2022-2023 Teddy Bear Fund Report

In this system, the mother is solely responsible for the safety of her children; and men are not held responsible or accountable. As the situation continues, many fathers lose hope for a relationship with their children, which can manifest in frustrations and continued violence.

Caring Dads shifts the focus and accountability for children’s health and wellbeing to the father. The 17-week program delivered by Children’s Aid Society of Toronto works with fathers to help them understand and take responsibility for their actions and motivates them to change.

The program’s group sessions facilitate trust building among fathers, helping them understand the root causes and consequences of their behaviour, promote child-centred parenting, and educate fathers about the cyclical nature of abuse and neglect.

Caring Dads is reducing re-open rate of cases by half, and significantly improving father-child relationships. This vital initiative is one of the many programs funded by the Teddy Bear Fund and our generous donors.

James* recently completed his participation in the Caring Dads program at Children’s Aid Society of Toronto. Upon finishing the program, he told the facilitators that the experience was “amazing and inspiring,” and that it taught him a lot that he was not previously aware of in his parenting and partner relationship.

James shared that prior to participating in the program, his children were fearful of him. Now that he has learned about healthier approaches to parenting and relationship building, they are much more open to communicating with him and working together to solve issues when they arise. He is excited about having a more positive relationship with his children, and grateful to Caring Dads for supporting fathers in this way.

*Name changed for privacy

Last year, the Teddy Bear Fund directly supported the following Indigenous Spirit Fund priorities:

• The Indigenous Spirit Awards, which recognize the exceptional work and contributions of Indigenous leaders and allies
• On the Land Culture Camps, which aim to strengthen families and help them reconnect with Indigenous customs, culture, and traditions
• Cultural Programs, which engage children and families in events and initiatives that celebrate, preserve, and teach about Indigenous culture

My daughter was astonished to see a real tipi, and being able to go inside, listen to stories, and play games. One night we accompanied a new friend/counsellor on an evening in one of the tipis, complete with a fire! As a camp, we built the first medicine wheel — one that will grow and grow with each set of campers over the years. The teachings were clear and concise, and building and learning about the medicine wheel with my child meant so much to both of us. It was a wonderful bonding moment that grew into many conversations at home with other family members.

—Parent who attended an On the Land Culture Camp with her child for the first time in 2022–2023