HAMILTON, Ontario--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Knights of Columbus in Ontario kicked off their annual winter coats donation program yesterday in Hamilton, Ont., with a distribution event where representatives from over 80 local schools picked up warm winter coats for their students. Coats are donated by Knights of Columbus members and insurance agents across Ontario, and given to children, families, and veterans in need throughout the province.
David Gelinas, the Knights of Columbus state deputy for Ontario, gives winter coats for children to Vice Principles Rachelle Branch, left, and Anthony Orlando, centre, during the annual launch of the Knights of Columbus Coats for Kids program at the Nicholas Mancini Centre in Hamilton, Ontario, Nov. 4, 2026. (Photo by Carlos Osorio, Knights of Columbus)
Yesterday's event began with Mass at the Cathedral Basilica of Christ the King, followed by a coat distribution at the nearby school board warehouse. The program benefitted children attending schools in the Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board and Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board.
The Hamilton event is one of many taking place across Canada this year. Knights in Ontario, with the help of over 57,000 members, aim to distribute 22,000 coats after surpassing last year’s goal of 20,000 coats. Nationwide, Knights are on pace to distribute their 200,000 coat since the program launched in 2009.
“No child should face the Canadian winter without a coat,” says David Gelinas, State Deputy for the Knights of Columbus in Ontario. “Thanks to the generosity of over 200,000 brother Knights in Canada, we continue to uphold our core principle of charity with the hope that we can make a difference in the lives of these children.”
More than 1.95 million coats have been donated across North America since the Knights of Columbus Coats for Kids® program began. Last winter, Canadian Knights donated more than 45,060 coats, which are provided free of charge to families, regardless of religious or cultural background. The Knights of Columbus raises funds to purchase the coats via community fundraisers throughout the year, such as raffles and dinners.
For struggling families, a good winter coat can be an unattainable luxury, meaning their children may be forced to play outside, wait for the school bus, and endure school recesses in the harsh cold without a jacket. The Knights of Columbus Coats for Kids® program aims to solve this problem and provide children with the warmth they need.
“The longstanding generosity of the Knights of Columbus continues to make a meaningful difference in the lives of children and families in our schools,” says David Hansen, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Education Officer of the Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board. “We are deeply grateful for their commitment to ensure that students have the warmth, comfort and care they need throughout the winter months. Their continued service is a wonderful reflection of our Catholic faith in action and a powerful example of Christian service for each of us.”
About the Knights of Columbus
In 1882, Blessed Michael McGivney, a young parish priest in New Haven, Connecticut, founded the Knights of Columbus to serve the needs of a largely immigrant Catholic community. What began as a small fraternal benefit society has since grown into the world’s premier lay Catholic men’s organization, with more than 2.2 million members in over 17,000 local councils. In Canada, where the Knights has been present for nearly 130 years, the organization supports parishes and communities through charitable works, volunteer service, formation, mutual aid and financial security for members and their families. As of July 2026, the Knights of Columbus counts more than 200,000 members spread across the country in more than 1,500 councils.
As members of one of the world’s leading charitable organizations, Knights donated more than 48 million service hours and over $200 million for worthy causes in their communities in 2025. Over the last decade, Canadian Knights have donated more than $126.8 million and volunteered more than 53.7 million hours.
The Knights of Columbus also offers a range of life insurance products to members and their families. Knights of Columbus has more than $124 billion* of life insurance in force. Its Canadian insurance business has 253,629 policies in force and more than $20.2 billion CAD of life insurance in force in the country*. In addition, the organization offers investment services in accord with Catholic social teaching through its wholly owned subsidiary, Knights of Columbus Asset Advisors, which holds more than $29 billion** in assets under management. Guided by the principles of charity, unity, fraternity and patriotism, the Knights of Columbus is committed to strengthening Catholic families and parishes, by enabling men to grow in their faith and put that faith into action through service to all in need. To learn more or to join the Knights of Columbus, please visit kofc.org/join.
Investments are offered through Knights of Columbus Asset Advisors (“KoCAA”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Knights of Columbus. KoCAA is an SEC registered investment adviser. For more information, consult KoCAA’s Form ADV disclosure documents at adviserinfo.sec.gov.
Life insurance, annuities, long term care insurance and disability income insurance is offered through Knights of Columbus, 1 Columbus Plaza, New Haven, CT 06510.
