Co-operators and Farm Mutual Re honoured with 2025 Friend of the Faculty Impact Award by University of Waterloo
Award celebrates a decade-long partnership advancing flood resilience and climate adaptation across Canada.
GUELPH, ON, DECEMBER 4, 2025 – The University of Waterloo’s Faculty of Environment has recognized Co-operators and Farm Mutual Re with its 2025 Friend of the Faculty Impact Award for their decade of leadership, collaboration, and support as part of Partners for Action (P4A) — a research initiative dedicated to helping Canadians prepare for and adapt to climate-related risks.
Since its launch in 2015, P4A has brought together researchers, insurers, and government and community partners to close Canada’s flood-preparedness gap. With founding support from Co-operators and Farm Mutual Re, many initiatives have been developed, including:
- FloodSmart Canada, the first bilingual public portal offering flood maps and preparedness resources.
- A Canadian Social Vulnerability Index, created with the Canadian Red Cross to help identify communities needing support before, during, and after disasters.
- The Climate Resilient Retrofits Database, which helps guide Canadians to adapt their homes to multiple climate hazards.
- Managed Retreat Research, which aids in informing policy changes in Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangements and advancing decision-supports for at-risk communities.
“This award celebrates our commitment to student learning, applied research, and community resilience across Canada,” said Shawna Peddle, AVP of Sustainability at Co-operators. “It’s a symbol of what we can accomplish when we put aside individual goals and come together for a common purpose - to make our communities more resilient to a changing climate.”
“All that’s been achieved is a testament to what is possible through collaboration,” said Jean-Pierre Gagnon, President & CEO of Farm Mutual Re. “We are honoured to be recognized by the University of Waterloo for our commitment to sustainability and our focus on cultivating healthy communities. As part of the mutual insurance community, doing the right thing is in our DNA. We will continue to build upon the foundation that P4A has laid by supporting efforts that help Canadians adapt to increasingly severe weather.”
Through this collaboration, dozens of University of Waterloo students have gained research and leadership experience in climate adaptation, while contributing to work that continues to influence Canadian policy and community practice.
“I am proud of the work we have done under the P4A umbrella, catalyzed by the support and thought leadership of Co-operators and Farm Mutual Re, and enabled by building high performing teams of staff and students with the capacity to do collaborative work. This work has really been about harnessing the resources of academia to benefit Canadian communities,” said Sharmalene Mendis-Millard, Director of Partners for Action based at the University of Waterloo.
The Friend of the Faculty Impact Award was presented at a banquet on campus this past November 19, 2025.
About Co-operators
Proudly Canadian since 1945, Co-operators is a leading financial services co-operative, offering multi-line insurance and investment products, services, and personalized advice to help Canadians build their financial strength and security. With more than $78 billion in assets under administration, Co-operators is well known for its community involvement and its commitment to sustainability. Currently a carbon neutral organization, Co-operators is committed to net-zero emissions in its operations and investments by 2040, and 2050, respectively. Co-operators is recognized as one of Canada's Top 100 Employers and ranked as one of Corporate Knights' Best 50 Corporate Citizens in Canada.
About Partners for Action (P4A)
Launched in 2015 by the University of Waterloo, Co-operators, and Farm Mutual Re, Partners for Action advanced flood resilience and equitable climate adaptation through research, education, and community engagement. Visit https://uwaterloo.ca/partners-for-action/ to learn more and access key resources.
About Farm Mutual Re
Farm Mutual Re provides reinsurance solutions that enable community-based mutual insurers to give personal service with the same security as multi-national organizations. Grounded in financial strength, Farm Mutual Re cultivates deep-rooted, collaborative relationships with our members and valued partners around the world to drive trust and success. For more information visit www.farmmutualre.com.