COVID-19: Canadian Businesses and Business Leaders Step Up

Supporting communities worldwide

Teck Resources Limited, Canada’s largest diversified natural resources company, has announced the donation of $500,000 to UNICEF Canada to support the COVID-19 Response in India. Teck Resources has also supported Canadians and communities by:

• The donation of one million masks for front-line healthcare workers in British Columbia
• The creation of a $20 million COVID-19 Teck Community Response Fund to support local and Indigenous communities in Canada, Alaska, and Chile
• The donation of $1 million to UNICEF Canada to support the ACT-Accelerator and COVAX
• An extra $1 million through Teck’s Copper & Health program to support infection control and prevention
• A $250,000 donation to the Canadian Red Cross to support the deployment of their Emergency Response Unit field hospital and the supply of medical equipment
• A $250,000 donation to Vancouver General Hospital and the University of British Columbia Hospital Foundation for targeted drug discovery into therapeutic solutions to the COVID-19 virus
• Expediting payments to local and Indigenous suppliers to support their ongoing economic resiliency
• Supporting healthcare services in the Tarapaca and Coquimbo regions of Chile
• Funding international aid efforts including $500,000 to UNICEF (in collaboration with the World Health Organization Solidarity Response Fund) to provide critical medical and sanitation supplies, equipment and training in over 180 countries, and $250,000 to the China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation to support children in rural communities in China
• Continuing to collaborate with public agencies and making an additional $1 million available to advance the use of copper products to support infection control and prevention

“Teck’s generous contribution will enable us to increase access to life-saving oxygen in India while also helping to provide the infrastructure to allow medical facilities across the country be better equipped to treat patients for years to come.”

Don Lindsay, President and CEO of Teck Resources Limited

We Will Emerge from this Crisis

RBC, Canada’s biggest bank and one of the largest in the world based on market capitalization, is donating $250,000 to the WHO Foundation in support of continued COVID-19 community response efforts around the world, including India. RBC has also supported Canadians and communities by:

• Donating $2 million to support COVID-19 response efforts, focused on food insecurity and mental health
• Investing $1.3 million through the RBC Foundation to assist Kids Help Phone in developing a ground-breaking multi-modal technology platform that will enable more service capacity to meet record demand and forever change the way young people access and experience mental healthcare in Canada
• Enabling small and medium business clients to apply for the Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) directly from the bank’s online site
• Reducing credit card interest charges by 50% for those clients receiving minimum payment deferrals on credit cards
• Joining Demi Lovato, Virgin Unite, Canadian Family Foundations and Draper Richards Kaplan to the launch of The Mental Health Fund, which already raised $2 million, to help individuals in pain from the mental health and behavioral impact of the coronavirus
• Joining five other banks in making a commitment to work with personal and small business banking customers on a case-by-case basis to provide flexible solutions to help them manage through challenges such as pay disruption due to COVID-19; childcare disruption due to school closures; or those facing illness from COVID-19.

“The world remains at risk from COVID-19 and its many variants if we don’t do more to protect our most vulnerable communities – both in Canada, and in regions that are being hit the hardest right now, including India and Brazil. We’re all in this global community together. Our thoughts are with all those suffering the effects of this pandemic, including the loss of loved ones.”

Dave McKay, President and CEO of RBC

Business as a Catalyst for Change

BMO Financial Group, a highly diversified financial services with roots in Canada going back more than 200 years, announced a $250,000 donation to organizations supporting global emergency COVID-19 relief efforts. The money will be directed to UNICEF, the WHO Foundation, and the Canadian Red Cross. BMO has also supported Canadians and communities by:

• Donating $1 million to the United Way to support gaps in community services urgently needed for vulnerable individuals impacted by the public health, social and economic consequences of the virus
• Introducing measures to help Canadian businesses experiencing financial pressures
• Providing reduced credit card rates and deferrals for customers and small businesses
• Enabling small and medium business clients to apply for the Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) directly from the bank’s COVID-19 business support page
• Partnering with Maple Leafs Sports & Entertainment and Second Harvest’s meal donation program to support “Bringing Toronto Back To Its Feet” that provides meals front-line workers
• Joining five other banks in making a commitment to work with personal and small business banking customers on a case-by-case basis to provide flexible solutions to help them manage through challenges such as pay disruption due to COVID-19; childcare disruption due to school closures; or those facing illness from COVID-19
• Providing three paid time off hours for workers who choose to receive the COVID-19 vaccine when it’s available to them

“Regaining a tomorrow that does not look like today requires widespread vaccination.”

Darryl White, Chief Executive Officer, BMO Financial Group

We are all connected in the fight against COVID-19

TD, North America’s sixth largest bank, announced a donation of $250,000 through the Canadian Red Cross Global Appeal and India Appeal. TD has also supported Canadians and communities by:

• Introducing the $25 million TD Community Resilience Initiative that includes funding, employee engagement and on-going collaboration with organizations and community groups that operate locally, regionally and nationally in Canada and the United States across TD’s operating footprint
• Supporting customers impacted by COVID-19 with more flexible and accessible services
• Reducing credit card interest rates by 50% for customers facing financial hardship
• Working collaboratively with the Government of Canadato offer online enrollment of Canada Revenue Agency’s (CRA) direct deposit, a convenient and secure way to receive SIN-based government benefit payments, including the new Canada Emergency
• Donating $100,000 through the TD Ready Commitment to the Strongest Families Institute in Halifax, Nova Scotia so that more children, youth, adults and families in rural or under-resourced communities, who are struggling with anxiety, depression and behavioral challenges can access the help and resources they need
• Matching employee donations of up to $1,000 until May 21 to The Frontline Fund via SickKids Charitable Giving Fund, the COVID-19 Community Response and Recovery Fund through the United Way; and the Canadian Association of Community Health Centres
• Joining five other banks in making a commitment to work with personal and small business banking customers on a case-by-case basis to provide flexible solutions to help them manage through challenges such as pay disruption due to COVID-19; childcare disruption due to school closures; or those facing illness from COVID-19

“TD is taking action today, alongside other leading Canadian financial institutions, to deliver funds and support to the people of India during a time of urgent need. The global nature of this crisis, and the loss and grief it leaves in its wake, serves as a reminder that we are all connected.”

Bharat Masrani, Group President and CEO of TD Bank Group

We Will Do What Is Necessary

Scotiabank, a leading bank in Canada and a leading financial services provider in the Americas, is donating $250,000 to the Canadian Red Cross to help save lives in India. Scotiabank has also supported Canadians and communities by:

• Enabling small and medium business clients to apply for the Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) directly from the bank’s online site
• Offering front-line healthcare workers front of the line service in appreciation of their courageous efforts during COVID-19 and providing seniors with priority service when they call contact centres
• Teaming up with the Canadian Medical Association, in collaboration with MD Financial Management Inc. (MD), in contributing $200,000to the Code Life Ventilator Challenge –an international design competition that was held in March to create a simple, low-cost, easy-to-manufacture and easy-to-maintain ventilator
• Donating $2.5 millionto community response efforts across its footprint
• Reducing personal and small business credit card interest rates for customers that are experiencing financial hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic and are receiving a credit card minimum payment deferral
• Teaming up with MLSE, Rogers and Bell to prepare and deliver up to 10,000 meals per day for frontline healthcare workers, their families and community agencies
• Partnering with the Canadian Medical Association (CMA) and MD Financial Management Inc. (MD) to commit $4.6 millionto further support physicians during the COVID-19 pandemic
• Joining five other banks in making a commitment to work with personal and small business banking customers on a case-by-case basis to provide flexible solutions to help them manage through challenges such as pay disruption due to COVID-19; childcare disruption due to school closures; or those facing illness from COVID-19

“We have pledged our support to the Canadian Red Cross to help alleviate some of the suffering faced by the people of India at this time. We are committed to supporting international relief efforts in India, as people there continue to navigate this acute COVID-19 emergency.”

Brian Porter, President and CEO of Scotiabank

Proud to Play a Role in Vaccinating Canadians

CAE, a global leader in training for the civil aviation, defense and security, and healthcare markets has opened a COVID-19 Vaccination Centre, the first hub of its kind in Quebec. CAE has also supported Canadians and communities by:

• Manufacturing 10,000 ventilators over three months to support the COVID-19 crisis 
• Delivering 100,000 N95 masks to the Government of Quebec to support front-line healthcare workers 
• Launching a new product suite engineered to provide hands-on foundational training to help physicians quickly learn to scan and assess coronavirus patients using point-of-care ultrasound at the bedside 
• Offering complimentary webinars and its COVID-19 Simulated Clinical Experience (SCE) to help caregivers practice personal safety procedures and patient assessment 
• Donating $100,000 from CEO Marc Parent to support McGill University Health Centre’s ground-breaking research on COVID-19  
• Contributing $1 million to Centraide (United Way) through an employee fundraising campaign
• Signing a contract with the PYURE Company to assemble air sanitizers using technology that can destroy COVID-19 in the air and on surfaces

“As a leading company in the fight against COVID-19, we want to make a difference in the vaccination effort and play a role in getting the economy back on track. That’s why, on behalf of CAE’s 4,000 employees in Quebec, I am offering CAE’s help to accelerate vaccination in order to support and reduce the pressure on the healthcare system. I would like to thank my fellow business leaders who are stepping up and providing resources to open up workplace vaccination hubs, and I invite all companies who can contribute to do so.”

Marc Parent, President and CEO of CAE Inc.

Supporting Vaccination Efforts Locally and Across Province

Bruce Power, an electricity company based in Bruce County, Ontario, has actively stepped up in a variety of ways while continuing to provide almost one-third of Ontario’s electricity and producing medical isotopes to sterilize medical equipment:

• Providing more than 1.2 million pieces of personal protective equipment to over 100 front-line organizations and Ontario’s Ministry of Health and Ministry of Long-Term Care
• Joining the Power Workers’ Union in donating $400,000 to University Health Network (UHN) in Toronto
• Donating 50,000 bottles of hand sanitizer along with Three Sheets Brewing to community organizations and others in need
• Creating the Grey-Bruce-Huron Strong app to help people in our communities stay in touch
• Distributing $100,000 in locally-sourced essential items to assist community members in need
• Contributing $20,000 to the purchase of additional infusion pumps at Wingham and District Hospital
• Donating an additional $120,000 to 38 food banks across Ontario following a prior $300,000 donation to food banks
• Providing a freezer unit to Huron Perth Public Health to assist in the safe and timely roll-out of the Pfizer BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine
• Assisting the Hanover and Kincardine recovery centres as they convert into mass immunization hubs

“Heath care workers and Public Health Units have worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic, and Bruce Power is ready to support the vaccine roll-out to help put an end to COVID-19.”

Mike Rencheck, President and CEO of Bruce Power

Transporting the Vaccine to Canadian Communities

Brink’s Canada Limited, a global leader in cash management, secure logistics, payment solutions and international transportation of valuables, is stepping up in a way that will ensure Canadians continue to stay safe:

• Playing a role in the vaccine distribution network by helping to transport the Covid-19 vaccine to Canadian communities

“I am honoured to share that Brink’s Canada will be doing its part in the effort against COVID-19; our employees will be working with health authorities to transport COVID-19 vaccine to Canadian communities.”

John Corley, President and CEO of Brink’s Canada Limited

Powering an inclusive future

Cisco Canada’s parent company, Cisco Systems, announced a series of initiatives to support the worldwide effort to combat COVID-19, as well as ensuring its teleconferencing systems continue to keep people connected during the pandemic:

• Donating $225 million to assist global efforts aimed at mitigating COVID-19
• Providing funding for heads of state, government agencies, and businesses to deploy technology solutions to fight the virus
• Cisco Canada partnered with the City of Toronto to launch Digital Canopy – investing more than $1 million to expand WIFI access in some of the city’s most vulnerable communities.  The free WIFI hotspots provide reliable internet to low-income communities, enabling distance learning, remote work, access to health and social supports, and connections to friends and family.

Staying Ahead of the Curve to Keep Canadians Safe

Air Canada, the country’s largest domestic and international airline serving nearly 220 airports on six continents, announced a series of measures to support its customers and Canadians:

• Collaborating with the Government of Canada to provide special flights to repatriate Canadians from destinations around the world
• Reconfiguring passenger cabins on aircraft to transport more vital supplies and necessary cargo to help in the fight against COVID-19
• Adopting the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy for the benefit of its 36,000 Canadian-based workforce
• Working with Canadian food rescue organization Second Harvest’s FoodRescue.ca to redistribute fresh food items from Air Canada’s in-flight kitchens as the airline begins suspending the majority of its international and U.S. transborder flights as a result of the COVID-19 crisis
• Joining forces with Creative Destruction Lab and 11 other companies to develop and implement pilots for the screening of COVID-19 at workplaces across Canada
• Partnering with McMaster HealthLabs and the Greater Toronto Airports Authority in the largest study to explore the effectiveness of various quarantine periods for travellers

“Air Canada has a long history of staying ahead of the curve, anticipating change, supporting research and using science to increase safety. This includes our participation in the early testing of deicing techniques and the development of the black box, to supporting research into global warming and alternative fuels. Today, facing one of the greatest challenges of our time, we are putting our scientific and technical skills to use protecting our customers and employees, and promoting the well-being of society.”

