Toronto Joy started as a small group in Toronto trying to make a real, hands-on difference for people facing barriers with food and other essentials. That’s the actual work. Serving meals. Meeting essential needs. Showing up for people who need it. Doing it with the right spirit, and no judgment.

 

What we’ve noticed along the way is that serving does something for the people doing the serving too. They grow, in kindness and in joy, in a world where loneliness has become more common than most of us like to admit. More than 1 in 10 Canadians now say they feel lonely often or always, according to Statistics Canada. We’ve seen it quiet down here too, not because we set out to fix it directly. When people work together to do something for someone, no name, title, or anything like that matters among them. A sense of belonging and connection just forms.

 

Right now we’re building the foundation for more of that. Toronto Joy is a community group in the process of becoming a registered nonprofit under Ontario’s ONCA, with a growing core of members who’ve taken the next step and registered directly on torontojoy.org. We run a Community Service Program with Good Shepherd Ministries and other partner organizations. We also help connect volunteers to Fred Victor’s ongoing program, and host a weekly global online gathering called The Journey Home.

 

What we don’t have yet is a board. That’s where you come in.

 

We’re looking for 3 Founding Directors to help build the governance side of Toronto Joy from scratch. This isn’t a “join something already running” ask. It’s a “help us build the thing” ask.

 

The three seats

Secretary

Keeps our records straight, tracks filing deadlines, takes minutes, and helps onboard future directors. We’re looking for someone with real experience keeping an organization’s records or operations running smoothly, not just willingness to learn. Real teeth right now, since we’re mid-incorporation and staying compliant from day one matters.

 

• Take and keep board minutes, properly approved and stored
• Track ONCA filing deadlines so nothing slips through
• Keep bylaws and incorporation documents organized and easy to find
• Help onboard new directors as the board grows

 

Governance & Legal Director

For someone with real legal experience and a strong understanding of governance, who wants to keep an eye on policy, risk, and compliance. This isn’t our incorporation work, we already have counsel for that. This is ongoing oversight as we grow.

 

• Review contracts and partnership agreements before anything gets signed
• Flag legal or compliance risk early, and help build our governance policies
• Keep us on track with what ONCA requires, CRA rules, insurance, and volunteer waivers
• Advise on employment questions as we bring on staff and volunteers

What this actually looks like

Board meetings once a month, currently held virtually. Expect roughly 7 to 10 hours a month, with a bit more some months during this founding period. Real ownership of your piece of the work between meetings, not just showing up. Initial term of 1 year, renewable, since this genuinely is a founding year for the board itself. Unpaid and volunteer, like everything at Toronto Joy right now.

 

Who we’re looking for

Someone who wants to get in at the very start of something, not join a finished product. Someone who believes in serving people for the right reasons. Someone who can commit real effort, not just a name on a page. And someone based in Toronto, since that’s where the work actually happens.

 

How to Apply

If this sounds like you, email your resume to hello@torontojoy.org along with:

 

1. Confirm you’re based in the Toronto area
2. Which role you’re drawn to
3. A bit about your background

 

Have a question before applying? Reach out to the same address.

 

Applications reviewed on a rolling basis. If it looks like a fit, we’ll reach out to set up a conversation. We’re aiming to have all three seats filled in the next couple of weeks.

 

Not quite the right fit for one of these three seats, but still want to be part of this? Reach out anyway.

 

We’re building out volunteer and coordinator roles too, and there may be a place for you there.

 

Thank you, genuinely. Looking forward to building this with you.