On October 20, 100 Travelers employees and broker partners took to Toronto’s Etobicoke York district to help build a new playspace for children in the area inspired by their designs for the project.
In collaboration with non-profit organization KABOOM! and the City of Toronto, the initiative is an effort to create a communal space for children to come together while also ending playspace inequity within the city.
“Dixon Park is surrounded by community housing, and the neighbourhood is home to approximately 1,500 children,” said Heather Masterson, president and CEO of Travelers Canada.
“Before the new playspace, the park simply couldn’t meet the needs of the wide range of ages. Now, they all have a safe place to play and learn.”
In an interview with Insurance Business, Masterson spoke about why it is important to end playspace inequity in the city, why this endeavour aligns with Travelers’ philanthropic efforts and how the company promotes diversity and inclusion in its workplace.
Playspace inequity, especially in low-income communities, can have detrimental effects on the children who inhabit these recreational areas.
According to a study conducted by the NC State University and the College of Charleston in collaboration with KABOOM!, poorly constructed and maintained playspaces can limit a child’s ability to fully experience the physical, social, and emotional health benefits of play.
“Children need safe places to express themselves and build lifelong skills, such as teamwork and creativity,” Masterson said.
These communal spaces also help foster a sense of belonging, which can be achieved when a site is built with safety and usefulness in mind.
“Children are our future leaders, so it’s crucial that they have appropriate spaces where they can thrive and grow,” the president and CEO said.
As an anecdotal aside, when Masterson and the crew of volunteers were hard at work on this initiative, she noticed a mother and her child walk by and they were eager to try and make use of the playspace that was not yet fully completed.
“It just goes to show how important these spaces are to children and their developmental growth,” she said.
As an organization, Travelers has established philanthropic roots with the various communities it serves. So far, in 2023, Masterson said that the company’s Canadian employees have logged over 1,050 volunteer hours while also donating more than $35,000 to causes they support.
Furthermore, Travelers is a longtime supporter of KABOOM!’s efforts in both the US and Canada, having worked on other similar projects in various cities.
“We are dedicated to ensuring the vitality and resilience of the communities where we live and work,” Masterson said.
“Our partnership with KABOOM! directly aligns with our goal to foster thriving neighborhoods.”
For Travelers, the company’s efforts to better its communities is imminently reflected in the workplace ethos it upholds for its employees — more specifically, diversity, equity and inclusion.
“We aim to cultivate a work environment that embraces the power of difference and a culture where individuality is honoured,” Masterson said.
“Fostering an inclusive culture enables new ideas and innovation and reinforces an environment in which our employees feel valued, respected and supported.”
To spearhead a more positive workspace for all, Travelers has created employee resource groups, also known as diversity networks, which aim to foster engagement, inclusion and retention.
“This is done through networking, development and community volunteer opportunities,” Masterson added.
