A day of service,
To honour & celebrate Canadian heroes.
Service Day
September 11th is Canada’s National Day of Service.
The story of Service Day starts in the immediate aftermath of 9/11, when Canada found itself in a position to help, and the response was extraordinary.
With no notice, air traffic controllers brought 255 planes down safely at 17 airports across the country: Halifax, Moncton, Stephenville, Whitehorse, Vancouver, Goose Bay, Gander. More than 33,000 passengers landed in towns that had no idea they were coming.
Schools, churches and community centres became shelters. People donated clothes and bedding. Pharmacies filled prescriptions for free. School bus drivers on strike put down their picket signs and drove people where they needed to go. The Canadian Forces flew in thousands of cots and blankets. Firefighters and search-and-rescue crews crossed the border to help in New York.
9/11 changed the world in a day. Service Day exists because the Canadian response was proof that helping people can change it just as fast, and for the better.
Canadian National Day of Service foundation
The Canadian National Day of Service Foundation was established to recognize, celebrate, and inspire the spirit of service in Canada. As a charitable organization, our mission is to honour Canadians who dedicate themselves to serving their communities, their country, and one another, while fostering gratitude for those whose commitment and sacrifice make our nation stronger.
Through our advocacy, September 11th was proclaimed a National Day of Service in 2011, and recognized as a Provincial Day of Service in Ontario in 2022.
Each year we express our gratitude to those who serve — members of the Canadian Armed Forces, first responders, healthcare workers, caregivers, law enforcement, volunteers, community leaders, and the many Canadians whose work goes unrecorded.
By celebrating service and expressing gratitude, we help build stronger communities, foster a culture of volunteerism, and remind Canadians that acts of kindness, courage, compassion, and service have the power to create a lasting impact.
We are Canadians making a difference.
Community Service Highlight
Collingwood residents collecting cash, medical supplies for Ukraine
Andy Tereshyn's family ties to Ukraine have prompted him to start asking his new neighbours to help donate supplies for the country under attack