Calin Rovinescu, President and CEO of Air Canada

Committed to Health and Safety of Employees and Communities

ConocoPhillips Canada, an energy company operating in Canada for over 100 years, has modified its day-to-day procedures to ensure the health and safety of employees and contractors while providing energy Canadians need: 

• Changing the way they work – with some staff working remotely, and a set of robust precautionary measures in place for those continuing to work in the office and field locations 
• Implementing health and safety measures at worksites and in the Calgary office: temperature checks and health questionnaires before site and office entry, increased sanitation and cleaning practices, physical distancing in work and communal areas (including reconfiguring camp services and common areas), placing extra hand sanitizer in work locations and providing all contractors and employees with masks to wear when physical distancing cannot be assured 
• Putting in place a process to help identify and isolate staff who are feeling ill while at work in the office or at site 
• Donating $25,000 to the Northern Lights Health Foundation in Alberta to help support COVID-19 response programs for the public and mental health

“There is no playbook on how to respond to the current situation. I am so proud of how everyone in our organization has come together to modify and adapt to circumstances that are beyond our control. Throughout our response, the organization has remained resolute in its commitment to protect the health and safety of our staff and the community, and mitigate the spread of COVID-19 while safely running our business,” 

Kirk Johnson, President of ConocoPhillips Canada. 

Ensuring Canadians Have Access to Pharmaceuticals

Pfizer Canada ULC, one of the world’s leading biopharmaceutical companies, announced a series of steps it is taking to ensure Canadians can access medicine and other contributions to the fight against the virus:

• Partnering with the Government of Canada to supply their BNT162 mRNA-based vaccine candidate against SARS-CoV2, subject to clinical success and Health Canada approval
• Donating to Centraide/United Way, the Canadian Red Cross, and West-Island Community Shares
• Leveraging the Pfizer Innovative Medicines Canada COVID-19 Fund to purchase Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
• Matching contributions employees make to COVID-19 response activities in their local communities by up to a maximum of $250
• Encouraging Canadian pharmacies to carefully manage the inventory they have available to patients, and to use their professional judgement when dispensing medication

“Pfizer Canada is working to provide supply continuity and equitable access to our products during the COVID-19 pandemic,”

Cole Pinnow, President of Pfizer Canada ULC

Delivering Positive Energy Is What We Do

Keyera Corp., one of Canada’s largest independent mid-stream energy companies based in Calgary, continued provide for the energy needs of Canadians while giving back to local communities: 

• Donating $50,000 to the United Way’s COVID-19 Community Response Fund in Alberta, which supports 154 community agencies 
• Supporting several other community organizations, such as the Calgary Food Bank, Edmonton’s Food Bank, the Strathcona Food Bank, the Drayton Valley Health Foundation, the Wood Buffalo Food Bank Association, FCSS (Family and Community Support Services), WIN House (a women’s shelter), and the Red Cross 

 “Canadians always come together in times of hardship to lift each other up, and now is no different. Delivering positive energy is what we do and it’s also who we are and we try to deliver positive energy in the communities where we operate,” 

David Smith, CEO of Keyera Corp. 

Working Around the Clock to Support People and Businesses

Intact Financial Corporation, one of Canada’s largest insurance providers that protects one in five Canadians, introduced measures to help customers impacted by the virus

• Reducing car insurance for three months by 15 per cent
• Reducing monthly personal auto insurance premiums by 75 per cent, on average, for as long as customers park and safely store their vehicles
• Adjusting premiums for small to medium-sized businesses from home
• Adjusting premiums for change of use or storage of commercial vehicles
• Providing flexibility for those using their cars and homes during the crisis for different purposes, like making deliveries or running a business from home
• Donating $2 million to support the immediate needs of individuals and families who are most vulnerable to the social, health and economic effects of COVID-19

“We are working around the clock to support people and businesses facing financial challenges as a result of the pandemic. That is why we moved quickly to provide flexible relief measures, including waiving of missed payment fees, payment deferrals and premium adjustments. We are focused on those who are ill, elderly and those who have experienced job loss due to the impacts of COVID-19 as well as customers driving less. A number of relief measures are in place and we are working with customers and brokers on a case-by-case basis to help.”

Charles Brindamour, President and CEO of Intact Financial Corporation

Caring for the Well-being of Others

Janssen Canada, a pharmaceutical company of Johnson & Johnson, has ensured Canadians continue to get the medicines they need while supporting the fight against the virus: 

• Contributing significantly to an industry effort to supply hundreds of thousands of N95 masks, and increasing funding for front–line healthcare workers, including those providing mental health support    
• Responding by significantly increasing our support of food banks, as more people turn to them for help 
• Enabling an employee matching program, dollar for dollar, with contributions to the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund, supporting work on behalf of the World Health Organization 
• Monitoring the COVID-19 situation and taking steps to help prevent the spread of the virus as well as exploring the potential for a vaccine 

“At Janssen, the Pharmaceutical Company of Johnson & Johnson, we continue to be guided by our values that inspire us to put the needs and well-being of the people we serve first. During this crisis, these needs have never been greater, and we’ve mobilized quickly to provide the following: ensuring supply and access to our medicines, supporting front line healthcare workers, providing relief to vulnerable patient populations, recognizing the power of our employees and exploring the potential for a vaccine,” said Jorge Bartolome, President of Janssen Inc.  

Unlocking Opportunities

Clearbanc, a Toronto-based startup that connects other startups with the capital and connections they need to grow their business, has found a way to help new businesses enter the market in the post-COVID era:  

• Providing the use of their product, Valuation, free of charge, which allows founders to determine the valuation of their startup and connect with potential investors and buyers 

“Starting today, you can unlock so many opportunities for your business. So whether you’re looking to grow, scale or exit, we’re here to help you get to the next level.”

Michele Romanow, Co-Founder and President of Clearbanc

Support Front-line Workers and Small Businesses

FedEx Canada, a freight and package delivery company with 64 locations across Canada, has stepped up to help small businesses with the launch of their #SupportSmall initiative, offering 30 grants of $5,000 each to small businesses that have been impacted by COVID-19.  

“It’s so important for CEOs to stay in touch with the front–line employees. I always say that the best ideas truly do come from those employees that are interacting with customers every single day,” 

Lisa Lisson, President of Federal Express Canada Corporation. 

If You Got It, a Truck Brought it

Bison Transport Inc., one of Canada’s largest carriers serving the entire country and 48 US states, announced its commitment to continue delivering much needed items and goods to Canadians while ensuring the health and safety of their employees and customers.

“You’re not only delivering essential goods that our society needs to stay well, you’re delivering a sense of calmness, security, and comfort, as you continue to keep the store shelves stocked. So, thank you so much for what you do.”

Rob Penner, President and CEO of Bison Transport Inc.

Proud to Play Our Part

ATS Automatic Tooling Systems Inc., a Canadian company offering automation technology and scale to advance factory automation solutions for the world’s leading manufacturers, announced several ways it is helping to fight the spread of the virus:

• Authorizing the ATS Life Sciences team to work with O-Two Medical Technologies in Canada to assemble critical ventilator components at ATS’ facilities
• Working with a U.S. automaker to reconfigure its manufacturing facility plus providing the equipment necessary to enable the wide scale production of FFR masks
• Developing an automated bio-decontamination system for hospitals based on the same technology Comecer (an ATS company) uses for aseptic isolators, allowing for fast decontamination of hospital rooms and equipment and the potential reuse of N95 masks

“Around the world, organizations needing to overcome capacity constraints and supply chain shortages are turning to ATS to scale up production of critical medical devices and quickly pivot manufacturing output. We’re enabling customers to manufacture important products such as ventilators and respirators, that are desperately needed to treat patients, protect healthcare workers and contain the coronavirus pandemic. We are proud to play our part and ready to do more.”

Andrew Hider, CEO of ATS Automation Tooling Systems Inc.

Harnessing Science and Technology to Solve Problems

Terramera, a global AgTech leader headquartered in Vancouver, is leveraging their unique resources in computational chemistry, machine learning and artificial intelligence to partner with other members of Canada’s Digital Technology Supercluster in a collaborative research initiative:  

• Providing unique computational models aiming to combat the spread of COVID-19 by predicting potential strains of the virus and proactively designing treatments 

“This is an enormous opportunity to harness complementary areas of cutting-edge science across industry and academia. Working together, we can help solve some of the world’s biggest problems, from sustainable food production to treatments for COVID, with novel predictive technologies.”

Karn Manhas, Founder and CEO of Terramera Inc.

Be Kind to Each Other

Loblaw Companies Limited, Canada’s food and pharmacy leader employing close to 200,000 Canadians, announced several measures to ensure Canadians can safely and easily access food, drugs and other essential products:

• Public announcements to assure Canadians that they will be served in a safe and convenient manner
• Offering dedicated hours for seniors to shop and other key measures to protect the health and safety of employees, customers and all Canadians
• Increasing the wages of its employees and bringing in special measure to ensure the health and safety of all employees
• Expanding on-line capabilities and increasing staffing in stores
• Securing operations with more in-store cleaning and in-store security, introducing new ways to shop in stores to promote social distancing, and installing plexiglass barriers at check outs
• Providing financial support to its communities and customers by pledging financial support to food banks and community charities and offering personalized solutions for PC MasterCard customers who are experiencing financial hardship

“We are acutely aware of the important role that we can play in assisting Canadians through these difficult times.”

Galen Weston, Executive Chairman of Loblaw Companies Limited

Providing opportunity to drive change

The Cadillac Fairview Corporation, a Toronto-based real estate company with retail and office spaces across North America, has been focusing on supporting their communities throughout the COVID-19 crisis:  

• Donating $1000 to 5 hospitals at 7 locations across Hamilton and $8500 to FoodShare Hamilton 
• Delivering – with the help of Harvey’s – 400 hamburgers, and 500 coupons for food to 5 Hamilton, ON hospitals for their workers  
• Donating and hand delivering 100 lunches to feed frontline workers at Minoru Residence in Richmond BC, in partnership with Cactus Club and White Spot 
• Loaning thousands of food trays to long term care facilities across Ontario to help them adapt to COVID-19 and keep patients safe 
• Donating care packages to the dedicated staff at Christie Gardens in Toronto who were living in a hotel nearby while the long-term care facility was hit with a COVID-19 outbreak 

“More than ever, we believe that despite the economic hardships that all corporations are facing, we have to continue to invest in our youth – they are the future of our country and the global community, and we need to ensure they have the tools and opportunities to drive change.”

John Sullivan, CEO of The Cadillac Fairview Corporation

Helping Small Businesses Navigate the Challenges Ahead

Google Canada, which has a growing footprint in the country with 1,500 employees, has played a key role in directing the contributions of its parent company to Canadian causes: 

• Directing a portion of Alphabet’s $800 million package to support small- and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), health organizations and governments, and front-line healthcare workers 
• Providing Canadians with critical information from Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada through SOS Alert on popular sites such as YouTube 
• Offering Google Ad credits to active Canadian SMBs 
• Committing $1 million to expand Digital Main Street’s ShopHERE program with a pledge to help get 50,000 Canadian small businesses enhance their online presence by the end of 2020 

“Google Canada is committed to help organizations like Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada. We remain optimistic and more determined than ever that technology is the toolkit for a world of opportunities. Our one million dollar investment will go towards expanding the ShopHERE program nationally, so we can help small businesses across Canada navigate the challenges ahead.”

Sabrina Geremia, Country Manager of Google Canada

Committed to Improving the Economic and Social Landscape

EY Canada is doing their part to support Canadian businesses through the pandemic. Partnering with the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, they have launched the Business Resilience Service (BRS) program. This initiative supports small and medium enterprises, not-for-profit organizations, or charities by connecting them with accounting and tax experts who provide professional services free of charge.   

 “Building a better working world is an ongoing commitment to improving the economic and social landscape. We have to work at it as an ongoing process,” said Jad Shimaly, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of EY Canada. 

Proud to Support Resiliency

Salesforce Canada Corporation, the Canadian arm of the global cloud-based software company, is focused on support small businesses and entrepreneurs respond: 

• Partnering with the Canadian Business Resilience Network to distribute 62 grants of $10,000 to help entrepreneurs and small businesses boost their resiliency 
• Offering free technological solutions to Canadian businesses   

“Proud to announce that Salesforce is supporting the Canadian Business Resilience Network Small Business Relief Fund.”

Margaret Stuart, Country Manager of Salesforce Canada Corporation

Give Hope to Canadians

Pelmorex Corp., the third largest multi-platform weather company in the world, announced that Canada’s The Weather Network launched “A Brighter Day,” which is a content hub that highlights positive news and acts of kindness in communities across the country.   

“Now more than ever, it’s important to seek out stories that give us hope. Watching Canadians come together throughout this crisis has been truly inspiring. We created “A Brighter Day” to highlight the uplifting stories coming out of our communities and remind everyone that, together, we’ll weather this storm.”

Sam Sebastian, President and CEO of Pelmorex Corp. 

