News and Updates

CALL FOR SPEAKERS for 2022 GPC Programming

Are you interested in getting involved in GPC's professional development, annual conference, podcasts, and other programming?

Submit your session ideas today! Governance Professionals of Canada is starting to plan its 2022 Professional Development Calendar and Annual Conference program. We are looking for new, dynamic and engaging speakers and topics relevant to the Governance Professionals!

We invite you to submit your session idea(s) today if you are:

• A seasoned practitioner in governance (such as a board member, academic, leading consultant)
  
• A governance professional with unique experiences and stories to impart
• A thought leader on new and emerging governance or disruption issues
  
• A subject matter expert with an interest in sponsoring a session

If you are interested in submitting a session proposal, please complete your submission by Friday, December 17, 2021.

Session submissions should be trending topics in the realm of governance, but we are also seeking topics relevant for all levels and sectors of governance. New perspectives on existing themes are also welcomed. Please highlight what makes your topic stand out!

Thank you in advance for your time in submitting a proposal.

*Only proposals selected for session development will be contacted.

Begin your speaker submission today by completing the survey.

______________

CALL FOR SPONSORS for GPC Programming

Are your services and/or products valuable to the governance professional or their organization?

GPC provides multiple engagement and touchpoint opportunities throughout the year, to speak directly to, or engage with our members and our community of governance professionals.

Having a presence at GPC events or activities will provide your organization with the recognition and brand awareness it seeks. You will have the opportunity to connect with influencers in the governance field looking to improve their governance, board processes, or other key strategic practices in their organizations.

To start reviewing the opportunities that GPC has to offer, CLICK HERE for the GPC Annual Sponsorship Package! Take advantage of our bundled pricing – the more activities you sponsor with GPC, the more influence you gain, and the more you save!

Become a Sponsor Today!

Toronto, November 4, 2021 – Governance Professionals of Canada (GPC) announces the winners of the 2021 Excellence in Governance Awards (EGAs).

The Awards gather the governance community and celebrate good governance across Canada.

The Excellence in Governance Awards shines a light on the important contribution that governance professionals, their Boards and their companies make in terms of best practices that build and sustain stakeholder value in Canada. The prestigious awards recognize trailblazers for their ability to create impact and innovation in the Canadian governance realm.

GPC congratulates the 2021 EGA winners, organized by category, as presented below:

1. Board or Director Effectiveness

• Meridian Credit Union

2. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

• HSBC Bank Canada

3. Executive Compensation

• BMO Financial Group

4. Governance Office Matters

• ATB Financial

5. Risk Management

• Arthritis Society

6. Strategy

Ontario Power Generation

7. Sustainability

• Enbridge Inc.

• TELUS Corporation

8. Governance Professional of the Year

• Bradley Chisholm, Chief Officer, Strategy and Governance, BCCNM

• Jeremy Trickett, SVP, Chief Governance Officer, Canada Life and Great-West Lifeco

9. Peter Dey Governance Achievement Award

• Sarah Kaplan, Professor of Strategic Management, Distinguished Professor of Gender and the Economy, Fellow of the Lee-Chin Institute

Each year, GPC receives nominations that range in both breadth and diversity from Canadian organizations large and small, across all sectors and industries. The award recipients are chosen by two judging panels of seasoned and well-respected governance experts. GPC would like to thank the EGA Judges for their time, dedication, and contribution in making the annual awards possible. For more on the panel: http://gpcanada.org/EGA_judges/.

‘In submitting nominations, the EGA shortlisted, and finalists send out a clear message to their stakeholders and to the governance community, that good governance matters to them.” Lynn Beauregard, President of GPC says. “In taking home these trophies, the winners gain well-deserved recognition for their accomplishments and set examples for innovation, resilience and great governance practices.’’

Sign up to GPC’s official mailing list to be the first to receive details on the call for nominations for the 2022 EGAs, which will open in the spring of 2021, and the latest information on upcoming and relevant governance events: www.gpcanada.org/ContactUs

For further information:
Lynn Beauregard
President, GPC
Email: awards@gpcanada.org
Website: http://www.gpcanada.org/EGA

2021 EGA JUDGES REPORT

The 2021 EGA report of the Judges is intended to provide insight into some of the accomplishments that have set the winners apart, and to impart the judges’ rationale behind selecting this year’s winning organizations. 

Read Report Here!

Toronto, Ontario -- (September 8, 2021) – Governance Professionals of Canada (GPC) is pleased to announce the shortlisted companies for the 2021 Excellence in Governance Awards (EGAs).

