2023

  • April 2023

    The RHF announces a new chapter of partnership with the Taylor Family Foundation focused on building pride in Canada.

2022

  • December 2022

    The RHF officially celebrates its 10th anniversary.

  • November 2022

    The RHF releases national research to understand civic engagement levels among youth in Canada.

  • September 2022

    The Queen Elizabeth Scholars program receives $20 million gift from Government of Canada in honour of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, launching a new campaign to create a permanent legacy.

  • June 2022

    The RHF embarks on a multi-year initiative to support 10,000 First Nations, Inuit and Métis teachers across Canada.

2021

  • May 2021

    The RHF launches Ingenious+, a new national youth innovation challenge for 14- to 18-year- olds. Consisting of regional and national competitions, Ingenious+ will offer young innovators the opportunity to win cash prizes and mentorship opportunities.

  • April 2021

    RHF launches Catapult Canada providing a wide range of supports to youth-serving organizations, including seed funding and innovation support, evaluation supports, toolkits, new research on best practices, and much more.

    Visit the Catapult website.

2020

  • December 2020

    The RHF partners with Universities Canada on the Global Excellence Initiative, helping it to expand its mandate to include national prizes and fellowships. Forum for Young Canadians joins the RHF to ensure more youth have the opportunity to engage in our democracy and the institutions that form its foundation.

  • October 2020

    The RHF and the Michener Awards Foundation announce they are joining forces to strengthen the Michener Awards and ensure the program’s ability to support and celebrate excellence in Canadian journalism well into the future.

    Visit the Michener Awards website.
  • June 2020

    Launch of research findings about Canadians’ impressions of democratic institutions in the age of COVID-19.

  • May 2020

    The RHF participates in the global initiative Giving Tuesday Now, a response to the global COVID-19 pandemic, encouraging Canadians to come together in a moment of unity and give back in a time of crisis in any way they can.

2019

  • June 2019

    The 5th anniversary of the launch of the Canadian Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Scholarships, known as the QES program. The anniversary was celebrated with vice-regal events across Canada throughout 2019.

  • May 2019

    Release of the first edition of Canada’s Culture of Innovation Index.

2018

  • May 2018

    The inaugural Canadian Innovation Week.

    Visit the Canadian Innovation Space website.
  • April 2018

    Launch of the Thirty Years of Giving report, that measured the giving behaviours of Canadians, including the causes they support, the ways they give, their motivations for giving, and what prevents them from giving more.

2017

  • December 2017

    Arnold Witzig and Sima Sharifi donate $60 million – their entire personal wealth – to the Arctic Inspiration Prize Charitable Trust.

    Visit the Arctic Inspiration Prize website.
  • October 2017

    The Right Honourable David Johnston completes his term as Governor General and becomes the full time Chair of the RHF. In recognition of Mr. Johnston’s seven years of service, the Government of Canada contributes$10 million to the Rideau Hall Foundation.

  • September 2017

    In partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, Vancouver Island University, and Yukon College, the RHF launches a new initiative to support Indigenous students to graduate high school and pursue post-secondary education.

  • August 2017

    The RHF participates in a special gathering for all members of the Order of Canada at Rideau Hall to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Order of Canada. All former governors general were in attendance and it marked the largest gathering of members of the Order in its history.

2016

  • May 2016

    The inaugural Governor General’s Innovation Awards (GGIA) are presented to six outstanding individuals and teams for their transformative innovations.

2015

  • July 2015

    The Right Honourable David Johnston announces the creation of the Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers to recognize exemplary acts of kindness and service in communities across Canada.

  • May 2015

    A gift of $5M from the Taylor Family Foundation creates the endowed Johnston Fund for Canada.

2014

  • June 2014

    As the representative of Her Majesty The Queen in Canada, the Right Honourable David Johnston warmly welcomes the creation of the Canadian Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Scholarships, a program that will promote global learning experiences and collaboration.

2013

  • November 2013

    The Right Honourable David Johnston launches My Giving Moment, a national campaign that encourages Canadians to discover and seize their “giving moments” and then act on them.

  • August 2013

    The Taylor Family Foundation makes its first investment in the RHF.

2012

  • 2012-2015

    Community Foundations of Canada takes on the incubation of the Rideau Hall Foundation, with the Right Honourable David Johnston, then Governor General of Canada, as Chair.