Sun Life Commitments to Truth & Reconciliation

Kevin Strain

President and CEO

“Our promise to be an inclusive and sustainable company is reflected in the actions we take and the lessons we learn along the way. That is why Sun Life continues to be committed to reconciliation, based on the framework outlined in Call to Action #92, as recommended by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada.”

Jessica Tan

Executive Vice President & President, Sun Life Canada

"Sun Life’s Bronze certification in the Partnership Accreditation in Indigenous Relations (PAIR) program is more than just an achievement - it's a significant step forward on our path to reconciliation. Through our collaboration with the Canadian Council for Indigenous Business, we've gained invaluable insights that have deepened our commitment to fostering genuine relationships with Indigenous Peoples. This milestone reminds us of the meaningful work still ahead, as we strive to support the wellbeing and resilience of the communities we serve.”

At Sun Life, we’re committed to building respectful and collaborative relationships with Indigenous Peoples, communities and Clients and recognize that Call to Action #92 is the responsibility of the corporate sector in Canada. By taking the necessary steps to uphold the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s guidance, we recognize that reconciliation is an iterative journey that requires action, self-reflection, trust and results.  

In 2025, we were awarded Bronze-level certification by the Canadian Council for Indigenous Business (CCIB) and the Partnership Accreditation in Indigenous Relations (PAIR) program. This certification reflects Sun Life’s progress and commitments, recognizing the importance of embedding reconciliation as a sustainable business value across our business in Canada. It reflects our commitments to uplift Indigenous employees and that we are fostering reciprocal and enduring relationships with Indigenous communities for a more inclusive shared future. 

Our commitments align with four key performance areas that will drive our reconciliation focus and efforts including: 1) Leadership Commitments, 2) Indigenous Employees, 3) Indigenous Economic Prosperity, 4) Community Relationships. 

Leadership Commitments

  • Our work is led by an Indigenous Relations Executive Steering Committee and dedicated working groups who are responsible for governance and the strategic integration of reconciliation and Indigenous relations priorities into our ways of working.   
  • Sun Life leaders and executives regularly attend Indigenous conferences, webinars, workshops and other educational opportunities. Leaders are actively involved in partnerships and collaborations with Indigenous businesses, Indigenous leaders, Clients and communities.
Pair Bronze. Partnership Accreditation in Indigenous Relations 

Indigenous Employees

We are taking steps to increase Indigenous employee representation in Canada and ensure we prioritize Indigenous cultural awareness education for all employees. In 2024, we established an aspirational goal of 1% Indigenous representation in Canada across all levels by 2030 and we have focused on ensuring there are equitable development opportunities for Indigenous employees.

  • Understanding that education is a core requirement to creating a more inclusive culture for our employees, Clients and Indigenous community partners, the 4 Seasons of Reconciliation Indigenous cultural awareness training program is now assigned to all Canadian employees. 
  • Our senior leadership team hosts a series of meaningful internal events where Indigenous subject matter experts generously share insights and recommendations on issues impacting Indigenous communities. These forums provide culturally relevant, safe spaces for all employees to learn, share and help remove stigma and barriers for Indigenous employees. 
  • In 2022, Sun Life established the “Indigenous Circle”, an employee-led inclusion network, to build connections, listen carefully and bring Indigenous and non-Indigenous employees in Canada together to build community and trust. 
  • The Indigenous Circle regularly hosts Indigenous education and awareness events for our employees, including those that recognize National Indigenous Peoples Day (June 21) and National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (September 30). 
  • In 2023, we added clarity on eligible Indigenous health expenses under Personal Spending Accounts by creating new expense categories for traditional Indigenous Healers and Elders, traditional medicines and supplies, fees and supplies for Indigenous ceremonies. 
  • In 2024, Sun Life created new roles within our Canadian business to advance reconciliation and attract talented Indigenous employees. 
  • We created the Dean Connor Sun Life Inclusion Scholarship for Black and Indigenous Students. This program awards up to 20 talented candidates a $5,000 scholarship along with a four-month paid summer internship. This opportunity includes professional guidance and coaching from a Sun Life mentor.

Indigenous Economic Prosperity

At Sun Life, we recognize the importance of creating positive economic impact in Indigenous communities through our procurement and investment activities.

Sun Life has an inclusive supplier program that Indigenous businesses can join as a potential vendor (Becoming a Supplier). To qualify as an Indigenous supplier, we require the business to be at least 51% Indigenous-owned, operated, and certified through a third-party diversity council. To create broader access to working with Indigenous businesses and source specified opportunities to do business, Sun Life accepts Indigenous supplier databases such as the Canadian Council for Indigenous Business (CCIB), Canadian Aboriginal & Minority Supplier Council (CAMSC), and the federal Indigenous Business Directory (IBD).

  • Recognizing the importance of community-endorsed verification processes, in 2025, we expanded approved Indigenous vendor databases to include the First Nations Identification (ID1N), Alberta Métis Works and the Métis Nation British Columbia directories. We continue to work to identify additional community databases that authentically represent Indigenous businesses.
  • In 2023, Sun Life was awarded the opportunity to provide dental claims processing services to eligible Canadians under the Canadian Dental Care Plan and established a partnership with TWCC Contact Centre Services Ltd (TCCS) to support this effort. Through this multi-year partnership, more than 125 jobs have been created in Winnipeg and together, we are helping millions of Canadian residents access more affordable dental care.
  • Through its institutional asset management business, Sun Life is enabling Indigenous-owned power infrastructure investments and supporting 17 First Nations communities by financing electricity grid connections to provide access to reliable power sources. In 2021, we made a five-year funding commitment totalling $110 million to tie the remote region into the broader provincial transmission grid.
  • In 2024, we added “Socioeconomic Advancement and Empowerment” to the eligible categories of our Sustainable Bond Framework so that we can track and measure the number of loans that support equity ownership by Indigenous Peoples and communities.

Indigenous Communities

Indigenous communities are among the fastest growing groups at twice the rate of any other demographic and have the youngest populations in Canada. Supporting these growing communities is part of our Purpose and commitment to reconciliation. We have established a minimum ongoing Canadian philanthropic investment for Indigenous led, supported, or focused community groups by committing a minimum of 5% of our Canadian philanthropic dollars to these community organizations. From 2022-2024, we exceeded our commitment with more than 10% of our annual Canadian budget committed into these communities.

Examples of our impact and partnerships with Indigenous communities include:

  • Sun Life supports the health pillar of Right to Play. The program aims to equip Indigenous children and youth across Canada with knowledge, practical and cultural teachings, and support resources needed to make healthy choices and protect against diabetes and other chronic conditions. Since launching the partnership in 2015, Sun Life has invested more than $2M with Right to Play and has reached more than 12,000 Indigenous youth across more than 25 communities.
  • Sun Life has been a partner with Spirit North since 2021, supporting land-based physical activity and sport programs for Indigenous youth. To-date, Sun Life has donated $850,000 to help sustain and grow these programs in 10 Indigenous communities across Manitoba and the Yukon.
  • For over 20 years, we have partnered with Indspire and we have awarded $25,000 each year in scholarships to Indigenous full and part-time students, pursuing their educational goals.

We will continue to foster a collaborative environment, bringing Indigenous perspectives and voices to the forefront of all our reconciliation and partnership activities. By embracing the concept of “nothing about you without you”, Sun Life is gaining invaluable cultural awareness and building a principled, co-creation approach to our philanthropic activities.