Westland Insurance Doubles Down on Community Support with $700K Impact

SURREY, BC – February 09, 2026 – Westland Insurance, one of Canada’s largest and fastest-growing insurance brokers, has significantly amplified its commitment to community investment, contributing over $700,000 in donations across the country in 2025. The figure, a centerpiece of the company’s fourth annual Community Impact Report released today, represents a twofold increase over the previous year's financial support, signaling a major escalation in its corporate social responsibility strategy.

The comprehensive report details a year of purpose-driven action, highlighting not only financial contributions but also a deep investment of human capital. Westland employees dedicated more than 3,400 volunteer hours—equivalent to nearly 450 workdays—to support 280 distinct community initiatives nationwide.

A Strategy of Targeted Investment

Westland’s community engagement is not a scattered effort but a focused strategy guided by its “Amplifying Communities” program. The initiatives are organized under four core pillars: Climate Resilience, Wellness & Mental Health, Diversity & Inclusion, and Homelessness & Food Insecurity. This framework allows the organization to address critical societal challenges that align closely with its core business of managing risk and building security.

The substantial growth in funding, up from nearly $350,000 reported for 2024, underscores a deliberate decision to deepen this impact. The focus on climate resilience, for example, directly connects the company’s role as an insurer with proactive efforts to help communities prepare for and mitigate the effects of climate change. This strategic alignment was emphasized by Jamie Lyons, President & CEO of Westland.

“At Westland, we want to connect more deeply with more people and communities across Canada, whether through community support or our advisory services that help better protect them in a world that is getting riskier,” said Lyons in the company's announcement. “This guides our purpose: we empower people and businesses with confidence for the future in the face of uncertainty – driven by expertise, care and a collaborative spirit.”

This philosophy positions the company’s community investments not merely as philanthropy, but as an integral part of its mission to foster a more stable and secure future for all Canadians.

Empowering Employees, Driving Change

A recurring theme throughout the 2025 report is the central role of Westland’s employees in bringing the company's community vision to life. The impressive total of over 3,400 volunteer hours demonstrates a corporate culture that actively encourages and facilitates grassroots involvement. This hands-on engagement translates large-scale corporate goals into tangible, local-level support across the nearly 200 communities where Westland operates.

Cari Watson, Senior Vice President of Business Enablement & Client Engagement, highlighted this employee-centric approach. “Our people are the heart of Westland’s community impact,” Watson stated. “Their dedication—whether through volunteering, fundraising, or advocacy—creates meaningful, lasting support for organizations addressing critical, local community needs.”

By empowering its workforce to be ambassadors of change, Westland fosters a powerful connection between its corporate identity and the communities it serves. This model of engagement not only benefits the recipient organizations but also cultivates a sense of purpose and shared values within the company, turning employees into active stakeholders in its social mission.

Forging Meaningful Partnerships

Beyond the headline numbers, the report provides insight into where Westland’s support is being directed. The company has prioritized building relationships with organizations that deliver specialized and impactful services aligned with its core pillars. In 2025, this included establishing a significant new partnership with MentorAbility, a national initiative that connects job seekers with disabilities to professional mentors, directly advancing the company’s Diversity & Inclusion goals.

Westland also continued its support for Indigenous-led organizations, making notable contributions to the Urban Native Youth Association (UNYA) and Water First. UNYA provides a wide range of critical services and programs for Indigenous youth in the Vancouver area, fostering leadership and cultural connection. Water First collaborates with Indigenous communities across Canada to resolve local water challenges through education and training, a mission that intersects both the Climate Resilience and Diversity & Inclusion pillars.

These partnerships demonstrate a commitment to providing more than just funding. By supporting organizations that empower underrepresented groups and address systemic issues like water security and inclusive employment, Westland is investing in long-term, sustainable solutions.

Setting a Benchmark in Corporate Stewardship

With the release of its fourth consecutive annual report, Westland Insurance is solidifying its reputation for transparency and accountability in corporate citizenship. This consistent and increasingly detailed reporting sets a high standard within the Canadian financial services and insurance sectors, where stakeholders are placing greater emphasis on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) performance.

The report’s clear structure, built around measurable pillars and specific partnerships, offers a transparent look into the company's social impact strategy and its evolution over time. The dramatic increase in donations from 2024 to 2025 indicates a maturing program that is scaling its efforts in response to growing community needs.

As businesses across Canada face increasing pressure to demonstrate value beyond their balance sheets, Westland’s model of integrated, employee-driven, and strategically aligned community investment provides a compelling case study. As Watson noted, while reflecting on the achievements of 2025, the organization remains firmly “focused on expanding that impact in the years ahead.” This forward-looking commitment suggests that the significant growth seen in the past year is not an endpoint, but rather a new baseline for the company's role as an invested community partner.