May 4, 2021
Winnipeg, MB, May 4, 2021. . . Today, Canada Life released its 2020 public accountability statement.
This annual report details the company’s efforts to improve the well-being of Canadians. For 2020, it focused on how during the pandemic, the 170-year-old insurance and wealth provider followed through on its promises and directed additional support where it was needed most.
“At Canada Life, we recognized that we had to play a part in continuing to support our communities’ needs during COVID-19 and beyond,” said Paul Mahon, President and Chief Executive Officer, Canada Life. “That’s why we focused on tangible support to quickly reach those most in need – like funding for supplies and personal protective equipment for frontline healthcare workers and boosting our support for food banks across Canada.”
Along with highlighting financial contributions and flexible options like loan, mortgage and premium deferrals for customers, it also includes examples of how the company is fostering diversity and inclusion in their workplaces and local communities. As a year marked by significant social awareness to systemic racial injustices, Canada Life acknowledges there’s more work to do to meet the expectations of Canadians, while continuing to deliver on the promises we make.
“We believe we must reflect the communities we serve, while ensuring our people feel valued and supported for who they are, so everyone can have a chance to excel,” said Jeff Macoun, President and Chief Operating Officer, Canada, at Canada Life. “As a first step towards positive change, with more work to do, we joined 200 other Canadian companies and signed on to the BlackNorth Initiative.”
To extend their message further, Canada Life is launching a multi-platform social media awareness campaign, based on the following video:
Description: This video combines footage and photography of Canadians with words to illustrate Canada Life’s commitment to frontline healthcare workers, communities, business owners and customers in 2020.
A business owner flips the sign in her window from “Open” to “Closed.”
Onscreen text: In 2020
Description: Cut to a mother and daughter sitting on their front porch.
Onscreen text: a year of challenge and change
Description: A teacher disinfects his students’ desks and a woman wearing a face mask talks to her pharmacist behind a glass barrier.
Onscreen text: Canada Life focused on supporting those most in need
Description: Text onscreen appears within four squares: “Frontline healthcare workers,” “Our communities,” “Small and medium-sized businesses,” “Our customers.”
Onscreen text: Frontline healthcare workers
Description: A healthcare worker stands at a car passenger’s window, filling out a medical questionnaire.
Onscreen text: To truly thank them for their selfless commitment
Description: A nurse helps another put on rubber gloves.
Onscreen text: we contributed to The Frontline Fund
Description: Cut to a nurse putting on his goggles.
Onscreen text: for support, research and supplies including personal protective equipment.
Description: An illustration of a stethoscope and personal protective equipment animate on screen.
Onscreen text: Our communities
Description: Four Canada Life employees in masks pose around a collection of backpacks for charity.
Onscreen text: To tackle crisis relief efforts
Description: A Canada Life employee places school supplies into a box.
Onscreen text: we supported Canadian food banks
Description: A child poses with a drawing of a Thanksgiving dinner.
Onscreen text: and contributed more than 100,000 meals to those in need.
Description: Large graphics appear.
Onscreen text: Small and medium-sized businesses
Description: A female business owner wearing a mask works in a small restaurant kitchen, preparing a meal.
Onscreen text: To help them persevere
Description: She delivers takeout to a customer waiting outside.
Onscreen text: we supported the Canadian Chamber of Commerce
Description: The Canadian Chamber of Commerce website animates onto the screen.
Onscreen text: providing resources to navigate the impacts to businesses across the country.
Description: A map illustration of Canada with location pins animates onto the screen.
Onscreen text: Our customers
Description: A young woman works on her finances in her living room.
Onscreen text: To help ease financial hardship we offered deferred insurance premium, mortgage and loan payments or reduced coverage.
Description: A young couple embraces each other in front of their home.
Onscreen text: And as the year awakened us to systemic injustice
Description: A group of people in masks protest against racial inequality.
Onscreen text: we re-affirmed our commitment to fostering diversity and inclusion where we live and work.
Description: A teepee sits on display with a sign that reads “Celebrating National Indigenous People’s Day.”
Onscreen text: Above all, we improved lives across Canada by supporting hundreds of charities
Description: Canada Life employees participate in the National Sock Drive. A legal line appears: *Photo was taken before COVID-19 restrictions were in effect.
Onscreen text: and donating our largest amount ever to the United Way, $3.6 million.
Description: Large graphic numbers appear.
Onscreen text: Because customers, Canadians
Description: People pose on a hockey rink with a cheque from Canada Life to Canadian Blood Services. A legal line appears: *Photos were taken before COVID-19 restrictions were in effect.
Onscreen text: and the communities we serve
Description: An elderly woman in a retirement home is shown.
Onscreen text: count on us to deliver on the promises we make.
Description: Large text appears.
Onscreen text: And we’re proud we delivered when it mattered most.
Description: A line enters the frame, the word “life” is formed. Camera zooms out to reveal the Canada Life logo.
Onscreen text: Visit canadalife.com to learn more
Description: Canada Life logo and legal lines appear: Canada Life and design are trademarks of The Canada Life Assurance Company. canadalife.com 1-888-252-1847
About The Canada Life Assurance Company
Canada Life is a leading insurance, wealth management and benefits provider focused on improving the financial, physical and mental well-being of Canadians. For more than 170 years, individuals, families and business owners across Canada have trusted us to provide sound guidance and deliver on the promises we’ve made.
As of January 1, 2020, Great-West Life, London Life and Canada Life became one company – Canada Life, and today, we proudly serve more than 13 million customer relationships from coast to coast to coast.
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For more information contact:
Liz Kulyk
Assistant Vice-President, Media & Public Affairs
The Canada Life Assurance Company
204-391-8515
Media.Relations@canadalife.com
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