs have been applied and the cumulative tariff amount for each product on invoices. Companies would also be wise to visit the Canada Revenue Agency website to confirm and record the dates on which tariffs are applied (or disapplied) over the coming months.
Additionally, it is anticipated that tariffs will cause overall inflation. Thus, while it might appear clear that increased costs are attributable to tariffs, it may be impossible to show precisely how or to what extent, this is so. Accordingly, parties should consider whether they have in existing contracts, or should have in new contracts, price escalation/adjustment clauses which are tied to more identifiable criteria, such as the consumer-price index, a posted inflation rate, or the cost of one or more specific products or materials. In addition, contracts might be drafted to include products and materials subject to tariffs as allowance items, so that the owner (or payer above in the ladder) will pay the actual cost regardless of fluctuation. Allowing for the adjustment in both directions, as is done in the OPSS (referenced above) might be preferred. Parties using that approach will need to be aware of exactly what tariffs are imposed on the date the contract is formed, and that the contract is priced to reflect the status on that date.
Another type of contract clause – so-called “change in law” provisions – might also provide relief to contractors or subcontractors with respect to project costs or time. Although these clauses are generally inserted to provide relief where codes or standards for the work are changed after the contract price is agreed to, they might nonetheless apply to changes in the law vis-à-vis tariffs (depending on how they are worded). Prudent parties may want to expressly revise future contracts to expressly include that tariffs qualify as a change in the law.
Other clauses might provide relief in other ways. For example, the application of “force majeure” clauses should be considered. These usually provide schedule relief where specified circumstances beyond the control of one of the parties arise (such as fires, strikes, insurrection, etc). Often, they expressly include for circumstances beyond the control of one or both of the parties. They also often expressly exclude circumstances caused by the hired party or circumstances that result solely in an increased cost of the work. However, there is no “common law” concept of force majeure. Other than in Quebec (where the Civil Code applies), what is and is not a force majeure event, and whether relief is available to either party when such an event occurs, will depend solely on the wording of the clause in question (interpreted in the context of the entire contract and the surrounding circumstances, etc., as above). These clauses should be reviewed carefully by parties seeking relief, to see if they can be relied on in the particular circumstances of the project in question. We have come across force majeure clauses which appear to give the contractor additional compensation upon a force majeure event occurring. In other circumstances, the relief might be limited to a schedule extension – which might nonetheless provide a partial solution to a tariff problem. In this regard, schedule relief might allow parties to wait out the ‘trade war’, in the expectation (or hope) that sanity prevails, and the tariffs are rolled back. Also, schedule relief might allow parties to source alternative suppliers which are not subject to tariffs.
Clauses permitting changes and substitutions may also assist the parties. Owners can typically require changes while contractors and subcontractors usually have a right to propose alternative materials and products.[3] In some cases, the owner is compelled to consent to a substitution if the proposed alternate is ‘as good or better’ than what is specified. Where proposed alternatives are accepted by the owner, this should typically be recorded as a change. Again, how changes and substitutions are dealt with will depend upon what the contract or subcontract says. We note that processing changes or alternates/substitutions will likely have an impact on schedule, such that clauses dealing with schedules and delay (including, potentially, force majeure clauses) will have to be considered.
Owners faced with the prospect of significantly increased costs due to tariffs might also consider whether they are better off canceling or postponing the project. In this regard, termination clauses might be looked to. An existing ‘termination for convenience’ clause might be particularly useful to owners in such a circumstance. Care should be taken to read these, to determine what payment obligations the owner will attract if it exercises its option under the clause. Often, the owner will have to pay the contractor for the value of the work up until the date of the termination. It is also common for the owner to have to pay for any lost deposit and (not insignificantly) reimburse any compensation which the contractor has to pay to subcontractors and suppliers. Accordingly, the risk of exercising such a clause will vary from circumstance to circumstance and contract-to-contract. Parties entering into new contracts may wish to ensure that there is an option to terminate for convenience and negotiate appropriate compensation packages in such circumstances.
Parties who wish to rely on a contractual provision to claim relief should ensure that they meet any notice provisions and requirements set out in the contract. These vary significantly from contract to contract and are generally enforced by the courts (subject to a party establishing ‘waiver’, which can be difficult to do). Where a party to an existing contract believes it might be impacted by tariffs, they should consider these clauses immediately, as in many cases they will be required to give notice long before the impacts are actually realized.
