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You don't have to hold a charitable fundraiser to ensure your event has goodwill associated with it. In Toronto there are several venues whose profits from their facility rentals are pooled back into worthy causes. To help inject a philanthropic value-add to your site selection, consider the following charitable and not-for-profit venues available to the meeting and event planning community: The CNIB Centre — This sleek, innovative five-storey building on Bayview Avenue recently put out the welcome mat to outside group rentals to help raise funds for its client-support training and development programs. Stunning in its design functionality, the facility is graced with excellent natural lighting and extra-wide hallways throughout. The Centre's 6,300 sq. ft. main conference space, with elegant Japanese screening, is divisible into quarters, accommodating groups from 40 to 750. Six additional meeting rooms can be set in a variety of different styles with capacities ranging from 10 with boardroom seating to 100 standup. The Café, with a beautiful window wall and walk-up to the second floor balcony, can also be converted for meetings and receptions for up to 100 people. Audio-visual is state-of-the-art. www.cnib.ca/centre
Estates of Sunnybrook — Profits from rentals of the two historic mansions that comprise The Estates are earmarked for medical research programs at Sunnybrook & Women's College Health Sciences Centre, the location of the properties on Bayview Avenue. Between them, the Georgian-style McLean House and the Elizabethan-influenced Vaughan Estate offer 17 light-filled and beautifully appointed function and break-out rooms accommodating groups from six to 200 people. A charming two-storey Coach House offers additional meeting space for up to 40. Within the majestic grandeur of each room setting, galas and events come alive while meetings take on a private club-like intimacy. Plans are underway at Vaughan Estate to welcome the New Year with a completely refurbished main floor ballroom and reception area. www.estatesofsunnybrook.com
The Manor — Filled with charm and intimacy, this enchanting 1920s estate is operated by the Bob Rumball Centre For The Deaf on Bayview Avenue. Rental proceeds benefit educational and training programs for the deaf and hard of hearing. Rooms are elegantly appointed with French country décor and large windows overlooking the property's ravine setting. The Drawing Room, accented with a fireplace and French doors opening to a flagstone terrace, offers sophisticated ambience for a sit-down of up to 65 people and receptions for 150. Smaller events or break-out sessions can choose from The Study for up to a dozen people or The Board Room with table setting for eight or reception space for up to 20. The lovely brick-exposed Coach House Room can be configured into several different seating arrangements for groups of up to 60. www.bobrumball.org
Pia Bouman School for Ballet and Creative Movement — Last year, 45 youngsters were able to discover the magic of dance through this non-profit ballet school's Bursary Program. The bursaries, which extend funding to students who otherwise couldn't afford lessons, are maintained through direct donations and proceeds from event rentals of the school's new studio and studio-theatre. Located at Queen and Dufferin Streets, the 13,700 sq. ft. space - once an old quilting factory — is a Parkdale gem that offers an inviting blank canvas for event creativity. Three mirrored rehearsal rooms, the largest of which accommodates up to 60 people, make for great workshop or teambuilding environments. There's also a 100-seat studio-theatre and spacious reception-lobby area (capacity 200) with well-equipped kitchen for catering. www.piaboumanschool.org
YMCA of Greater Toronto — More than a disco song has made the “Y” a cultural icon; this long-standing charity offers a diverse range of subsidized, pay-what-you-can and free community support, from programming for troubled youth to an information service for newcomers to Canada. There are several YMCA centres throughout the city, however, rental space is optimal at the Metro-Central location on Grovesner Street in the downtown core. Affordability can only describe the four fully equipped meeting rooms ranging in size from 12-person boardroom-style seating to 80-person standup. Versatile pull-out bleacher seating in the acoustically engineered theatre auditorium lets you tailor the space for groups of up to 292 people. Auditorium doors open out to the wide second-floor hallway, ideal for receptions or trade shows. www.ymcatoronto.org
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