Giving Philosophy

Chairman’s Message

“I believe that business has both the opportunity and responsibility to have a positive effect in the community. Growth and prosperity do not need to come at the expense of sustainability.” Galen Weston, Chairman and CEO.

At George Weston Limited, we believe our responsibility as a business extends beyond our shareholders to the community at large. It is a commitment we take very seriously, as one of Canada’s largest publicly traded companies and as a family-led firm with roots going back four generations to 1882.

Our role as corporate leaders extends to the way we behave towards the environment. As retailers, owners of real estate and bakers, we need to act responsibly to minimize our environmental footprint and continually strive for sustainable growth.

Our company has played an important part in the commercial development of Canada, providing jobs, investing in innovation, and creating opportunities for other businesses. But just as important is the investment we’ve made in our communities, to help strengthen them through social, cultural and environmental initiatives. We are proud of the various charitable commitments we have made across the group of businesses, with either in-kind donations and financial contributions or with employee volunteering.

In 2017, Loblaw committed $150 million over ten years to fight child hunger and poor nutrition in Canada through local school programs and social service agencies. In addition, the Company's annual employee fundraising campaign, Weston Seeding Stronger Communities, has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars in support of charities that help children and their families eat better and enjoy healthy activities. The monies raised by our employees are matched, dollar-for-dollar, by the Company. And through the SHOPPERS.LOVE.YOU campaign focusing on women’s health, more than $57 million has been donated back to charities in the past five years. The W. Garfield Weston Foundation is also one of the country’s most active charitable funders. For sixty years the Foundation has made substantial contributions in the areas of education, medical research, and the environment.

Galen G. Weston
Chairman and CEO