iA Financial Group is calling on its insurance network to support community-driven solutions to food insecurity through the ninth edition of its philanthropic contest.
The insurer has announced 12 finalists competing for four $100,000 donations to expand their local food initiatives. Among them are La Tablée des Chefs in Quebec, known for its culinary training and food recovery programs; The Stop Community Food Centre in Ontario, which combines food aid with advocacy for systemic change; and Food For All NB in New Brunswick, which supports food education and sustainability initiatives. Other shortlisted organizations include Harvest Manitoba, The Alex Community Health Centre in Alberta, and The YWCA of Moncton, each addressing food insecurity in different ways.
This year’s contest reflects iA Financial’s broader corporate purpose, the company stated, which is to integrate social responsibility into the fabric of the insurance industry. According to the company, its philanthropic program not only channels financial aid to community organizations but also underscores how insurers can leverage their reach and resources to build social resilience.
Through the initiative, iA Financial is highlighting the role insurers can play in addressing systemic social risks such as food insecurity, which affect community health and economic stability. The company noted that over 60,000 organizations in Canada are currently working on food security issues, an area increasingly linked to broader social determinants of risk that insurers monitor and respond to.
The contest, launched in 2017 as part of iA’s 125th anniversary, has evolved into a cornerstone of its environmental, social, and governance (ESG) strategy. Each edition aligns with one of the insurer’s four community pillars - health, education, social support, and the environment. This year’s focus on food insecurity demonstrates how insurers can engage in preventative social investment, complementing their traditional risk-transfer role, the company said.
Voting for this year’s finalists is open to the public until November 26, 2025, with results to be announced in December. Beyond public participation, iA Financial’s employees across its insurance and wealth management divisions are also encouraged to vote, contributing an additional $20,000 to selected causes.
