Growing up in Moncton, New Brunswick, Sean Burnett slowly watched his community change. A rise in homelessness and hunger became obvious signs to him that more could be done to help the vulnerable residents in his hometown. Now living in Dartmouth, Sean, who still travels to Moncton for work as a Business Development Advisor with Definity is doing what he can to make a difference.
“Times are changing, and there is a growing population of young people across Moncton who simply never had the right opportunities to get ahead,” Sean shares. “With the rising cost of living — including rent, gas, and groceries — it’s no wonder we’re seeing more youths facing homelessness in the last 40 years.”
Aligning his passion for community with his career, Sean works closely with Jones Insurance, a brokerage that has partnered with Definity since 2018, to support Coldest Night of the Year, an annual fundraising walk. CNOY is a family-friendly, national event that encourages teams to come together and experience the harsh and bitter reality of being on the streets in the dead of winter, all while raising awareness — and funds — for local charities that are near to their heart.
For Jones Insurance, that charity is Youth Impact Jeunesse, a large organization that offers residential and community outreach services to homeless and at-risk youth across New Brunswick. In February 2022, after two years of the COVID-19 pandemic and rapidly rising inflation, Sean and Jones Insurance agreed it was a good time to try to step it up a notch. Sean brought forward the opportunity to Definity who donated. With this contribution and the generosity of the community, the Jones team was propelled into second place in the local CNOY standings for most money raised.
“When I drive through Moncton and see how many young people are on the street, I can only think one thing: ‘this is somebody’s child,’” says Sean. “Everyone deserves a safe place to stay and a warm meal. I’m proud to see my hometown getting extra support thanks to the incredible collaboration between Definity and Jones Insurance.” In fact, within 2020–2021 alone, Youth Impact Jeunesse supported 552 youths agency-wide.
Jones Insurance is rooted within the community as a fourth-generation, family-owned brokerage, one of many such close-knit brokerages that Definity partners with across the country to expand their charitable outreach at the local level. Growing up, raising their families, and working closely with countless neighbours in their hometowns gives Definity partners like Jones a valuable, insider’s view on how corporate contributions are best directed.
Reflecting on the uncertainty of global socioeconomic conditions in the years to come, Sean knows even more can be done. “I personally encourage our broker community to share initiatives that impact their communities with Definity, as we support broker-endorsed charities.”
Having close relationships with brokerages is about so much more than just doing business or providing exceptional customer service. It’s about understanding the issues and their impacts on community well-being — now and in the future.
“Community partnership is key to addressing what matters most to our customers and neighbours,” Sean says. “By sharing these stories and committing ourselves to small, yet meaningful actions, we can all make a big difference in helping Canadians thrive for generations to come.”
Sean Burnett, Business Development Advisor at Definity