Company Name: Community Service Award
Campaign Name: Community Service Award
Nominator Name: Amanda Gour
Email: agour@killamreit.com, Phone: 902-455-1647
In the space below, provide the company’s community service or mission statement.
As an organization, we understand that we have a responsibility to the communities in which we operate. In fulfilling this responsibility, we aim to use our financial and people resources to support causes that focus on housing/shelter, family and employee interests. We have successfully integrated a sense of community service into our company culture through our Core Values, two of which are “Build Community” and “Do the Right Thing”. Here at Killam, every employee is coached and instructed to use these to guide their day-to-day work. We often say that you can be confident in decisions made when you allow them to be guided by our Core Values. For “Build Community” we ask employees to make decisions that contribute to the improvement or enrichment of their surroundings and their interpersonal interactions. For “Do the Right Thing” we ask employees to make fair and ethical decisions for the right reasons, even if doing so requires following a difficult or challenging path.
In the space provided, highlight why this company is deserving of this award.
Killam is deserving of this award because of the varied approach we take in supporting the communities in which we operate and the impact that we have as a result. Our community service programs include the following: (1) All employees are encouraged to take up to three paid volunteer days each year in order to support a community/non-profit organization of their choice, (2) Killam provides six annual scholarships to children or grandchildren of current employees as well as two annual scholarships to students who are seasonally employed with Killam, (3) our Community Giving committee oversees an annual cash sponsorship budget of approx. $100K in support of various charitable causes, (4) we donate nine apartment units to various hospitals and not-for-profits across the country and (5) we enable our managers to apply for tenant relief where they identify eligible tenants who need temporary assistance with rental payments to get them back on their feet.
In the space below, provide a list of fundraising activities describing the impact on the community. Provide any new initiatives or activities undertaken in 2021.
– Killam gave a total of $138K in cash donations to various community and not-for-profit organizations across the country. These donations allowed charitable organizations to conduct important and impactful work in their communities to support those in need.
– Killam provided $146K in suite donations to various hospitals and not-for-profit organizations. Locally, we supported Ronald McDonald House, Capital District Health Authority and Atlantic Heroes through full year suite donations. These suites are used by families who are away from home and in need of a place to stay close to loved ones currently receiving in-patient treatment.
– Killam provided $1,500 scholarships to 6 children/grandchildren of current staff and 4 individuals who were employed with us as summer students. We are proud supporters of life-long learning and recognize that investing in the students of today is essential to ensuring we have strong and healthy communities in the future.
– Killam staff volunteered a total of 150 working days (approximately $30K) towards various charitable causes. Many of these days took place during a 6-week Community Giving Campaign in which staff were encouraged to use their volunteer time to support a local soup kitchen, food bank, homeless shelter or other cause that was important to them.
– Many similar organizations make great efforts to give back to the community and we applaud and encourage each one. There is plenty of good work to be done. At Killam, we have found our success in engaging our staff to participate in building community, doing the right thing and, ultimately, giving back to our communities. We believe this is what makes us stand out from others and will lead us to even greater success as we strive to achieve our community service goals over the next several years.
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Company Name: Community Service Award
Campaign Name: Recognizing Our Responsibility
Nominator Name: Fay Yachetti, Director, Sustainability, Skyline
Email: fyachetti@skylinegrp.ca, Phone: 519-826-0439 x203
In the space below, provide the company’s community service or mission statement.
Skyline approaches community service by building strong, supportive, and sustainable communities.
This principle is an integral aspect of our business strategy, so much so that it is part of our core purpose. We recognize that our responsibility as a rental housing provider goes far beyond owning and managing apartments: we must also find creative, innovative ways to effect positive change in the communities we serve.
We provide housing to more than 1,600 people in Nova Scotia, across eight properties in three cities. We have an unwavering commitment to make a meaningful impact on our tenants’ lives, and to help our Nova Scotia communities (and all our locations from coast to coast) grow and thrive.
A truly effective social sustainability strategy creates a win-win-win effect for the company, its customers, and the greater community. Strengthening the places we do business in and enhancing our tenants’ quality of life is well worth our time, effort, and resources. It is an intrinsic part of our responsibility as a housing provider, and above all, it is simply the right thing to do.
In the space provided, highlight why this company is deserving of this award.
While we operate across Canada, our community service strategy is deeply rooted in local engagement. Each community is unique, and we tailor our efforts to meet the specific needs of each area we serve. To maximize the impact of our support, we actively partner with, and contribute to, local organizations whenever possible.
In addition to being locally focused, our community service approach is fulsome and comprehensive. By leveraging not just our financial resources, but also our people, partnerships, and influence, we are demonstrating a more holistic approach to social sustainability that creates a deeper, more meaningful impact and sets us apart in our industry.
-People: Our 1,000+ employees across the country receive paid volunteer time so they can offer their expertise to support organizations and causes of their choice. With employees based at each of our properties, this approach allows us to make a direct and meaningful impact in the communities we serve.
-Partnerships: We collaborate with government and community organizations on all levels. Many of our employees actively participate in advocacy groups or serve as advisors and/or board members for our community partners, providing valuable insight to help strengthen and expand these organizations’ efforts.
-Influence: We use our voice and platform to raise awareness and advocate for positive change in our communities. We encourage each of our audiences and stakeholders to adopt their own sustainable practices that align with our commitment to community service and social responsibility.
-Financial support: We provide donations and sponsorships to many charitable organizations throughout the year, focusing on critical issues in Nova Scotia and across Canada, such as housing insecurity, food insecurity, and mental wellness.
With each action we take, we aim to influence everyone who interacts with us, inspiring and challenging them to make a meaningful difference in their own communities.
In the space below, provide a list of fundraising activities describing the impact on the community. Provide any new initiatives or activities undertaken in 2021.
In 2024, we supported over 100 communities across seven provinces through corporate giving, focusing on three major fundraisers:
-Coldest Night of the Year: Raised $150,317 for organizations fighting homelessness, hunger, and hurt, including $4,210 to Souls Harbour Rescue Mission Halifax.
-Spring Hope Food Drive: Collected 52,395 lbs. of food alongside our tenants for local food banks and donated $52,395 to Food Banks Canada, including 707 lbs. for Feed Nova Scotia.
-Driving Positive Change: Raised $210,000 for five youth wellness organizations in four provinces with the support of our investors and suppliers. We also donated a professionally produced outreach video to each organization.
Beyond these, we donated an additional $254,748 to community organizations:
-Donated $15,200 to support Heart & Stroke Canada’s critical heart disease and stroke research. 152 employees participated in the Heart & Stroke Walk.
-Contributed $25,000 to support the Canadian Red Cross (CRC) in expanding its disaster response capacity and became a regional supporter of the CRC Disaster Response Alliance, expanding on past disaster relief support including the Atlantic Canada fires.
In addition to supporting non-profit organizations, we support tenants experiencing hardship through our R.I.S.E. program. In 2024, we worked with tenants to save 183 tenancies and distributed $21,050 in grocery gift cards. We understand that tough times can happen to anyone, and we strive to help our tenants regain stability when needed.
We also supported our Nova Scotian communities through non-financial methods:
-Planted 43 trees in Bedford in partnership with Tree Canada.
-Supported the Salvation Army in collecting toys for over 22,000 families through its Toy Drive.
-Donated excess food from six barbecues to the Cole Harbour Fridge Food Bank.
Through corporate giving, volunteerism, and strategic partnerships, we continue to create positive change and make a lasting impact in Nova Scotia and beyond.
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