Western Communities Foundation Annual Report Highlights Record-Breaking Year of Community Impact
In 2024, WCF donated $699,244 to over 160 organizations, supported 37 community infrastructure projects and three Indigenous grants, and raised $311,883 through employee-led fundraising efforts. These milestones reflect Western's enduring commitment to creating safe, inclusive spaces where Canadians and our wider communities can thrive.
'In tough times, one message was clear: when care drives our actions and purpose leads the way, there is no limit to the positive changes we can make,' said Grant Ostir, Western Financial Group CEO and WCF President.
Highlights from the report include:
WCF extends its deepest thanks to all 2024 sponsors and donors, including: Wawanesa , Optiom Inc., SGI Canada, Intact Insurance, Definity, Greenshield, Peace Hills Insurance, BMS, Portage Mutual Insurance, Applied Systems, Aviva Canada, Northbridge Insurance, Red Planet Software, among many others.
'As we look ahead, we carry forward the momentum of the past year, guided by our unwavering commitment as Canada's insurance broker to helping our customers and communities manage risks and ensure the protection of what is important to them,' said Nancy Green-Bolton, Western Financial Group's COO and WCF Board Chair.
To learn more about the WCF, visit
westerngives.ca
; to read the full report, visit:
https://westernfinancialgroup.ca/images/2024-WCF-AnnualReport.pdf
Western Financial Group Communities Foundation
Founded in 2001, the Western Financial Group Communities Foundation serves to give back to the communities where Western employees live and work and play, and foster employee pride and engagement. The Foundation's core donation programs include community Infrastructure Grants, the Western Inspirational Awards for graduating high school students, and the Matching Grants Program. Since its inception, the Western Communities Foundation has granted more than $9 million to support local communities. Visit
westerngives.ca
for more information.
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8ded861a-a790-45bd-9911-fce87d5df183
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Newsweek
41 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Air Canada Starts Canceling Flights: What To Know
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. More than 10,000 Air Canada flight attendants are due to go on strike in the early hours of Saturday over a pay dispute, bringing travel chaos to hundreds of thousands of customers at the height of the summer vacation season. The airline says it has begun canceling flights as it prepares for a shutdown. Why It Matters Air Canada has more than 40,000 employees, with more than 250 aircraft traveling to 200 destinations in over 65 countries. The flight attendants' strike will affect more than 130,000 customers a day—including 25,000 Canadians daily who are attempting to come home from abroad—and now at risk of being stranded, the airline said. The strike comes as more Canadians are avoiding the United States this year because of diplomatic tensions and taking vacations at home, putting extra pressure on Air Canada's domestic routes. Passengers wait at an Air Canada check-in counter at Pearson International Airport on August 14 in Toronto. Passengers wait at an Air Canada check-in counter at Pearson International Airport on August 14 in To Know Mark Nasr, Air Canada's chief operations officer, said that cancellations would go from "several dozens" on Thursday, to some 500 by the end of Friday, to the airline being "completely grounded" at the start of the strike on Saturday, in the absence of a resolution. "The impact that this is going to have on our customers is profound and we are going to do everything possible to support them through it," Nasr said at a news conference. "Air Canada is a very complex system … It's simply not the kind of system we can start or stop at the push of a button. So in order to have a safe and orderly wind down, we need to begin now. That includes a first set of cancellations processed this morning, affecting largely long-haul international flights due to depart tonight, providing as much advance notice as we can." "The cancellations will proceed and grow in magnitude … By the time we get to 1 a.m. on Saturday morning, we'll be completely grounded," Nasr added. The news conference ended early, after members of the union stood silently, holding signs that read "UnfAir Canada" and "Poverty wages = UnCanadian." Members of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) airline division voted overwhelmingly this week to back a strike to press their demand for fair pay, in particular for the unpaid work performed by its flight attendants. The airline only pays for hours in the air, meaning preflight procedures like safety checks are unpaid. "For the past nine months, we have put forward solid, data-driven proposals on wages and unpaid work, all rooted in fairness and industry standards," said Wesley Lesosky, president of the Air Canada Component of CUPE. "Air Canada's response to our proposals makes one thing clear: they are not interested in resolving these critical issues," he added. With negotiations bogged down over an airline offer, including a 38 percent pay increase over four years, Air Canada proposed resolving the dispute using an arbitrator but the union declined the suggestion. Air Canada says it will offer refunds on tickets and try to book customers on other flights, but there are few available seats in the summer rush. What People Are Saying Arielle Meloul-Wechsler, Air Canada's executive vice president for human resources, at Thursday's briefing: "We are extremely disappointed by CUPE's decision which threatens to disrupt the travel plans of more than 130,000 customers a day." Lesosky, in a statement: "While the airline continues to slap junk fees on flyers and gouge the public, they're also exploiting their own employees by severely underpaying flight attendants or refusing to pay them at all for safety-critical aspects of our jobs." What Happens Next In the absence of a last-minute resolution of the dispute, the airline will be grounded in the early hours of Saturday.