In relation to future contracts and subcontracts, parties will want to take care in drafting, negotiating and reviewing the contract documents they will agree to. Parties drafting contracts will want to consider their project/contract models and explore all of the aforementioned types of clauses to allocate the risk of tariffs. Those being asked to sign the other side’s form of contract will need to understand how the risks are being allocated and consider the price of the contract in that context.
Relevant Legal Principles
Non-contractual legal principles like “frustration” and “mitigation” may also play a role in determining who will bear the additional costs associated with newly implemented tariffs.
Unlike force majeure, frustration is a legal principle that does not depend on a contractual term. It will relieve a party of its obligation to perform the contract if its ability to do so has been “frustrated” due to circumstances beyond its control. The remedy comes from common law (legal cases setting precedent) and from legislation. Generally speaking, frustration will not be available where the performance of the contract is merely more difficult or more expensive than what was originally bargained for. As the 2001 Supreme Court of Canada confirmed in Naylor Group Inc. v. Ellis-Don Construction Ltd., 2001 SCC 58, “[f]rustration occurs when a situation has arisen for which the parties made no provision in the contract and performance of the contract becomes ‘a thing radically different from that which was undertaken by the contract…’. It might be difficult to establish that the obligation to supply materials or products now subject to tariffs is “radically different” than what was bargained for, however whether or not the test is met will vary in the circumstances. In addition, the doctrine should be kept in mind as tariff-related circumstances evolve. We saw, for example, an increase in frustration claims generated by supply-chain issues arising during the Covid-19 pandemic. In this regard, a decision from the Ontario Court of Appeal, Croke v. VuPoint System Ltd. 2024 ONCA 354, allowed an employer to escape a “frustrated” employment contract, when the employer’s sole customer prohibited unvaccinated workers from supplying services. In doing so, the Court of Appeal applied the above passage from the Supreme Court of Canada in Naylor’. As regards the relief available for frustration, Ontario has the Frustrated Contracts Act, which provides a framework for resolving the rights and obligations of the parties to frustrated contracts. Other provinces have similar legislation.
A second, and perhaps more significant, legal principle is mitigation: parties claiming compensation will be expected to have mitigated their losses. Parties will more particularly be expected to assess whether, for example, there will be less of an overall cost impact by extending the schedule to await for tariff relief, or seek substitutions of alternative products and materials, rather than strictly insisting on the installation of the products on the original contract schedule. From this perspective also (and as above) it may be better in the long run for parties to work together and “share the risk”, so to speak, to address tariff issues where defaults, claims, terminations, insolvencies and/or litigation might be the logical alternative outcome.
Non-Legal Tariff Risk Management
There are, finally, non-legal strategies that construction participants can explore to better manage the risk of tariffs. An obvious one includes obtaining or giving quotes for material and product supply that are good for certain periods of time (allowing purchasers to ‘lock in’ prices and vendors to limit their exposure to future tariffs). Another involves the early procurement and storage of product and materials into inventory, so as to avoid future tariffs. As touched on briefly above, a more focused strategy can involve asking suppliers to break down their invoices, so that the tariffs portion is identified, making it easier to claim relief for the increased costs at a later date. Also, American suppliers might be asked to ‘split’ their invoices to separate the services portion of their supply. In this regard, for example, if a large refrigeration unit is coming from a US supplier, that supplier may have put a lot of engineering work into the production of the unit. This will be especially true where the unit is to be custom-fabricated. If the supplier can be encouraged to invoice for the engineering services separately (given that services do not presently appear to be subject to tariffs), the overall cost of the tariff-subjected-supply might be reduced. Finally, participants in construction will want to be on the lookout for relief programs which might be available through the federal or provincial government. Although it appears that in the short-run the relief might be focused on employees, some kind of relief for businesses as a whole is likely to follow.
Bonds and Insurance
To round out our discussion we will turn our focus to insurance and surety-related issues. From discussions with those in the industry, we believe parties can expect rates to increase across the board for construction related insurance and surety products. For example, since the cost of materials and products will inevitably rise, rates for builder’s risk policies may increase given the increased cost of replacement work. This, and other changes, represent an effort by insurance companies to make up for foreseeable losses, given the expectation of an uptick in claims impacting their policies, and performance and payment bond positions. Similarly, we believe owners, contractors and subcontractors will be exposed to heightened requirements related to their financial health, in relation to lines of credit, lending rates, and bonding facilities, etc..
Overall, the construction industry in Canada will certainly suffer impacts from tariffs for the immediate, and undeterminable, future. We believe that common sense and cooperative solutions will prove key to mitigating the impacts of tariffs on Canadian construction projects in the short to medium-term. In addition, the importance of paying extra attention to how current agreements are administered and on how future agreements are structured and negotiated cannot be overstated.
