Financial Group

Once upon a time there was… SSQ Financial Group

Did you know that in 1944, the year SSQ Financial Group was founded, the annual contribution was $5? This at the time was the equivalent of the cost of an all-wood deluxe model washtub and wringer. The $5 invested in the co-op, however, gave beneficiaries access to quality medical care.

This initiative we owe to Jacques Tremblay, a pioneer in the fight for social justice and equal access to healthcare. Guided by his values of equality and solidarity, he founded the Coopérative de santé du Québec in 1944. In 1945 the co-operative became the Services de santé du Québec, which we know today as "SSQ".

In 1949, Jacques de la Chevrotière took over from Dr. Tremblay. The arrival of a new leader marked a turning point for business development and the importance given to customer satisfaction. To this day, satisfaction is something that sets SSQ apart from the competition.

Over the years, strong growth has enabled the organization to make a place for itself in the insurance industry in Quebec. In 1970, social progress culminated in the introduction of universal health insurance. This proved to be a challenge for SSQ Financial Group, which had to reposition itself. The company was changed into a mutual life insurance company.

Always driven by the desire to satisfy its clients, SSQ holds regional assemblies where regional delegates are mandated to represent their members. This enables SSQ to be fully in tune with everybody's needs. Thus, in 1986, at the request of insureds gathered at an assembly, a general insurance subsidiary was created.

Over the years, the Group has had its ups and downs, but continues its sustained growth. Year 2000 represented yet another milestone with the conclusion of an agreement with 8,000 Air Canada flight attendants. It was the company's first panCanadian group. Then a sales office opened its doors in Toronto and SSQ Financial Group could now welcome clients from across the country. Since then, several offices have opened in Western Canada.

Today, the Company has assets under management of close to $11 billion, a business volume of over $3 billion, over a million clients and close to 2,000 employees. SSQ Financial Group continues steadily on its course, guided by the work of its founders and insisting on equality, equity, solidarity and democracy—values that will see it into the future.