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Community Involvement
Over the years, Fraser Milner Casgrain LLP (FMC) has devoted itself to corporate citizenship in many ways. We offer extensive support to our local and global communities by providing pro bono legal services and investing in various community volunteer projects.

At FMC, giving back to the community is a fundamental aspect of our firm’s overall national strategy, which is why we continue to support our firm members in various volunteer opportunities. 

Examples of community projects FMC members are actively involved with include: 

  • PharmaprixMC Weekend to End Women’s Cancers: FMC is proud to be a major sponsor of the PharmaprixMC Weekend to End Women’s Cancers™ benefiting the Segal Cancer Centre at the Jewish General Hospital. The proceeds raised from this two-day event will support breast and gynecological cancer research, treatment and medical services. FMC partners, associates, staff and management participate both as walkers and volunteers while our sponsorship covers the dining tent, sleeping tents and shower tent. FMC raises money for this event through pledges, our signature National Silent Auction, jeans days and more!
  • Bay Street Fore a Cau$e Inc.: Guided by a group of Bay Street professionals, including an FMC member who is a co-founder, this organization’s goal is to raise money for selected children-based charities in the GTA where the donations have a tangible and meaningful impact on the lives of children.  We have raised monies through high-end golf tournaments, and plan to expand to other social events. Over the past five years, we have donated over $500,000 to charities including Reach for the Rainbow, Youth Unlimited and Sunnybrook Hospital Foundation.  FMC has been a lead sponsor since the inception of Bay Street Fore a Cau$e Inc.
  • BBPA Scholarship: FMC is the first sponsor of a Black Business and Professional Association (BBPA) national scholarship for black law students – a $5,000 annual renewable scholarship awarded to a black law student who has demonstrated outstanding academic achievement, commitment to diversity and financial need.
  • Big Brothers and Big Sisters Golf Marathon: FMC lawyers are participating in a 12-hour golf marathon to raise the funds necessary to help continue to build supportive relationships for kids in need in Toronto.
  • Bikes for Tykes: Team FMC participates in this event, which raises money for Bloorview Kids Rehab, the largest children’s rehabilitation hospital in Canada.
  • British Columbia Law Students’ Legal Advice Program (LSLAP): FMC supports the University of British Columbia Law Students’ Legal Advice Program (LSLAP). The LSLAP is a nonprofit organization run by UBC law students. The students volunteer their time to staff free legal clinics for people who cannot afford to hire a lawyer. Many of our lawyers participated in this program while at UBC and several are still involved. Our donation will help LSLAP to continue providing an important and urgently needed service to the community and specifically, the most vulnerable people in society.
  • Camp Oochigeas: FMC participates in this annual law firm challenge. This event is tied to the Sporting Life 10K and the goal of the Challenge is to rally the legal community in support of Camp Oochigeas, a summer camp and year-round programs for kids who have (or have had) cancer.
  • Canadian Cancer Society Relay for Life: FMC associates participated in the Canadian Cancer Society Relay for Life. The Relay for Life is an overnight non-competitive relay involving teams of 10 people who take turns walking, running or strolling around a track to raise money to fund the most promising research projects in the country on all types of cancer, provide information services and support programs in the community and advocate for public policies that prevent cancer and help those living with it.
  • Canadian Women’s Foundation (CWF): CWF is a national foundation in Canada that is dedicated to improving the lives of women and girls. FMC members have been involved in the fundraising efforts of the Women Moving Women committee, which is overseeing a groundbreaking movement across the country of 2500 women (and men) donating $2500 to help 2500 women on their journey out of poverty.
  • CANcervive Foundation of Alberta: : Bill Gilliland, partner in our Calgary office, and his wife embarked on an annual nine-day bike excursion from Calgary to Austin, Texas, a fundraising event organized by the CANcervive Foundation of Alberta (CANcervive), a non-profit organization established to raise awareness and support for Canadian Cancer Survivors and their families. For more information, please read our News Release. 
  • Christmas Bureau of Edmonton: An FMC partner is general counsel for the Christmas Bureau of Edmonton, and FMC is also the registered office.
  • Covenant House: Throughout the year, FMC collects donations on an on-going basis from its lawyers and staff for Covenant House. Covenant House is a drop-in shelter for homeless teenagers that provides a safe refuge and basic necessities to some 4,000 kids annually.
  • Daily Bread Food Bank: FMC firm members volunteer for the Daily Bread Food Bank to assist the Food Bank in servicing its clients across Toronto.
  • Haiti Earthquake Emergency Relief: FMC joined the global community in support of raising emergency relief funds for the victims of the disastrous earthquake that obliterated Haïti’s capital, Port-au-Prince, and much of the country on January 12, 2010.
  • Japan Earthquake/Tsunami Emergency Relief: FMC joined the global community in support of raising emergency relief funds for the victims of the disastrous earthquake and subsequent tsunami that struck Japan and much of the Asia-Pacific coastline on March 11, 2011.
  • Junior Achievement: FMC has firm members who volunteer with Junior Achievement. One firm member delivered the “Diversity in Action” program to middle school students.
  • Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation: FMC firm members participate and fundraise in the annual JDRF Ride for Research.
  • Kids Help Phone and Lawyers Feed the Hungry Program: In past years, summer and articling students have been involved in Bowl-a-thons organized by the Law Society of Upper Canada to benefit these programs.
