In a year of mounting pressure on people and the community services sector, the United Way Centraide network reached further than ever before, mobilizing resources, advocating for change, and connecting millions of people with the support they need.
When, in recent memory, have Canadians felt this pressured? From the skyrocketing cost of living to the domestic impacts of global tensions, people of all ages and in every part of the country are struggling. So, too, is the community services sector — a vital lifeline that remains at risk due to staff burnout, limited capacity, and underfunding.
The mental health toll is profound. Nearly half of all Canadians now say that current economic conditions are negatively affecting their mental health. Within this ever-evolving context, the United Way Centraide Movement remains strong, growing, and a beacon of help and hope for everyone in Canada.
Marking the first full year of our new five-year strategic plan, 2025 saw the network achieve unprecedented reach: more than eight million people were served by over 3,700 community service organizations that received funding and support from local UWCs last year.
As a Movement, we are driving positive social change for people and communities from coast to coast to coast — and advocating for a strong, thriving community services sector ready to meet the needs of Canadians, no matter what may come our way.
In 2025, UWCC partnered with Léger, Canada's largest market research and analytics firm, to survey Canadians about financial anxiety in the face of the deepening cost of living crisis. The findings are sounding alarm bells — and pointing to the urgent need to invest in the strength and sustainability of community services nationwide.
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Throughout 2025, 211 remained a trusted, reliable source of information and support for hundreds of thousands of people across Canada — especially in the face of climate-related disasters. In Manitoba, government communications directed wildfire-affected residents to 211 Manitoba, a program of United Way Winnipeg, underscoring the service's vital role in crisis management.
In collaboration with FindHelp Information Services, a project to refresh the 211.ca website launched on 211 Day, February 11, 2026, featuring improved navigation and a new national data dashboard. That same day, over 70 landmark buildings illuminated their façades in red to celebrate this vital helpline, and 38 municipal and provincial leaders issued official proclamations declaring 211 Day in their communities.
