About The Toronto Dollar

The Purpose of Toronto Dollar Community Projects Inc is:

To improve the social and economic health of communities in the City of Toronto by undertaking projects that benefit these communities, including the sponsoring of barter networks and local currencies.

The Toronto Dollar project was started by a group of community-minded people with a dream - to build a healthier, more prosperous local economy that puts more spending power in the hands of people in need. You can help us make a difference by using Toronto Dollars. The Toronto Dollar is a local currency that benefits the community by:

• strengthening the local economy and supporting new businesses
• keeping your money working and circulating locally
• bringing decision-making back to the community
• creating new employment opportunities
• supporting community projects with the funds received from the 10% merchant contribution

How it works:

• consumers exchange 1 Canadian dollar for 1 Toronto dollar through participating organizations or at the Toronto Dollar booth at the St. Lawrence Market (open on Saturdays)
• you spend Toronto Dollars as you would Canadian dollars at participating businesses. There is a registration fee of $25 for new businesses.
• the 10% solution: each time a Toronto Dollar is purchased from Toronto Dollar Inc, 90 cents is deposited in a reserve fund and 10 cents goes to the Toronto Dollar Community Projects Fund
• businesses can spend the Toronto Dollars for services or products at other businesses, hire part-time staff or they can redeem their Toronto Dollars for 90 cents

We welcome people to be actively involved with one of our committees. Click on the volunteers link to find out how to help out, or see the participating businesses, restaurants and organizations section about signing up your own business. Alternatively, visit the contact us section for general queries.

Who benefits?

View our list of organizations that benefit from the Toronto Dollar.