  • Lawyers Feed the Hungry Program: FMC actively participates in this program that prepares meals for Toronto’s less fortunate. Three times each week, in the Law Society of Upper Canada’s cafeteria, more than 100 volunteers (including lawyers, judges, law students, legal staff) cook, serve and clean-up after the meal.
  • Legal Post Toronto Literacy Challenge: FMC Toronto, together with several other firms, participated in the Legal Post Toronto Literacy Challenge, an important national fundraising event in support of Raise-a-Reader Day.
  • Little Warriors: An FMC partner is on the Board of Little Warriors.
  • Money Mart Easter Seals 24-Hour Relays For The Kids: Each year, FMC organizes a team to run a relay for 24 hours in support of children with disabilities.
  • Movember: FMC is a proud participant of Movember with 24 lawyers and staff growing a moustache during the month of November to raise funds and awareness for prostate cancer.
  • National Day of Remembrance: A member of FMC organized a fundraiser in support of efforts to combat violence against women and sent "Oxfam unwrapped" gifts to provide education to girls in the developing world.
  • Ride to Conquer Cancer: FMC members participate in the Ride to Conquer Cancer, where riders are each required to raise a minimum of $2,500 to fund important research and advances in detection and treatment of various cancers.
  • March of Dimes' "Rock for Kids": FMC supports this annual Big Battle of the Corporate Bands to raise money for families living with physical disabilities.
  • The Rotary Hearts for Youth Challenge: FMC participated in and helped organize the inaugural Rotary Hearts for Youth walk in High Park to raise money to support various youth projects of the Rotary Club of Parkdale-High Park, Toronto.
  • Royal Canadian Legion: FMC articling students have participated as judges in the Remembrance Contest, a program FMC sponsors for students in grades one to 12, to raise awareness of the significance November 11 has to Canada. In addition, FMC participated in the Legion’s Annual Youth Public Speaking Challenge and Poster Contest. As part of the Legion's Youth and Education program, both programs are meant to give young people an opportunity to speak in public, and foster an understanding of the sacrifices made by many young men and women in World Wars I and II, and the Korean War.
  • Run for Doug Knowles: The passing of our good friend and colleague Doug Knowles in early November 2008 prompted members from our Vancouver office to coordinate and participate in a run for Doug to raise money for the Heart and Stroke Foundation.
  • Salvation Army: During the holiday season, FMC Calgary members coordinate donations to the Salvation Army’s corporate Red Kettle program, in addition to supporting the organization throughout the year through individual contributions and volunteers.
  • Supreme Court Advocacy Institute: An FMC partner is a member of the Supreme Court Advocacy Institute, a  group consisting of about 30 lawyers who provide, without charge, assistance to counsel appearing before the Supreme Court of Canada.
  • Terry Fox Run/ Kate’s Team®: FMC member in Toronto participates in the Terry Fox Run (both in Toronto and New York City) as part of Kate’s Team®, a not-for-profit organization with a focus on raising funds for and awareness of cancer research.
  • Toronto Community Housing Corporation (TCHC): In the fall of 2009, FMC members participated in two playground replacement projects, along with the surrounding gardens.
  • Toronto Region Immigrant Employment Council (TRIEC): FMC lawyers in Toronto helped TRIEC obtain charitable status. FMC is the first law firm Corporate Sponsor of TRIEC’s Mentoring Partnership Program, which matches working professionals with skilled recent immigrants trying to enter the Canadian workforce. Dozens of FMC members have volunteered to mentor immigrants in their various fields.
  • United Way Campaign: Every year, FMC lawyers and staff from across the country lend their support to the United Way. Each office carries out their own United Way fundraising campaigns which help raise funds for and awareness of the United Way’s mission.
  • Uniterra’s Leave for Change Program: FMC has partnered with Uniterra, one of Canada’s leading international volunteer programs. Participation in the Leave for Change program enables up to eight FMC firm members to convert a portion of their annual vacation time into humanitarian work in a developing country. FMC is the first Canadian law firm to participate in this type of program. Follow FMC member’s journeys on the Leave for Change Blog.
  • Walk-In Closet: FMC members in Calgary organized a clothing drive through Walk-In Closet, an organization that provides women facing financial barriers with interview skills and work-appropriate attire to help them increase their chances of obtaining employment.
  • Women’s Legal Education and Action Fund (LEAF): FMC is actively involved in various programs offered by LEAF, a national charitable organization that works toward ensuring the law guarantees substantive equality for all women in Canada. One of our firm members delivered a talk on sexual assault laws to middle school students as part of LEAF’s “No Means No” workshop.
  • Yonge Street Mission Winter Clothing Drive - Law Firm Challenge: FMC participates in a challenge amongst other law firms, where the articling students organize a clothing drive within the firm.
  • Youth Emergency Shelter Society: On Friday, June 12, 2009, a brave FMC summer student was homeless for the night to help raise funds for and awareness of the Youth Emergency Shelter Society, an organization dedicated to making a difference in the lives of youth at risk in our community.
ABOUT FMC
Did you know?
FMC’s David Spiro received an Arbor Award from the University of Toronto on September 13, 2011.  The Arbor Awards were created by the University of Toronto in 1989 to recognize volunteers for outstanding personal service to the University. Click here for more information.
FMC lawyers and staff from across the country made significant contributions to the United Way by carrying out office campaigns to raise funds for and awareness of the organization's mission.
FMC was honoured with four awards at the Lexpert Zenith Award ceremony on September 21. The Lexpert Zenith Awards recognized the firm’s accomplishments in three categories, including Law Firm as Employer, Law Firm Contribution to Legal Education and Diversity Action by Law Firm. Click here for more information.
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