Physically Distant but Socially Connected

WE Charity, an international charity and education partner, has been committed to supporting the well-being of children and young people during the pandemic: 

• Offering free online educational tools and resources to complement and support at-home learning through its “WE Schools @ Home” initiative  
• Providing a mental well-being guidebook for students and parents through its “WE Well-Being” initiative 
• Celebrating the graduating classes of 2020 through a virtual tour and celebrity guests through its “WE Celebrate” initiative  

“Now is a time to invest in others. We might be physically distant from each other, but need to be closer to our communities and our loved ones more than ever before.”

Craig Kielburger, Co-founder of WE Day, WE Charity, ME to WE

We Have Each Other’s Backs

Saputo Inc., one of the top ten dairy processors in the world and headquartered in Montreal, announced a series of measures to protect its workers and support Canadians:

• Donating more than $3.1 million to help communities in which it operates
• Implementing strict precautionary measures from local and global experts to help keep its employees safe

“We recognize our employees are facing new challenges and we want them to know, first and foremost, we’re here for them. Our full management team is committed to supporting Saputo employees who may be impacted by COVID-19 and we’ve assured our global team that there will be no layoffs as a result of the current worldwide pandemic. To all our employees, you have all done an outstanding job so far and I am confident we will emerge even stronger after this storm has passed. Words cannot express my gratitude for your loyalty during this difficult time. Let’s continue to do everything we can to have each other’s backs. We are all in this together.”

Lino Saputo, Jr., CEO and Chair of the Board, Saputo Inc.

Food Supply Is More Critical Than Ever

Nutrien, the world’s largest provider of crop inputs and services, announced many important initiatives to contribute to food security and the fight against the virus:

• Providing thousands of much-needed N95 masks to the Saskatchewan Health Authority
• Contributing US $1 million to support local community partners helping to feed those in need
• Empowering its supply chain and distribution teams to accelerate fertilizer, seed and other critical products into the market for customers now
• Continuing to provide financial lending to growers so that farming businesses of all sizes weather this storm

“As an agriculture industry, we need to look ahead to future food production to ensure this isn’t a long-term issue. Nutrien is at the beginning of the food supply chain, and our role as an essential service, is more critical than ever.”

Chuck Magro, President and CEO of Nutrien

Helping Canadians Adjust

Visa Canada announced a series of initiatives to support small businesses, its customers and communities across the country:

• Supporting front-line organizations and small businesses as part of Visa’s USD 210 million global fund
• Donating $1 million to Food Banks Canada
• Increasing the limit on contactless payments to provide additional safety measures for consumers by reducing interaction at the point oft transaction

“As we all adjust to the dramatic changes of everyday life caused by the global coronavirus pandemic, Visa Canada is committed to working with industry partners in Canada to support the increase in contactless payments. With this change, we anticipate consumers and essential businesses will benefit from a safer, faster and easier way to pay.”

Stacey Madge, country manager and president of Visa Canada

We Want to Give Back

Siemens Canada, which has 4,000 employees across the country, announced several steps it is taking to help Canadians respond:

• Refurbishing and donating laptops to the United Way of Peterborough, Ontario to help non-profit agencies within the community
• Matching employee donations, dollar-for-dollar

“Access to technology and access to education is extremely important, especially during these difficult times.”

Faisal Kazi, President and CEO of Siemens Canada

Giving Back

 General Electric Canada, which has employees across the country and roots going back over 125 years, is assisting in the fight against COVID-19:  

• Doubling their ventilator production capacity to make an additional 500 units for the Canadian federal government 
• Launching the Employee Relief Fund, a global public charity that works to alleviate some of the burden on employees and families as they face unprecedented challenges during COVID-19 
• Developing cloud-based COVID-19 patient monitoring software for health systems that includes a special platform to focus on a COVID-19 application 

“I’m impressed with how people want to give back during this incredible time.”

Heather Chalmers, President and CEO of GE Canada

Protecting People and Communities

Husky Energy Inc., a Canadian integrated energy company, supports communities where it operates while protecting the health and safety of its employees:  

• Launched a $750,000 COVID-19 Relief Fund, donating through the United Way 
• Supporting Indigenous community partners throughout Alberta and Saskatchewan, and other local communities, to address urgent COVID-19 needs and expenses  

• Contributing to the Wood Buffalo Food Bank and Northern Lights Health Foundation to help local residents following the flooding in Fort McMurray, Alberta  
• Matching employee donations two-to-one through its HuskyGives program, collectively giving about $200,000 to select COVID-19 community relief efforts 
• Serving free coffee and take-out meals to professional drivers at its retail locations 

“For Husky, protecting our people and communities from COVID-19 involves our entire organization. Our team has helped our community partners deliver on their mission during this challenge while we deliver ours: the essential energy products the world needs.”

Rob Peabody, President and CEO of Husky Energy Inc.  

Important to Support Small Businesses

Facebook and Instagram Canada announced several investments, as part of its parent company’s global initiatives, to support Canadian small businesses, artists, local news outlets and charities: 

• Partnering with News Media Canada to offer USD $5,000 grants to 81 local news newsrooms in Canada  
• Contributing $3.5 million through its global Small Business Grants Program to support 650 small businesses in Canada  
• Partnering with the National Arts Centre to launch Canada Performs, live online presentations by Canadian performers and writers  

“Now more than ever, it is important we continue to support our small businesses, the heartbeat of Canadian communities and local economies. We know local business owners have been hit hard and we’re focused on supporting them in any way we can through grants, resources and training.” 

Garrick Tiplady, Managing Director of Facebook and Instagram Canada

We Are Here To Help

KPMG Canada is offering free access to their COVID-19 Resource Centre, which provides tools and advice to help businesses and individuals navigate the many facets of the gradual reopening of the Canadian economy. 

 “We are working with many organizations, across a number of industries and sectors, to help manage the impact of the pandemic. I believe we will be stronger as a society and as an economy on the other side of the pandemic,” said Elio Loungo, CEO of Senior Partner of KPMG Canada. 

Health and Safety is our Highest Priority

Keg Restaurants Ltd., a steakhouse franchise created in Vancouver in 1971, closed their locations in accordance with public health guidelines and made appropriate changes to keep both their customers and employees safe when the economy reopened in June: 

• Reducing capacity to ensure physical distancing guidelines are followed 
• Operating on a reservation-only basis to ensure physical distancing 
• Cleaning and sanitizing more frequently 
• Giving employees the ability to stay home when they feel unwell 

“The health and safety of our Guests and Keg employees continues to be our highest priority. Despite the uncertainty the world has experienced over the recent months, you can count on us to deliver as we always have.”

David Aisenstat, CEO of Keg Restaurants Ltd.

Keeping Our Communities Safe and Resilient

Imperial Oil Ltd., an integrated energy producer with roots going back to 1880, announced several ways it is contributing to the war effort: 

• Providing up to $2 million in free fuel vouchers to front-line nurses, paramedics and doctors as part of its Heroes Campaign launched to provide some financial relief to critical workers during the COVID-19 pandemic  
• Donating 60 tonnes of isopropyl alcohol (IPA) to be used in disinfectant products that could help manufacture more than 600,000 bottles of hand sanitizer 
• Donating 500 laptops to the Electronic Recycling Association’s Lending Laptops Program in support of the Calgary Board of Education’s EducationMatters campaign 
• Matching employee donations by two to one in support of community charities and not-for-profit organizations through its employee giving and volunteer program  

“Whether it’s through our operating assets, offices or Esso- and Mobil-branded service stations, our teams continue to do everything we can to keep our communities safe and resilient during this unprecedented time. We recognize the need is great and while many of us are isolating in the physical sense, I am proud of how our employees and neighbours have come together to donate critical supplies and funding where it is needed the most.”

Brad Corson, Chairman, President and CEO of Imperial Oil Ltd.

Investing in our Communities

Desjardins Group, a Canadian financial services cooperative, announced several steps to ensure all members and clients get the support they need during these unprecedented times while also supporting the socio-economic recovery of communities:

• Pledging $150 million until 2024 through the GoodSpark Fund for projects that support communities’ priorities, such as education, environment, employment and entrepreneurship
• Acknowledging a health work/life balance, Desjardins is making sure employees who are unable to work from home continue to be paid
• Offering relief measures to members and clients who have contracted COVID-19, are in quarantine, unable to work because of travel restrictions, lost their job or have been temporarily laid off, or are facing other issues closely related to COVID-19

“Community initiatives are often the best plan of action against difficult situations like the COVID-19 crisis. They need our support now more than ever, whether it’s to get organizations and businesses back on their feet, jump on new development opportunities or create new partnerships.”

Guy Cormier, Chair of the Board, President and CEO of Desjardins Group

Helping Our Communities Through Challenges

PCL Constructors Inc., Canada’s largest contractor, announced several activities to support front-line workers and Canadians during the COVID-19 pandemic while also protecting the health and safety of its employees, their families and partners:  

• Manufacturing and assembling Portable Virus Testing Pods (Citizen Care Pods) in collaboration with Insight Enterprises and Microsoft Canada to help with COVID-19 screening and testing 
• Developing and working with industry partners to build portable isolation pods (Quaran-Tin Pods) to provide temporary and reusable emergency isolation for care and treatment of COVID-19 patients 
• Donating negative air machines to the Ottawa Hospital 

• Ottawa PCL/ED Joint Venture donated $200,000 to The Royal Ottawa for mental health urgent care clinic 
• Providing more than 800 N95 masks free of charge to Alberta Health Services and more than 500 masks to the Ottawa Hospital 
• Donating laptops to students to ensure access to home learning 
• Providing more than 30,000 liters of disinfecting solution to front-line workers 

“We are so proud of our PCL team as it safely continues to show resilience, tenacity, and resourcefulness through these unprecedented times. We are excited about an initiative of our modular construction team with the potential to have a life-saving impact on our communities as we move through and emerge from COVID-19. They worked with industry partners to develop smart screening and testing pods, and in just two weeks, the pods progressed from concept to completion. This is a great example of our innovative spirit and shows just one way that PCL will continue to help our communities through whatever challenges we face.”

Dave Filipchuk, President and CEO of PCL Constructors Inc. 

Working Together to Support Communities

Stantec, a global design firm with more than 22,000 team members around the world, has safely supported essential community needs while providing insight to the architecture, engineering, and consulting services industry on best practices for pandemic response: 

• Providing design and engineering services for a temporary pandemic response facility in Alberta, designed to house up to 70 patients 
• Providing design and engineering services for the temporary conversion of a portion of Chicago’s McCormick Place Convention Center into an Alternate Care Facility (ACF) for up to 1,000 low-to-moderate, acuity novel coronavirus (COVID-19) patients 
• Helping communities deliver essential infrastructure needs in a pandemic landscape, from public transit systems and water treatment plants to healthcare facility operation and planning for retail and workplace environments, among many other areas 
• Educating private and public leaders in infrastructure through regular virtual conference presentations, speaking engagements and a tailored website hub with more than 75 pieces of COVID-19 response insight from technical experts 
• Donating protective gear for clinicians to area hospitals, mobilized teams to support virtual food drives for regional food banks, and made corporate contributions to critical assistive organizations, including the WHO, UN Foundation COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund and Direct Relief, among others 

“Our organization is responsibly working together to support communities … even when we’re physically apart. The last few months have demonstrated that we can care for our company team members while supporting communities and their critical needs with equal sincerity and focus.”

Gord Johnston, President and CEO of Stantec

Canadians Are United Now More Than Ever

Corus Entertainment, a leading media, news and content company, announced a couple of initiatives:

• Launching #CanadaTogether, a national initiative to help inspire, educate and engage Canadians as we band together during this unprecedented time
• Ensuring Global News remains committed to serving audiences through accurate, timely and fact based information through our multiple platform offerings; radio, television news and digital platforms such as GlobalNews.ca and the new Global TV app which offers a free 24/7 news offering
• Assuring viewers that Global News is committed to continuing to provide local newscasts in television markets where it operates

“Canadians are united now, more than ever, as we face extraordinary times and the need to keep each other safe and healthy.”

Doug Murphy, President and CEO of Corus

Taking Care of Our Communities

OpenText Corporation, a global leader in providing products and solutions in enterprise information management, has continued its services and committed to making a positive impact in their communities:  

• Launching a $2 million employee relief fund to support essential workers and their families impacted by the crisis  
• Implementing a global $2 million campaign, Acts of Kindness, which chooses initiatives to invest in across the world to support those in need  

“It’s really important that all CEOs are over communicating, leaning on their culture and taking care of their communities.”

Mark Barrenechea, Vice Chair, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Technology Officer of OpenText Corporation

Coming Together to Offer Relief

Lockheed Martin Canada, an advanced security and aerospace company with 1,000 employees in Canada, has stepped up to support vulnerable populations, veterans and communities across the country:  

• Dedicating $370,00 to philanthropic initiatives, including $70,000 to Food Banks Canada  
• Donating $300,000 to Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Service, which is split between Canadian Armed Forces Kids Help Phone Crisis Texting Service and Military Family Resource Centers in major sites in which it operates  

“It goes without saying these last couple months have changed the dynamics in our communities, our homes, and workplaces. What strikes me most are the inspiring examples of our colleagues and neighbours coming together during this time.  While more physically distant than ever before, I am lifted by these acts of coming together that offer relief to those impacted by COVID-19.”

