• What is the Toronto Dollar?
• How does it work?
• What are the economic benefits to the community?
• How do businesses beneit?
• When did it begin?
• Where can I use Toronto Dollars?
• What about the expiry date?
• How are operating costs paid?
• How can a participating business receive Toronto Dollars?
• How can I participate?
• Where can I get Toronto Dollars?
• How can I find out more?

What is the Toronto Dollar? Back to top>>

The Toronto Dollar is a symbol of caring, created by community-minded citizens in the hope that it will help to build a more just and compassionate city. It is a supplemental currency, in the form of a gift certificate. Like barter dollars, Toronto Dollars are taxable when received for business.
The work of the Toronto Dollar is to strengthen social and economic relationships among people from the community, business and government sectors, particularly towards and among those in the community with the greatest economic need.

How does it work? Back to top>>

Community-minded citizens exchange Canadian dollars for an equal amount of Toronto Dollars. They can use their Toronto Dollars at par (with no reduction in value to the Canadian Dollar) at participating businesses and in many other ways. When you buy Toronto Dollars, 10% of the Canadian Dollars received by Toronto Dollar Community Projects Inc. is set aside in a Community Fund for grants to community partners. 90% is put in a Reserve Fund to facilitate Toronto Dollar redemptions. Businesses can use Toronto Dollars for goods and services, or redeem them at 90% of their face value.

What are the economic benefits to the community? Back to top>>

Charitable and non-profit community organizations along with other approved projects can benefit in two ways. They can receive 110 Toronto Dollars for 100 Canadian dollars by contacting our treasurer through email treasurer@torontodollar.com or phoning (416) 361-0466. They are also eligible to receive grants from the Toronto Dollar Community Fund and if interested should submit a grant proposal to the Toronto Dollar Grants Committee.

Charitable and non-profit community organizations and individuals can offer Toronto Dollars in exchange for work and/or as gifts to low income individuals and families. In the case of welfare recipients, the Toronto Dollars received as gifts do not affect welfare benefits. Thus Toronto Dollars can provide an incentive to welfare recipients to supplement their income.

The first Toronto Dollar grant of 1,000 Toronto Dollars was given to the Out of the Cold program. To date over 40 community organizations have received funds. This has meant: free dance classes for youth, nutritious breakfasts for school children, food and clothing for street people, furniture for low income people, camping trips for children, ‘thank-you gifts’ for caring services etc.

How do Businesses benefit? Back to top>>

Businesses receive the loyalty of community-minded citizens and improve their customer base. Through association they benefit from word-of-mouth advertising and brand identification that indicates their community-mindedness. The Toronto Dollar has received the support of the Governor-General, Toronto’s mayors and a growing number of celebrities who speak of it as an innovative tool for citizen action, community building and healthier local economies.

While it is possible to redeem Toronto Dollars for Canadian dollars, businesses are encouraged to use Toronto Dollars at other participating businesses to improve their business network and local sustainability. They are also encouraged to use Toronto Dollars as gifts for staff and for volunteers who assist them in needed tasks.

When did it begin? Back to top>>

Toronto Dollars Community Projects Inc. began as a citizens’ action in the St. Lawrence neighbourhood. It was launched on December 5, 1998 at the St. Lawrence Market with Mayor Mel Lastman.

Where can I use Toronto Dollars? Back to top>>

See the list of businesses. While there are a number of business that accept Toronto Dollars found throughout Toronto the majority of accepting Toronto Dollar businesses can found in the St. Lawrence Market area and Toronto's downtown core. Toronto Dollars can also be used in any number of imaginative ways among citizens. For example a community minded-citizen who is also a landlord might decide to allow one of his tenants who is a low income earner participating in the Toronto Dollar community to pay all or a portion of his rent in Toronto Dollars. In another instance, an individual might decide to rent their car for the day to another individual in the community in exchange for Toronto Dollars. They might then use the Toronto Dollars received, at a participating grocer or bulk food store or towards a new purchase of eye glasses, health or business services or perhaps take their family out to one of the many restaurants that accept Toronto Dollars or even see a movie at Rainbow Cinemas.

What about the expiry date? Back to top>>

Occasionally you may find a Toronto Dollar bill with an expiry date. These Toronto Dollars are currently useable beyond the “valid until” date noted on the bills but are taken out of circulation when they are received by the Toronto Dollar. The new Toronto Dollar bills do not have an expiry date.

How are operating costs paid? Back to top>>

Overhead costs are paid for through public grants, private donations, fundraising events and interest earned on the Reserve Fund.

How can a participating business receive Toronto Dollars? Back to top>>

Register your business with Toronto Dollars by completing the form on our web site. You can begin accepting Toronto Dollars in your home based business and for the goods and services you provide at any time. To be listed on the Toronto Dollar merchant page you must first be approved as a official participating business by the Toronto Dollar board. Currently there is a one-time processing fee of $30 to cover the cost of stickers and signs every official participating business receives.

How can I participate? Back to top>>

• Exchange Canadian dollars for Toronto Dollars and use at participating businesses.
• Approach Toronto Dollar businesses and offer services for Toronto Dollars.
• Offer Toronto Dollars to individuals as gifts in exchange for help.
• Volunteer to help Toronto Dollar Community Projects Inc.
• Urge businesses, friends and organizations to use the money that builds community.

Where can I get Toronto Dollars? Back to top>>

• Click here and you will be directed to a page that lists the locations where you can buy Toronto Dollars.
• At the Toronto Dollar Information Booth in the St Lawrence Market, on Saturdays from 8am to 2pm.

How can I find out more? Back to top>>

• Visit the Toronto Dollar web site: www.torontodollar.com
• Visit the Toronto Dollar Information Booth in the St Lawrence Market.
• Phone 416 361-0466
• Write to: Toronto Dollar Community Projects Inc., P.O. Box 6523, Station A, Toronto, ON, M5W 1X4