Brenda Agnew and Jordan Assaraf catch up with Charlie Johnstone, the new President and CEO of Variety - the Children’s Charity of Ontario. They talk about his first few months on the job, how inclusion and community are driving everything forward, and why his experience running events like the Royal Winter Fair and Honda Indy helped him hit the ground running. They also dig into the importance of creating real partnerships, building sustainable programs, and making space for everyone—on and off the field.

Key Takeaways:

[1:01] Charlie introduces himself and shares his background leading events like the Honda Indy and Royal Winter Fair.
[2:36] The 37th Lieutenant Governor Games: 400 kids, 15 schools, and a ton of heart.
[5:10] From motorsports to goats to kids, Charlie talks about the levels of emotion he’s witnessed in each role.
[7:33] Inclusion in action: Kids of all abilities playing together, no special treatment—just fun.
[8:29] Brenda shares how inclusive sports like sitting volleyball can level the playing field.
[10:00] How exposure to disability at a young age builds empathy and lifelong friendships.
[12:01] A story about Brenda’s son and his best friend shows the power of unconditional friendship.
[13:58] Variety offers immersive programming experiences for corporate team-building—and the impact goes both ways.
[16:01] Not all donations are created equal: Why real partnerships matter more than photo ops.
[20:18] Plans to scale Variety’s programs into more communities through sustainable, collaborative partnerships.
[25:00] What is Variety? A look inside their 76,000 sq ft accessible facility with 6,000 members.
[27:16] “I found family at Variety” - Charlie shares the emotional impact on members.
[31:41] Inclusion is for parents, too. Charlie talks about how friendships form on the sidelines and build community.
[36:49] Facility highlights: pools, gyms, meeting spaces, tournaments, and full accessibility.
[38:00] Scaling sustainably: Why Charlie would rather do fewer events and do them right.
[43:10] “Do good work with good people for a good reason” - Charlie’s personal mission.
[45:00] Bonus round: Butter tarts (no raisins), dogs over cats, and why he’s all about the forest.

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