Family Day: Help us Celebrate All Families

Family Service Toronto, one of the city’s leading community service agencies, celebrates the diversity of families in Toronto every February on Family Day.

We believe all families matter, and that individuals who feel cared for and supported by those around them – whether family or others in their lives – help to make stronger communities for us all. Our services help individuals and families who seek our support to get through difficult life transitions so that no family is excluded.

Family Day: Why Celebrate? 

We know that families are not all the same. We define a family as two or more people, whether living together or apart, related by blood, marriage, adoption or commitment to care for one another. In 2013, Family Day is celebrated on Monday, February 18.

Some families are traditional, with two parents and biological kids. And many families are unconventional - there are families with one parent, some with more than one or two, and many with same-sex parents; we know that blended families, extended families, adoptive families and foster families are also in our communities. We celebrate families which include special friends and neighbours who become "part of the family".

All families are equal and should be celebrated. Many families cross boundaries of race, culture, ethnicity, sexuality, (dis)ability and language to become families. In Ontario, we have the freedom to create families across all boundaries.

Our online photo gallery celebrates the diversity of all families and we are inviting families to submit their stories and photos.

Share your family story and photos. Tell us what family means to you.
If you do not have a digital camera, you can mail us your photo and we can scan it and include in the online gallery.

For mailed submissions: Photo Gallery Project, Family Service Toronto, 355 Church Street, Toronto, M5B 1Z8.