Desjardins Financial Security wins 12 prizes in the 2009 IFCA contest

Lévis (Québec), September 9, 2009 – Desjardins Financial Security (DFS) had a record year in terms of the number of awards it won in the 2009 Insurance & Financial Communicators Association (IFCA) contest. IFCA has approximately 700 members from more than 225 life and health insurance and financial services companies across Canada and the U.S. The Company earned no fewer than twelve distinctions, including two Best of Show awards, eight Awards of Excellence and two Honourable Mentions. This is the sixth consecutive year that IFCA has recognized the quality of DFS communications and advertising initiatives.

"As communicators, we face a number of challenges in our work. That's why it means so much to be recognized in such a positive way by our peers. We owe this recognition to our communications, marketing and advertising teams who go above and beyond to develop projects designed to promote the Desjardins brand and image across Canada year after year," said Daniel Roussel, Vice-President, Public Affairs and Communications.

The winning projects

Two Best of Show awards

• Through the magic of fibre optics, DFS was able to bring together some 4,000 employees from three work sites (Toronto, Montréal and Québec) for its "Much higher! Much further!" employee meeting. This simulcast earned a Best of Show award in the "Special or Different Projects - Developed Internally" category.
• The "Rethink Retirement" brochure, inspired by the results of the annual retirement survey of Canadians coast to coast, also won a Best of Show award in the "Internally Developed Communications – Print" category.

Eight Awards of Excellence

• The "Meet the experts" advertorial series featuring interviews with various leading Canadian retirement and health experts, including David K. Foot, earned an Award of Excellence in the "Consumer Publication Advertising" category.
• The Be Well site, which was developed in partnership with The Globe & Mail and covers a variety of Canadian health topics, stood out in the "Special or Different Projects – Electronic" category.
• The "Buy Direct, Save Big" for the Desjardins travel insurance campaign earned an Award of Excellence in the "Internet Advertisements" category.
• The "Your RRSP, your TFSA, your Projects" guide, which provides Canadians with basic savings information, was rewarded with an Award of Excellence in the "Prospect/Customer Promotion – Print" category.
• The campaign to help recruit new SFL financial advisors earned an Award of Excellence in the "Recruiting Materials" category.
• The "Are you one of those people who leaves their future to chance?" campaign designed to promote the services of financial security advisors assigned to Desjardins caisses during RRSP season received an Award of Excellence in the "Magazine Inserts" category.
• The video prepared by AssurFinance for Individuals for the Desjardins Group partners' 2009 investment savings roadshow earned an Award of Excellence in the "General Interest Video" category.
• The "Harmony" critical illness insurance brochure won an Award of Excellence in the "Sales Promotion – End Customer" category.

Two Honourable Mentions

• The "Les petits plaisirs de la vie" life annuity series earned an Honourable Mention in the "Consumer Publication Advertising" category.
• The "I know my clients well" campaign designed to promote the Desjardins Financial Security Independent Network (DFSIN) brand to English-speaking clients on the web received an Honourable Mention in the "Internet Advertisements" category.

About the IFCA contest

IFCA is dedicated to the ongoing professional development of its members. This association's annual contest covers twelve categories related mainly to advertising, public relations, corporate communications and sales promotion in the field of insurance and financial services.

About Desjardins Financial Security

Desjardins Financial Security, a subsidiary of Desjardins Group, the largest integrated cooperative financial group in Canada, specializes in providing life insurance, health insurance and retirement savings products to individuals and groups. Every day, over five million Canadians rely on Desjardins Financial Security to ensure their financial security. Desjardins Financial Security employs nearly 3,800 people and administers over $20.4 billion in assets from offices in several cities across the country, including Vancouver, Calgary, Winnipeg, Toronto, Ottawa, Montréal, Québec, Lévis, Halifax and St. John's.

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Source :
Isabelle Truchon
Communications Advisor
514-350-8700 or 1-877-750-8700, extension 8668