Toronto-based Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC) and its brokerage arm, CIBC Wood Gundy, have joined the Toronto-based Responsible Investment Association (RIA).

“We are pleased to join the RIA as many of our clients are interested in this area of investing,” says Gary Whitfield, managing director, CIBC Wood Gundy, in a statement released Monday. “We have a talented team of investment advisors, who are focused on delivering competitive returns while practicing the investing discipline of sustainable, responsible and impact investing.”

CIBC joins the association as a sustaining member, which gives the bank a seat on the RIA’s board of directors. CIBC Wood Gundy will be identified as an associate member, which allows it to contribute to the RIA’s board of directors and various committees.

“We are absolutely thrilled to welcome CIBC as a sustaining member of the Responsible Investment Association,” says Deb Abbey, CEO of the RIA, in a statement. “CIBC’s membership demonstrates their leadership and strengthens our capacity to raise the profile of responsible investment in Canada. We look forward to working with CIBC in this rapidly growing market.”

The announcement comes ahead of the RIA’s annual conference, which will take place in Toronto on June 6 and June 7.