Lorraine Ben, Chief Executive at Lockheed Martin Canada

Assisting Reservists in Answering the Call

Canada Company, a charitable, non-partisan organization created to connect business and community leaders with Canada’s military, is working with businesses and business organizations across the country to support Canada’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic through its Reservists Ready Campaign. The Reservists Ready Campaign calls on Canadian businesses to pledge to allow employees who are Reservists to be available for full-time service in the fight to end the spread of COVID-19. 

“Canada Company would like to assist Reservists in answering the call in these challenging times. We are helping a growing coalition of businesses make it as easy as possible for employees to be available when needed.”

Blake C. Goldring, Founder and Chair of Canada Company and Executive Chairman of AGF Management Limited

Privilege to Provide Expertise

SNC-Lavalin Group Inc., a Canadian company that provides engineering, procurement, and construction services to a variety of different industries, announced a series of initiatives to provide relief during the COVID-19 pandemic:

• Supporting small business through the purchase of 120 litres of hand sanitizer from an Ottawa distillery to be distributed to Ottawa’s Trillium Line and Montreal’s REM construction sites
• Continuing to support to Engineering & STEM education despite the pandemic
• Developing a joint venture that works to support the Government of Canada’s preparedness efforts by providing designed expertise and help to deliver up to ten, 100-bed Mobile Health Units

“As a proud Canadian, fully integrated professional services and project management company, we are honoured to be able to assist the federal government in this endeavor—that is to help ensure the health and safety of Canadians during this critical and unprecedented time. Safety is at the heart of our work at SNC-Lavalin, and it is a privilege to continue to provide our expertise to help support Canadian efforts as we have done for government agencies around the world.”

Ian L. Edwards, President and CEO of SNC-Lavalin

Doing Our Part to Get Canada Back on Its Feet

SAP Canada launched a competition for coding teams to find solutions to problems that have arisen during the pandemic. With 105 entries, judges from EY Canada, Microsoft Canada, PwC Canada, IBM Canada, Accenture Canada and Capgemini selected five apps for implementation, pending public-private partnership. 

“Over the last few months, it has been inspiring to see our teams mobilize to rapidly respond to new realities and support our communities with innovative solutions to address Canada’s greatest pandemic-related challenges. Whether launching a competition to brainstorm creative ideas to support the most impacted communities, helping organizations as they use the Ariba business network to source much needed PPEs, or providing businesses the tools they need to monitor the sentiment and pulse of their remote workforce, SAP is proud to do our part to get Canada back on its feet.”

Andy Canham, Managing Director of SAP Canada

Supporting Healthcare and Essential Service Professionals

BASF Canada, headquartered in Mississauga with 11 production facilities across the country, announced programs to manufacture and deliver hand sanitizer to front-line healthcare workers in Canada:

• Pivoting its Windsor facility to produce thousands of litres of hand sanitizer
• Donating more 10,000 litres of sanitizer to Canadian healthcare organizations

“We have considered how our businesses and local footprint could positively respond to these challenges and support those who are particularly in need now and in the immediate future: healthcare facilities and essential service professionals. I am proud of our Canadian colleagues for their fast response to the crisis. They worked diligently and in close collaboration with Health Canada, other government departments, and our supplying partners to obtain approvals and pivot our production to hand sanitizer.”

Marcelo Lu, president of BASF Canada

Help Each Other Out

PwC Canada, a leading provider of industry-focused professional services with over 110 years of experience in Canada, is committed to supporting its customers, communities and Canadians:  

• Partnering with CPA Ontario to provide 1,000 free tax returns for front–line workers  
• Launching the New World, New Skills initiative, which provides a Digital Fitness app to help families and businesses achieve a successful digital transformation    

“I [see] a lot a willingness to share and help each other out across the country, which speaks volumes to our culture and values in Canada.”

Nicolas Marcoux, CEO of PwC Canada

Supporting Communities Where Employees Live and Work

Ovintiv, a leading North American exploration and production company focused on safely producing crude oil and natural gas, has contributed to communities with funds, time and employee initiatives to local organizations: 

• Contributing funds to two food relief charities in the Calgary area. 
• Donating to 15 food relief organizations across Northern British Columbia, covering Dawson Creek, Fort St. John, Pouce Coupe and local Indigenous communities 
• Funding grants to seven food relief charities in our Montney operating area covering Grande Prairie, Beaverlodge, Hythe, Sexsmith and Wembley, Alberta 
• Providing funds to five food relief charities in our Duvernay operating area covering Fox Creek, Valleyview and local Indigenous communities 
• Supporting the local food bank in Halifax with a donation to help feed 42,000 Nova Scotians 

• Supporting initiatives by employees to donate food and money to local front–line healthcare workers and the homeless; make and donate face coverings; and to use 3D printing to produce PPE for front–line workers 
• Donated safety kits containing disposable gowns, N95 masks, rubber gloves and antiseptic wipes to local healthcare workers.  

“I am proud of Team Ovintiv’s efforts to support our communities with time, money and food donations in these unprecedented times. We are all in this together and it will take our combined efforts to fully recover from the COVID-19 crisis. We have always supported the communities where our employees live and work and know that this ongoing partnership is vital for our mutual success.”

Doug Suttles, CEO Ovintiv

Doing Our Part

Xerox Canada Ltd., which has 3,600 employees in Canada and roots going back to 1953, is manufacturing hospital-grade sanitizer at its Toronto facility for donation to front-line healthcare workers.  

“At Xerox, we’re accustomed to pivoting and adapting our technologies to meet different needs – and we saw the opportunity to do our part in this global health crisis. We continue to look at ways to protect the health and well-being of frontline workers, patients and the public. This priority has accelerated the development, manufacturing, and delivery of personal protective equipment (PPE) by Xerox. In the U.S. and Canada, we’ve repurposed factory space to produce hand sanitizer gentle enough to be used by children. Beyond our production of PPE, we have a responsibility to serve as a resource to clients navigating new business challenges.”

Martin Bachant, President of Xerox Canada Ltd.  

Keep Canada Moving

Accenture Canada, a global professional services company, quickly transitioned their workforce to remote working and has since been finding ways to help other Canadians get the resources they need to adapt to the changes brought on by COVID-19: 

• Moving all 5500 employees across Canada to a complete working-from-home model in 4 days 
• Creating an employee wellness program, Thriving Minds, to help employees prioritize their mental well-being, deal with stress and grief, and balancing work– and home-life activities 
• Setting up call centres, sometimes within four days, for various departments in the federal and provincial governments 
• Building financial platforms to help governments distribute money to Canadians 
• Finding ways to connect food retailers to food banks and food banks to people in need 
• Helping companies pivot to producing PPE and/or hand sanitizer 
• Offering a training program, the “Skills to Succeed Learning Exchange”, to non-profit partners to help Canadians transition to a more digital world of work 

“We acknowledge things are not normal so we’re trying to incorporate that into how we live and work. We’ve rallied with purpose: to keep Canada moving.”

Jeffrey Russell, President of Accenture Inc. in Canada

Respond, Rebound and Reinvent

CGI Group Inc., a global information technology and management consulting firm founded in 1976, has stepped up with initiatives to support local and global communities:  

• Launching virtual learning camps to teach science, technology, engineering, and math for children across North America 
• Implementing a digital recruitment and monitoring platform for the Montreal Heart Institute, to allow patients diagnosed with COVID-19 to register for a clinical study called COLCORONA   
• Introducing the Respond, Rebound, and Reinvent initiative, which provides insights and services to support organizations through different phases of the crisis   
• Developing the COVID Digital Assistant chatbot in partnership with the British Columbia Ministry of Health to help automate responses to questions online    

“I am proud of our members’ ongoing commitment to ensuring service continuity in a safe and flexible manner.”

George Schindler, President and CEO of CGI Group Inc.

Actively Collaborating with Governments

3M Canada, which is the manufacturer of N95 respirators that are a critical tool for front-line healthcare workers, announced several measures to respond to COVID-19:

• Committing their Brockville, Ontario plant to producing critical N95 masks
• Helping Canadians return from abroad
• Facilitating donations of N95 respirators
• Increasing the supply of N95 respirators in Canada following the company’s agreement with the U.S. government
• Introducing actions to address price gouging and counterfeit activity related to its N95 respirators

“We are actively collaborating with federal and provincial governments and our partners across the country as the respirators arrive, to get them into the hands of those who are at the frontlines who are having the greatest impact on public health and safety. We are doing all we can to continue to increase the supply of N95 respirators in Canada.”

Penny Wise, President of 3M Canada Company

Proud to Support the Front-line

BNP Paribas, a global financial and investment institution with 55 years in Canada, announced several measures to support Canadian communities as part of the company’s global response to COVID-19 that totals more than $76 million worldwide:

• Providing financial resources to local food banks and hospitals in Montreal and Toronto
• Donating more than 7,000 masks to Quebec Health Authorities for hospitals facing PPE shortages
• Matching their employees’ donations in Canada to charitable partners in Canada

“We live in an extraordinary time that affects all of us both professionally and personally. BNP Paribas in Canada especially is proud to support the various organizations and partners on the front line of this health crisis who are helping those in need. We will continue to be fully engaged during this crisis in support of our employees, clients and partners.”

Sonja Volpe, CEO and Country Manager, BNP Paribas

Supporting Food Security

Cargill, a global company, focused on nourishing the world in a safe, responsible and sustainable way, is working with their non-profit and NGO partners across Canada to help address food security, health and safety needs and agriculture and industry challenges due to the spread of COVID-19: 

• Contributing over $2.6 million to food banks and emergency support efforts across Canada, which will help provide nearly 5 million meals to Canadian families.  
• Supporting 70 charitable organizations across Canada providing emergency COVID-19 relief efforts 
• Launching the Cargill Cares Employee Disaster Relief Fund with an initial $15 million investment to provide immediate relief support to employees around the world during times of crisis or disaster.  

“Our businesses across Canada are committed to supporting local communities, especially those most vulnerable to food insecurity during this pandemic. The support provided by Cargill will help to fill the immediate needs of Canadians and our employees who have been most impacted by the coronavirus.”

Jeff Vassart, President of Cargill Limited

Looking for Silver Linings

Cabot Links, Canada’s first and only authentic links golf course, made sure the health and safety of their customers and employees was their top priority:  

• Instead of re-opening on May 16, in line with the rules and regulations set by the Province of Nova Scotia, the golf resort waited until the end of June to ensure employees and golfers remain safe in every area of the resort 

“In a time of great uncertainty, we are looking for the silver linings.” 

Ben Cowan-Dewar, President and CEO of Cabot Links

Protecting the Health and Safety of Canadians

Bombardier Inc., a global transportation leader, announced that it is taking a variety of measures to support front-line workers and provide essential services:

• Manufacturing 18,000 ventilators with O-Two Medical Technologies for delivery to the Ontario government
• Donating $25,999 to the Thunder Bay Community Foundation and United Way of Thunder Bay’s COVID-19 Response Fund to provide essential services like shelter, food, mental health supports, and unfunded health-related items
• Delivering 40,000 visors to healthcare workers

“Today, our immediate focus is on protecting the health and safety of our people, supporting our customers to the best of our abilities and ensuring that Bombardier can successfully navigate through this global crisis.”

Éric Martel, President and CEO of Bombardier Inc.

We Have Proven Our Resiliency

Microsoft Canada led several initiatives to help Canadians weather the COVID-19 lockdown and begin to reopen the economy: 

• Supporting the Digital Main Street Portal to work with small businesses and help them to prepare to serve customers in a digital environment 
• Offering a free six-month trial for a premium tier of Microsoft Teams and other software to help entrepreneurs and small businesses  

“COVID-19 has created many challenges for all of us, but we Canadians have proven time and again that we are a resilient bunch. As a leader in the technology sector, I have the unique opportunity to engage with organizations coast to coast of all sizes and industries. Regardless of the industry sector, whether its healthcare, government, education, retail or finance, all organizations have been forced to reimagine how they operate and undergo an immediate shift to remote working.”

Kevin Peesker, President of Microsoft Canada Inc. 

Proud to Support Communities

Cameco, one of the largest global providers of the fuel needed to energize a clean-air world, established a $1 million COVID-19 Relief Fund:

• This fund helps support charities, not for profits, town offices and First Nation band offices impacted by COVID-19 in Saskatoon and northern Saskatchewan
• Cameco also donated mattresses and PPE’s to neighbouring First Nations communities

“We’re all affected by COVID-19. It’s left no one untouched. So, we at Cameco just said what can we do to help out. We’re proud to be from Saskatchewan – based here and we have lots of people in Prince Albert, Saskatoon and the north so we wanted to help out.”

Tim Gitzel, President and CEO of Cameco Corporation

Here to Help No Matter What

Horizon North Logistics Inc., a Calgary-based company providing a range of industrial services and modular construction solutions, have taken several measures to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic:

• Donating mattresses to the Mission Flats housing in Kamloops
• Making available 2,000 beds in relocatable modular structures to be deployed in response to the pandemic
• Signing a letter of intent with the City of Toronto to design, deliver & install Modular Supportive Housing units to provide affordable housing to Canadians in need

“The strain on our infrastructure is also the reason Horizon North and the modular construction industry at large are working with governments and other groups to discuss future preparedness for emergency events. This pandemic has shone a light on two facts: that extensive steps are needed at all levels to be prepared for something similar and that the most vulnerable among us – those without homes or a safe haven – are at an unnecessarily high risk to these catastrophic events.”

