As the nation celebrates Giving Tuesday today, Abbotsford and Mission can take pride in having the most charitable donors in Canada.
The latest data from Statistics Canada – released earlier this year, based on 2017 figures – shows that the median donation made by local citizens that year was $840.
That figure easily beats out second-place Lethbridge, Alta. with $700 and third-place Saskatoon and Vancouver, both with $480.
Abbotsford-Mission donated a total of more than $96 million to charity in 2017.
It’s the 16th consecutive year that the area had the highest median donation.
The city doesn’t, however, have a higher-than-average number of donors.
A total of 18.8 per cent of Abbotsford-Mission tax-filers claimed a charitable donation. That number is slightly below the 20 per cent national average.
Giving Tuesday is held on the Tuesday after U.S. Thanksgiving as a way to create an international day of charitable giving at the beginning of the holiday season.
The day follows the heavy consumer spending periods of Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
Citizens are encouraged to contribute to the charity of their choice on Giving Tuesday in response to the consumerism of the season.
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