Aviva Canada Supports Innovation and Experiential Education

Supporting the Automotive Parts Manufacturers’ Association’s (APMA) Project Arrow, Canada’s first zero-emissions concept vehicle, seems natural for insurance company Aviva Canada, because sustainability is a strategic pillar of its business.

“Sustainability isn’t an afterthought for us,” says Shilpi Singh, AVP Sustainability. “We are the first insurance company in Canada to commit to net-zero carbon emissions by 2040, but we can’t reach a netzero future alone. Project Arrow is very well aligned with who we are and what we do.”

“We’re so excited to be associated with Project Arrow as we see the positive news around it, especially with the debut of the Project Arrow vehicle at the 2023 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas and the Auto Show in Detroit.”

As part of its new partnership with Ontario Tech University, Aviva Canada is supporting experiential education opportunities that make it possible for students to work on Project Arrow. Ontario Tech and ACE (Automotive Centre of Excellence) Climatic Wind Tunnel were hand-picked by APMA as the driving force for Project Arrow’s Phase 2, leading the prototyping, building and testing of the concept vehicle. The car’s debut solidifies Canada’s place as a leader in electric vehicle technology and talent.

“Insurance companies had a unique role to play in encouraging the advances in electric vehicle technology, and Project Arrow fits so well into what Aviva is trying to do for Canada in general,” Shilpi says. “It reflects our core values of care, community, commitment and confidence.”

“As an employer, we know how important it is to invest in young talent and the next generation of innovators and big thinkers. Experiential education (EE) is a great way for students to build confidence and meet people from diverse backgrounds. We have a big internship program and we’re happy to support Ontario Tech as they build their own EE programs.”

Aviva Canada also provides funding for student entrepreneurial experiences that help promote the next generation of road safety and climate-responsive startup companies through Brilliant Catalyst.

“Ambition and innovation are important parts of fighting the climate crisis, so we want to push the journey forward,” Shilpi says. “As an employer in Canada, it’s important to invest in the education of future talent. We want to pay it forward. We’re very proud to help young minds develop skills that relate to the auto industry and innovation through our partnership with Ontario Tech.”