Rod Graham, President and CEO of Horizon North Logistics Inc.

Doing Our Part to Keep Canadian Communities Safe

Canadian Tire Corporation, a Canadian retailer providing products for life in Canada since 1922 and employing tens of thousands of Canadians, has been doing its part to assist the health and safety of its employees, customers and communities:

• Donating $1 million to the Canadian Red Cross
• Donating $1 million to United Way Centraide Canada
• Donating $3 million in products – PPE, cleaning supplies, scrubs, running and safety shoes – to support front-line medical workers and community organizations in need

“Working through the networks of the Canadian Red Cross and United Way Centraide Canada will help us quickly reach the communities who need our help the most. With such a large national footprint in communities across Canada, and the backing of our family of companies, we are in a unique position to provide front-line and community workers with products that will help keep them safe and effective on the job.”

Greg Hicks, President and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Tire Corporation

Making an Impact That Matters

Deloitte Canada—the country’s largest professional services firm, provides audit and assurance, consulting, financial advisory, risk advisory, tax, and related services to clients spanning multiple industries from coast to coast—has stepped up to help Canadian businesses respond, recover and thrive by:  

• Developing the Economic recovery dashboard to bring together, in one place, key economic indicators to give people a clear picture of our country’s current economic performance 
• Supporting the Canadian federal government and their efforts in the fight against COVID-19 
• Releasing a number of weekly webcasts with industry insights to help individuals and businesses navigate the pandemic 
• Introducing the Small Businesses Relief Tool to help small business owners find support and funding opportunities that will help them survive the crisis 
• Teaming up with Toronto’s Sinai Health on a livestream charity event which raised funds in the wake of COVID-19 
• Joining CPA Canada as part of the Accounting for Bravery Initiative, offering to prepare tax returns for frontline health care professionals—free of charge 
• Helping our people make an impact in their communities by offering flexible work arrangements, and leveraging our internal network to support the call for donations and volunteers 

“Amid the pandemic, we are guided by our purpose: to make an impact that matters. By looking for ways to build a better future by accelerating and expanding access to knowledge, we can inspire and help our people, organizations and communities to thrive. We are making significant contributions to our clients through each of our businesses, and to communities across every region.”

Anthony Viel, CEO of Deloitte Canada

Supporting Our Food Banks

Mosaic Forest Management, a BC-based forestry company that focuses on aboriginal inclusion and the sustainability of their forests, announced measures to support local food banks: 

• Donating $15,000 directly to food banks from Haida Gwaii, the Sunshine Coast and across Vancouver Island 
• Matching employee donations up to $50 per employee to their local food banks  

“As we collectively work to fight COVID-19, there are many people in our communities who are facing significant challenges in making ends meet. Local food banks are working hard to assist people in our communities, and we would like to sincerely thank the staff and volunteers who ensure that families have food on the table in their time of need.” 

Jeff Zweig, President and CEO of Mosaic Forest Management

Health and Safety is Paramount

TransAlta, a Calgary-based global power generation company with roots going back to 1909, announced its commitment to ensure the health and safety of its employees while continuing to meet the essential power demands of its customers.

“The health and safety of our employees, contractors and communities is paramount during this challenging time prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Our focus remains on generating essential electricity across Canada, the United States and Australia to support our customers’ needs, including the needs of other essential service providers.”

Dawn Farrell, President and Chief Executive Officer of TransAlta

Protect Lives

Ford Motor Company of Canada, Ltd., headquartered in Oakville, Ontario and with roots in the country going back more than 115 years, announced several measures to respond to COVID-19:

• Collaborating with governments and Unifor to ensure all safety actions and precautions are taken to help keep workers and their families protected
• Repurposing its Windsor facility to produce face shields for front-line workers
• Donating 2,900 pairs of Nitrile gloves to Brampton Civic Hospital and 80 N95 masks to the Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital
• Introducing the ‘Build to Lend a Hand,’ a program that can provide assistance to customers affected by the virus

“Ford of Canada has a long history of supporting Canada and its communities in times of need. By repurposing our production facilities in Windsor to meet the urgent demand for face shields, we can help protect the lives of our heroic healthcare professionals and first responders as they continue to treat the most vulnerable among us.”

Dean Stoneley, President and CEO of Ford Motor Company of Canada, Ltd.

Leveraging Collective Capabilities

MDA, Canada’s largest space technology developer and manufacturer, announced a partnership with Protection Collective to produce hundreds of life-saving face shields for front-line healthcare workers. It intends to coordinate with grassroots face shield makers in the Toronto region to enable them to bring a parallel assembly line into production at its Canadarm manufacturing plant in Brampton, Ontario.

“I am very proud of our team’s efforts, on their own initiative, to connect with other groups regionally and leverage our capability to support the response to COVID-19.  It clearly demonstrates the commitment of the MDA team to Canada and to leverage our collective capability.”

Mike Greenley, President and CEO of MDA Corporation

Canadians Depend on Reliable Connectivity

Shaw Communications, a leading Canadian connectivity company, is committed to helping Canadians through the challenges posed by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Shaw took swift action to ensure we could support our customers’ vital connectivity needs while ensuring our employees’ health and safety. It also launched several #ShawHelps initiatives to take care of our people, our customers and our communities: 

• $1 million donated to Community Food Centres Canada so they can continue to provide food and resources to the most vulnerable and impacted Canadians 
• Shaw GoWiFi opened across Western Canada, giving everyone access to the country’s largest Wi-Fi network for free 
• Free Internet provided to community food centres that use Shaw Business services to ensure they can focus on supporting those in need without worrying about their internet bill
• Thousands of low-income families provided two months free internet service through the federal Connecting Families initiative
• A virtual education hub launched to assist Canadian families and businesses learn valuable skills while keeping safe at home 

• All Shaw Cable and Shaw Direct customers provided access to several TV channels at no additional cost to keep their families informed and entertained, including CBC News Network, CTV News Channel, Treehouse and Disney Jr 
•   Customers provided the data they need to live their lives by not having hard data caps on internet plans and not limiting customers’ internet data use.

“The pandemic has reinforced that our country’s communications networks are not just the core of our digital infrastructure — they are the backbone of our social and economic well-being and they will drive our economic recovery. Canadians depend on reliable connectivity services to remain in touch with family and friends and, now more than ever, to stay connected with work and school. We understand that when you are on an important video call with your office, your child’s teacher or your grandmother, there is no tolerance for anything less than a good connection.”

Brad Shaw, Executive Chair and CEO of Shaw Communications

Rallying Together to Help Canadians

Linamar Corporation, a Guelph-based advanced manufacturing company, announced a couple of partnerships to manufacture medical devices:

• Working with Toronto’s Thornhill Medical Inc. to manufacture portable ventilators for military customers after receiving an order for 500 of its units from the federal government and it agreed to make up to 400 of the units per month once their line is retooled
• Teaming up with other auto-parts makers to help a small Brampton-based firm, O-Two Medical Technologies, produce 10,000 ventilators in a matter of months for the Ontario government
• Partnering with O-Two Medical Technologies and Bombardier, and with support from the Ontario government, to produce 10,000 Ontario-made e700 ventilators

“Linamar is working closely with government, industry experts and other manufacturing companies to find a way to expedite expanding capacity for ventilators. It is a top priority for us at the moment and one we are highly focused on,”

Linda Hasenfratz, CEO of Linamar.

Keeping Canadians Safe and Secure

Mastercard, a leader in global payments and a technology company that connects billions of consumers to financial institutions, announced new measures to ensure the health and safety of customers and all Canadians:

• Increasing the limit of contactless payments across Canada in response to safer distancing measures consumers can take in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic
• Working with industry partners in Canada to make it easier to accept contactless payment of up to $250 CAD
• Partnering with The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and Wellcome Trust to accelerate the development and access to treatment for COVID-19
• Supporting the Digital Main Street Portal to work with small businesses and help them to prepare to serve customers in a digital environment

“Mastercard is proud to have played a leadership role in driving the adoption of contactless payments in Canada and we know that Canadians have embraced it as a preferred way to pay. With safety and social distancing top of mind for all Canadians, today’s announcement is one way we’re helping cardholders to shop easily, securely and with more peace of mind during this difficult time.”

Sasha Krstic, President of Mastercard Canada

Lending a Helping Hand  

BHP Canada Inc., a leading company in extracting resources and managing assets, is committed to protecting their employees and their communities during the pandemic:   

•  Implementing safe working practices – including new transportation protocol, social distancing measures, and increased hygiene processes 
• Implementing an accelerated payment program that is anticipated to provide $3 million to small businesses in the First Nations, Métis, and other Saskatchewan communities 
• Donating more than $100,000 to foodbanks throughout the province of Saskatchewan, including $50,000 to Food Banks of Saskatchewan that represents all 32 Food Banks across the province  
• Contributing $65,000 to the Humboldt District Hospital Foundation (HDHF) towards the purchase of a Chemistry Analyzer, which is an essential piece of laboratory equipment used for analyzing blood and body fluids for both community and acute care patients 

“BHP is committed to helping local communities where our people live and work supporting our Jansen Project. I know there are many families who have been impacted by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and we are determined to lend a helping hand to these families and residents of Saskatchewan during this time.”

Giles Hellyer, President Potash for BHP

Committed to Addressing the Needs of Our Communities 

Greenfield Global Inc., a global leader in the production of ethanol, high-purity specialty alcohols and solvents, announced measures to support communities and front–line workers: 

• Launching the $400,000 Greenfield Cares Fund to support local charities serving the communities where Greenfield employees live and work    
• Producing and shipping vital alcohols and solvents at a record pace to combat the worldwide spread of COVID-19 
• Donating product to improve the health and safety of residents who have resorted to using improvised sanitizers and disinfectants 

“These are incredibly challenging times, and Greenfield is committed to addressing the needs of our communities. The pandemic is taking a real toll on the social and economic health of so many people and communities. Though governments have been working incredibly hard, we believe it is time for businesses who are able to step up and help as well. Through the Greenfield Cares Fund, we will be supporting local organizations to help those being hardest hit by COVID-19 in the communities where we live and work.”

Howard Field, President and CEO of Greenfield Global

Stepping-up for Canadians

General Motors of Canada, which has roots going back more than 100 years, announced an initiative deliver face masks to healthcare professionals and other Canadians:

• Manufacturing approximately 10 million face masks over the next year and providing them at cost to the Public Health Agency of Canada
• Implementing a series of safety measures to protect team members through pre-entry health screening, physical distancing and enhanced on-site cleaning

“This is one of the proudest moments in our history to be able to step-up and support all Canadians during this challenging time. With the support and collaboration of the Government of Canada, we will start production in Oshawa today and deliver 10 million face masks to the Public Health Agency of Canada over the next year.”

Scott Bell, President and Managing Director of General Motors of Canada

Coordinated Effort to Contain the Virus

Aecon Group Inc., a global construction leader with roots in Canada that go back more than 140 years, has been on the front-line in the fight against COVID-19 while protecting the health and safety of its employees: 

• Partnering with the Toronto Community Benefits Network (TCBN) to significantly increase access to pivotal training and mentoring programs for members of the workforce who have been laid off due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic 
• Supporting the Connected Units for Respiratory Ailments (CURA) initiative, whose objective is to construct and deploy mobile Intensive Care Units housed in modular shipping containers 
• Donating $25,000 to the Food Banks Canada COVID-19 Response Fund 
• Supporting the Canadian Red Cross Emergencies & COVID-19 Response Fund 

“As we all contend with the challenging COVID-19 pandemic, the health, safety and well-being of our employees and their families is our top priority.”

Jean-Louis Servranckx, President and CEO of Aecon Group Inc. 

“By working together, we can embark on a coordinated effort to best utilize public and private sector resources in order to contain COVID-19.”

John Beck, chairman of Aecon Group Inc

Ensuring Safety in Communities

Enerplus Corporation, an independent North American oil and natural gas exploration and production company, continues to support its employees and its operating communities through the pandemic:

• Introducing additional measures to enhance employee and community safety, while ensuring the continuity of its business
• Leveraging technology and its culture of strong collaboration to provide flexibility for employees to work remotely
• Donating hand sanitizer to the Calgary Women’s Emergency Shelter, the Calgary Drop-In Centre and to healthcare and first responder groups serving the Fort Berthold Reservation and nearby communities in North Dakota

“We remain focused on protecting our people and supporting our communities, while delivering strong safety and operational performance across our business. Our people are supporting one another and finding resourceful ways to safely and quickly respond to community needs.”

Ian C. Dundas, President and Chief Executive Officer of Enerplus Corporation

Standing Side-by-Side Our Communities

Rio Tinto, a leading global mining group with more than 10,000 employees in Canada, has continued to operate in a way that ensures the safety of its employees while also supporting the communities in which it operates:

• Manufacturing hand sanitizer to keep its employees safe and to donate to communities
• Donating $100,000 worth of PPE to local hospitals, medical clinics, and health services in Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean, Quebec

“We stand side by side with our communities through this difficult time – even when we are apart. So we are investing US$10 million across Canada and America to help our communities stay safe and healthy, and to support their recovery from the crisis.”

