iAtoday

For the first time, an iA cycling team will participate in the Grand défi Pierre Lavoie and ride 1,000 km for the well-being of young people!

The ambiance was quite festive in the gymnasium of the École des Cœurs-Vaillants, in Quebec City, on May 1.

And for good reason: as part of its participation in the Grand défi Pierre Lavoie (GDPL), the iA Financial Group team visited the elementary school it sponsors to get the children moving and dancing!

To the music of singer Cœur de pirate, the 500 youngsters from grades 1 to 6 were dancing, cheered on by the iA team, who was present to launch the GDPL activities.

Riding 1,000 km

Six Group Benefits and Retirement Solutions (GBRS) employees will be taking part in the 1,000 km challenge. This major cycling marathon is one of ten GDPL activities designed to promote healthy lifestyles to young people and help schools carry out healthy lifestyle projects.

The cycling marathon also raises funds for research on orphaned hereditary diseases.

Some 1,200 cyclists will participate in the event, held from June 8 to 11. Each cyclist will pedal an average of 400 kilometres over 60 hours, from Saguenay to Montreal.

iA’s participation in the event is in line with its ambition to be present in its community and support the global well-being of Canadians.

The iA team

The team's objective for this first showing is to live an extraordinary personal experience, to embody the values advocated by iA and to contribute to getting projects off the ground by raising at least $15,000 for the cause.

To learn more about the team and its motivation, visit the team’s page on the Grand défi Pierre Lavoie website!

For Mathieu Bujold, Solution Architecture Advisor and father of three, including a young girl diagnosed with a rare disease, participating in the GDPL conveys that mobilization can change things, inspire young people and encourage them to get moving. Not to mention that every pedal stroke he makes will also be for his daughter...

Caroline Larouche, Account Executive, takes part in the GDPL because sports is an ever-present passion in her life, which she shares with her children. Cycling with the team allows her to spread her passion and put it at the service of the common good.

Frédéric Leblanc, Strategic Leader, argues that the benefits of physical activity are well established. He adds that the GDPL makes it possible to promote that to young people and that intervening early in people's lives has a considerable impact on society.

Jean-François Parent, Strategist, believes that anything that can contribute to the well-being of young people is worth devoting time and resources. He will be the iA team's guide and driver.  

Louis-Philippe Pouliot, Senior Vice-President, believes that sport is a vector of balance between all aspects of life: personal, family and professional. Working hard for an important cause allows him to combine business with pleasure.

Finally, for Marie-Pier Villemure, Senior Director, the GDPL is an excellent example of a collective effort done for a great cause, as riding 1000 km in four days, come rain or shine, shows great solidarity in wanting to build a better world.

The iA team would like to thank its main sponsors, iA Financial Group and Express Scripts Canada.