The Excellence in Governance Awards is a tribute to the dedication and contribution that governance professionals, their boards, and their organizations make toward raising the bar on good governance practices in Canada.

The EGA Judges have elected to shortlist the following organizations in the following categories:

1.       Board or Director Effectiveness 2.       Diversity, Equity and Inclusion 3.       Executive Compensation 4.       Governance Office Matters 5.       Risk Management 6.       Strategy 7.       Sustainability

GPC would like to thank the many organizations that submitted nominations to the 2021 Excellence in Governance Awards. GPC recognizes the hard work that goes into the EGA nomination process, and we commend those putting their organizations forward to be acknowledged for their dedication to good governance.

GPC would also like to thank the following shortlisted judges, who volunteered their time and effort to review all of the submissions:

1. Leanne Hull, Associate General Counsel and Director of Employment, Pension and Compensation Law, Legal & Regulatory Compliance, BMO Financial Group
2. Wendy King, Senior Vice President, Risk, ESG, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, Capstone Mining Corp.
3. Denis Lavoie, Senior Director , Commercial and Legal Affairs , High Frequency Train, VIA Rail Canada Inc.
4. Jamie Patterson, Associate Corporate Counsel, SaskTel
5. Stephen Rotstein, Director, Ontario Securities Commission, Global and Domestic Affairs Branch
6. Coro Strandberg, President, Strandberg Consulting Inc.
7. Alena Thouin, Director, CU/Prudential, Financial Regulatory Authority of Ontario
8. Terri Uhrich, Senior Counsel, Affinity Credit Union
   

Our highly respected panel of final judges is composed of seasoned governance experts across Canada, all of whom include:

1. Geoffrey D. Creighton, Chief Executive Officer, In-House Counsel Worldwide
2. Gigi Dawe, Director, Corporate Oversight & Governance, Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada
3. Matt Fullbrook, Governance Advisor, Fullbrook Board Effectiveness Inc.
4. Sylvia Groves, President, Governance Studio
5. Neil Puddicombe, Associate General Counsel, Bank Board Governance & Assistant Corporate Secretary, BMO Financial Group
6. Paul Schneider, Head of Corporate Governance, Total Fund Management, Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan
7. Elizabeth Watson, Chief Executive Officer and Founder, Watson Inc.

They will select the award winners who will be announced and celebrated on November 4th, 2021 at the eighth annual GPC Excellence in Governance Awards. Sign up to GPC’s official mailing list to receive the latest updates and details on the awards ceremony: www.gpcanada.org/ContactUs

As the principal advocate for those who work in corporate governance, GPC aspires to:

• Influence and promote leading governance practices
• Be a catalyst for establishing the highest standards in corporate governance in Canada
• Promote the recognition and success of Canadian governance professionals

For further information:

Lynn Beauregard, President
802-21 St. Clair Avenue East, Toronto
Phone: 416-921-5449, Ext 306
Email: awards@gpcanada.org
Website: http://www.gpcanada.org/EGA

The GPC Board of Directors makes important decisions that shape the future of the organization and provides critical guidance and oversight by determining and monitoring the strategic direction of the organization.

We are looking to recruit up to 4 board members from among GPC members to reflect the diversity of Canada and our membership, including ethnicity, culture, disability, economic circumstances, sexual orientation and gender identity. Previous experience on a board of directors is desirable, but not essential. Time commitment is a minimum of 4 Board meetings per year, 2 strategic planning sessions, serving on at least one Board Committee that meets at minimum 4 times per year, attendance at the annual conference and Excellence in Governance Awards ceremony. This is a volunteer role.

To view the GPC Board of Directors Mandate, Click here. 

The GPC Board seeks to ensure that, as a whole, it includes the skills, experience, expertise, competencies and attributes necessary to effectively oversee the operations and long-term strategy of the GPC. At this time, the GPC Board is seeking individuals with the following particular expertise and attributes to add to the Board:

• An understanding of and commitment to the mandate of the GPC
• An ability to think strategically, independently and objectively
• A collaborative team player who interacts effectively with other board members in a constructive manner
• An effective communicator
• Tact and diplomacy
• Credibility, integrity and high ethical standards
• Financial experience, including a professional accounting designation;
• Advocacy experience; and
• Marketing and communications expertise.

All candidates will be considered by the Governance and Nominations Committee taking into account their relevant mix of skills and experience.

Directors are elected by GPC members for a one-year term and may stand for re-election by members on an annual basis.

If you, as a GPC member in good standing, are interested we encourage you to submit your resume with a brief cover letter outlining:

• skills and experience;
• your present or past involvement in GPC, if applicable;
• how you as a member of the Board of Directors, might best contribute to GPC.