Rob Kennaley, Paige Crewson and Joe O’Hearn
Kennaley Construction Law
[1] Sattva Capital Corp. Creston Moly Corp., 2014 SCC 53, at para. 47.
[2] Tercon Contractors Ltd. v. British Columbia (Transportation and Highways), 2010 SCC 4 at para. 64.
[3] An exception will often be under design-build contracts where the contractor is entitled to install a design of its choosing, so long as it meets the owner’s ‘Statement of Requirements’
March 18, 2025
As the U.S. Presidential election of November 5, 2024, approached, many Canadians were wary of Donald Trump’s nationalist approach to foreign policy and his “America First” economic agenda, including pro tariff rhetoric. Despite the previews, it came as a shock to all of us that one of Trump’s first priorities as the 47th President would be the pursuit of aggressive tariffs against Canada and the assertion of economic dominance with a stated objective of making Canada “51 st American state”.
Now, having absorbed the initial shock of Trump’s attacks, Canadians from coast to coast and north to south are fighting back, and fighting back hard. We are at war, albeit a trade war, for the first time on Canadian soil since 1812, and Canadian patriotism is shining through in a way not seen since World War II.
This moment in our history must be non-partisan. We must galvanize as a nation behind the leaders who have demonstrated the ability to meet the moment. Wisely, our leaders have embraced a Team Canada approach. We can be proud of the leadership demonstrated by Justin Trudeau and his team during the final weeks of his time as Prime Minister. Premier Doug Ford has been particularly impressive, in his plain spoken and authentic way, taking on the role of Captain Canada. And it is our hope and expectation that Prime Minister Mark Carney will exh ibit the strong and smart leadership he displayed as Governor of the Bank of Canada during the 2008 financial crisis and as Governor of the Bank of England during Brexit. We can be emboldened by their collective strength and assurance that Canada will not back down, and that Canadian sovereignty will be protected.
There is no question, however, that for as long as tariffs and Trump’s chaos continue, Canada’s economy, including the construction industry, will face big challenges. While it is estimated that more than 33% of Canada’s GDP comes from exports to other countries, about 75% of our international trade is with one customer: the United States. Faced with this reality, the construction sector will confront major cost pressures as materials from the U.S. become more expensive and supply chains are strained. In turn, existing contracts and pricing will be under scrutiny and new bids will be faced with an uncertain risk profile.
COCA is advocating strongly on your behalf to help ensure that our sector remains strong, and these uncertainties are addressed. In particular, we are carefully watching the impact tariffs will have on contractors and subcontractors unexpectedly facing tariff induced pricing increases, particularly as they relate to public sector work. COCA will strongly advocate to all governments that tariff pricing risks must be allocated to public sector owners who have control over procurement timelines, funding sources and policy decisions. In the context of a trade war with the United States, governments must step up to support the construction industry by proactively committing to assuming tariff pricing risks under existing contracts and new bids.
Tariff costs are entirely beyond the control of contractors and subcontractors and are unforeseeable and unmanageable, particularly in the face of existing fixed-price contracts. Therefore, COCA will also watch closely for the development of any disputes over existing contract language about entitlements of contractors to increased payments. If the imposition of tariffs widens and a trade war expands, we anticipate that existing standard form contract terms could be tested. While these contracts do refer to “taxes” and “duties”, they do not expressly refer to tariffs. Most of us would readily conclude tariffs include taxes and duties. However, in the absence of the specific reference to tariffs, the case may not be so straightforward. If tariff costs escalate going forward, these standard form provisions may be put to the test. Should they arise, such disputes will only cause division and disruption at a time when the industry, contractors, subcontractors and owners, must be united. COCA will monitor this situation closely and is dedicated to supporting the resolution of any such disputes to ensure the industry is united in support of the broader trade war.
Our economic relationship with the United States will never be the same. Even if the trade war with Trump is immediately resolved, trust has been broken, perhaps irreparably. Canada’s business community and governments understand this and are already responding with great strength and urgency. Businesses are cultivating new markets and trading partners. The federal and provincial governments have committed to removing interna l trade barriers, including labour mobility barriers. Governments and business are renewing a focus on “nation building” projects like east-to-west pipelines and the focused and expeditious mineral development of the Ring of Fire. Tellingly, Prime Minister Carney’s first international trip is not to the United States, but to the United Kingdom and France. COCA supports and will advocate strongly for urgent action on these and other initiatives focused on enhancing Canada’s economic productivity and renewing Canada’s position as a critical economic force in the world, well beyond our relationship with the United States.
