Greater Toronto's Top Employers (2025) Magazine - Flipbook - Page 34
34
( 2025 )
SPONSOR CONTENT
Blakes puts in the work to help its community and people thrive
F
or the past 16 years,
Sandra Bouchard has
worked as the administrative assistant for
the IT department at
Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP
(Blakes). But she’s better known
around the national law firm’s
Toronto headquarters for working
on a consistently successful
United Way campaign. Blakes has
become a fixture in the United
Way’s Thanks a Million club,
representing organizations that
raise $1 million or more in any one
year for the charity.
“This will be the 15th year we
raise more than $1 million for the
United Way. And you notice I said
we will, because we haven’t raised
it yet, but I have full confidence
we will,” Bouchard said shortly
before the campaign began. “It’s
a personal goal as well as a firm
goal.”
Every January, Bouchard
starts planning the events that
contribute to the campaign,
booking venues, appointing team
leads, coordinating the 50-odd
volunteers – Blakes encourages
employees to volunteer on company time – right up to helping pack
more than 1,400 candy bags that
seem to sell out during the week of
the campaign every October. This
year, there was a canine theme,
with plush puppies in little Blakes
T-shirts for sale as well as drop-in
visits with trained therapy dogs.
“Blakes has such a giving spirit,”
Bouchard attests. And she’s seen
first-hand where that generosity
goes. United Way has previously
invited her to visit a shelter for
homeless men over 50.
“These people are relying on
the shelter for medical and dental
care, winter boots and coats –
everything,” Bouchard recalls.
“Blakes has such
a giving spirit.”
— Sandra Bouchard
IT Administrative Assistant
Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP is an avid supporter of the United Way, raising over $14 million dollars for the
charity.
“We’re in an incredibly privileged position, and we know that,
and that is why it is important that
we give back to the community,”
says Kate McGilvray, a partner in
the Blakes corporate & commercial group who oversees several of
the firm’s community programs.
Its biggest contribution comes
through its pro bono work. Blakes
associates are encouraged to
contribute up to 150 hours a year
to pro bono organizations that in
2024 included everything from
a program to help trans youth
obtain accurate legal identification
to Justice for Children and Youth,
which, along with Blakes lawyers,
helped three siblings to stay in
Canada when they faced possible
deportation.
Blakes has long given corporate, litigation and employment
support on a pro bono basis to
Ronald McDonald House, as well
as Right to Play International and
Habitat for Humanity. Altogether,
associates contributed 13,142 hours
