Community

Community Initiatives

RBC has a proud history of strong relationships with Aboriginal communities. We are committed to serve Aboriginal people by supporting programs that enhance economic and community wellbeing. We focus our philanthropic community activities in three key areas: the environment, specifically water; youth literacy and education; and culture and heritage. RBC donated over $1.9 million to Aboriginal organizations in Canada in 2008, including:

• The Bill Reid Foundation, whose mission is to preserve the art and legacy of Bill Reid, an artist who introduced the world to the art traditions of the indigenous people of the northwest coast of North America. In 2008, RBC was a founding donor of the Gallery of Northwest Coast Art
  
  
• Anishinabek Nation 7th Generation Charity, which assists First Nations' families and children with culture, language and support services for the elderly, students, and people who are ill and differently abled. RBC supported the expansion of a community-based Aboriginal children's mental health program in the First Nation community of Aundeck Omni Kaning
  
  
• RBC's Aboriginal Stay in School Program, launched in 1994, provides "work and learn" opportunities for youth. A total of 44 students across Canada participated in this program during the 2008 summer school break
  
  
• Canadian Aboriginal Festival, Canada's largest such festival and a unique opportunity for Canadians to share and learn about the cultures, languages and heritage of North America's Aboriginal peoples
  
  
• The Ma Mawi Wi Chi Itata Centre (Ma Mawi), an organization that finds Aboriginal solutions to support and rebuild families by creating meaningful opportunities for community and family involvement that better care for children
  
  
• Saskatoon Environmentors Co-operative (Core Neighbourhood Youth Co-op), a community-based organization working with youth on self-sufficiency, co-operative principles and environmentalism. CNYC creates opportunities for youth to engage with each other and their community through creative economic activities based on environmental principles. RBC supported their Carpentry Program which provides job training skills to at-risk youth
  
  
• Five organizations that address Aboriginal water issues in Canada received RBC Blue Water Project leadership grants. See Environment.
  
  
• Safe Drinking Water Foundation, which RBC continued to support in 2008 by funding the development of workshops that present to First Nations and rural communities the need for systemic reduction of their reliance on chemicals in their water treatment process.