Greater Toronto's Top Employers (2026) Magazine - Magazine - Page 86
86
( 2026)
SPONSOR CONTENT
Mars Canada drives positive change in its communities
T
hey are posted on
company websites
and shared in town
halls, but how does a
global company bring
its core principles to life in its
employees’ own communities? At
Mars Canada, volunteering runs
in tandem with career growth. It’s
where purpose meets action and
where associates make a tangible
impact that creates positive local
changes.
There is nothing more
engaging than when
our associates see the
impact they have every
day.
— Derin Bello
General Manager,
Mars Food & Nutrition, Canada
“At Mars Canada, community
work creates a positive feedback
loop,” says Derin Bello, general
manager, Mars Food & Nutrition.
“There is nothing more engaging
than when our associates see the
impact they have every day. When
we share those stories at town
halls, it engages more people and
truly becomes part of our culture.”
Whether it is donating food to
local food banks, maintaining
a long-term partnership with
Caledon Community Services and
other non-profit organizations,
or supporting animal adoption
through shelters, rescues or
animal welfare organizations, the
strategy is to be intentional at the
grassroots level, says Bello.
Employees at Mars Canada celebrate Purpose Day by assembling 1,000 kits to support their local
communities.
Working for a company that
believes in business as a power
for good is one of the key reasons
Samantha Rose has built her
career at Bolton-based Mars
Canada, where she currently
works as corporate affairs head
for the Pet Nutrition segment.
Addressing the rising rates of pet
homelessness, Mars Canada is
spearheading programs at local
shelters that educate on responsible pet ownership, encourage
adoption, and ensure that pets are
included in emergency response
plans, such as the forest fires in
northern Ontario.
Four years ago, Mars Pet
Nutrition launched the Pedigree
Foundation Canadian Grant
Program, which donates $125,000
annually to animal shelters for
dog adoption programs, including
$25,000 for immediate disaster
relief to cover veterinary costs,
crates and transport needs.
This kind of community care is a
two-way street — everyone is positively affected by the experience. A
good example is the Mars Wrigley
Purpose Day kits for everyday
heroes. The idea came from an
associate who saw a family at a
grocery store build “thank you”
gift boxes. That simple gesture
and idea amplified and brought
together associates to create 1,000
gift boxes filled with Mars treats
as surprise gifts to thank everyday
heroes like teachers, crossing
guards and local volunteers.
“It’s exciting to be at an
organization that nurtures your
growth and takes into account
how we can bring purpose to
life within Mars Canada,” says
Nina Solomun, manager, internal
communications. “Purpose Day
kits reached teachers, firefighters,
crossing guards and nurses across
the Greater Toronto Area and
