The filed record
Authority to Accept In-Kind Donation and Issue Tax Receipt - Dafoe Urn Restoration Project at Craigleigh Gardens Park - by Councillor Dianne Saxe, seconded by Councillor Paul Ainslie
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The decision
2025-07-23 · Toronto City Council · adopted
As filed
City Council on July 23 and 24, 2025, adopted the following: 1. City Council authorize the General Manager, Parks and Recreation to accept the in-kind donation of the Dafoe Urn and associated restoration and installation costs, with a total appraised value of up to $0.065 million from donors Blake Dafoe Melnick and Adrian Dafoe, for placement by the City in Craigleigh Gardens Park, in compliance with the Donations to the City of Toronto for Community Benefits Policy and provided an acceptable agreement can be negotiated.
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2. City Council authorize the General Manager, Parks and Recreation to execute an agreement with the donors Blake Dafoe Melnick and Adrian Dafoe to accept the donation of the Dafoe Urn, to be installed at Craigleigh Gardens Park by the City, on terms and conditions satisfactory to the General Manager, Parks and Recreation, in a form and content satisfactory to the City Solicitor, and in accordance with City policies applicable to capital projects. 3. City Council direct that, upon satisfactory receipt of the donation and supporting documentation, including the certified appraisal provided by Claudia G. Miller, ASA, AAA, tax receipts be issued to the donors Blake Dafoe Melnick and Adrian Dafoe for the appraised value, in accordance with the City's Donation Policy and the Income Tax Act (Canada). 4. City Council direct that all recognition associated with the donation comply with the City's Donations to the City for Community Benefits Policy, including review and approval of any recognition materials by the General Manager, Parks and Recreation.
On the agenda
As the city filed it
The South Rosedale Residents' Association support having the Dafoe Urn-an ornate 19th-century cast-iron urn of significant historic and cultural value-installed in Craigleigh Gardens Park. Craigleigh Gardens Park is a cherished heritage park located in the South Rosedale neighbourhood, formerly the estate of Sir Edmund Osler. The Dafoe Urn was originally located at St. Lawrence Hall and was preserved by the family of the late Frances Dafoe, a distinguished Olympian and South Rosedale resident.
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In honour of her legacy, her family offered to donate the urn to the City for public installation. Fundraising for restoration, transportation and installation costs began in 2017, including a contribution by the South Rosedale Residents' Association, but were paused due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The current owners, Blake Melnick and Adrian Dafoe, have now offered to cover all additional costs related to the full restoration, transportation, and installation of the urn, in exchange for a tax receipt. The total in-kind donation value, including related costs, has been allocated between the two donors as follows: Blake Melnick - $33,117.31 and Adrian Dafoe - $25,098.00. This motion seeks City Council authority to accept the in-kind donation, enter into any necessary agreements, and issue a charitable tax receipt in accordance with City policy and the Income Tax Act.
Staff recommended
Councillor Dianne Saxe, seconded by Councillor Paul Ainslie, recommends that: 1. City Council authorize the General Manager, Parks and Recreation to accept the in-kind donation of the Dafoe Urn and associated restoration and installation costs, with a total appraised value of up to $0.065 million from donors Blake Dafoe Melnick and Adrian Dafoe, for placement by the City in Craigleigh Gardens Park, in compliance with the Donations to the City of Toronto for Community Benefits Policy and provided an acceptable agreement can be negotiated.
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2. City Council authorize the General Manager, Parks and Recreation to execute an agreement with the donors Blake Dafoe Melnick and Adrian Dafoe to accept the donation of the Dafoe Urn, to be installed at Craigleigh Gardens Park by the City, on terms and conditions satisfactory to the General Manager, Parks and Recreation, in a form and content satisfactory to the City Solicitor, and in accordance with City policies applicable to capital projects. 3. City Council direct that, upon satisfactory receipt of the donation and supporting documentation, including the certified appraisal provided by Claudia G. Miller, ASA, AAA, tax receipts be issued to the donors Blake Dafoe Melnick and Adrian Dafoe for the appraised value, in accordance with the City's Donation Policy and the Income Tax Act (Canada). 4. City Council direct that all recognition associated with the donation comply with the City's Donations to the City for Community Benefits Policy, including review and approval of any recognition materials by the General Manager, Parks and Recreation.
On the record
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