Please submit your resume and cover letter to Kathy Cauchon, GPC Board Secretary by email to kathleen.cauchon@gpcanada.org

If you have any questions, please contact Kathy Cauchon directly.

All applications for the 2021 – 2022 GPC Board of Directors and Committees must be received by May 10, 2021.

TORONTO, November 8, 2019 - The Governance Professionals of Canada (“GPC”) celebrated their Seventh Annual Excellence in Governance Awards (“EGAs”) last night at their gala dinner and ceremony held at The Carlu in Toronto.

GPC received over 70 nominations this year from organizations across all sectors. The winners, organized by category, are presented below:

1 - Best Approach to Achieving Effective Board and Committee Operations

• Meridian Credit Union

2 - Best Compensation Disclosure and Communication 

• Seven Generations Energy

3 - Best Engagement by a Governance Team

• Calgary West Central (Other Sectors)
• Royal Bank of Canada (Publicly Listed)

4 - Best Practices in Diversity and Inclusion

• Vancouver Airport Authority

5 - Best Practices in Enterprise Risk Management

• Meridian Credit Union

6 - Best Practices in Strategic Planning, Oversight and Value Creation by the Board

• Elixir Technologies Inc.
  

7 - Best Practices in Subsidiary Governance

• BMO Financial Group

8 - Best Practices in Sustainability and ESG Governance

• Vancouver Airport Authority

9 - Best Overall Corporate Governance

• Canada Revenue Agency (Other Sectors)
• Royal Bank of Canada (Publicly Listed)

10 - Governance Professional of the Year

• Stuart McKellar, General Counsel, SVP Corporate Operations & Corporate Secretary at ATB Financial

11 - Peter Dey Governance Achievement Award

 “The EG Awards represent an important recognition for the Canadian corporate governance professionals and their organizations. We are so pleased to recognize the winners who took home the trophies, along with those organizations who were shortlisted for this year’s awards. These trailblazers send a clear message to their stakeholders that they value governance excellence.” - Lynn Beauregard, President, Governance Professionals of Canada (GPC).

 The award winners were chosen out of nominations from across Canada in all sectors and markets by a jury panel composed of seasoned and well-respected governance experts. For more on the panel: http://gpcanada.org/EGA_judges.

The awards highlight the critical role that good governance plays in enhancing the value of Canadian organizations and contributing to the competitiveness of Canada’s economy and its capital markets.

As the principal advocate for those who work in corporate governance, GPC strives to enhance the importance of governance and those who work in the field, by advocating for, providing education on and recognizing good governance practices in Canada. 

For further information:

Lynn Beauregard, President
802-21 St. Clair Avenue East, Toronto
Phone: 416-921-5449, Ext 306

 

[August 20, 2019] The Governance Professionals of Canada (GPC) announced the shortlist for the 2019 Excellence in Governance Awards/Prix d'excellence en gouvernance (EGAs), at its 21st annual conference in Québec City, Québec.

Lynn Beauregard, President, Governance Professionals of Canada says "The entire process building up to the annual Excellence in Governance Awards ceremony has become a labour of love for GPC. To see that our efforts to push governance to higher levels are reverberating and making a mark through these awards is truly rewarding. We want to express our gratitude to all of the organizations who have submitted nominations and are committed to their governance efforts. Each submission exemplifies what ‘next generation governance’ is all about, and each nominee is a trailblazer in resilience, agility and innovation, and I sincerely congratulate the 2019 shortlisted nominees.”

Shortlisting judge Terri Ulrich also comments: “Having completed another year of shortlisting review for the GPC Excellence in Governance Awards, I was particularly struck by the quality of the submissions and the excellence in governance that companies are displaying.  To give credit where it is due, however, I think it should be recognized that this consistent excellence is largely generated by the work that GPC does.  The organization has provided a public lens to see the best governance practices, and organizations working towards good governance practices can only benefit from this lens.  Every year the judging gets harder and harder due to the high quality of the submissions, the candidates and the excellent work they are doing. “

“I want to take this opportunity to acknowledge the role that GPC is playing in the constant improvement of submissions and in the corresponding governance of Canadian organizations.  You should be proud of the work you do.  Thank you again for allowing me to participate – I think I learn far more than I contribute.  I look forward to seeing the list of winners in November!”

The winners will be announced at the EGAs gala dinner on Thursday, November 7, 2019 at The Carlu in Toronto.

