November 9, 2021

Toronto, ON, November 9, 2021. . . To commemorate the 100^th anniversary of the discovery of insulin and celebrate National Diabetes Awareness Month, Canada Life has announced a joint contribution of $100,000 to Diabetes Canada and JDRF Canada. The contribution will help build healthier and stronger communities for even more Canadians, through diabetes prevention, awareness and care.

“At Canada Life, we believe in improving the well-being of Canadians”, said Jeff Macoun, President and Chief Operating Officer, Canada Life. “That’s why we’re proud to support Diabetes Canada and JDRF Canada, who are helping to address the needs of those with diabetes and working to find cures. We’re proud to support both organizations on their path towards a world free from the effects of diabetes.”

From Canada Life’s gift, Diabetes Canada will receive $50,000 to help those living with diabetes achieve their full health potential. Diabetes Canada helps by providing educational support, developing resources for health-care providers, advocating on behalf of people with diabetes and funding leading-edge research.

“In the last century, there have been great strides and significant developments in mapping and understanding diabetes. Insulin is a game-changer for those living with diabetes. However, it is not a cure,” said Laura Syron, President and CEO, Diabetes Canada. “That’s why we rely on the support of communities and organizations like Canada Life to further our ability to make important progress in finding a cure. We can’t wait another 100 years to end diabetes.’’

JDRF Canada will also benefit from a $50,000 donation. The contribution will help improve the lives of the more than 300,000 Canadians living with type 1 diabetes and will also help fund life-changing research.

“We need to invest in research today, to improve the lives of those that are living with type one diabetes, and accelerate our efforts to find a cure,” said Dave Prowten, President and CEO, JDRF Canada. “We’re extremely grateful to Canada Life for their generosity and support. Type one diabetes is a relentless condition that requires constant vigilance and together, we can turn type one into type none.’’ 

In addition to providing various health coaching programs, diabetes coverage in employee benefits and supporting employee fundraising, Canada Life will be raising awareness and working together with Canadians throughout November in recognition of National Diabetes Awareness Month.

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.

On January 1, 2020, Great-West Life, London Life and Canada Life became one company – Canada Life, and today, we proudly serve more than 12 million customer relationships from coast to coast to coast.

Follow us on Facebook , Twitter , Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn.

About Diabetes Canada

Diabetes Canada is the registered national charitable organization that is making the invisible epidemic of diabetes visible and urgent. Diabetes Canada partners with Canadians to End Diabetes through resources for health-care professionals on best practices to care for people with diabetes, advocacy to governments, schools and workplaces and funding world-leading Canadian research to improve treatments and find a cure. For more information, visit diabetes.ca or call 1-800-BANTING (226-8464).

About JDRF

JDRF is the leading global organization funding type 1 diabetes (T1D) research. Our goal is to raise funds to support the most advanced international T1D research and progressively remove the impact of this disease from people’s lives – until we achieve a world without it. JDRF collaborates with a wide spectrum of partners and is the only organization with the scientific resources, regulatory influence, and a working plan to better treat, prevent, and eventually cure T1D. For more information, please visit jdrf.ca.

For more information contact:

Liz Kulyk
Assistant Vice-President, Media & Public Affairs
The Canada Life Assurance Company
204-391-8515
Media.Relations@canadalife.com

Pilar Iglesias
National Communications Manager
Diabetes Canada
416-408-7114
pilar.iglesias@diabetes.ca

Vanessa Parent
National Bilingual Marketing and Communications Specialist
JDRF Canada
514-262-6346
vparent@jdrf.ca