While Canada will face economic challenges and some difficult times as this trade war with the United States continues, we are a strong and resilient sovereign nation. We will prevail and ultimately prosper. So too will Ontario’s construction sector. COCA will continue to support and advocate strongly on behalf of all of you to ensure that the sector is protected, continues to grow, and ultimately emerges stronger.
Sincerely,
Ian Cunningham
President
Rob Kennaley
February 26, 2025
Bill 216 – An Act to implement Budget measures and to enact and amend various statutes was passed into law on November 7, 2024, as part of an “omnibus” bill which contained amendments to 17 pieces of Ontario legislation. It will change Ontario’s Construction Act in significant ways and of the changes will be controversial. They were made further to recommendations made by Duncan Glaholt, a very well-known construction lawyer, arbitrator and author, in his 110 page Report, The 2024 Independent Review: Updating the Construction Act. While the Report most often summarized the views of various stakeholders Mr. Glaholt had consulted with, it did not propose actual legislative language for the changes.
The changes will come into force on a future date “to be named by proclamation”. In the meantime, Mr. Glaholt and others are also working on changes to the Regulations passed under the Act, which will introduce even further changes.
To put the changes in context, by way of the Construction Lien Act Amendment Act, 2017 1 , the name of the Construction Lien Act was changed to the Construction Act, lien expiry triggers and time-frames were changed, holdback provisions were significantly altered and sweeping new prompt payment and adjudication provisions were introduced. The changes were made further to recommendations made by Bruce Reynolds and Sharon Vogel in their Report, Striking the Balance: Expert Review of Ontario’s Construction Lien Act 2. It was
1 SO 2017, C24
2 Report Prepared for the Ministry of the Attorney General and the Ministry of Economic Development, Employment and Infrastructure, Delivered April 30, 2016)further to a Reynolds and Vogel recommendation that Mr. Glaholt was retained to further review the Act.
Curiously, Bill 216 passed first reading in Ontario’s Legislative Assembly without debate on the same day Mr. Glaholt released his Report. Within a week, it had passed second and third reading and received Royal Assent, all without comment or debate about the Construction Act portions. The Act’s amendments were thus presented to the Legislature and passed into law before stakeholders had any opportunity to review or comment on whether the Report or the actual wording of the legislative changes. In addition, it does not appear that some of the more significant changes were discussed with stakeholders.
Continue reading the full Kennaley Construction Law report here
By way of the Construction Lien Act Amendment Act, 2017, the name of Ontario’s Construction Lien Act was changed to the Construction Act1, lien expiry triggers and time-frames were changed, holdback provisions were significantly altered and sweeping new prompt payment and adjudication provisions were introduced. The changes are still being implemented over time, based on the “transition provisions” set out at s.87.3 of the Act. These provisions are tied, in part, to when the owner first procures or enters into a contract for the improvement. Unfortunately, the transition provisions gave rise to confusion and debate, particularly over whether “improvement” should be interpreted to involve, potentially, more than a single contract. 2
At any given time, up to 12% of the workforce in Canada is off work due to injury and receiving related benefits, including workers’ compensation.1 In 2023, workers’ compensation boards across Canada paid out approximately $9 billion worth of benefits to workers.2 The costs of these benefits are borne by employers that fund the workers’ compensation systems across Canada. To control workers’ compensation costs it is critical that employers engage early, and often, with boards such as Ontario’s Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB).3 Ignoring the issue or waiting to get involved can have significant cost consequences for an employer.
Accelerate your business potential by advertising in the BCA Member Directory!
The directory is published and distributed to over 400 members and public procurement departments. Advertising opportunities are available by the full page, half page or business card size in either colour or black and white.
The BCA Directory is a key source used by procurement professionals across the region to find construction companies, project managers, architects and engineers for their ICI projects.
Formats accepted: JPEG, TIFF, Photoshop, Indesign and PDF
1.Full Page Colour (4 3/4 x 7 1/2) – $375
2.Full Page Black & White (4 3/4 x 7 1/2) – $275
3.Half Page Colour (4 3/4 x 3 1/2) – $250
4.Half Page Black & White (4 3/4 x 3 1/2) – $225
5.Business Card Colour (4 3/4 x 1 3/4) – $200
6.Business Card Black & White (4 3/4 x 1 3/4) – $175
A one time set up fee of $40.00 applies to all new ads.
Changes can be made to existing artwork. Price varies depending on scope of work.
