CIBC Pledges $500,000 for Military Employment Transition (MET) Program
TORONTO, Sept. 9, 2014 /CNW/ - Today Canada Company welcomed CIBC as a Founding Partner of its Military Employment Transition (MET) Program following its generous donation of $500,000. As the first financial institution to directly contribute to the program, CIBC will support Canada Company's innovative web-based platform which provides education, tools and on-line services that connect veteran-friendly employers from across Canada with transitioning military members and Veterans looking for jobs.
"CIBC has been an incredible leader and partner in supporting Canada Company's programs since our founding in 2006," said Blake Goldring, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of AGF Management Limited, and Founder and Chairman of Canada Company. "I am extremely proud of the growth and influence our MET team is having across Canada, and the great strides being taken by CIBC and other community leaders to bring Canada to the forefront as a leading 'Veteran Friendly' nation. It's been promising that CIBC is the first in a select group of leading Canadian companies that are committing funding, and we will continue to make major funding announcements as founding partners come on board."
The Canada Company MET program has challenged Canada's private sector to assist military members and Veterans with their transition to civilian life, and has assembled a coalition of employer partners working towards finding employment for 10,000 Veterans by 2023. Known as the 10,000 Jobs Coalition, the employer partners recently released its results for the first and second quarter of the year, announcing that its Coalition members have hired a total of 292 Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members and Veterans in the first six months of 2014. In addition to CIBC, Canada Company is working with several other corporations and hopes to announce more founding partners with unique support for the MET program over the next several months.
"CIBC has been a Veteran-friendly organization since its founding in 1867," said John Silverthorn, Senior Vice President, Human Resources at CIBC. "We understand the value that our military and Veterans contribute and have contributed to Canadian society, and our donation will help our military leaders of today become the corporate leaders of tomorrow."
CIBC is among a small group of national corporations committed to ensuring the long-term sustainability of the MET program. CIBC was also the first and a catalyst leader in supporting the Canada Company Scholarship Fund with a commitment of $1 million to help the children of Canadian Armed Forces members, who died while on a military mission, obtain post-secondary school education. The fund provides $4,000 per year, for up to four years, to support the post-secondary education for children who qualify.
For more information on how to join the Canada Company MET coalition and to see the full list of Coalition members, visit https://www.canadacompany.ca/canadacompany/met/en/index.jsp
About Canada Company
Canada Company is a federally registered charity created in 2006 which brings community leaders from across Canada together to support members of our Military in the work that they do at home and abroad. The organization is apolitical and is an advocate for Canadians who serve, or wish to serve, in the Canadian Forces – regular and reserve – and their families, ensuring that they receive the widest possible support, recognition and care. Canada Company's motto is Many Ways to Serve. Visit www.canadacompany.ca
SOURCE: AGF
Walter Moniz, MET Program Director, 416-869-8479, [email protected]
Share this article