Western Financial Group's 1,600 Employees to Build Teddy Bears for Charity

Western Financial Group’s more than 1,600 employees will brighten the lives of children across Canada by each building a teddy bear at their employee conventions this month. The bears will be distributed to more than 20 charities chosen by employees.

“Building teddy bears at our employee convention allows us to have fun, and give back to the community while coming together as a team,” said Jeff Burke, president and CEO of Western Financial Group’s network of insurance brokerages. “We hope these teddy bears will make a difference in the lives of children who are overcoming a trauma, experiencing a life change, or who just need to be cheered up.”

Western Financial Group’s employee conventions are taking place at locations across Western Canada during the month of June. The groups of employees will complete a Build-A-Bear workshop, where each employee will create a unique teddy bear complete with a birth certificate to be given to a child.

Receiving charities include:

British Columbia

Burnaby Children’s Fund - Burnaby
AiMHi Prince George Association for Community Living – Prince George
NUKO - Nanaimo
FSJ Child Development Centre – Fort St John
Chase Christmas Hamper Society - Chase
The Bridge Youth and Family Services - Kelowna

Alberta

Big Country Victim Services - Drumheller
Phoenix Safe House – Medicine Hat
Peace River Women’s Shelter – Peace River
Big Brothers Big Sisters - Medicine Hat
Society for Support to Pregnant and Parenting Teens – Grande Prairie
Children’s Cottage Society - Calgary
Big Brothers Big Sisters - Lacombe
CNP Women's Resource in Crisis Center - Coleman
Victim Services – Cold Lake
Rowan House – High River
Kids Kottage - Edmonton
Zebra Child Protection Centre (Society) - Edmonton
Sheldon Kennedy Child Advocacy Center - Calgary

Saskatchewan

Estevan Family Resource Centre - Estevan
Kids First Program - Nipawin
YWCA Regina - Regina
Parkland Victim Services - Yorkton

Manitoba

Child & Family Services of Western Manitoba - Brandon
Rossbrook House - Winnipeg
Ronald McDonald House - Winnipeg
Various charities - Roblin
WISH Inc - Winnipeg

Ontario

Native Child & Family Services of Toronto – Toronto

About Western Financial Group

Western Financial Group is a western Canada based, diversified, financial services company serving more than 600,000 customers. Founded in 1996 and headquartered in High River, Alberta, Western provides insurance services through more than 120 office locations and the Internet. With a skilled team of approximately 1,600 employees, and backed by the strong resources of its owners, Western is committed to building the strongest financial services company in Western Canada.

Western Financial Group is a subsidiary of Desjardins General Insurance Group, the leading cooperative financial group in Canada.

For further information, please contact:

Eric Michalko

Manager - Sponsorships, Digital Marketing & Public Relations
Western Financial Group
Phone: (403) 652-2663, ext. 524
Cell: (403) 603-8965
Email: eric.michalko@westernfg.ca