What is GivingTuesday?
Tuesday, December 1, 2026 is GivingTuesday — the global day of generosity that inspires people everywhere to give back.
While Black Friday and Cyber Monday are the biggest shopping days of the year, GivingTuesday marks something greater. It’s a simple idea: a day that encourages people to do good, to put aside consumerism, and build stronger communities through generosity.
How GivingTuesday Started In Canada
In 2013, as shopping weekends grew bigger, a question emerged: What if we channeled that same energy into generosity?
That same year, CanadaHelps, GIV3, and other founding partners came together to launch GivingTuesday in Canada – a movement that invites communities across the country to give back. Every year on the Tuesday after Black Friday, people pause to ask not “what can I get?” but “what can I give?”
What started as a single day has become something far greater. GivingTuesday now sparks generosity year-round, inspiring Canadians of all ages and backgrounds to strengthen their communities through acts of kindness, big and small.
Today, GivingTuesday has grown into a global movement spanning over 100 countries, all united by one mission: making generosity a part of everyday life.
GivingTuesday 2025:
- Record Generosity:
- In total, Canadians donated a record $16.9 million through CanadaHelps on GivingTuesday 2025 – a 4.5% year-over-year increase.
- Record Participation:
- Canadians gave a record-breaking 86,001 individual gifts on GivingTuesday 2025.
- Average Contribution:
- Canadians donated an average of $197 per gift, with the largest single donation reaching $50,000.
How your donations help
The Victoria Playhouse relies on donations from individuals for about 7 to 10% of our annual budget.
With your support, we help share local stories, employ local people, engage local youth, help preserve a historical building, welcome and entertain visitors to our area, bring our community together, help nuture local talent, and so much more.
As GivingTuesday 2026 approaches, we encourage you to think about how your donation can play a role in supporting local nonprofit organizations like the Victoria Playhouse and so many others who help strengthen Island communities.