Manulife Financial Advertorial
as published in the Calgary Herald
Manulife Financial has been at the centre of Kitchener-Waterloo's business community for over 15 years, providing Canadians with top-of-the-line financial services. While being a global leader in financial protection products and investment management services is at the heart of what they do, it's their commitment to Canadian communities that is the heart of who they are. Manulife's dedication to public service is clear, from their active involvement in improving local communities to their ongoing support of charities, the arts, health centres and other grass roots organizations.
Whether through financial support, event sponsorship, or the encouragement of employees to take an active role in their communities, Manulife Financial is always there to lend a hand.
Through a matching gift program, Manulife and its Kitchener-Waterloo employees recently donated more than $280,000 to the local United Way campaign. As a result, the Company received the Chair's Award for Best Overall Campaign for 1998.
Later that year, Manulife gained further recognition with the presentation of the Corporate Citizen Award at the Waterloo Region Business Achievements gala held in Kitchener.
Health care continues to benefit greatly from Manulife's charitable efforts. The Company has raised more than $825,000 for heart health through its annual recreational cycling event, the Manulife Ride for Heart. Proceeds from the ride are helping to support the new St. Mary's Regional Cardiac Centre.
Another local health care facility to benefit from the hard work and generosity of Manulife employees is the HopeSpring Cancer Support Centre, which recently received a cheque for $76,000. The money was raised through Manulife's annual Drive for Hope golf tournament.
Manulife is also committed to the cultural and intellectual growth of Canadian communities, which is why the company is a proud and generous supporter of the arts. Locally, Manulife has sponsored events at the Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery, the Uptown Waterloo Jazz Festival, Grand River ConservationAuthority "Grand Champions" campaign and Christkindl Market.
Other organizations which benefit from the generosity of Manulife employees are Wilfrid Laurier University, The University of Waterloo, Conestoga College, Kitchener-Waterloo Family and Children's Services, Skills Canada, the Waterloo Region Food Bank, Anselma House and St. John's Kitchen.
Of course, Manulife's commitment to improving the lives of all Canadians extends beyond the company's charitable work — it can also be found in the myriad of financial products and services available to its customers.
Writing the largest average life insurance policy in Canada, Manulife's Canadian division ranks first among its competitors in total new insurance sales for Group Benefits, as of first quarter 2000. With a large group benefits business, and as the leading provider of life and health insurance to alumni and professional associations in Canada, Manulife provides the savings plans, and life or health insurance for more than 1 in 10 Canadian households.
Manulife Financial became a major part of the business scene in Kitchener-Waterloo in 1985, when the Manufacturers Life Insurance Company merged with Dominion Life and moved its Canadian headquarters from Toronto to Waterloo. The Canadian Division head office building, at 500 King Street North in Waterloo, opened in 1988.
Since then, Manulife's local presence has grown with the company's Canadian Division. In 1995, after purchasing the Canadian Group Life and Health business of Confederation Life, Manulife established a Canadian Group benefits headquarters at 380 Weber Street North. As of mid-2000, more than 3,400 people work for Manulife in Kitchener-Waterloo, including more than 900 at the recently-purchased Manulife Square in downtown Kitchener.
Kitchener-Waterloo also represents a successful business area for Manulife in both individual and group sales. Since 1975, Manulife has had a strong presence as a real estate developer and manager in the region. Today, they are one of Kitchener-Waterloo's top employers, and a company truly at the heart of their community.
Manulife Financial is a leading Canadian-based financial services company operating in 15 countries and territories worldwide. Through its 28,000 employees and agents, together with a network of distribution partners, Manulife Financial offers clients a diverse range of financial protection products and wealth management services. Funds under management by Manulife Financial (Manulife Financial Corporation and its affiliated companies) were Cdn$126.2 billion as at September 30, 2000.
Manulife Financial Corporation trades as "MFC" on the TSE, NYSE and PSE, and under "945" on the SEHK. Manulife Financial can be found on the Internet at www.manulife.com.