Alf Barrios, Chief Executive, Aluminum at Rio Tinto

We Are Here to Support Canadians

Morneau Shepell, a leading provider of technology-enabled HR services that deliver an integrated approach to employee well-being, announced initiatives to ensure the mental health of Canadians:

• A new internet-based Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (iCBT) program for its clients, which is a tool that is well-suited to address anxiety related to a pandemic
• In partnership with several other businesses and organizations, the development of WellCan — a hub of sustainable, free resources for Canadians seeking mental health help during the COVID-19 pandemic

“This new program is a great example of how we are mobilizing our teams to develop meaningful solutions to support our clients and their employees. That’s what it means to live up to our purpose: Improving lives. Improving business. We are here to support Canadians in these difficult times.”

Stephen Liptrap, President and CEO of Morneau Shepell Ltd.

Act for the Good of All

Element AI, an information technology company based in Montréal, has been committed to helping Canadians tackle and conquer COVID-19: 

• Developing an easy-to-use platform to help researchers and healthcare workers in their quest to better understand the virus and develop a vaccine 
• Sharing access to computing resources (GPUs, CPUs, storage) to facilitate and accelerate ongoing research and investigation relating to the virus 

• Creating The Corona Calculator app to help raise awareness of transmission of the virus and what people can do to limit the spread 
• Jean François Gagné, CEO of Element AI and co-chair of the COVID-19 Exposure Notification App Advisory Council, joined Her Excellency the Right Honourable Julie Payette for a live discussion as part of the #GGconversations series. He discussed the importance for all Canadians to download the COVID Alert app, its security and privacy features, and the broader theme of Canada’s emerging Artificial Intelligence sector.

“The COVID Alert app is the product of a broad collaboration between Canadians. It is an additional tool we have to fight the pandemic and one that everybody can contribute to by downloading it.”  

Jean François Gagné, CEO of Element AI

Building Back Communities

Peter Gilgan – the founder of Mattamy Homes, a home construction company focused on building up communities – committed to matching donations to St. Michael’s Courage Fund in Toronto (up to $3 million) to purchase diagnostic tests and fully equip labs in the fight against COVID-19. 

“During these very trying times for our country, we felt it was more important than ever to respond to the needs of our communities, and do our small part to step up.   Our Company and Foundation provided 60,000 KN-95 masks to local hospitals, matched $3.2 million in donations to St. Michael’s Hospital to fund rapid expansion of its critical testing capacity, and donated $1.5 million to food banks across the country as they dealt with urgent needs. It’s a privilege and a duty to help.”

Peter Gilgan, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Mattamy Asset Management Inc. 

Addressing the Basic Needs of Canadians

Sun Life, a leading international insurance and financial services organization, announced key initiatives to support its customers and all Canadians:

• Donating $1 million to support charities in the communities Sun Life operates
• Rolling out free access to virtual health care services for its Group Benefits Clients with an Extended Health Care (EHC) benefits

“As the situation around the world rapidly evolves, this donation is a first step towards helping communities address basic needs resulting from COVID-19.”

Dean Connor, President and CEO of Sun Life

Canadians Can Rely on Us

Home Depot of Canada, which operates 182 stores across the country, announced many important steps to protect the health and safety of its customers, employees and communities:

• Ensuring stores remain open for urgent supplies or emergency needs
• Expanding its time off policy to address the needs of hourly associates
• Adjusting pay and benefits to support all associates while recognizing that any employee who is over 65 years of age must be given additional paid time off as they are recognized as a vulnerable population by Health Canada

“Canadians rely on us for the products and materials they need to make urgent repairs in their homes and communities, and we have always been committed to remaining open during times of crisis. We are incredibly grateful to our associates and partners for their commitment to serving our customers during this challenging time, and I want to thank them for the dedication they show each and every day.”

Jeff Kinnaird, President of Home Depot Canada

Here To Help Your Home

Enercare, one of Canada’s largest energy providers with roots tracing back to the mid–1800s, is continuing to provide essential services during the pandemic while ensuring protective measures for the health and safety of customers and employees. This includes putting in place enhanced measures and re-engineering service to mitigate risks.    

“Looking ahead, I’m very excited about the opportunities for growth.” 

Jenine Krause, President and CEO of Enercare

Proactively Protecting Canadians

Cenovus Energy Inc., a Canadian oil and natural gas company committed to integrated and sustainable development, has stepped up to ensure the safety of their essential workers and support their communities:  

• Launching the Cenovus Cares Giving Program, collecting $285,000 in corporate-matched employee donations to distribute among local community groups  
• Utilizing their Foster Creek facility to produce hand sanitizer to protect employees and members of the community  
• Engaging in community partnerships with organizations such as Calgary Reads, the “I Can For Kids Foundation,” “Youth Link,” and more to support local youth and community members through the crisis 

“We are taking proactive steps to address the current business environment while continuing to focus on the safety of our people and assets and maintaining reliable performance at our operations.”

Alex Pourbaix, President and CEO of Cenovus Energy Inc.   

Answering the Call

DuPont Canada, a global innovation company with roots in the country going back to 1862, announced that its facility in Kingston, Ontario is producing and distributing hand sanitizer to fight the spread of COVID-19. To date, more than 4,000 liters of hand sanitizer has been produced and is being donated to support area hospitals, clinics, and small businesses.

“I am so proud of our colleagues who have stepped up to answer the call by utilizing our technical capabilities to produce and distribute hand sanitizer as a way to combat the spread of the COVID-19 virus.”

Wendy Andrushko, President of DuPont Canada

We All Must Do Our Part

HSBC Canada, one of the country’s leading international financial institutions, announced a $500,000 donation in response to the rapidly evolving COVID-19 outbreak:

• The funding supports Food Banks Canada, Breakfast Club of Canada and the United Way
• The donation also forms part of a global US$25 million commitment by HSBC Holdings plc to support the international medical response, protect vulnerable people and ensure food security around the world

“Throughout the country, we have seen Canadians come together to face this public health emergency. This show of solidarity has made us all proud to call Canada home. We want to do our part, and the most impactful actions we can take are to support our customers, employees and communities in this unprecedented time.”

Sandra Stuart, President and CEO of HSBC Bank Canada

We Must Continue to do the Right Thing

Magna, a leading global automotive supplier with its headquarters in Aurora, Ontario, announced activities to manufacture much needed medical equipment and support front-line workers:

• Donating 3,100 masks and 2,500 gowns to hospitals and charities in Italy
• Securing more than 500,000 respirator masks for local hospitals and health care authorities around the world
• Exploring partnerships with various automakers to provide parts for ventilators, face shields and more

“During this unprecedented time, we remain focused on the health and safety of our employees and the communities in which Magna operates, while continuing to support our customers around the world.”

Don Walker, CEO of Magna International Inc.

Prioritizing Safety and Well-being of Employees

Andrew Peller Ltd., a wine producing company that produces and markets wine and spirit products in Canada, has prioritized the health and safety of their employees. Since the beginning of the pandemic, almost all provincial liquor stores and grocery retail locations remained open for business. Andrew Peller Ltd. ensured that winemakers and their logistics team were equipped to continue producing products that would not compromise the health and safety of any employee.  

 “Our main priorities are to ensure the safety and well-being of our people, and that we are conducting our business to the best of our ability in these challenging times.”

John Peller, President and CEO of Andrew Peller Ltd.

Connectivity Is Needed Now More Than Ever

Rogers, a leading technology and media company, announced a series of steps to support its customers and communities during the evolving COVID-19 situation: 

• Investing $60 million through the Rogers Foundation into community organizations to help Canadians in need, including Food Banks Canada, the Salvation Army, Women’s Shelters Canada, Children’s Aid Foundation, and more
• Leveraging its networks and unique assets, Rogers announced it is offering free services and customer support including free access to TV shows and movies, Canada-wide long distance, global roaming and more in response to COVID-19 
• Donating one million meals to Food Banks Canada and helping raise awareness of this urgent need through a national awareness campaign to help fill the shelves 
• Waiving Canadian long-distance voice calling fees for wireless, home phone, and small businesses for Rogers, Fido and chatr customers 
• Removing data usage caps for Rogers and Fido customers on limited home internet plans so they can connect without worrying about internet overage charges 
• Ensuring that no Rogers and Fido services are suspended or disconnected for any customer experiencing financial difficulties, as well as offering more flexible payment options for customers facing financial uncertainty due to COVID-19 
• Joining other telecommunication providers in agreeing to a Government of Canada request to send text messages containing contact information for Global Affairs Canada consular support to devices belonging to Canadians living or travelling abroad 
• Distributing 6,000 pallets of food into hampers for local food banks as part of their Step Up to the Plate initiative with the Jays Care Foundation, and using RogersP On-the-Go to help with the delivery of the hampers 

“We know that there is a lot of uncertainty in our daily lives right now. This is a challenge that affects every Canadian and every business across our country, and we all have a vital role to play in supporting each other through it. The connectivity we provide Canadians is critical now more than ever, and these steps will help to make life a little easier for our customers.”

Joe Natale, President and Chief Executive Officer of Rogers

It’s the Canadian Thing to Do

Canada Goose, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of performance luxury apparel, announced several ways it is stepping up:

• Shifting its manufacturing facilities to begin production of necessary medical gear for front-line healthcare workers and patients across Canada, including the production of scrubs and patient gowns
• Establishing an Employee Support fund for employees who are impacted by store and manufacturing closures but are not eligible for government assistance
• Donating funds to the Wuhan Charity Federation to help fight the COVID-19 outbreak
• Donating $1 million through the Dani Reiss Family Foundation to the Huntsville Hospital Foundation to equip the hospital with advanced technology to help save lives

“Across Canada, there are people risking their lives every day on the front-lines of COVID-19 in healthcare facilities, and they need help. Now is the time to put our manufacturing resources and capabilities to work for the greater good. Our employees are ready, willing and able to help, and that’s what we’re doing. It’s the Canadian thing to do.”

Dani Reiss, President & CEO of Canada Goose

Positive Difference in Our Communities

Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp., which provides safe and reliable energy and water to customers across North America, announced the donation of $500,000 to support the companies operational communities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Protecting and supporting our communities is vitally important to us. These funds will help provide essential support and services to the communities where we operate and live. Together with our more than 2,500 employees across the U.S. and Canada, we want to make a positive difference in our communities during this extremely challenging time.”

Ian Robertson, President and CEO of Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp.

Providing the Needs of Front-line Workers

KingSett, Canada’s leading private equity real estate investment firm, launched the “Rest Safe Program” to provide a free room at Toronto’s Royal York Hotel to front-line COVID-19 workers who are exhausted or concerned that going home may compromise the health of those they love. The program supports front-line workers with St. Michael’s Hospital, Mount Sinai Hospital and all the hospitals associated with the University Health Network.

“We’re happy to do our part by providing free rooms at the Royal York – respecting and helping provide for the needs of our front-line health care workers.”

Jon Love, President and CEO of KingSett Capital

Leading with their Hearts  

Clearwater Seafoods Limited Partnership, a Nova Scotia- based seafood provider committed to responsible and sustainable sourcing, has worked to keep their employees safe while giving back to the community:  

• Installing physical barriers between work stations, marking 6-ft spacing at facility entrances, and providing workers with PPE to ensure the workplace is compliant with public health safety guidelines 
• Launching the Clearwater Cares program to deliver cards and food to front-line workers 
• Offering home delivery services to customers across Canada  

“I’m truly proud, humbled by and grateful to our Clearwater employees around the world. They are leading with courage, integrity, responsibility and with their hearts. They are protecting themselves, their coworkers and their families from harm. They are helping neighbors and supporting frontline healthcare, emergency service providers and food banks in our communities. They are doing this on their own time and all the while working tirelessly to support a safe and reliable global food supply under extraordinary conditions. Our Clearwater Cares program was designed solely by employees to encourage helping others and has also been coordinated by employees and has supported fellow employees, their families, their friends and their various communities, delivering over 1,700 meals and almost 1,000 gift cards. A special touch has been Clearwater Cares hearts made by employees with messages of thanks written by Clearwater kids.”

Ian Smith, CEO of Clearwater Seafoods Limited Partnership   

Support Charities and Front-line Staff

Power Corporation of Canada, an international management and holding company that focuses on financial services, announced a $1 million joint contribution with Canada Life and IGM Financial to support the immediate needs of local and national foodbanks who are struggling to cope with increased demand.

“We salute and express our deep thanks to the charities and all the front-line staff who are working so tirelessly to keep us all safe and healthy.”

Jeffrey Orr, President and CEO of Power Corporation of Canada

Committed to Customers While Ensuring Safety of Communities and Employees 

Finning International Inc., a Canadian-established construction equipment dealer with an 87-year old brand, updated their Health & Safety protocols and implemented new procedures in response to COVID-19: 

• Cancelling all non-essential travel and in-person meetings, shifting as many employees to working from home as possible 
• Supporting employees who need to self-isolate and revising employee pay policies to be in line with government supports 
• Installing clear signage regarding health and safety protocols and practices 
• Offering services online, including submitting orders, tracking payment and shipping, offering online courses and webinars as well as consulting representatives virtually 

 “I am very proud of how the Finning team adapted and continues to manage through these challenging times, allowing us to keep our commitment to serving our customers while ensuring the safety of our communities and employees. We benefitted greatly from remaining flexible and focused on what we could control and were proud to see that our prior investment in digital platforms, technology and efficient processes resulted in minimal disruption for those we serve,” said Scott Thomson, President and CEO of Finning International Inc. 

