Saskatoon, SK – Medavie, through its Foundation, is providing $100,000 to the White Buffalo Youth Lodge to support food security for the children, youth and families it serves impacted by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The White Buffalo Youth Lodge is a partnership with the Saskatoon Tribal Council (STC), Central Urban Métis Federation, City of Saskatoon, and the Saskatchewan Health Authority. It has been preparing some 1,500 healthy meals, twice daily, for more than 500 Indigenous households in at-risk neighbourhoods, as well as 200 daily lunch and supper meals for the homeless population visiting the STC Health Centre during the pandemic. White Buffalo Youth Lodge has also been working to develop an integrated food distribution system, including daily contactless home deliveries, in monitoring and supporting the elderly and other high-risk populations.

“As our country manages through this pandemic and the resulting economic impacts, we recognize the increased and sustained food needs of Canadians, especially our most vulnerable populations. We also recognize the importance of organizations like the White Buffalo Youth Lodge in ensuring the needs of the community are being met and that no one is going hungry,” said Bernard Lord, CEO of Medavie. “As a not-for-profit health solutions partner, making a meaningful difference in our communities is more important than ever and is at the heart of all we do. I wish to acknowledge and thank the Medavie Health Services West team, who have been serving Saskatoon and the surrounding area for over 40 years, for the work they do each and every day to support our communities and improve the wellbeing of Canadians.”

“All of our communities have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and in response, we put out a call to our partners to help us feed those in need. Specifically, the Saskatoon Tribal Council in partnership with White Buffalo Youth Lodge were looking for help to sustain and expand an emergency food preparation, packaging and a contactless delivery system that feeds Indigenous families and elders in the most vulnerable urban neighbourhoods of Saskatoon,” explained Mark Arcand, Saskatoon Tribal Chief. “Medavie Health Services West has been one of our community partners for several years; words can’t describe how happy we are that Medavie has chosen to support the needs of our Indigenous families during this pandemic. This donation will ensure we continue to deliver over 1,500 meals daily throughout the summer to families in need.”

This funding is part of Medavie’s $5M COVID-19 Response Fund, which was established to help communities address their immediate needs, as well as assist with much-need recovery efforts as organizations navigate through the pandemic and find new and innovative way to provide essential services.

Through its Foundation, Medavie supports community-based programs aligned with adolescent mental health and post-traumatic stress, and initiatives that support active living and healthy eating.

About Medavie
Medavie is a national health solutions partner that integrates benefits management, health management and health care delivery. Together, with our more than 6,400 employees, we are committed to providing innovative solutions that improve the wellbeing of Canadians.

As a not-for-profit organization, Medavie oversees Medavie Blue Cross, a premier all-in-one benefits carrier and public health program administrator, and Medavie Health Services, a national primary health care solutions organization and the largest private provider of EMS management services in Canada.

We are proud to commit an annual social dividend to the Medavie Health Foundation to support programs and initiatives aimed at addressing some of our country’s most pressing physical and mental health care challenges.

Media Contact
Caitlin Ferguson, Medavie
[email protected]
902-496-5958