407 ETR Employees Give Back Across the GTA with ‘One Big Day’ Volunteer Blitz

June 11, 2025 News Room 0 Comments 3 min read

From Brampton to Vaughan, 407 ETR employees volunteered with 25 organizations in a single day of giving back to the communities surrounding Highway 407.

TORONTO – More than 400 employees of 407 ETR fanned out across the Greater Toronto Area on Wednesday, rolling up their sleeves for the company’s eighth annual One Big Day, a large-scale volunteer initiative supporting 25 community organizations from Brampton to Pickering.

Teams from the highway operator’s Woodbridge head office and other locations spent the day assembling care kits, landscaping, collecting litter, supporting shelters and food banks, and pitching in on community projects that reflect the company’s deepening commitment to civic engagement.

“This day is about more than volunteering — it’s about building stronger connections with the people and places that make the GTA home,” said Javier Tamargo, President & CEO of 407 ETR. “I’m proud of Team 407 ETR for their collective efforts in supporting and uplifting the vibrant communities surrounding Highway 407 ETR.”

Supporting Youth, Green Spaces, and Local Needs

Among the organizations benefiting from this year’s One Big Day was Friends of Ruby, which provides vital mental health and housing support for 2SLGBTQIA+ youth. Volunteers helped assemble care kits for the organization’s drop-in and transitional housing programs.

“407 ETR’s long-standing support has helped us expand essential services and create safer spaces where 2SLGBTQIA+ youth feel seen, heard and supported,” said Kelly McAllister, Senior Manager of Fund Development at Friends of Ruby.

Environmental efforts were also front and centre. For the sixth year, 407 ETR employees partnered with A Greener Future to remove litter from lakeside and green space areas through the Love Your Lakes program. To date, over 34,000 pieces of litter have been collected through this collaboration.

“Having 407 ETR participate in cleanups is always a highlight,” said Rochelle Byrne, Executive Director of A Greener Future. “Their commitment makes a real difference for both wildlife and the people who use these spaces.”

A Broader Culture of Giving

One Big Day is part of a larger social impact strategy by 407 ETR. In 2024, the company contributed approximately $1.7 million in sponsorships, donations, and environmental initiatives across the GTA. This included:

$600,000+ toward biodiversity protection and tree planting
$135,000 through Keep Moving™ by 407 ETR, supporting youth access to sports
$50,000 in donations to Indigenous organizations
Recognition as a Local Leader by United Way Greater Toronto for seven straight years

Since 2023, 407 ETR has planted 30,000 native trees along the highway, part of a broader effort to invest $1.8 million in environmental sustainability by 2025.

Connecting the Highway to the Community

Spanning 108 kilometres from Burlington to Pickering, Highway 407 ETR serves as a major transportation route—but the company behind it is also focused on being a community partner.

For more on 407 ETR’s community programs and environmental goals, visit:
407etr.com/community
407etr.com/esgreporting