Working with Unions and Governments to Ensure Safety

EllisDon, a world-leading construction and building services company, announced several initiatives to fight the spread of COVID-19:

• Accelerating the construction of the Peter Gilgan Patient Care Tower, which will help address immediate COVID-19 critical care needs for Unity Health Toronto
• Donating more than 200 N95 respirator masks to front-line healthcare at the William Osler Health System – Brampton Civic Hospital
• Working with Cleveland Clinic Canada to provide all EllisDon employees and their immediate families with Express Care Online, a tool providing virtual medical advice from world-leading doctors and nurses to help reduce hospital visits and the strain on our medical system
• Partnering with Pitt Meadows Plumbing and Houle Electric to provide 100% hands-free mobile hand wash stations for construction sites
• Recognized for implementing “top notch” safety protocols, measures and resources on its job sites
• Donating $30,000 to the Yonge Street Mission to help feed families in downtown Toronto and supply them with necessary household items

“We all figured out early on that the way to do this was to take care of each other, tradesperson and salaried employee alike. We share the same space, the same hygiene standards, the same risks. We have received great support from thoughtful union leaders and key government people. It turns out that nothing has frightened us all equally as much, or brought us closer together, seven feet apart, as COVID-19.”

Geoff Smith, President and CEO of EllisDon

Being Canadian Means Taking Care of Each Other

Maple Leaf Foods, a leading food processing company based in Mississauga, Ontario, announced several measures:

• Continuing to produce nourishing food people need in a safe manner for its employees and Canadians
• Providing its hourly people who are working to maintain a safe supply of food with an $80/week additional support payment, in addition to regular and overtime pay
• Partnering with the Maple Leaf Centre for Action on Food Security to launch a matching campaign to raise an additional $2 million to support emergency food relief efforts across Canada
• Donating $2.5 million to the CANADIAN FRONTLINE HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS PROTECTION FUND (CFHPPF), a fund being established by hospital foundations across the country to provide additional support for front-line health care workers

“What defines being Canadian is that we do take care of each other and I love that about this country.”

Michael McCain, President and CEO of Maple Leaf Foods

Small Businesses Are Vital

Canada Life, which has been providing Canadians leading insurance and wealth management services for more than 170 years, joined other financial institutions in providing $1 million in support of crisis relief in communities:

• This funding will help support the immediate needs of local and national foodbanks who are currently struggling to cope with increased demand
• Small business will be supported as the company acknowledges the pressures business owners are facing as the Canadian economy has been placed on hold

“We understand small businesses are a vital part of the Canadian economy. That’s why we’re dedicated to working collaboratively with other expert organizations, in communities across the country, to help owners and employees successfully adjust and respond to the business challenges ahead. We believe we’re all in this together, and we’re proud to be here to serve Canadians when they need us most.”

Paul Mahon, President and CEO, Canada Life

We Will Get Through This Together

Lightspeed POS Inc., a leading provider of software solutions and support systems for small and medium-sized enterprises, has been at the forefront in supporting restaurants and local businesses.

• Offering merchants three free months of its eCommerce, Delivery and Loyalty solutions
• Reimbursing employees for up to $500 on the purchases they make from any Lightspeed customer
• Launching an online COVID-19 Retail and Restaurant Resource Guide to help local businesses

“Through this crisis, we are listening to our customers to find the best ways to help them weather the storm. Please share your thoughts with us—we will get through this together.”

Dax Dasilva, CEO of Lightspeed

Knowledge Is Essential to Dealing with a Crisis

D2L, a global leader in virtual learning, announced new initiatives to support students, learners and educators:

• Offering a free an online course on COVID-19 to help learners and educators understand the global pandemic, its risks, and how to effectively manage it
• Providing educators and learners the opportunity to transition from a classroom usage model to online usage model through its Brightspace platform at no additional cost through to July 1, 2020

“As educators, we believe that knowledge is essential to dealing with a crisis in a steady and effective way. That’s why we’ve put together this comprehensive review of all that we know to date about COVID-19, and made it available to everyone, at no cost.”

John Baker, President and CEO of D2L

Do the Right Thing

Manulife, a leading international insurance and financial services group with global headquarters in Toronto, announced several measures to protect its customers and all Canadians:

• Extending health benefits to both Group and Individual Insurance plans and extending travel insurance for Canadians who may be delayed in returning home
• Providing relief from credit card or mortgage obligations to its banking customers who are directly impacted by economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic
• Donating $1 million to ensure our Canadian communities in need have safe access to food, helping the most vulnerable people whose health and well-being are most immediately impacted

“At Manulife, one of our core values is to Do the Right Thing. We are committed to making lives better for people around the world, and in an effort to slow the spread of coronavirus, we are supporting food security, particularly the availability and safe access to food for those who are most vulnerable at this critical time.”

Roy Gori, President and CEO of Manulife

Staying True to Our Values

Giant Tiger (Giant Tiger Stores Limited), a proud Canadian retailer with over 250 stores across Canada, is continuing to fulfill its role as an essential retailer dedicated to serving communities by providing the items that Canadians want and need at the everyday low prices that are synonymous with Giant Tiger. Giant Tiger has implemented a number of initiatives to support employees, customers and communities during the pandemic: 

• Implementing strict in store health & safety measure for staff and customers 
• Donating N95 masks directly to healthcare workers across Canada 
• Launching the #ThankYou Sessions Livestream concert series that will help to connect Canadians and fund weekly donations to Food Banks Canada  
• Directing proceeds of a specially designed t-shirt towards Food Banks Canada  

“Staying true to our values, we have been actively supporting our communities and those in need. There have been so many people who have been negatively impacted by the effects of COVID-19, that despite the disruption and impacts to our own business, we believe it is a key responsibility and vital role to give back to the communities across the country that our friends, neighbours and customers call home.”

Gordon Reid, Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Giant Tiger Stores Limited

Caring for the Health and Safety of Canadians

Suncor, Canada’s leading integrated energy company, announced key initiatives to support the fight against the virus: 

• Contributing $3 million to help meet the needs of front-line and essential workers 
• Donating 40,000 N95 masks to the federal government, which identified communities that critically need personal protective equipment 
• Teaming up with Western University scientists to tackle the shortage of COVID-19 tests, using technology intended to treat wastewater from refineries to produce home testing kits 
• Financially supporting the production of 200 ventilators for  

“We care deeply about Canadians and their health and safety. Over the weekend, we distributed masks to some of our country’s northernmost communities in Nunavut, the Northwest Territories and the Yukon. It is our honour to be able to play our part alongside all Canadians in caring for each other through these challenging times.”

Mark Little, President and CEO of Suncor

No One Should Feel Alone or Disconnected

TELUS, a leading communications and information technology company, has taken several measures to support Canadians and communities: 

• Donating more than 10,000 free mobile devices and $0 rate plans, valued at more than $5 million, to hundreds of organizations across the country to help isolated seniors, hospitalized patients and vulnerable Canadians stay connected during the COVID-19 pandemic 
• Donating $10 million through the TELUS Foundation to help urgently support and enhance public healthcare capacity and community response across Canada 
• Enabling 26,000 Canadian family doctors through TELUS Health to conduct virtual visits with their patients by seamlessly integrating this functionality into its electronic medical records (EMRs) offering 
• Expanding its support for low income families by automatically waiving the fees for the TELUS Internet for Good program for two months, giving customers currently enrolled in the program access to high speed internet in their home at no cost for 60 days 
• Sharing insights and providing guided access to strongly de-identified data with the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) to help researchers study and assess the COVID-19 crisis as part of TELUS’s Data For Good program 
• Supporting small business owners through the #StandWithOwners program, giving away gift cards to be used at small businesses and showcasing them on TELUS’s media platforms as well as engaging these owners in discussions with industry experts such as Arlene Dickinson 

“No one should feel alone or disconnected, and it is a privilege for our team to be able to create a vital human connection for those members of our community who are most in need of our care and assistance.”

Darren Entwistle, President and CEO of TELUS

Advancing Science and Technology for Progress

IBM Canada, which has roots in the country going back more than 100 years, announced various programs to assist Canadian businesses, communities, students and academia:

• Providing its online education resources for free to all Canadians, including online programs like IBM Skills, Open P-TECH and IBM AI Education series for teachers
• Offering “Watson Assistant for Citizens” an AI based service for government agencies and healthcare institutions to support responses to COVID-19 questions with the City of Markham among the first to adopt

“IBM has been trusted by clients and governments in crises for 109 years now. IBMers have devoted their careers to advancing science and creating technology that is a force for progress in the world.”

Ayman Antoun, General Manager, IBM North America

Dedicated to Bringing Canadians Home

WestJet, which was founded in 1996 and has emerged as one of Canada’s top domestic and international airlines, announced several measures to protect its customers and all Canadians:

• Collaborating with the Government of Canada to provide special flights to repatriate Canadians from destinations around the world
• Adopting the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy to return 6,400 employees to its payroll
• Increasing the cargo capacity across its fleet to support the supply chain and bringing thousands of pounds of critical supplies each day including perishables, pharmaceuticals, blood products and many other necessary items that need to be shipped quickly, carefully and on time

“In the face of this global crisis, WestJetters are dedicated to bringing Canadians home. WestJet is known for its caring spirit and will do the right thing for our country, for our guests and for our people.”

Ed Sims, President and CEO of WestJet

Moving Forward

Canadian National Railway (CN), North America’s longest freight railway based out of Montreal, is shifting from pandemic response measures to initiatives to help re-open Canada’s economy: 

• Fulfilling essential deliveries to communities on both sides of the border while remaining dedicated to the safety of employees 
• Implementing the new Intermodal Rail Service between Moncton and Halifax to reduce short-haul trucking in Halifax, in partnership with the Halifax Port Authority 
• Investing $235 million in the province of Quebec to implement information technology projects, better manage train traffic, replace various rails and ties, and provide maintenance of existing track infrastructure  
• Investing $305 million in the province of Alberta to expand, improve and maintain railway lines to allow for more efficient rail traffic 
• Investing $445 million in expansion and maintenance projects for railway lines in the province of British Colombia 
• Investing $310 million in the province of Ontario to improve intermodal facilities, replace rail and ties as well as maintain other track infrastructure 
• Investing $10 million in Nova Scotia’s track infrastructure to replace rail and ties, rebuild road crossing surfaces as well as perform maintenance of bridges, culverts, signal systems and other railway features. 
• Investing $20 million in the province of New Brunswick to rebuild and strengthen bridges, the replace rail and ties, rebuild road crossing surfaces as well as perform maintenance work on culverts, signal systems and other track infrastructure. 
• Investing $105 million in Manitoba’s track infrastructure to improve the maintenance of rail and ties, bridges, level crossings, culverts, signal systems and other railway features 
• Investing $105 million in the province of Saskatchewan to improve the maintenance of rail and ties, bridges, level crossings, culverts, signal systems and other track infrastructure 

“We are pleased to be moving forward with this initiative that will benefit all of our partners and customers.”

Jean-Jacques Ruest, President and CEO of CN

We Will Get Through Together

Richardson International Limited, a global agricultural leader that has served growers and international customers for over 160 years, has worked diligently to keep its employees safer while contributing to global food security.  

“This is an undeniably difficult situation, and we thank all of those committed to the collective betterment of our health and security. We will get through this and will do so together,”

 Curt Vossen, President and CEO of Richardson International Limited

We Have Your Back

BlackBerry, a global leader in enterprise software and the Internet of Things, leveraged its expertise in technology to support initiatives that help contain the spread of COVID-19:

• Helping the development and undergoing a security review of the Canada-wide mobile contact tracing app
• Offering technological solutions free of charge for 60 days so that businesses can continue their operations as they take steps

“Recent weeks have demonstrated how connected we are to one another and the importance of community during challenging times.  As always, we have your back and are here to support you, your teams and your business as needed,”

John Chen, Executive Chairman and CEO of BlackBerry

Rallying for our Customers and Communities

Emera Inc., a North American energy and services giant with a portfolio of companies focused on sustainable and clean operations, is continuing to fulfill its role as an essential service while prioritizing the health and safety of employees:   

• Partnering with Nova Scotia Power, Tampa Electric and Peoples Gas, New Mexico Gas and Emera New Brunswick to donate approximately $4 million to organizations that provide critical aid and care to communities in need  
• Working with Nova Scotia power to evenly divide a $1 million donation between the United Way’s Atlantic Compassion Fund and the Home Energy Assistance Top-up (HEAT) Fund   
• Contributing $500,000 to the Stronger Together Nova Scotia Fund, which supports families and communities in need of long-term aid due to the crisis  
• Contributing more than $6 million to provide critical community support through an employee fundraising campaign and providing an additional year-end gift of $125,000 to support mental health in Eastern Canada

“I’m extremely proud of the way our team has rallied and adapted in order to keep doing what we do best— safely delivering energy to our customers – energy that has become even more critical during this extraordinary time.”

