Toronto dollar
The Toronto dollar, founded in December 1998, is a paper used in , and backed by the . The Family Life Foundation of Willowdale—a registered Canadian charity—then chaired by the Rev. Lindsay G. King (Minister of Willowdale United Church) was one of the sponsors of the Toronto dollar system. The Rev. King was present at the founding of the TD, at which the Toronto Mayor, Mel Lastman, bought the first Toronto dollar.
The currency is administered by Toronto Dollar Community Projects Inc., a community group, and is a project of St. Lawrence Works.
The currency can be purchased by anyone at a number of locations at a 1-for-1 rate. Local businesses can agree to accept the currency at par with the Canadian dollar. Merchants are free to exchange Toronto dollars for Canadian dollars twice a month, at the rate of 90 cents to the dollar.
In 2012/2013 the group announced that the “Toronto Dollar organization has had to suspend sales of Toronto Dollars due to lack of volunteers and the lack of infrastructure to support the work.”
A current lack of an online presence of the Toronto dollar and its program indicates that the currency is most likely not poised for a revival. Several articles from various periods, as late as the 2013 downturn in the issuing and usage of the currency, seemingly confirm this theory. No update to the status of the program or the currency seems to be available via the internet at this time.
Charity and poverty reduction
The Toronto dollar varies from most local currencies in that 10% of the funds used when purchasing or redeeming the currency are allocated to benefit and groups, particularly those who are on , or . As of 2008, the Toronto dollar has helped to raise and donate over $110,000 for local charities,