Strengthening our communities

We aspire to strengthen communities across Canada and around the world, and to create a positive impact that extends beyond our day-to-day business.

Charitable donations

EDC donated $66,656 to 34 charitable organizations across Canada in support of close to 100 employees and board members who volunteered more than 2,190 hours in 2019.

Community service leave

Seventy-four employees made use of EDC’s Community Service Leave, volunteering their time over 62 days to the charitable causes closest to their hearts.

Charitable campaign

Employees gave $188,525 to United Way Centraide Canada, HealthPartners and other registered charities through our annual Workplace Charitable Campaign.

Community investment day

More than 1,400 EDC employees volunteered half a day in support of 60 not-for-profit organizations in 10 Canadian communities and in four other countries.

CARE Canada partnership

In 2019, EDC and CARE Canada celebrated 10 years of humanitarian partnership and announced the renewal of the Beyond Exports program for another five years. Since 2009, our organizations have partnered to deliver business expertise and financial support to strengthen CARE’s work of delivering economic programming in developing countries. To date, 42 EDC employees have been seconded to nine CARE offices around the world.

International business scholarships

Each year, we award 30 scholarships to students pursuing an education in business, or business and sustainability combined, at a Canadian college or university. Since 2000, that has amounted to more than 500 scholarships valued at $4,000 each.

Forum for young Canadians

Each year, EDC is proud to welcome about 300 high school students from across the country to our head office in Ottawa, where they are exposed to international trade and participate in trade simulations.

Dalhousie University – Rowe School of Business

EDC’s support for the Doing Business in Emerging Markets program helped 12 students work with four Canadian companies in the Atlantic region.

John Molson MBA International Case Competition

We sponsored this high-profile competition, which brought in hundreds of students from top business schools worldwide and involved EDC employees in speaking and judging events.