Substance Group

You'd be hard pressed to find many Canadians who aren't concerned about the growing issue of housing affordability and its impact on their well-being, livelihoods, and economic security.

That's why we were thrilled last fall when our client Peoples Group decided to lean into this issue by forging a partnership with Partners for Affordable Housing (PFAH), a leading voice for collaborative cross-sector solutions to our housing crisis.

At Voices for Change in November, Peoples Group stood alongside other business, civic, and community leaders to advocate for change, and committed critical funding to help launch PFAH's Tenant Stability Fund, designed to improve housing stability for vulnerable households in existing rental housing.

Peoples Group also lent its voice to a special Globe & Mail insert on National Housing Day to increase awareness and drive action on this urgent national issue.

As we look ahead to the coming year, we're excited to continue partnering with Peoples Group to identify additional avenues for them to positively address affordability concerns for Canadians through their business, and their ongoing investments in the community.

If you've got designs on making a greater impact with your community investment strategy, we'd love to talk.

✨ Day 5: A Gift of Friendship and Support ✨

For Day 5 of our 7 Days of Giving, Neil chose to give something that costs nothing but means everything—kindness. After learning about Bethany Magee, a young woman who survived a tragic attack in Chicago and is now spending her first Christmas in the burn unit of a hospital, Neil wrote and mailed her a letter of support and encouragement.

This act wasn’t about money or donations, but about reminding someone facing unimaginable challenges that they are not alone. While many of us will be home in our pajamas, opening gifts with family, Bethany will be navigating her new reality. A simple gesture of friendship can bring light into that darkness.

Neil hopes this inspires others to reach out, write a letter, or extend kindness to someone in need. Sometimes, the greatest gift we can give is showing up with compassion. 💙

This is the mailing address to mail a letter:

Attention: Bethany Magee (In - patient)
John H. Stroger Hospital of Cook County
1969 W. Ogden Avenue
Chicago, Illinois
60612

✨ Day 4: Supporting Canadian Veterans Services Society ✨

For Day 4 of our 7 Days of Giving, we supported the Canadian Veterans Services Society, an organization dedicated to food security and essential resources for veterans across Canada. Through the Veterans Food Bank, they assist those who served in all branches of the Canadian Armed Forces and Reserves, as well as first responders—ensuring donations directly support the people who sacrificed so much for our country.

Angela chose this initiative because of her family’s deep history of service. Her grandmother was an RCAF morse code operator and her grandfather a pilot during the Second World War, where they met. Growing up, she watched her grandmother dedicate countless hours to supporting veterans and their families, shaping her view of service and the responsibility we all share to give back.

Angela contributed by purchasing items from the organization’s Amazon Wishlist, and The Substance Group made a generous donation to further support their programs. Seeing our team and Angela’s own circle join in reinforced how powerful it can be when we come together to support our veterans. 💙

✨ Day 2: Gifts of Light at CAMH ✨ This holiday season, our team came together to support CAMH – Gifts of Light, bringing comfort and joy to residents spending the holidays on campus. Each staff member chose a gift or experience that resonated with them, and Substance Group made sure those wishes came true.

For Neil, this initiative holds a special place in his heart. What began as a great idea two years ago became deeply personal when a family member staying at CAMH received one of these gifts. Knowing the joy it brought them reminds us why giving matters so much. 💙

Because sometimes, the smallest gift can shine the brightest. 🌟