You grew up on a farm in rural Cape Breton. How was your commitment to philanthropy and community shaped by your roots?

Growing up in a farming community, you learn quickly that ‘many hands make light work.’  And that was particularly true for my family.

My father, a Dutch immigrant to Cape Breton, had a serious heart attack when I was just 10 years old.  Thankfully, he survived.  But the ‘round-the-clock job of running the farm fell to my mother and her five young children.  It was hard work, at a very young age. 

But my father’s heart attack taught me a valuable lesson: people, even young children, can accomplish amazing things when they work together to solve a problem.  It’s a lesson I’ve carried with me throughout my career and one that’s played an important role in my thinking about giving back to my community.

How are employees of The Home Depot involved in charitable causes in the communities in which you operate?

Our associates are actively involved in giving back to the community through Team Depot, our volunteer workforce.  Team Depot was introduced to our Canadian associates in 1996, as a means to make a meaningful difference in the communities in which our associates live and work.

Through Team Depot, our associates are empowered to use their skill and knowledge to take a leadership role in their communities, organizing and volunteering to help with projects that benefit local and national partners.

In 2008, our associates donated an incredible total of 60,000 hours – or more than 7,500 workdays – to volunteer projects across Canada.  I’m incredibly proud of the contribution our associates make to their communities.

You have recently established the The Home Depot Canada Foundation – tell us the rationale behind this and what the aims of the Foundation are.

The Home Depot Canada Foundation was established to support and expand our company’s philanthropic activities.  As the charitable arm of The Home Depot Canada, the Foundation will provide financial and volunteer support to Canadian charitable organizations working to develop sustainable homes and communities.

Specifically, the Foundation will oversee our Team Depot program, while also managing our company’s charitable partnerships with organizations like Habitat for Humanity, Evergreen, KaBOOM!, and Volunteer Canada. 

What causes are you, personally, passionate about?

I’m passionate about a number of groups – all of whom do great work for communities across Canada: from Habitat for Humanity, to Volunteer Canada, to the Nature Conservancy of Canada.

But my primary focus is working with Cape Breton University, where I serve as Chancellor, to build the Centre for Sustainability in Energy and the Environment (www.cbu.ca/csee).  This project has special meaning to me: Cape Breton is the place my parents raised our family.  Much of my family is still there.  In many ways, Cape Breton will always be home – and I really want to give back to a place that gave so much to me.

Once built, the Centre for Sustainability in Energy and the Environment will have the mandate to research, and help bring to market, commercially viable sustainable energy and environmental remediation techniques.  Cape Breton Island benefits from nearby access to some of the world’s richest sustainable energy resources.  If we’re able to harness this power, it’s no stretch to believe this project could help transform Atlantic Canada into an economic powerhouse.

From environmental and economic perspectives, it’s a project that couldn’t come along at a better time.

In your opinion, how will Canadian corporations approach charitable investments during the current economy?

There’s no doubt we’re in a tough economic environment.  But, in times like these, there’s a real opportunity for corporations to step forward and show true community leadership.  After all, by supporting our communities, we’re also supporting our customers and our associates – and that makes good sense in any economic environment.

Annette M. Verschuren has been President of Asian Division & Canadian Division at The Home Depot, Inc., since September 2006. Ms. Verschuren has been President of Home Depot Canada Inc., since February 2003. She joined Home Depot Inc. in 1996.