February 21, 2025 @ 8:00 am – 9:00 am UTC+0
Canada Coffee Hour is a member-led program designed to foster community and connections among Canadian members from coast to coast. Through engaging discussions and learning opportunities, these monthly virtual gatherings aim to inspire, challenge perspectives, and strengthen our shared commitment to philanthropy. Each session will have a speaker and discussion on chosen topics. This week, we will have speakers Jay Barton and Gil Clelland from Sanctuary Toronto. Join us to connect, exchange ideas, and be part of a growing network of engaged members across Canada!
Speakers
Gil Clelland has a heart and a calling for working among those experiencing homelessness – listening with curiosity, learning with wonder, and sharing in friendship. After 4 years working for a not-for-profit social service, he co-founded a church called Sanctuary in London ON in 2011. In 2021, Gil began to manage a community that housed people who had been homeless. He joined the Sanctuary Toronto staff in 2023 as an outreach/housing worker. Before Sanctuary, Gil worked as a teacher, pastor, freelance artist, and at a funeral home.He enjoys running, climbing, and he’s a lifelong artist who specializes in realistic and 3-D imagery in chalk, paint, and drawing.Gil is father to Joseph, Isaiah, and Jacob, and lives in Toronto.
Jay Barton is a dedicated social impact leader with a diverse career spanning corporate roles on Bay Street (Korn Ferry, Ketchum Canada, Keith Bagg & Associates) and humanitarian work in Africa with Doctors Without Borders and CARE Canada. Overcoming personal battles with addiction and mental health, he found his calling on the front lines with the Salvation Army and Sanctuary, fostering connections between corporate leaders and street-involved individuals through initiatives like the Royal York Hotel Breakfast Series. His deep commitment to advocacy led him to spend 30 days living on Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside to better understand and support marginalized communities. A sought-after speaker at institutions like Upper Canada College, Crescent, and Royal St. George’s, Jay’s story was recently featured in CAMH’s No One Left Behind campaign. Passionate about sports and family, he is married to Karen and a proud father to Jasper and William.