Partners of the School Program

BMO believes that building stronger communities starts with educating and engaging the next generation. Through its support of the Rick Hansen Foundation School Program, BMO helps students gain real-world skills in accessibility and inclusion, helping them design spaces and cultural norms that remove barriers. This partnership reflects BMO’s commitment to developing young leaders who shape systems, spaces, and cultures where everyone can participate and contribute with confidence. 

Scotiabank is committed to driving meaningful impact in the communities it serves through ScotiaRISE – the Bank’s 10-year, $500 million commitment to promote economic resilience and inclusion for disadvantaged groups. ScotiaRISE invests in partnerships and programs within three priority focus areas—increasing high school graduation and post-secondary participation; helping newcomers settle in new countries and feel at home faster; and assisting those facing barriers to employment with career development or career progression. To date, ScotiaRISE has supported more than 200 community partners and provided more than $60 million in community investments globally.

The Abercrombie Foundation’s support for the Rick Hansen Foundation School Program reflects its commitment to strengthening belonging and community across British Columbia. By directing its funding to the Educator E Learning in BC, The Abercrombie Foundation is helping equip teachers with the skills and confidence to champion accessibility and inclusion in their classrooms—creating lasting impact for students and the broader school community.

The Gordon & Ruth Gooder Charitable Foundation was founded in 2010 in memory of Gordon & Ruth Gooder. The legacy of their founders helps improve the lives of Canadian youth, with a focus on Ontario programs. The Gooder Foundation is concerned about the welfare of youth who are disadvantaged due to their economic and/or social circumstances, or who have physical disabilities. The Gooder Foundation has generously supported the RHF School program since 2016.

The Hearn Family Foundation, led by Tim and Susan Hearn, have been champions of the RHF School Program and Ambassador program for over a decade. Their latest gift, directed to supporting RHF Ambassador presentations across Canada, demonstrates their commitment to supporting inclusive classrooms through disability representation. Thanks to this support, RHF Ambassadors, individuals with disabilities who engage with youth about their lived experiences, have reached thousands of students with the message of kindness, inclusion, and that it is our differences that make us stronger.