Beneva and Cégep de Sainte-Foy welcome inaugural students

Quebec City, February 28, 2024 — Recently, Beneva’s P&C insurance program, which is offered at Cégep de Sainte-Foy, welcomed its inaugural students. The insurer, the school and the Coalition pour une relève en assurance de dommages (Coalition) are proud to offer a work-study program designed to provide online training that is recognized by the AMF (Autorité des marchés financiers) to thirty-or-so students who are looking to embark on a career in insurance. Participants will obtain an Attestation of Collegial Studies (ACS) and a guaranteed job at Beneva after their academic training.

The project was made possible by funding from the Quebec government under the general requalification and skills enhancement component of the Short-Term Training Program (COUD), which favors internships in occupations prioritized by the Commission des partenaires du marché du travail (CPMT).

"Short-term training programs focusing on internships in the professions are made possible by the support of our government, and respond quickly and effectively to the needs of businesses. I wish the greatest success to those who have just begun this training. Our government is proud to contribute to this ambitious project," explains Kateri Champagne Jourdain, Minister of Employment and Minister responsible for the Côte-Nord region.

This is the first such partnership for Beneva in Quebec. This agreement could lead the way for industry and colleges to collaborate over the long term, with the aim of alleviating labor shortages. “This program is a wonderful opportunity for students as well as for Beneva who is constantly seeking talented individuals to ensure the quality of service its clients have come to expect. In light of the labour shortage affecting our industry, this partnership is a way for us to innovate our recruitment practices," said David Fortier, Vice-President – Direct Sales and Loyalty at Beneva.

“Cégep de Sainte-Foy is pleased to offer this accelerated P&C insurance program, which is the latest in a series of collaborations we’ve had with Beneva over the years. Our school is known for the quality of its insurance and financial services programs. It was therefore only natural for us to provide our expertise to our invaluable collaborators. In fact, this new program will be made available to other industry players. It’s thanks to our know-how that we were able to quickly get this new project off the ground,” said Nathalie Larose, General Manager of Cégep de Sainte-Foy.

Front row: David Fortier (Beneva), Nathalie Larose (Cégep de Sainte-Foy) and Roxanne Hébert (Coalition) Second row: Mélanie Rancourt (Beneva), Marie-Pier Dion (Beneva), Karim Girard-Mabrouky (Beneva), Johanne Giguère (Cégep de Sainte-Foy), Josée Robitaille (Cégep de Sainte-Foy), Nicole Richard (Cégep de Sainte-Foy) and Myriam Fraser (Coalition)

Upon successfully completing this four-month program, students will have a job waiting for them at Beneva.

Beneva supports Cégep de Sainte-Foy and the Coalition

Thanks to Beneva’s financial support, Cégep de Sainte-Foy implemented the Guidewire Cloud Platform, a technological sandbox used in the industry. This will allow students to master the tool they will be using every day once they enter the job market. 

As a member of the Coalition, Beneva is pleased to be part of an innovative program that will serve its recruitment efforts and succession planning. For years now, Beneva and the Coalition have been working together in the best interest of the industry.

About Beneva

Created by the coming together of La Capitale and SSQ Insurance, Beneva is the largest insurance mutual in Canada with more than 3.5 million members and customers. Beneva employs over 5,500 dedicated employees: people looking out for people. Its human approach is rooted in the mutualist values supported by its employees. With $25.1 billion in assets, Beneva positions itself as a major player in the insurance and financial services industry. Its head office is located in Quebec City.

About Cégep de Sainte-Foy

Cégep de Sainte-Foy enrolls nearly 11,000 students in regular classes or vocational training, making it the school with highest attendance in the Quebec City region. Its many programs, dedicated teachers, active sports, social and cultural life as well as the breadth of its educational services make Cégep de Sainte-Foy a leader among colleges.

About the Coalition pour une relève en assurance de dommages

The mission of the Coalition and its members is to innovate in order to attract, engage and ensure ongoing succession planning in the P&C insurance industry. The Coalition is behind Quebec’s work-study program that began in 2022. P&C insurance companies and potential students can learn more about current or upcoming classes at https://pretassurancedommages.com/ (French only)