Cardinal in the Community

At Cardinal Funeral Homes, community involvement has been part of who we are since 1925. For four generations, our family has believed in giving back to the people who place their trust in us. We don’t measure success by numbers, but by the meaningful connections we’ve built across Toronto’s diverse neighbourhoods.

Supporting local organizations, volunteering our time, and contributing to causes that matter—this is how we honour the community that has supported us for over a century. Our commitment to the community is at the heart of everything we do.

Community Involvement

Ukrainian-Canadians

James Cardinal, our founder, came to Canada from Ukraine in the late 1800s as part of the first wave of Ukrainian immigrants. When he opened Cardinal Funeral Homes in 1925, he laid the foundation for what would become a lasting and meaningful relationship with the Ukrainian community in Toronto and beyond.

Today, we’re proud to continue that legacy. Each year, we support dozens of Ukrainian-Canadian cultural and church initiatives throughout the Greater Toronto Area and Ontario—a small way of giving back to the community that has stood beside us since the very beginning.

Little Portugal

Since the 1940s, our Bathurst Street location has placed us at the heart of Toronto’s Portuguese-Canadian community. When the first wave of Portuguese immigrants arrived in 1953, we were here—and we’ve been honoured to serve and grow alongside this vibrant community ever since.

Being so close to the “Little Portugal” neighbourhood has allowed us to build lasting relationships with generations of families, churches, and local organizations. Over the past 70+ years, it’s been our privilege to support many of these groups as a small gesture of gratitude for the trust, friendship, and connection we’ve been fortunate to share.

Little Portugal

Having been located on Bathurst Street since the 1940s, we have been a part of the local Portuguese-Canadian community from the day the first wave of immigrants arrived in Canada in 1953. Being located so close to the “Little Portugal” neighbourhood has allowed us to serve generations of Portuguese-Canadian families and grow alongside them as they raised their families in their new country. Being a part of the Portuguese community in Toronto from the very beginning has allowed us to foster lifelong friendships and connections to many people, churches and organizations. By supporting these local organizations over the last 60+ years we feel that we are able to give back in a small way to show our appreciation for the support and trust that we have been given and to continue our relationship for years to come.

Local Communities

Being part of a diverse city like Toronto has given us the opportunity to connect with many different communities—and just as many ways to give back. Over the years, we’ve proudly supported local volunteer groups, church communities, sports teams for all ages, and a wide range of grassroots initiatives.

We know that without the support of the people around us, we wouldn’t be where we are today. That’s why we’re always looking for meaningful ways to give back—whether it’s through partnerships with St. Peter’s Movies in the Courtyard, the High Park Curling Club, the High Park T-Ball League, The Unforgettables Fund, or many others who make a difference in our city.

Coming together to Grieve

“We have always believed saying goodbye to a loved one at the end of a funeral is never really the end of your relationship with them. They will be with you as you carry on without them and they will never be forgotten. This is why we organize other events throughout the year where families can come together to remember and honour those lives that have been lost. Whether it’s our annual Candlelight Services of Remembrance that are held at local churches and attract hundreds of families to mourn together or our annual Butterfly Release in High Park in conjunction with Bereaved Families of Ontario, we understand the importance of a larger community sharing in their grief as one.”

Coming together to Grieve

“We have always believed saying goodbye to a loved one at the end of a funeral is never really the end of your relationship with them. They will be with you as you carry on without them and they will never be forgotten. This is why we organize other events throughout the year where families can come together to remember and honour those lives that have been lost. Whether it’s our annual Candlelight Services of Remembrance that are held at local churches and attract hundreds of families to mourn together or our annual Butterfly Release in High Park in conjunction with Bereaved Families of Ontario, we understand the importance of a larger community sharing in their grief as one.”

Educational Initiatives

We are committed to serving as a community resource for information on issues related to death, dying and bereavement. For local school, church and community groups, we organize seminars on funeral rituals and bereavement care as well as tours of the funeral home.

Arrange a Tour or Seminar