iA Financial Group has donated $500,000 to Food Banks Canada, extending its support for the national charity as food insecurity continues to rise across the country.
The insurer has backed Food Banks Canada since 2021, with the latest contribution aimed at supporting local food banks serving individuals and families facing financial strain.
The donation comes as demand for food assistance reaches record levels. Food Banks Canada’s 2025 HungerCount report found that 2.2 million visits were recorded at food banks in a single month this year, double the level seen six years ago. The organization estimates that one in four people in Canada does not have reliable access to sufficient food.
For insurers and financial services firms, rising food insecurity reflects broader economic pressures, including inflation, housing affordability challenges and income volatility. These factors can affect household financial resilience and protection gaps, with potential implications for insurance uptake, policy retention and claims experience across life, health and disability lines.
Denis Ricard, president and chief executive officer of iA Financial Group, said the company views support for food banks as increasingly important as more Canadians struggle to meet basic needs. He added that community support initiatives form part of the group’s broader role as a financial services provider.
Food Banks Canada chief executive officer Kirstin Beardsley said the contribution will help address immediate needs while supporting the organization’s longer-term efforts to reduce hunger. She pointed to the sharp increase in food bank usage as an indicator of sustained pressure on vulnerable populations.
The donation builds on iA Financial Group’s wider focus on food security initiatives. Earlier this month, the company announced the winners of its ninth annual philanthropic contest, awarding $100,000 each to La Maison de la Famille de Val-d’Or in Quebec, Fred Victor Centre in Ontario, Free Play for Kids Inc. in Alberta, and Greener Village in New Brunswick. The funding is intended to support community-based projects aimed at improving access to food at the local level.
More broadly, iA Financial Group donated $11.4 million in 2025 to approximately 600 organizations across Canada, supporting initiatives in education, social services, the environment and health care. The group also raised more than $3.2 million for United Way through employee-led fundraising efforts.
Within the insurance sector, such initiatives are increasingly viewed through an environmental, social and governance lens, as insurers face growing expectations from regulators, investors and policyholders to demonstrate social impact alongside financial performance.
