Canadians vote for positive change

Aviva Canada thanks supporters for selecting the 2015 Aviva Community Fund finalists

TORONTO, Nov. 3, 2015 /CNW/ - Aviva Canada, one of the country's leading providers of home, auto, leisure/lifestyle and business insurance, is pleased to announce the finalists of the 2015 Aviva Community Fund competition.

In its seventh year, the Aviva Community Fund had over 380 fantastic ideas submitted. After 18 days, over 548,000 votes were cast by Canadians from coast-to-coast. The ideas each fell within at least one of the three categories: Community Resilience, Community Health, and Community Development, as well as two funding levels: up to $50,000 and between $50,000 and $100,000.

"We are proud of the Aviva Community Fund and how it inspires and creates positive change in local communities across Canada," said Debora Hendrickson, Senior Vice President, Customer and Marketing at Aviva Canada. "We congratulate the 30 finalists who will now be evaluated by a panel of judges, using key criteria including impact on the community, sustainability, submission quality and creativity."

The judges for this year's finalists include Mélanie Beaumont (Aviva Canada), Stephen Bryant (Arthur J. Gallagher Canada Limited), Tim Hoswitschka (Canadian Red Cross), Dr. Gordon McBean (Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction), Kelly D. Murumets (Tennis Canada), Paula Speevak (Volunteer Canada), and Bruce Sellery (personal finance expert, best-selling author, and TV host). The judges will review the ideas to decide which projects will receive funding.

All finalists are guaranteed at minimum $5,000 in funding*. Winners of the Aviva Community Fund will be announced on December 2, 2015 and posted on avivacommunityfund.org.

Aviva Canada congratulates the finalists, listed below by funding category:

Category: Community Resilience
It may not be possible to prevent disasters from happening altogether, but we can do our part to help cope with the aftermath, and protect and enhance our environmental landscape. The Community Resilience category is for all the "green" ideas that could help create a more sustainable future for generations to come.

• Emma's Acres: Reintegration, Restoration and Food Security (Mission, BC) - ACF32163
• Foreshore to Forest: Restoring Shawnigan Lake's Watershed (Shawnigan Lake, BC) - ACF32652
• The Temple of Light Goes Green! (Kootenay Bay, BC) - ACF32225
• From the Road to Recovery - Healthy Turtles, Healthy Wetlands (Selwyn, ON) - ACF32303
• Turning the Tide for Turtles (Toronto, ON) - ACF32258
• Asphalt to Oasis - the Greening of the St. Anthony yard (Ottawa, ON) - ACF32399
• Mettez du vent dans les voiles des jeunes / Get Kids Sailing (Montréal, QC) - ACF32249
• Grand nettoyage de la rivière Mascouche (Mascouche, QC) - ACF32132
• Cultiver la solidarité ; le Potager de l'école d'Oka (Oka, QC) - ACF32289
• Habitat Restoration for Atlantic salmon and native species (Sherbrooke, NS) - ACF32834

Category: Community Health
Important community landmarks such as parks, sports fields and playgrounds make it easier for adults and children alike to lead healthy, active lifestyles. The Community Health category is for all the fantastic ideas that support health and well-being in your community.

• Hard-up in the Hazeltons (Hazelton, BC) - ACF32306
• Friends of the Arena (FOTA) Westport ON Community Centre (Westport, ON) - ACF32794
• Hagersville Park Splash Pad Project (Hagersville, ON) - ACF32363
• Sacha's Park - where EVERYONE can play! (L'Orignal, ON) - ACF32171
• Help Us Help Our Schoolyard (Whitby, ON) - ACF32444
• Pathway to Progress (Tecumseh, ON) - ACF32674
• Let kids be kids with a natural playground for Blake! (Toronto, ON) - ACF32500
• Bloc sanitaire pour la FCP / Sanitary block for the FCP (Lévis, QC) - ACF32448
• Wayne John Searle Memorial Rec Complex Needs a Makeover!! (Placentia, NL) - ACF32551
• Help the St. John's Farmers' Market move to its new home! (St. John's, NL) - ACF32295

Category: Community Development
Programs that provide skills training and basic needs, ensure no one gets left behind. Every community needs spaces to develop culture through art, music and drama. And medical and health-related research ensures a healthy future for all community members. The Community Development category is for ideas that help educate, reduce poverty, infuse culture and support important research for the betterment of individuals and the community.

• SideDoor Youth Centre Facility Project  (Edmonton, AB) - ACF32456
• Manitoba Stampede Grandstand Restoration (Morris, MB) - ACF32471
• Help LAWS' Community Programs (Smiths Falls, ON) - ACF32206
• Support children affected by parental incarceration (Toronto, ON) - ACF32279
• River Mill Park Bandshell (Huntsville, ON) - ACF32428
• Advancing Research-Myalgic Encephalomyelitis & Fibromyalgia  (Toronto, ON) - ACF32536
• Taking The Mount Community Centre to new levels (Peterborough, ON) - ACF32545
• Agriculture urbaine sur le toit d'un CPE (Garderie) (Montréal, QC) - ACF32214
• Numérisation du Fonds Rosaire Vigneault & climatisation (Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine, QC) - ACF 32501
• Hope Begins With A Meal #SoulsHarbour (Halifax, NS) - ACF32496

To find out more about the Aviva Community Fund competition visit our website, Facebook and Twitter pages.

About the Aviva Community Fund
With over 7,000 ideas submitted to the Community Fund since 2009, Aviva Canada has provided $5.5 million to 192 winning projects in 73 communities across the country.

About Aviva Canada
Aviva Canada is one of the leading property and casualty insurance groups in Canada providing home, auto and business insurance to more than three million customers. The company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of UK-based Aviva plc and has more than 3,000 employees, 25 locations and 1,700 independent broker partners.

For more information visit avivacanada.com, our blog or our Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn pages.

*If the finalist idea is not selected as a grand prize winner, it will receive a finalist prize of $5,000.
This prize will be allocated to a CRA registered charity, Sports not-for-profit organization, fully publically funded elementary (primary) or secondary school, University or College, municipality or government entity of the idea creator's choice.

SOURCE Aviva Canada Inc.

Media Contact: Glenn Cooper, Senior Manager, Public Relations & Social Media, Aviva Canada Inc., Desk: [phone], Mobile: [phone], [email protected]