Petro-Canada launches new foundation to support family caregiver organizations

Suncor Energy is promising to invest $10 million over 5 years into supporting caregiver organizations across the country

Why It Matters

One in four Canadians say they have been an unpaid caregiver for a friend or family member living with aging-related issues, disability, or a medical condition. The COVID-19 pandemic is putting an even heavier burden on caregivers.

One of Canada’s largest oil and gas companies has launched the Petro-Canada CareMakers Foundation, a philanthropic organization to help organizations who support unpaid caregivers across the country. 

Suncor Energy, who owns Petro-Canada, promised in a statement on Thursday morning to invest $10 million into the foundation over the next five years and “bring awareness and support to the essential work of caregivers.” The CareMakers Foundation will do so by providing grants to charitable organizations that support family caregiving such as community health centres, rather than providing direct financial support to caregivers. 

“Caregivers are the backbone of our communities, and the pandemic has in many ways exacerbated the issues that family caregivers face,” says Suncor president and CEO Mark Little in the statement. “We know this issue is largely unseen,

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