Advertising space is available to BCA Members only and can be purchased here
The City of Barrie has issues a Winter Weather Construction bulletin which provides important information for constructing during winter months.
Nominations for the Board of Directors and Awards as well as applications for the Jordan Abercrombie Memorial Bursary are being accepted until
4 pm on January 22, 2025. Awards will be presented at our Annual General Meeting taking place on February 6, 2025.
Board of Directors Nomination Form
The BCA is governed by elected members of the association. These industry professionals are dedicated to the growth and success of the association and each bring a unique perspective from each aspect of the industry.
The Spotlight Award is an opportunity to recognize and celebrate a person or company that makes a difference in their community by generously contributing their time and resources for the betterment of the local area. Recipients of this award not only make our neighbourhoods better, but they also help to foster a sense of community.
The Excellence in Safety Award acknowledges a member company’s promotion of safety culture in the workplace. The company goes above and beyond to ensure that their employees recognize the importance of following protocols and can go home to their families at the end of a day.
The Women in Construction Award recognizes a female who has become a major cog in the construction industry machine and is making headway towards a bright future for female workers.
The Young Leaders Award recognizes the best and brightest young employee. They have well defined accomplishments and exemplify dedication, commitment, and leadership.
Jordan Abercrombie Memorial Bursary Award
This bursary will be presented to student(s) who have graduated or are graduating with a minimum of Grade 12 or equivalent and have demonstrated a combination of academic and trade merit and have a financial need. The student must be enrolled in a construction apprenticeship program, construction technology, construction engineering (degree) or any other construction related postsecondary program.
Charitable donations are a powerful way to support communities, uplift individuals, and address pressing societal challenges. Whether contributing to local food banks, or supporting local humanitarian efforts, every donation can create meaningful impact. Monetary contributions help organizations sustain their missions, while in-kind donations like clothing, food, or volunteer time provide direct, tangible assistance to those in need. By aligning donations with personal values and causes that resonate, individuals and businesses can foster positive change, promote equality, and build a more compassionate world.
This year, please consider supporting one (or all!) of the organizations listed below.
BCA’s FOOD BANK CHALLENGE
For every dollar that is donated by our members, the BCA will match it up to $2000.00.
Food Banks provide temporary food relief to individuals and families of our community who are in need, and to serve as a resource to guide them along the road to self sufficiency.
In the coming months, Food Banks across our region will see increased demand on their services.
Members can donate directly to any Food Bank of their choice, simply let us know the amount and at the end of the challenge we will tally and match your donations.
Make a donation to the Barrie Food Bank
Thank you to the members who have made donations so far!
WiC/YLG Group – Gift a Family
For Barrie, Ontario Kids in Need
Through Gift-a-Family, we aim to reach children who have been overlooked by traditional charities because their parents are unable, unwilling or incapable of seeking help. We identify these ‘forgotten’ children through an anonymous nomination process where community members like coaches, teachers, extended family, friends, etc can nominate kids so we can give them a full Christmas experience.
Everything from the tree and decorations, to the dinner, gifts, stockings and more – showing them that they are just as worthy of joy and celebration as anyone else to help boost their self-esteem.
100% of proceeds go directly to children in the Barrie, Ontario area.
The Women in Construction and Young Leaders Groups have been matched with a family of 3; Mom and her two little boys ages 3 and 4. They have recently moved into a new home and are most interested in basic needs. Mom has expressed her desire to make Christmas about traditions with her boys. Monetary and/or gift contributions are much appreciated and the gifts will be hand delivered to the family for Christmas!
Donations have started coming in for this local family but there a still a few items needed to fill their wish list. They can be dropped off at the BCA office by Dec. 12th
– Wrapping supplies
– Tree decorations
– Christmas Baking supplies and gift sets
– Towels
– Toy storage
– Gloves and scarves
– Winter coats and snowpants (3T and 5T)
– Bicycle Helmets x2
– Arts & Craft sets
– Toys
Holiday Hope Bags for Busby Center
The Earth Angels are gathering donations for their annual Christmas Holiday Hope Bags for the Busby Center. This year they are filling 200 bags with much needed necessities for our friends on the streets and those utilizing the Busby Center. Donations can be dropped off at the BCA office Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm and will be accepted until December 19th. The list of items includes:
Deodorant
Razors
Tampons for ladies (not pads)
New warm socks
Men’s small to large underwear
Men’s small to large long Johns
Men’s and ladies mittens
Chocolate and candy for our candy bags
Large bottles of body wash
