Name Confusion May Lead to Donor Confusion

MEDIA RELEASE

Charitable organization with similar name threatens the good reputation of another charity

For Immediate Release:

Toronto, ON – Canadian Paraplegic Association Ontario would like to clarify that it is in no way associated with Canadian Quadriplegic Association. Although both organizations have similar names and have offices in the Toronto area, the similarities end there.

This past weekend, the Canadian Revenue Agency announced that the “Canadian Quadriplegic Association” had lost its charitable status for various reasons including not maintaining any books or records to support its financial and charitable activities and not providing proper receipts. (The full story can be read at this link: http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/canada-revenue-agency-revokes-registration-canadian-quadraplegic-association-as-charity-1701803.htm)

In fact, Canadian Paraplegic Association Ontario is in the process of changing its name to Spinal Cord Injury Ontario to be inclusive of all people with spinal cord injuries and to provide clarity about what we do and who we serve. Last year we worked with over 1,300 people with spinal cord injuries.

Canadian Paraplegic Association Ontario is committed to transparent financial reporting. We have won for the last two years in a row the Voluntary Sector Reporting Award which was created by the CA-Queen's Centre for Governance in partnership with the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ontario and Sponsored by Price Waterhouse Cooper. (More information here: http://business.queensu.ca/centres/CA-QCG/voluntary_sector_reporting/index.php.) We are also members of the Imagine Canada’s Ethical Fundraising Code Program. We are serious about accountability to our stakeholders.

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Media Contact:

Gillian Lynne-Davies

416-422-5644x 212

Gillian.lynne-davies@cpaont.org