Oxfam Canada traces its history to 1963, when the British-based Oxford Committee for Famine Relief sought to establish a Canadian branch. The Oxford Committee itself was founded to respond to famine in Nazi-occupied Greece during the Second World War. (‘Oxfam’ was the abbreviation used as the telex name.) By 1960 it was a major international non-governmental aid organization.

Oxfam Canada was independently incorporated in 1966; the first Board of Directors included 21 distinguished Canadians. By 1967, Oxfam Canada became a key organizer of the wildly successful “Miles for Millions" fundraising walks across the country. Oxfam began to provide educational materials to schools and undertake advocacy work in public policy development.

The early 1970s was a critical period of growth as Oxfam began its own programming overseas in Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, and established a network of staff and volunteers across Canada to support its work. In 1973, with the support of Oxfam Canada, Oxfam Quebec became a separate member of the international Oxfam movement.

During this same period, Oxfam Canada began to analyze its role in the development process, moving from a traditional model of charity (one-time grants) towards long-term development programming (working with communities to affect lasting positive change.)

Deeply involved in the international movement against apartheid in South Africa and Central American solidarity through the 1970s and 80s, Oxfam Canada sought to address the fundamental, underlying causes of poverty.

This in turn led to Oxfam's role as a major advocacy organization in the 1990s, to mobilize public support for changing the policies that perpetuate poverty.

Today, Oxfam Canada works with over 100 partner organizations in developing countries; tackling the root causes of poverty and inequity and helping people to create self-reliant and sustainable communities. In Canada, Oxfam is active in education, policy advocacy and building a constituency of support for our work.

Oxfam Canada is a founding member of Oxfam International, the federation of Oxfams worldwide.