Business Upturn
2 hours ago
- Business Upturn
Liquid I.V. Debuts Innovative New Sugar-Free Hydration Multiplier in Canada
TORONTO, Aug. 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Today, Liquid I.V., the number one selling powdered hydration brand in Canada1 announced the expansion of their product portfolio with the launch of the new Sugar-Free Hydration Multiplier. Available in the delicious and refreshing White Peach flavour, this launch marks Liquid I.V.'s most significant innovation in the market to date and is the brand's first sugar-free offering for Canadians. 'Sugar-free marks a bold step forward for Liquid I.V., cementing our place not only as leaders but innovators of hydration solutions,' said Anusha Babbar, Senior Vice President of International, Unilever Wellbeing. 'Canadians have shown great love to Liquid I.V. these past two years in market, so we're thrilled to be expanding our Canadian offering in the wellness category to meet their demands for a sugar-free option.' Liquid I.V. entered Canada in 2023, marking its first expansion beyond the U.S., and quickly established itself as a leading provider of powdered hydration. Yet, fans of the electrolyte beverage have been vocal about the need for a sugar-free option to meet their lifestyle needs. Today, Liquid I.V. responds to the demand with a first-of-its-kind formula that is scientifically formulated to restore electrolyte imbalances that occur through performance, heat, travel and adventure, without the sugar. 'Sugar is often used as a key ingredient in electrolyte beverages for hydration support. We clinically tested countless sugar-free formulations to ensure that we weren't just ticking a box, but creating a formula backed by science that truly supported functional hydration,' said Lori Lauersen, Senior Vice President R&D, Unilever Wellbeing. 'What we developed was an amino acid blend available in our Sugar-Free Hydration Multiplier, all delivered within a delightful peach flavoured beverage.' Liquid I.V. Sugar-Free White Peach Hydration Multiplier delivers smart 0 sugar hydration that supports consumers in maintaining their wellness goals. It contains: 0g sugar 6 essential vitamins and minerals Blend of amino acids No artificial flavours or colours 100% + daily value of essential B vitamins (B3, B5, B12) To enjoy, simply pour one easy-to-open packet into 500ml of water, mix or shake, and hydrate. Its convenient single-serve, travel-friendly packets are easy to enjoy on the go. Liquid I.V. Sugar-Free White Peach is currently available at Costco Canada and will be available on later this month. About Liquid I.V.® Liquid I.V.® is a wellness company based in Los Angeles, CA. We believe hydration is the bedrock of wellness so our products are designed to deliver hydration and additional benefits with delicious flavour. The product line features great-tasting, non-GMO electrolyte drink mixes for enhanced hydration. As a purpose-driven brand, giving back is at the core of Liquid I.V.'s DNA, to date we've donated over 71 million servings to people in need around the globe. Liquid I.V.® contributes over 1% of brand revenue to our Impact Program focused on Clean Water Access & Hydration Aid. Liquid I.V.® provides grants to organizations that expand clean water access. We are committed to our goal of donating 150 million Liquid I.V.® sticks over the next 10 years. Liquid I.V. is available in-store at Costco, Walmart, and other national retailers, and online on To learn more, visit and follow @liquidivcanada on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook. For more information, please contact:Amanda FederchukKetchum, on behalf of Liquid I.V. [email protected] 416-505-0517
The Hill
6 hours ago
- The Hill
What to know if your Air Canada flight gets canceled
