Equitable Bank subsidiary Concentra has distributed $150,000 in grants to six credit unions through its 2026 Empowering Your Community program. The initiative, which has funneled over $2.3 million into local projects since 2011, focuses on strengthening regional economies by funding community-led efforts in housing, food security, and Indigenous resurgence.
The largest portion of this year's funding, $100,000, went to Access Credit Union and Assiniboine Credit Union to scale the Harvest Manitoba program in Winnipeg. This provincial network supports more than 380 food banks, aiming to reduce food insecurity through expanded distribution and client-centered advocacy.
Additional grants of $10,000 each were awarded to support diverse local projects across the country. Recipients include Compass Credit Union for the MUSKODAA PISIKI (Buffalo) Project in Manitoba, Alterna Savings and Credit Union for food systems in Ontario, and Salmon Arm Savings and Credit Union for a teaching garden in British Columbia. Affinity Credit Union in Saskatchewan received funding for the nēhiyawak Language Experience, while StellerVista Credit Union in British Columbia will use its grant to support the Full Bellies Full Hearts initiative.
Tanya Postlewaite, Vice President of Trust and Credit Union Services at EQ, noted that these recipients demonstrate the unique capability of member-owned institutions to address local needs. By backing these initiatives, Concentra aims to bolster the resilience of the six million Canadians currently served by credit unions. Since its inception, the program has consistently prioritized organizations that provide tangible improvements in mental health and community infrastructure, keeping capital within the regions that credit unions serve.
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