TORONTO, Oct. 13, 2021 /CNW/ - Scotiabank today announced
an additional commitment to support efforts to safely relocate
former Afghan interpreters and locally employed civilians and their
families, with a $250,000 donation to
the Veterans Transition Network (VTN). Led by Canadian veterans,
VTN has been coordinating efforts to support the care and
evacuation of thousands of Afghan interpreters and civilians
awaiting safe transport to Canada.
"As Canadians, we have an important moral and humanitarian duty
to support those Afghan interpreters and civilians, who served
alongside the Canadian Armed Forces during Canada's mission in Afghanistan, putting themselves and their
families at great personal risk," said Dan
Rees, Group Head, Canadian Banking for Scotiabank. "As we
continue to monitor conditions on the ground in Afghanistan, Scotiabank is proud to be able to
provide additional support to the Veterans Transition Network in
their efforts to bring these families to Canada immediately and safely."
"Scotiabank's significant donation will provide housing and food
for Afghan families who are internally displaced and most at risk
of Taliban retaliation. It is greatly needed support that will help
keep our Afghan families safe while we prepare them for
evacuation," said Tim Laidler, VTN
Board President and Afghanistan
veteran. "We are very thankful for this generous corporate support
to assist Canada's grassroots
effort to rescue our Afghan allies. Our network includes veterans,
journalists, business leaders and philanthropists, and today, one
of Canada's big five banks. Thank
you, Scotiabank, for looking beyond Canada's borders to help those who helped
Canada."
In July 2021, Scotiabank was the
first major Canadian bank to pledge support to local community
organizations, including the Afghan Women's Organization and True
Patriot Love, to provide settlement and integration support for
these Afghan families. This brings Scotiabank's total contribution
to $500,000 in support of these
collective efforts, and as part of Scotiabank's ScotiaRISE
commitment to fostering greater economic resilience through
newcomer integration support. Scotiabank is also prepared to
provide special newcomer banking advice and solutions through its
StartRight® program, to help set these families up for
success upon arrival.
About Scotiabank:
Scotiabank is a leading bank in the
Americas. Guided by our purpose: "for every future", we help our
customers, their families and their communities achieve success
through a broad range of advice, products and services, including
personal and commercial banking, wealth management and private
banking, corporate and investment banking, and capital markets.
With a team of over 90,000 employees and assets of approximately
$1.2 trillion (as at July 31, 2021), Scotiabank trades on the Toronto
Stock Exchange (TSX: BNS) and New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: BNS).
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SOURCE Scotiabank