Summer travelers are facing uncertainty as the clock winds down on a possible strike by Air Canada flight attendants, which the airline said would force it to cancel almost all of its scheduled flights as soon as Saturday. The Canadian carrier on Thursday began what it described as a 'phased wind down' of most operations that included multiple flight cancellations. Air Canada said it was suspending its schedule and trying to get passengers booked with other airlines to limit disruptions if members of its cabin crews walk off the job. Both the union that represents about 10,000 Air Canada flight attendants and the airline say disagreements over key issues, including pay raises, have brought contract talks to a standstill. A complete shutdown of the country's largest airline threatens to impact about 130,000 people a day. Here's what to know about the rights of passengers and airline consumer protections: Impacted passengers will be notified Air Canada said it would reach out via email or text to let customers know if their flights are canceled. The cancellations on Thursday included some long-haul overseas flights. By the end of Friday, the airline expects to cancel 500 flights. Flight attendants are threatening to strike at 1 a.m. EDT Saturday if they don't have a new contract by then. If the walkout happens, the airline said it would suspend all of its Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge flights, but not the regional Air Canada Express flights operated by Jazz Aviation and PAL Airlines. How long the airline's planes will be grounded remains to be seen. Air Canada Chief Operating Officer Mark Nasr said the decision to lock out the union members even if it meant halting flights would help facilitate an orderly restart, 'which under the best circumstances will take a full week to complete.' A complete grounding would affect 25,000 Canadians a day who traveled abroad and may become stranded. You have options if your flight is canceled Passengers whose travel is impacted will be eligible to request a full refund on the airline's website or mobile app, according to Air Canada. The airline said it would also offer alternative travel options through other Canadian and foreign airlines when possible. But it warned that it could not guarantee immediate rebooking because flights on other airlines are already full 'due to the summer travel peak.' Passengers with the flexibility to reschedule their travel plans can also rebook their flights for dates between Aug. 21 and Sept. 12 at no additional cost, Air Canada said. The airline says that under federal regulations, flight cancellations caused by a strike or lockout are considered outside the carrier's control, meaning customers are not eligible for compensation for food and lodging expenses incurred during the labor dispute. Most of the union voted to strike Air Canada and the Canadian Union of Public Employees have been in contract talks for about eight months, but they have yet to reach a tentative deal. By the end of July, the union put it to a vote, and 99.7% approved a strike. The union on Wednesday gave Air Canada a 72-hour strike notice. The airline responded with a so-called lockout notice, saying it would prevent the flight attendants from working on Saturday. The union said it rejected a proposal from the airline to enter a binding arbitration process that would have prevented flight attendants from walking off the job, saying it prefers to negotiate a deal that its members can then vote on. Arielle Meloul-Wechsler, Air Canada's head of human resources, said the company was weighing all of its options, including asking for government intervention. Negotiations break down over pay Both the union and the airline say they remain far apart on the issue of pay and the unpaid work flight attendants do when planes aren't in the air. The airline said its latest offer included a 38% increase in total compensation, including benefits and pensions over four years. But the union pushed back, saying the proposed 8% raise in the first year didn't go far enough because of inflation. Vancouver-based flight attendant Henly Larden, who has worked for Air Canada since 2017, said the union also won't back down on its goal to get flight attendants paid for the time they're on the ground. Larden, 33, called it a 'very archaic expectation' to work for free during the boarding process. 'Just because it's a past practice doesn't mean here in 2025 that it's OK or it's right, and we want to change that going forward,' she said.