Scott Balfour, President and Chief Executive Officer of Emera Inc.

Grateful to the First Responders and Front-line Workers

AltaLink L.P., Alberta’s largest regulated electricity transmission company, pledged its commitment to ensure the electricity that supplies more than three million Albertans is delivered uninterrupted while keeping its employees safe and healthy.

“We are incredibly grateful to the first responders who are doing so much for Albertans, Canadians and around the world. Whether it’s our doctors and nurses, supply chain workers, grocery and pharmacy workers, public transit operators, or utilities, our team is proud to be part of the huge team that is working 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to keep Alberta running.”

Scott Thon, President and CEO of AltaLink

Providing Essential Services and Keeping our Communities Safe

With 82 London Drugs stores and pharmacies in Western Canada, and 29 grocery stores, H.Y. Louie Co. Limited family businesses are on the front-lines operating essential services while implementing support programs in its communities:

• Implementing dedicated shopping hours for frontline workers and first responders
• Dedicating shopping hours for seniors and persons with disabilities
• Offering free delivery of medications

• Assisting Girl Guides of Canada with a solution to purchase thousands of boxes of Girl Guide Cookies online and for delivery across Canada
• Dedicating resources to help seniors on a one-on-one basis
• Supporting United Way and its Local Love in a Global Crisis initiative with the ability for customers to contribute online and in all London Drugs stores, directly helping seniors and the most vulnerable
• Highlighting local Canadian partners in a new Canada Proud recognition and awareness campaign
• Launching a Thank You to our healthcare heroes’ card campaign, as well as a ‘Be Kind’ card offering – customers receive a complimentary cow bell for helping to celebrate our healthcare heroes, for spreading kindness, and for supporting the United Way
• Offering up shelf space in select stores to local small businesses who have had to close their doors due to COVID-19

“H.Y. Louie Co. Limited has been a family owned, proudly Canadian company for 117 years, and London Drugs has been serving Canadians for 75 years. Our history provides us with the strength and wisdom required by times such as these. Our foundational values have always been based on taking care of the needs of our employees, our customers, our partners and most importantly, the communities we live and work in. I am extremely proud of all our employees who are working to provide much needed essential services, and who continue to urge us to seek new and innovative ways to serve all Canadians. The courage and commitment to step forward in times of crisis is what defines us as a country. I’m confident that as we all work together, we will restore our country’s economic health, and create an even better future, built on lessons learned during this time.”

Brandt C. Louie, Chairman of H.Y. Louie Co. Limited and London Drugs Limited

Accelerate the Delivery of Mental Health Services

Bell Canada, the country’s oldest communications company and recognized internationally for its mental health initiatives, announced several measures to help Canadians through the COVID-19 pandemic:

• Acquiring approximately 1.5 million protective face masks to help equip more healthcare and other front-line public workers throughout Canada in the fight against COVID-19. The N95 and KN95 masks are being donated to the federal, provincial and territorial governments for distribution in every region of the country
• Increasing Bell Let’s Talk funding commitment by $5 million and donating these funds to address the urgent need for increased resources with support for Canadian Red Cross, Canadian Mental Health Association, Kids Help Phone, Revivre and Strongest Families Institute
• Waiving extra usage fees for residential Internet customers to help Canadians working from home or in isolation
• Bell joined other Canada telecommunication providers in agreeing to the Government of Canada’s request to send text messages containing contact information for Global Affairs Canada consular support to devices belonging to Canadians living or travelling abroad

“The biggest public health crisis in a lifetime, COVID-19 demands an unprecedented response across every part of Canadian society, including finding new ways to accelerate the delivery of mental health services in such a challenging time.”

Mirko Bibic, President and CEO of BCE Inc. and Bell Canada

Help the Vulnerable

Shell Canada, which has roots in the country going back more than 100 years and employing 3,700 people across Canada, announced its commitment to contributing to Canadians in uncertain times: 

• Providing free sandwiches and beverages to front-line medical staff and commercial drivers that visit Shell gas stations  
• Using 3D printers to produce up to 750 reusable face shields shipped to provincial governments 
• Donating 125,000 litres of isopropyl alcohol, or IPA, to the Government of Canada for use by healthcare providers  
• Contributing $250,000 to the COVID-19 Community Response Fund, a collaboration with The City of Calgary, including the Calgary Emergency Management Agency, and United Way of Calgary and Area 
• Donating $253,103 through its #FuellingKindness Feeding Communities campaign by matching contributions by Shell employees and retirees to support local foodbanks across Canada 

“Thanks to the community agencies working hard to provide emergency support during this critical time. We’re honoured to support the COVID-19 Community Response Fund with the United Way of Calgary and Area which will aid in providing much-needed resources to those vulnerable and impacted by the crisis.”

Michael Crothers, President and Country Chair of Shell Canada

Take Care of the Most Vulnerable

National Bank, one of Canada’s leading financial groups with global headquarters in Montreal, announced several measures to protect its customers and all Canadians:

• Donating $1 million to the Canadian Red Cross to support several community organizations that help vulnerable people across the country
• Donating $500,000 to ten organizations that work in the mental health field in different regions of the country, including a study by researcher Simon Coulombe at Wilfrid Laurier University, Revivre, Montreal Children’s Hospital Foundation, Fondation Jeunes en Tête, Kids Help Phone, Wood’s Homes Foundation, Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation, BC Mental Health Foundation, Le Chaînon, Canadian Mental Health Association – Manitoba and Winnipeg
• Writing to all clients who are aged 75 or older, and/or living in a long-term care facility or in a seniors’ residence to confirm they have all information related to COVID-19 at hand, offering extra help to the individuals who need it most
• Compensating customers for the additional interest charged if mortgage payments are deferred, reducing the impact of interest charges on credit cards and temporarily waving certain banking fees
• Donating $500,000 to the United Way Centraide Canada’s COVID-19 Community Response and Recovery Fund intended to support those most in need in communities affected by the pandemic
• Contributing $50,000 to the Breakfast Club of Canada Emergency Fund to provide nutritional support to thousands of children and their families
• Providing its TV ad slots and scheduled social media posts free of charge to support Héma-Québec as it encourages people to donate blood
• Working collaboratively with the Government of Canada to offer online enrollment of Canada Revenue Agency’s (CRA) direct deposit, a convenient and secure way to receive SIN-based government benefit payments, including the new Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) for people experiencing financial hardship due to COVID-19
• Joining five other banks in making a commitment to work with personal and small business banking customers on a case-by-case basis to provide flexible solutions to help them manage through challenges such as pay disruption due to COVID-19; childcare disruption due to school closures; or those facing illness from COVID-19
• Partnering with the Government of Quebec to create the National Bank SME Growth Fund supporting small and medium enterprises and their digital transition

“It’s always important to take care of the most vulnerable among us, but it’s all the more vital in these exceptional circumstances.”

Louis Vachon, President and Chief Executive Officer of National Bank of Canada

Proud to be Engaged in the Community

Enbridge, a North American leader in energy delivery employing approximately 13,000 people, has continued their commitment to serving communities during the pandemic:

• Allocating funds to 300 organizations supporting food banks and first responders
• Providing emergency funding for approximately 150 Indigenous groups
• Purchasing face masks from local First Nations communities to be donated and distributed to other communities
• Participating in United Way Alberta’s Stollery Charitable Foundation Match Challenge, which doubles the impact of donor’s dollars toward helping those impacted by the pandemic
• Donating PPE to Hospice Peterborough to keep workers safe
• Contributing $100,000 to United Way Calgary’s COVID-19 Community Response Fund

“We are especially proud of how we interact with our communities.”

Al Monaco, President and Chief Executive Officer of Enbridge.

Your Bank Will Be There for You

CIBC, one of Canada’s leading financial institutions with roots going back more than 150 years, announced several initiatives in support of its customers and all Canadians: 

• Enabling small and medium business clients to apply for the Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) directly from the bank’s online site 
• Offering reduced interest rates on personal credit cards for Canadians experiencing financial hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic 
• Opening banking centres 30 minutes early at 9:30 am for seniors on select dates  
• Providing additional wages and benefits to assist employees working during the pandemic or impacted by the virus  
• Joining five other banks in making a commitment to work with personal and small business banking customers on a case-by-case basis to provide flexible solutions to help them manage through challenges such as pay disruption due to COVID-19; childcare disruption due to school closures; or those facing illness from COVID-19 
• Offering 200 prizes of $1,500 Merit travel vouchers each to the Holidays for Heroes draw, giving healthcare workers the opportunity to go away on vacation 
• Committing $500,000 towards the CIBC Future Heroes Fund, a bursary program created as a tribute to the people who are bravely fighting COVID-19 and inspiring the healthcare heroes of tomorrow 

“In recent weeks, we’ve seen the human and economic effects of COVID-19 – but we’ve also seen the best of each other. Thank you to everyone for doing their part to get us through this challenging time. Most importantly, I want you to know that your bank will be there for you.”

Victor Dodig, President and CEO of CIBC

United in the Battle Against COVID-19

More than 130 CEOs signed an open letter, which was published in both The Globe and Mail and National Post, encouraging all business and government leaders to concentrate their energies on stopping the spread of COVID-19.

“Today we stand united in a shared battle against COVID-19. We urge every leader in the country to immediately shift focus to the singular objective of slowing the pace of transmission of this coronavirus. International experience demonstrates that social distancing is the only effective method, and is in the best interests of our employees, their families and our communities. While this will have significant economic impact on our businesses in the short term, it is critical to weathering this storm and will hasten the recovery.”

Business Council of Canada

Collaboration Between Businesses and Government

ATCO Ltd., an Edmonton-based diversified global corporation with more than 70 years of operations, is helping front-line workers and vulnerable populations respond to the pandemic: 

• Partnering with Weatherhaven Global Resources Ltd. (Weatherhhaven) to deliver up to 10 Mobile Health Units (MHUs) to the Government of Canada that can accommodate up to 100 patients  
• Delivering 5,000 meals to isolated senior citizens through the Calgary Seniors Resource Society 

“As the pandemic strains our nation’s medical infrastructure, collaboration among businesses and government will be key to supporting public health. That’s why we are immensely proud to do our part to increase Canada’s healthcare capacity with the availability of a nimble fleet of specially-designed medical facilities.”

Nancy Southern, Chair and Chief Executive Officer of ATCO Ltd.

Protecting Health Is Our Number One Priority

TMX Group, a Canadian financial services company that operates equities, fixed income, derivatives, and energy markets exchanges, is ensuring their people, clients, and capital markets community remain safe in this unprecedented time while TMX employees are ensuring communities obtain the support they need:  

• Donating $150,000 of TMX’s charitable funds to SickKids Foundation to ensure the most vulnerable are kept safe during the pandemic.  

 “TMX’s number one priority will remain consistent in all our decision-making: the health and safety of our people, our clients and the entire capital markets community.”

John McKenzie, Interim CEO and CFO of TMX Group

Inspired by Front-line Workers

TC Energy Corporation, a major energy company based in Calgary that develops and operates energy infrastructure across North America, is giving back to Canadians:  

• Donating more than $2.6 million across North America to help provide critical support to people, places and organizations impacted by COVID-19, including more than $480,000 contributed by TC Energy employees 
• Launching the #BetterTogether campaign with all donations made through the TC Energy Giving Portal to help provide food to those struggling to make ends meet, support those on the front–lines and help organizations meet the immediate needs of their communities  

“While many of us remain isolated in our homes, we continue to be inspired by the efforts of healthcare workers, researchers and governments. We’re grateful for their vital work, protecting society, caring for those directly affected, and studying the virus to develop the tools needed to overcome this pandemic as quickly as possible. At the same time, many others are hard at work making sure we have access to food, water, transportation, communications services and more. That includes our very own teams on the front–line who are physically present at our project and facilities work sites.”

Russ Girling, President and CEO of TC Energy

Giving Back to Our Communities

Canadian Pacific Railway, a transcontinental railway in Canada and the United States with roots going back to 1881, is continuing to ensure the health and safety of its employees while performing its duty as a critical service for its customers and all Canadians:

• Donating $1 million to four North American charities working on the front lines to help people impacted by COVID-19. In Canada, the company will donate $350,000 to The Frontline Fund and $250,000 to Food Banks Canada
• Matching employee donations dollar-for-dollar to 14 non-profits that are treating those who are sick, providing food for those in need, or providing disaster-relief support in the communities CP operates

“The way communities in North America and around the world have come together is remarkable. Through our community investment program CP Has Heart, we remain committed to giving back to communities across our network and are incredibly proud to be supporting the extraordinary response to COVID-19.”

Keith Creel, President and CEO of Canadian Pacific Railway

Ensuring Health and Well-being

GardaWorld, a leading provider of security services world-wide, is committed to implementing safe working practices to ensure service continuity during the pandemic. It is also keeping individuals and businesses informed through daily and weekly COVID-19 updates.   

“We recognize the seriousness of the COVID-19 pandemic and are taking the right measures to ensure everyone’s health and well-being.”

Stephan Crétier, Founding President and Chief Executive Officer of GardaWorld