QUEBEC CITY--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- iA Financial Group is pleased to announce the 12 finalists of its annual Philanthropic Contest. The 12 organizations are selected by an internal panel and represent four regions across the country: Quebec, Ontario, Western Canada and Atlantic/Northern Canada, each working to create brighter futures for young Canadians. To mark the 10th anniversary of this contest, this year iA Financial Group has doubled its annual funding to a record $1 million. The public is invited to vote for four grand prize winners who will each receive $200,000, with the remaining finalists sharing the balance of the milestone donation.
This year's contest focuses on investing in the next generation, recognizing that the wellbeing of young people is closely connected to the strength of the communities around them. The 12 finalists are each working to create brighter futures for young Canadians with projects that reflect the diverse challenges facing today’s youth, including mental health, food insecurity, homelessness, access to education, addiction recovery, employment opportunities and social inclusion.
“For ten years, our Philanthropic Contest has shown us the remarkable work charities do to improve lives in communities across Canada. I am proud that we can support their efforts and help make a lasting difference,” said Denis Ricard, President and CEO of iA Financial Group. “This year’s finalists remind us how important it is to give young people the support they need to move forward. Thank you to every organization that submitted a project, and for the work you do every day to help Canadians get ahead.”
Since its launch in 2017, iA Financial Group’s annual Philanthropic Contest has received over 2,100 submissions and invested more than $5 million in charitable initiatives across the country. This year's anniversary edition furthers that legacy, placing young people at the heart of its largest investment yet. Read more in our 10 Years of Action report.
All Canadians are invited to vote between November 3-25 for the projects they find most inspiring at ia.ca/donations-contest. The four grand prize winners will be announced during the week of December 7, 2026.
The 12 finalists
AARC Adolescent Recovery Centre, Calgary (Alberta) A donation would help AARC expand access to its evidence-based addiction treatment program for young people aged 12 to 21. Funding would support clinical counselling, peer services, family programming, nursing care and mental health resources, allowing more youth and families affected by substance use disorders to access timely, comprehensive care, while reducing barriers to treatment and helping young people achieve long-term recovery.
Actua, Ottawa (Ontario) A $200,000 donation would help Actua equip 1,000 high school students from equity-deserving groups with the skills and experiences needed to pursue future careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) over the course of two years. The funds would support paid internships, work placements, mentorship, leadership development and hands-on learning opportunities, including land-based STEM programming for Indigenous youth.
Atlantic Wellness Community Center, Moncton (New Brunswick) With a $200,000 donation, Atlantic Wellness would be able to provide approximately 1,500 hours of free, professional, English- and French-language mental health therapy to youth aged 12 to 25 across Southeastern New Brunswick through its Ready When They Reach Out initiative. Funding would cover clinical compensation and associated treatment delivery costs, sustaining timely access while helping to serve more youth and reduce wait times for ongoing therapy.
BGC Okanagan, Kelowna (British Columbia) A donation would strengthen BGC Okanagan's efforts to prevent youth homelessness, supporting specialized staff delivering emergency response, overdose intervention and trauma-informed care, as well as funding essential supplies and services at the organization's Downtown Youth Centre. It would also help strengthen Upstream Kelowna: a school-based early intervention program that identifies and supports vulnerable students before challenges escalate.
Community First Foundation, operating as Backpack Buddies, North Vancouver (British Columbia) A $200,000 donation would go towards expanding Backpack Buddies—which provides bags of food for children who might otherwise go hungry over the weekend—by establishing its first regional food hub in Northern British Columbia. Funding would support warehouse space, local staff and transportation to reach more young people in Prince George where over half of students are waitlisted, as well as surrounding rural, remote and First Nations communities.
Community Living Central York, Newmarket (Ontario) A donation would help launch A Future Within Reach: an initiative to support young adults aged 18 to 25 with developmental disabilities as they transition from school to adulthood, through individualized planning, life-skills coaching, employment preparation, housing-readiness support and community activities. Funding would also address practical barriers, including transportation, assistive technology and access to essential resources, helping young adults pursue meaningful opportunities and greater inclusion.
Covenant House Toronto, Toronto (Ontario) A donation would support Youth Reconnect: an early intervention program designed to prevent homelessness among young people aged 12 to 18. Through school- and community-based outreach, counselling and personalized case management, the initiative helps youth facing housing instability remain safely housed, connected to their communities and engaged in school. Funding would go towards social workers and case managers to provide this counselling and help youth navigate systems.
Food Banks of Quebec, Longueuil (Québec) With a donation of $200,000, the network would be able to provide 400,000 additional meals to young Quebecers aged 12 to 25 experiencing food insecurity across a variety of circumstances, including dependence on family budgets, navigating first jobs and moving out for the first time. The project directly supports the Food Banks of Quebec network where 35% of beneficiaries are children and 9.4% of the adults receiving assistance are postsecondary students.
L'ADOberge Chaudière-Appalaches, Lévis (Québec) A donation would help L’ADOberge mark 30 years of providing shelter to vulnerable youth with a refreshed approach that allows them to outreach youth proactively versus waiting for them to find their services, bridging support across the community and preventing homelessness where the need is greatest. The funding would also help them build a strong post-shelter safety net, building upon its existing model so young people can continue to receive support following their stay.
L'Arche Antigonish, Antigonish (Nova Scotia) A donation would expand services helping young people with intellectual disabilities find, secure and maintain meaningful employment, making the gifts of people with intellectual disabilities known through mutually transformative relationships. Funds would support activities such as helping job seekers identify their skills, interests and career goals, as well as offering personalized career guidance, resume and cover letter preparation, job-search assistance and ongoing workplace support.
Le Centre pour l'intelligence émotionnelle en ligne (CIEL), Montréal (Québec) A $200,000 donation would enable CIEL to reach thousands more young people in underserved communities and meet a demand that far exceeds its current capacity. This support would help expand its programs into a new region, such as Bas-Saint-Laurent or Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean, while significantly increasing the number of free workshops offered in the Greater Montreal area to equip young people with the knowledge, critical thinking skills and healthy digital habits they need to navigate the digital world and support their wellbeing.
YouthInspirED Foundation, Halifax (Nova Scotia) A donation would help YouthInspirED Foundation expand its free, one-on-one tutoring programs for students facing financial or geographic barriers to academic support. Funding would support dedicated staff to recruit and mentor volunteers, coordinate tutoring services and build new partnerships, and the initiative would effectively prioritize lower-income families, newcomers, English language learners and students in rural and underserved communities.
Our Social Commitment Philanthropy is deeply rooted in iA Financial Group's culture, and the company's philanthropic efforts support organizations working in four key areas to help build stronger communities across Canada: health, education, social and community services, and the environment.
The Philanthropic Contest was launched in 2017 to commemorate iA Financial Group's 125th anniversary and has since evolved into an annual tradition that responds to the changing needs of Canadians.
As part of its broader philanthropic commitment, iA Financial Group aims to contribute 1% of its pre-tax profits annually to charitable causes. In 2025, iA Financial Group invested $11.4 million in initiatives supporting communities across Canada.
Our Sustainability Ambition To be a company that contributes to sustainable growth and the wellbeing of its clients, employees, partners, investors and communities, iA Financial Group makes sustainability a priority. We integrate environmental, social and governance factors to drive our day-to-day achievements.
About iA Financial Group iA Financial Group is one of the largest insurance and wealth management groups in Canada, with operations in the United States. Founded in 1892, it is an important Canadian public company and is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol IAG (common shares).
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