This year marks Standard Life’s 175th anniversary in Canada, and to commemorate this event, Standard Life is creating a $1.75 million endowment fund to enhance its current community investment program.

“Standard Life’s 175 years in Canada have been marked by important achievements and major contributions to the economic and social fabric of the country,” says Joseph Iannicelli, president and CEO.

Standard Life was the first life insurance company to transact business in Canada, and from its origins in life insurance in 1833, the company has broadened the scope of its operations to offer a full range of asset-managing services for retirement, investment and protection.

Some of Standard Life’s key historic moments include providing insurance to fathers of Confederation including Sir John A. Macdonald, contributing to the construction of Canada’s railway system and, most importantly, pioneering the creation of pension plans and pension income for Canadians after World War II.

The company is creating a $1.75 million endowment fund to support community initiatives in Canada. Standard Life’s head office in Edinburgh, Scotland will provide $1 million and the company’s Canadian employees will raise $750,000 to reach the $1.75 million mark. Further details on the fund will be announced later this year.

“We believe we can continue making a difference with the new fund, as we have over the past 25 years with the Standard Life Marathon, which is now known as our Step Up for the Children campaign,” adds Iannicelli. “It was created to mark our 150th anniversary in Canada, and Standard Life employees have pulled together over these years to raise more than $6.5 million for pediatric research.”