The year 2020 has been memorable for us all. Canada Company has worked hard to adapt our programs and successfully fulfill our mandate. I want to thank you for your continued support throughout these uncertain times. Together we overcame many challenges, and I am proud to share how this year has been one of our most successful to date.
This year started with our annual Military Family Ski Day. Your contributions allowed us to host this event for over 1,500 participants- before everything came to a halt. Throughout the pandemic, Canada Company has remained committed to delivering programs in support of our military members and their families. An important initiative we undertook this year was the Reservists Ready Campaign—bridging businesses and military members. The Reservists Ready Campaign called on Canadian businesses to support Reservist employees who were called for full-time service to end the spread of COVID-19.
The campaign received overwhelming support from companies from coast to coast. Supporters include all of Canada’s largest banks, as well as national organizations such as General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS), Loblaws Inc., Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment Ltd. (MLSE), and many other Canadian organizations, big and small. The initiative also gained the support of business-related associations who shared details of the campaign with their members.
Despite in-person events being cancelled, we persisted. We worked hard to virtually host our 13th annual Canada Company Scholarship Ceremony. This year we presented 19 scholarships, making it the largest number of recipients to date! We continued the Cadets and Junior Canadian Rangers Bursary Program, awarding bursaries to youth in the Cadets and Junior Canadian Rangers Programs. This fall we held virtual ceremonies across Canada and presented 25 bursaries to outstanding recipients, including 10 Junior Canadian Rangers. The future is bright for these young leaders, and we are honoured to help them pursue their dreams.
As everyone adapted to virtual learning, the Je Me Souviens Program offered great tools to facilitate at-home studies which were accessed by over 1100 secondary school students. This summer our Camps for Children program looked a little different. We felt it was important to offer kids a chance at normalcy and fun during tumultuous times. This year we supported a larger number of daytime camps. Canada Company made a special donation to Camp Maple Leaf, allowing them to expand their Arts & Crafts Centre.
This would not have been possible without your support. First let me thank our strategic partners for their continued generous contributions: BMO, Scotiabank, RBC, National Bank of Canada, AGF Management Limited, and Power Corporation of Canada. Many thanks also go to our Corporate Partners, Donors, and friends- without your support, we could not continue to serve.
As always, I would like to thank the men and women of the Canadian Armed Forces who work tirelessly to ensure our safety. We feel incredibly honoured to be able to provide those we serve and their families with a sense of community, and a reason to celebrate. Recently we have been referred to as the ‘gold thread through the fabric of the Canadian military’ for providing support for those who serve. I ask for your recommitment to Canada Company. Without you, we cannot continue to provide these programs. With your donation, we can continue to be this golden thread and pillar of support for our military for years to come. See below for all the ways your contributions have an impact. Please pledge to continue your steadfast support today. Thanks to you, Canada Company will always be here to Serve Those Who Serve in all the ways we can.
Thank you for your continued commitment and support. This holiday season let us reflect on this year of perseverance. We may have been apart, but we found ways to unite in celebration of our successes. I wish you and your family a safe, healthy, and happy holiday season!
Blake C. Goldring, C.M., M.S.M., CD
Founder and Chairman of Canada Company
Impact of your individual or collective donations:
$4,000 = one year of Scholarship for a child who lost a parent for reasons directly attributable to military service
$2,000 = Scholarship in recognition of military experience and knowledge
$1,100 = one child with special needs from a military family attending summer camp
$1,000 = a youth in the Cadets or JCR movements pursuing learning activities
$700 = a kid living with a parent suffering from PTSD having fun at camp
$500 = tools needed for secondary school students to learn more about military history
$250 = a military family having fun together on the ski slopes
Thank you!!
The Board of Directors
| Blake C. Goldring | Paul Hindo | ||||
| Bruce D. Bowser | William Braithwaite | Tim Hogarth | |||
| François Jovet | Garfield Mitchell | Rose Patten | |||
| George Salamis | Kerry Vance |