St. Augustine's Anglican Church

This February 15 marks the 60th anniversary of our flag. Since it was first raised in 1965, this national emblem represents the values we all cherish – generosity, openness, respect and equality. A flag that could not be mistaken for any other, it connects us to our national identity, to our Canadian pride and to each other. Seeing our bright red and white flag with its maple leaf flying reminds us of the home we all share.

The new maple leaf flag was made official by a proclamation from Queen Elizabeth II on January 28, 1965. On February 15 of that year, it was inaugurated in a public ceremony on Parliament Hill.

This year, more than ever, not only do we have to celebrate our flag but also remind ourselves what it represents: our values, our resilience and our sovereignty.

In the last week, public displays of national pride have become more prominent following external economic pressures. The growing sense of unity and national identity is an occasion to engage Canadians to mark the flag’s anniversary.

The kick-off to mark the anniversary of our flag will take place on Valentine’s Day, February 14, under the theme “Celebrate our love for the Canadian Flag.” I invite you to join the celebrations this week. Here’s how you can participate:

Raise your flag wherever you are to mark this special day.
Show your pride and share your photos on social media using #CanadianFlag and @CdnHeritage.
Choose Canada by cheering on Team Canada during the 4 Nations Face-Off hockey game on February 15 at the Bell Centre in Montréal or join the excitement from home, with friends and family.
Look out for illuminations near you, as iconic sites across Canada will be lit up in our flag’s colours on the evenings of February 15 and 16.
Visit the Canadian Heritage website to learn more about the flag and its history, and discover fun activities for the whole family.

Together, let’s choose Canada and celebrate our love for the Canadian flag by flying it proudly from coast to coast to coast and making this a celebration to remember!

2025 is off to a great start at the Foundation office as we put the finishing touches on the Winter Foundation Update—watch your mailboxes in February!—and launch the 5th annual Say Yes! to Kids campaign. We also want to express our heartfelt thanks to all AFC supporters for our best annual fundraising campaign ever! Read more below.

Thank You Donors!

“Once again, AFC donors have responded generously to the annual fundraising effort, expected to total more than $205,000—$178,000 in annual membership donations, plus over $27,000 in donations to AFC’s core granting funds. It is always a joy to read your comments, celebrating the ways that we supported transformative ministry.”

Register Today!

“Seventy-five percent of SYTK survey respondents told us they use the campaign to create sustainable revenue for an ongoing ministry,” says Dr. Scott Brubacher. “We also heard how influential the AFC Angel Donor matching gift program has been. We are grateful to the lead donors who have championed this cause with donations totaling more than $100,000.”

Sacred Arts Legacy

The genesis of the Sacred Arts Trust was years in the making and was rooted in the late Graham Cotter’s years as a parish priest in the Diocese of Toronto. During those years, Graham promoted the making of liturgical vestments and the use of drama in worship. Since its inception, the trust has funded innovative faith-based projects in the performing and visual arts in more than thirteen dioceses.

Deadline Extended!

The submission deadline for the 2024 Request for Proposals (RFP) “Ecumenical Embrace” has been extended to April 1, 2025! AFC will continue to consider project applications from Anglicans across Canada who wish to share an ecumenical embrace with our fellow Christians from the Oriental Orthodox Churches.

April 1 Grant Window

The winter months are a great time to work on grant applications for AFC's Q2 grant cycle! Keep in mind that our staff team has shepherded hundreds of grant applications over the years, and we can help you with projects and programs in development. If you want to tap into some project expertise, or have questions about grant guidelines, please do not hesitate to contact the AFC team.

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Gifts of Securities

More and more Canadian Anglicans are choosing to make a gift of securities to AFC. By donating publicly traded securities, you eliminate the capital gains tax that you would have to pay if you sold the securities and then donated the proceeds. You’ll also receive a charitable tax receipt for your donation. Visit our website for more details.

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