- Our Mission
- Building Hope with Habitat for Humanity Canada
- The Nissan Canada Foundation
- Education - Investing for the future
- Humanitarian Initiatives
Our Mission
One of Nissan's global visions is "To improve the quality of life in the communities in which Nissan operates". We also see Corporate Social Responsibility differently than many other organizations. For Nissan, it is not a communications program designed to make us look good, or just a way of donating to charitable causes. Corporate Social Responsibility is about making our business sustainable for the long term. It is about running our business in such a way that there is no more "win-lose" dynamic with our stakeholders. It is about trust.
Building Hope with Habitat for Humanity Canada
In 2008, over fifty of Nissan Canada's head office employees contributed to the realization of this vision, by helping Habitat for Humanity Canada complete the construction of several townhomes in Scarborough, Ontario. The experience proved so rewarding for the over 50 head office employees who were able to participate, that Nissan Canada announced an expanded partnership with Habitat for Humanity Canada for 2009.
This expansion included Nissan Canada very proudly becoming a title home donor, for a home in Toronto to be built on the first Habitat for Humanity build site in Canada to install EcoGeneration Solar Technology. Employees in Montréal and Vancouver were also provided with the opportunity to pick-up hammers, as Nissan Canada added "adopt-a-day" sponsorships in those cities.
In 2010, Nissan Canada continued to enhance its partnership with Habitat for Humanity Canada yet again, with the addition of two more "adopt-a-day" sponsorships in Calgary and Edmonton, locations where Nissan employees were joined by dealership employees.
Reflecting on the success of these new additions, and the continued interest among employees taking an even bigger step seemed very natural. For 2011, this will mean two more "adopt-a-day" sponsorships; in Ottawa, Ontario, and in Saint John, New Brunswick; as well as plans for a new title home sponsorship in Toronto.
The William's Way site is a project near and dear to Nissan Canada's employees. Nissan teams were there on the 2nd day of construction to see it all begin; and then again on June 7, 2011, only 14 days before the families received the keys to their new homes during a formal dedication ceremony.
As a title home donor this was a very proud moment for Nissan Canada and its employees, who put in numerous "sweat hours", over a two year period helping to build homes for deserving families.
It is in these moments that one feels a true sense of personal accomplishment, as well as an understanding of the worthiness of Corporate Social Responsibility.
The Nissan Canada Foundation
But Corporate Social Responsibility is not a new concept for Nissan in Canada. In fact, back in 1993, Nissan Canada Inc. established The Nissan Canada Foundation as a way for the company to give back to the community.
Since then, the Foundation’s main mission has been to help improve the quality of life for seniors through programs like Meals on Wheels, and by assisting seniors maintain their independence by providing transportation for things such as medical appointments or shopping trips for daily necessities.
Today, the Foundation supports over 35 organizations across Canada, to whom it supplies over 50 vehicles totalling over 1.5 million dollars in value; vehicles which help them meet seniors' needs.
Why seniors? Because they've laid the foundations for many things Canadians take for granted; for health care, for unemployment insurance, for universal pensions. Supporting seniors may not be trendy or glamorous, but it's certainly worthy, and to Nissan Canada that should matter more.
The Nissan Canada Foundation is also truly grateful to the many Nissan dealers across Canada who have supported the Foundation’s efforts all these years by being “dealer partners” to one or more of the Foundation’s vehicles.
A special commendation goes to the Nissan dealers in western Canada, who take part in an annual charity golf tournament to raise funds for western based organizations supported by The Nissan Canada Foundation, as well as one organization selected by the dealers. In the last few years, this has led to generous donations to the Foothills Country Hospice Society, the Colonel Belcher Society, the Alzheimer Society of B.C., and the Alzheimer Society of Alberta & Northern Territories.
Langley Meals on Wheels opted for a cube in 2011 when the Foundation renewed its entire fleet. This agency is very fortunate to be partnered with Jonker Nissan, who not only support them as a dealer partner, but also provide space in the dealership for them to operate from.
The Foundation also provides financial support to The Toronto Challenge, an annual event which raises funds for Toronto seniors.
Education - Investing for the future
Seniors represent the past, and Nissan Canada is very proud to be able to support them through the efforts of the Foundation, but Nissan Canada is also committed to supporting the future, which is why we provide over $200,000.00 in bursaries or endowments to various Universities or Colleges across Canada.
Humanitarian Initiatives
Helping to provide for our seniors, and our future leaders, are long-term commitments, but Nissan Canada also strives to help those in need today, or those left in need when disaster strikes.
Donations to local food banks and participation in the Breakfast for Kids Program allow Nissan Canada to help those nearby on an ongoing basis, but giving hope to someone at the worst of times is an even greater gift. A gift the Canadian Red Cross offers each time they respond to calls for help following major disasters. Nissan Canada is truly thankful for organizations like the Canadian Red Cross, and very proud to have contributed over $60,000 to help them meet the needs of those affected by natural disasters over the last year.
All of these actions are how we bring to life our vision of “improving the quality of life in the communities in which Nissan operates”; and at Nissan Canada, we call this being a good neighbour, we call this being a “Nissan Neighbour”.
