2024 Impact Awards winner: Petro-Canada CareMakers Foundation

Family caregivers are unsung heroes. They provide essential care and support without pay to loved ones. 

In Canada, where immigrants and non-English or non-French speakers make up a significant portion of the population, understanding and supporting the experiences of caregivers of diverse backgrounds is critical. 

Since its inception three years ago, the Petro-Canada CareMakers Foundation has demonstrated its commitment to addressing the needs of family caregivers. 

The foundation’s strategic actions ensure that family caregivers are valued and recognized. In response to the lack of data on marginalized family caregivers, it convened thought leaders, including marginalized family caregivers and care partners, to discuss their experiences and document them. 

Language barriers emerged as a significant issue, affecting 45% of family caregivers. 

In 2023, the foundation awarded more than $2.3 million in grants to 120-plus charities. Some initiatives being funded include translation of caregiving toolkits into multiple languages, training for LGBTQ+ family caregivers and the development of caregiving resource templates for ethnic communities. 

Beyond its grant-making efforts, CareMakers launches creative campaigns, such as the recent Lighten the Load, to bring awareness to the public. Suncor/Petro-Canada and its associates continue to be one of the foundation’s biggest champions and supporters.