GPC received around 70 nominations this year from organizations across all sectors. The shortlisted nominees, organized by category, are presented below:

1. Best Practice in Enterprise Risk Management

• Meridian Credit Union
• PSP Investments
• Royal Bank of Canada

2. Best Practice in Sustainability and ESG

• Vancouver Airport Authority
• BMO Financial Group
• The Co-operators

3. Best Approach to Achieving Effective Board and Committee Operations

• Canada Revenue Agency
• Ottawa Community Housing Corporation
• Meridian Credit Union
• HSBC Bank Canada

4. Best Practices in Diversity and Inclusion

• Royal Bank of Canada
• BMO Financial Group
• Vancouver Airport Authority
• Manulife

5.  Best Practices in Strategic Planning, Oversight and Value Creation by the Board

• Farm Mutual Reinsurance Plan Inc.
• Elixir Technology
• Royal Bank of Canada

6. Best Engagement by a Governance Team

• Royal Bank of Canada
• Calgary West Central Primary Care Network
• Interac Corp.
  

7. Best Compensation Disclosure and Communication

• Manulife
• Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp.
• Seven Generations Energy Ltd.

8. Best Practices in Subsidiary Governance

• BMO  Financial Group
• Royal Bank of Canada
• HSBC Bank Canada

9. Best Overall Corporate Governance

• BMO Financial Group
• Royal Bank of Canada
• Canada Revenue Agency
• Central 1 Credit Union

GPC thanks the following individuals who volunteered a considerable amount of time and effort in reviewing all of the submissions for the shortlist:

1. Leanne Hull, Senior Counsel, Bank of Montreal
2. Wendy King, Vice President, Legal, Risk & Governance, Capstone Mining Corp.
3. Denis Lavoie, Director, Risks, Insurance and Claims, VIA Rail Canada Inc.
4. Jamie Patterson, Lawyer, SaskTel
5. Neil Puddicombe, Associate General Counsel and Director of Subsidiary Governance, Legal, Corporate & Compliance Group, BMO Financial Group
6. Stephen Rotstein, Vice-President, Policy & Regulatory Affairs & General Counsel, Financial Planning Standards Council (FPSC)
7. Christie Stephenson, Executive Director, Peter P. Dhillon Centre for Business Ethics, UBC Sauder School of Business
8. Alena Thouin, Deputy General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario
9. Terri Uhrich, General Counsel, Legal Branch, Financial and Consumer Affairs Authority of Saskatchewan

To attend the awards ceremony, you can purchase tickets on the GPC website: https://gpcanada.org/event-3485093.

As the principal advocate for those who work in corporate governance, GPC strives to enhance the public's awareness of the importance of good governance. GPC is the voice of corporate governance professionals in Canada and participates with other stakeholders, including capital markets participants, government bodies and regulators, in fostering a governance environment that sets Canada apart in the world. GPC supports its membership with continuing education and networking opportunities that are second to none.

Are your services and/or products valuable to the governance professional or their organization? 

GPC provides multiple engagement and touchpoint opportunities throughout the year, to speak directly to/or engage with our members and our community of governance professionals. Many of these opportunities with GPC come within our events and education activities.  

Having a presence at GPC events or activities will provide your organization with the recognition and brand awareness it seeks vis-à-vis influencers in the governance function, with a view to improve their board processes or other key strategic practices in their organizations.  

To start reviewing the opportunities that GPC offers, CLICK HERE for the 2019 GPC Annual Sponsorship Package! The more activities you sponsor with GPC, the more influence you gain and the more you save with our bundle pricing!

CALL FOR SPEAKERS
Are you interested in getting involved in GPC's professional development and conference content? 

 
Submit your session idea today!
The Governance Professionals of Canada is starting the planning for its annual programming for our 2019 professional development calendar and Annual Conference, and we are looking for new dynamic and engaging speakers and topics. 
 
If you are interested in submitting a session proposal, please complete your submission by Wednesday, January 9, 2019. 
 
Session submissions should be trending topics in the realm of governance. New perspectives on existing themes are also welcomed. Topics relevant for all levels and sectors of governance are welcome, and please highlight what makes your topic stand out! 
 
Thank you in advance for your time in submitting a proposal. Please note that only proposals selected for session development will be contacted.
Begin your speaker submission today by completing the survey in this link BEGIN SURVEY.

TORONTO, October 26, 2018 - The Governance Professionals of Canada (“GPC”) handed out the Sixth Annual Excellence in Governance Awards (“EGAs”) last night at their awards gala dinner and ceremony held at The Carlu in Toronto.

