Manitobans’ generosity felt in North End

For people like Phil Chiappetta, it’s a very big deal that a higher percentage of Manitobans made charitable donations in 2006 than any other province.

Chiappetta is co-executive director of Rossbrook House – a neighbourhood centre that provides at-risk youth with an alternative to life on the streets – and his organization’s ability to operate depends on the generousity of the community.

“We certainly get a good deal of support from people who donate,” he said. “Private donations are a big part of our funding.”

Chiappetta says Rossbrook House has been “blessed” by the long list of donors who have given over the past 31 years.

“I’m always heartened by the support we get, and the concern for the youth in our area.”

Canadian taxfilers reported making charitable donations totalling $8.5 billion in 2006, up 8.3 per cent from 2005, but the number of donors decreased 1.4 per cent to 5.8 million.

The amount of donations increased in all provinces and territories. The highest increases occurred in Alberta (+15.5 per cent), the Yukon (+15.2 per cent), and Newfoundland and Labrador (+13.9 per cent).

The number of donors declined slightly in all provinces and territories, with the exception of Newfoundland and Labrador where the number remained relatively stable.

Nationally, 25 per cent of all taxfilers claimed charitable donations, roughly the same proportion as in the past.

Manitoba had the highest percentage of taxfilers who declared a donation, at 28 per cent, followed by Ontario with 27 per cent. These two provinces have shown the highest and second highest percentage of taxfilers claiming charitable donations for the past 10 consecutive years.

For taxfilers reporting donations, the median donation has increased each year since 1998. In 2006, the median donation was $250, up from $240 in 2005. In other words, among those reporting charitable donations, half gave more than $250 and half gave less.

Donors in Nunavut have led all provinces and territories in terms of median donation since 2000. This trend continued in 2006, with a median donation of $450. Donors in Prince Edward Island had the second highest median at $350, followed by donors in Newfoundland and Labrador with $330. The median donation increased in all provinces and territories in 2006.

Among census metropolitan areas, donors in Abbotsford, British Columbia had by far the highest median donation at $620. Toronto donors were next with a median of $360, slightly ahead of Vancouver with $340. It was the fourth year in a row that Abbotsford and Toronto reported the highest median donations.

–With files from Statistics Canada