After coming together with family to celebrate Thanksgiving this year, many of us are reflecting on the moments shared around the table. It’s a time to appreciate the people we love and the community we care about. While the headlines often seem bleak – rising living costs, a loss of trust in institutions and each other, global conflicts – there is still much to be thankful for, especially for those fortunate enough to live in Canada and particularly here in Ottawa.
Despite the challenges of recent years, including a pandemic and soaring inflation, Canadians have seen gains in wealth according to Statistics Canada[i]. From 2015 to 2023, Ontarians’ household disposable incomes – what’s available for spending and saving after taxes and debt-servicing – have grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.05%, outpacing inflation within the Consumer Price Index (CPI), which grew to 2.75%. Notably, these gains have been solid among the lowest and second lowest income quintiles, where household disposable income grew at 4.99% and 3.55%, respectively.
Similarly, household net worth relative to disposable income has increased faster than debt-to-disposable income, especially for those in the lowest income quintiles in Ontario:
Figure 1: Rate of household wealth and debt accumulation
However, these data points and the averages don’t tell the full story. The experience of individuals over the past several years varies widely, and many are still struggling. But it is important to pause on certain occasions where we do come together, give thanks, and reflect—not only on what we have but on how we can contribute to the well-being of others.
We can celebrate that the National Capital region has seen a 32% reduction in all persons living below the official poverty line from 2015 to 2022. But it also means 9.1% of our neighbours – over 141,000 people – still fall below that line. And while the number of persons in economic families living in poverty has dropped significantly from 8.4% to 5.1% (a decrease of 39.2%), the reduction for persons living alone has been slower, only dropping from 35.1% to 27.2% in 2022. Men in this demographic have significantly higher rates of poverty compared to women.
Philanthropy has always been about those able to provide help—those who benefit most from society—stepping up for those who need it. Data can guide us in identifying where help is needed, but the power of philanthropy lies in intentional, strategic giving—something the story of the Lefebvre family we highlight today exemplifies.
Marking twenty years as donors at the Ottawa Community Foundation, the Lefebvres are continuing a family tradition of giving back
Philippe and Sarah Lefebvre, 2004
In 2004, Philippe and Sarah Lefebvre, a young couple, were eager to make a difference in the communities they love. As they built their family, they reflected on how they wanted to support the causes they cared about.
With Sarah’s family history of charitable giving and Philippe’s business knowledge, they sought a more strategic approach to giving back.
One of their guiding principles was recognizing the privilege of being born in Canada, with educational and career opportunities. At the same time, they recognized Canada’s disproportionate environmental impact and felt an ethical responsibility to support local environmental efforts.
Growing up, charity played an important role in Sarah’s family, making giving back a natural step. “This community is important to me, and I want to help take care of it,” she says.
“This community is important to me, and I want to help take care of it”
Their decision to establish a fund came after discovering the Ottawa Community Foundation in a local newspaper. They set up a donor-advised fund, excited about an endowment that could be passed down to their children and support future generations.
The Lefebvre fund focuses on two primary streams: education and the environment. While they’ve occasionally supported other causes, these two areas remain strong with 35 grants made since the fund’s creation. Philippe appreciates the long-term nature of their contribution and the capacity for their fund to grow over time, saying, “I’m giving money that will perpetually make money that could be given away.”
An unexpected highlight they also discovered over time was the experience of supporting grant applications the OCF received for various projects in the
community. Philippe recalls a project they supported to build a greenhouse at a school, something they now see when they drive by the school. “It’s tangible; at some point, you can actually see the impact you’ve had.”
Philippe, Sarah, Sophie, and Émilie Lefebvre, 2024
Twenty years since the fund was set up, Sarah and Philippe are now involving their teenage daughters, hoping the fund will evolve to reflect their growing interests. At 12, 17, and 18 years old, the Lefebvre girls are beginning their philanthropic journey, having been exposed to charitable giving from a young age.
Sophie, 17, is excited about it, having participated in an environmental fundraising project for her Social Action course. She shares her parents’ passion, saying, “It’s just fun to do it.” While the family agrees on the responsibility to give back, they all note that their favourite part is receiving letters from donation recipients, with Sophie adding, “It made me feel good! I felt like I actually helped somebody.”
Sarah acknowledges that the initial cost of starting a fund may seem like a barrier for some, citing this as the reason they decided to start the fund before having children when they knew they had the money to spare.
“You can still give back any way you can, and we know every little bit makes a difference. That’s why we started getting into it.”
Giving Back: A Community of Care
Setting up a fund with the OCF is a great way to create legacies families can be proud of for generations to come. For our donors, gratitude is a two-way street, in which they can support the organizations and causes that are most important to them, while also memorializing their loved ones and enabling meaningful giving that is reflective of their values.
This year, as we gather to give thanks for those we cherish, the Ottawa Community Foundation extends an offer to take part in the community in whatever way makes the most sense for you or your family. Whatever the motivation, each contribution can make a positive impact.
We at the OCF are thankful every day of the year for our generous donors, whom we are honoured to work with to help communities in need.
This fall, consider donating to a cause in need or setting up a personalized fund of your own with the OCF to start your legacy of giving thanks today.
[i] Notes on data: Data for net worth to disposable income as well as debt to disposable income is drawn from Statistics Canada Table 36-10-0665-01 Distributions of household economic accounts, wealth indicators, Canada, regions and provinces, quarterly. Data for persons living below the official poverty line is drawn from Statistics Canada Table 11-10-0135-01 Low income statistics by age, sex and economic family type. To align with the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDG) and Statistics Canada’s SDG-aligned “Canadian Indicator Framework“, the Ottawa Vital Signs project is using a start date of 2015 for evaluating progress/trends in community indicators, using the most recent data available from Statistics Canada as the end point. All data referenced above is drawn from quarterly-updated Statistics Canada tables, so the fourth quarters of the reference years are used for common comparison points. Household net worth is frequently used as a more comprehensive measure of economic well-being than income alone, calculated by subtracting total household liabilities (e.g. taxation and debt servicing) from total household assets (income, financial assets, property, etc.). Comparing both net worth and debt and to a common measure – disposable income – provides a good contrast of how both assets and liabilities are trending in households, as well as providing a good picture of financial resilience (the higher the net worth to disposable income ratio, the more resilient). The point of comparing the compound annualized growth rate of each measure here is not to indicate a comprehensive picture on the financial health of households, but rather to provide a particular perspective that should give pause and cause for contemplation.