GPC received over 80 nominations this year from organizations across all sectors. The winners, organized by category, are presented below:

1 - Best Practices in Enterprise Risk Management

• Algonquin Power and Utilities Corp.

2 - Best Practices in Sustainability and ESG Governance   

• Vancouver Fraser Port Authority

3 - Best Approach to Achieving Effective Board and Committee Operations

• Meridian Credit Union

4 - Best Practices to Enhance Boardroom Diversity

• Royal Bank of Canada

5 - Best Practices in Strategic Planning, Oversight & Value Creation by the Board

• Vancouver Airport Authority

6 - Best Engagement by a Governance Team

• Ontario Securities Commission (Other Sectors)
• Barrick Gold(Publicly Listed)

7 - Best Compensation Disclosure and Communication

• BMO Financial Group

8 - Best Practices in Subsidiary Governance

• BMO Financial Group

9 - Best Overall Corporate Governance

• Royal Bank of Canada(Publicly Listed)
  
• Gore Mutual(Other Sectors)

10 - Governance Professional of the Year

• Neil Puddicombe, Associate General Counsel, Director of Bank Board Governance, BMO Financial Group

11 - Peter Dey Governance Achievement Award

“This has been yet another exciting year for the Excellence in Governance Awards. The overall caliber of the nominations we received this year was outstanding. The winners of these awards send a clear message to their stakeholders that they are organizations who value governance and are trailblazers.” - Lynn Beauregard, President, Governance Professionals of Canada (GPC).

The final award winners were chosen out of nominations from across Canada in all sectors and markets by a jury panel composed of seasoned and well-respected governance experts. For more on the panel: http://gpcanada.org/EGA_judges/. 

The awards highlight the critical role that good governance plays in enhancing the value of Canadian organizations and contributing to the competitiveness of Canada’s economy and its capital markets.”

As the principal advocate for those who work in corporate governance, GPC strives to enhance the importance of governance and those who work in the field, by advocating for, providing education on and recognizing good governance practices in Canada.

 

For further information:

Lynn Beauregard, President
802-21 St. Clair Avenue East, Toronto
Phone: 416-921-5449 / 1-800-774-2850, Ext 306
Email: awards@gpcanada.org
Website: http://www.gpcanada.org/EGA

The Governance Professionals of Canada is pleased to announce the new GPC Board elected at its recent annual meeting held on August 19th at the 20th annual GPC Corporate Governance Conference in Victoria.

Continuing board members, re-elected at the Annual Meeting, include:

• Carmel Bellamy, Corporate Secretary and Sr. Director, Governance, Member & Co-operative Relations, The Co-operators Group Limited
• Brigitte Catellier, VP Corporate Governance Meridian Credit Union
• Misti Christensen*, Senior Manager, Corporate Governance and Assistant Secretary , Nexen Energy ULC - *Chair
• Sally Maziarz*, Assistant Corporate Secretary, EPCOR Utilities Inc. - *Vice Chair
• Janis McKenzie*, Independent Director - *Treasurer
• Josée Turcotte, Senior Vice-President, Corporate Secretary and Head of Governance, HSBC Bank of Canada

The addition of four new members this year, rounds out the board's skills set, expertise, sector and national representation. New directors include:

• Kathleen Cauchon*, Senior Assistant Secretary, Bank of Canada – *Secretary
• Arne Gulstene, Regional Head -TSX Company Services, TMX
• Christine Thomas, Assistant Vice-President, Legal Services & Governance, Senior Legal Counsel and Corporate Secretary, MD Financial Management Inc.
• Sheldon Stener, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary Strategy, Federated Co-operatives Limited

Chair of the Board, Misti Christensen notes, "I am very pleased to welcome Kathleen, Arne, Christine, and Sheldon to our board. They each bring a tremendous wealth of experience to the organization. The new directors compliment the strong suite of directors currently serving and GPC will benefit from the combined expertise as we strategically advance GPC's ongoing growth and innovation.”

President Lynn Beauregard adds: “As GPC continues to grow and forge ahead with key strategic initiatives such as: enhanced local engagement, the membership recruitment campaign, the GPC Education Program (GPC-EP), the annual EG Awards program, the re-vamping of our members’ resource library… just to name a few… the support and oversight from the GPC board and its committees will be substantial and I am delighted to have such an engaged and enthusiastic board”.

 GPC also wants to express its gratitude to Cyndie Kremyr (Past Secretary), Glenn Keeling and Bonnie Charron, as they step down, for their contributions to the board. As well as a very special note of thanks to David Masse as he also steps down, for the many years that he devoted to the organization as a board member and as Chair of the Board.