Greater Toronto's Top Employers (2025) Magazine - Flipbook - Page 58
58
( 2025 )
SPONSOR CONTENT
Charity begins at the office at Ecclesiastical
T
here’s something
unique about
Ecclesiastical
Insurance Office, and
it’s not just the name.
The Toronto-based provider is
part of the Benefact Group, a charity-owned international family of
financial service companies over
130 years old. Under the auspices
of their charitable owner Benefact
Trust, the companies have kept
with their founding mission to
pay back all available profits to
charities and good causes.
“As far as we know, we are the
only financial services group that
gives all of its available profits
back to the community,” says
Ecclesiastical president David
Huebel. “That’s our reason for
being.”
Huebel says there is more to
the name Ecclesiastical than
people may realize, “We like to say
that we insure those who enrich
the lives of others, protecting
them and historic and culturally
significant places across Canada.”
The company provides specialized insurance for landmark and
heritage properties, educational
institutions, charity, retirement
living, faith organizations and a
number of other entities.
“There are no similar companies
in the insurance sector,” says
Michelle Ferreira, a specialist
underwriter at Ecclesiastical.
“What really makes us unique is
we’re able to support charities and
vital parts of our communities by
insuring them, but also supporting them, with our giving-back
initiatives.
“I love that I get to be directly
involved in supporting causes that
are important to me.”
Ferreira recalls nominating the
Toronto Wildlife Centre for a Give
for Good grant, Ecclesiastical’s
employee-led grant program. “I
was able to actually deliver the
cheque myself, and learn from
them what they need and how
they’re growing to support injured
animals across the GTA.”
She observes that team volunteer days are fun and meaningful,
having recently fundraised for the
Terry Fox Run with her colleagues. “I feel lucky to work
at an organization that encourages
volunteering and provides paid
days so that I can support causes
that are close to my heart,”
she says.
“It’s very much a home
and a community that I’ve
found at Ecclesiastical.”
— Michelle Ferreira
Specialist Underwriter
Employees at Ecclesiastical receive two paid days to volunteer and the company matches their charitable
donations up to $100.
“They care about what’s important to you and reflect that through
their giving-back initiatives, how
we provide insurance, how we
support colleagues, and how we
support the greater community.”
Huebel talks about the many
ways the company gives back,
including its annual Community
Impact Grant program for
Canadian charities with services
that support communities and
change lives. It also sponsors
the National Trust for Canada’s
“Next Great Save” competition
to preserve heritage properties, a
partnership that began two years
ago in celebration of Ecclesiastical
Canada’s 50th anniversary.
Ferreira says she joined the
company because of how “they
grow their own talent and grow
them in their ranks.” She began
her journey at Ecclesiastical in
its Business Associate Program,
