THE NEWSLETTER FOR GOVERNANCE PROFESSIONALS OF CANADA
SEPTEMBER 2017
president's Message 
   
 
Recognizing Excellence in Governance in Canada   

The 2017 Excellence in Governance Awards Gala dinner and ceremony will take place on THURSDAY NOVEMBER 2, 2017! #GPCEGAs. DO YOU HAVE YOUR TICKET YET?

Get ready for an evening of celebration at The Carlu in Toronto. Come celebrate the best practices and successes in Governance by attending our gala dinner and ceremony event, a great evening for networking with our GPC community, past winners, top practitioners in governance, as well as the top representatives from organizations who are being recognized and taking home the EGA trophies this year.

To view the organizations who have been shortlisted for this year's awards, click here.

The EG Awards recognize the important contribution that governance professionals and their organizations make in terms of best practices that build and sustain shareholder and stakeholder value. Especially in these times of uncertainty, the awards underscore the critical role that good governance plays in sustaining the value of Canada's public companies, crown corporations, government agencies, and not-for-profit organizations.

To purchase your tickets or table today by  clicking here .

If you are interested in being a sponsor for this event, please contact us for more information

We look forward to seeing you on November 2nd!

Sincerely,


Lynn Beauregard
President, Governance Professionals of Canada

GPC 2017 SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

Consider partnering with GPC this year on many fronts including:
  • GPC's annual Excellence in Governance Awards Ceremony & Gala (November 2nd in Toronto at the Carlu)
  • GPC Website and monthly E-Newsletter advertising
  • And More! 
Visit our sponsorship opportunities package HERE

Albert Orellana, CMP 
Manager, Events & Sponsorship
416 921-5449 ext. 315

CONFERENCE Update

GPC Education program


As a Governance Professional, it is important that you are equipped with the latest and most important tools and best practices in governance. Your effectiveness and your success is directly related to the effectiveness of your board and your organization. New regulations, stakeholder and market pressures continue to evolve relentlessly, so it is critical that you can invest in your professional development and stay on top of key changes, new trends and best practices. 

 

It is with this in mind that we would encourage you to apply for the GPC Education Program (GPC-EP) - Governance in Practice, and to obtain your designation as a GPC.D. GPC-EP is the only practical certification course available for governance professionals in Canada.


The Governance Professionals of Canada Education Program (GPC-EP) is designed to:

  • Respond to the demand to provide education tailored to the unique needs of professionals working in governance
  • Set a standard and bar for the practice and profession of governance in Canada
  • Create good governance practices across all sectors and industries

The GPC-EP is designed to enhance the existing skills of governance professionals of all levels, and operating in a governance role, whether in public, private, not-for-profit or governmental organizations such as in: legal, compliance, ethics, stakeholder relations, board and committee support, and more. 

 

Individuals new to these roles, as well as seasoned professionals, will find benefit in the GPC-EP as it will not only provide them with the latest best practices, skills and tools in governance, but will also enhance the standard of their profession and further their career. 

 

Upon completion of the program, and passing the final examination, program participants will receive the Governance Professionals of Canada Designation: GPC.D.

Module 1 (2017)
  • Toronto, November 3-4, 2017
  • Vancouver, November 17-19, 2017
Module 2 (2018)
  • Vancouver, April 13-15, 2018
  • Toronto, June 15-17, 2018
Module 3 (2018)
  • Vancouver, May 25-27, 2018
  • Toronto, October 12-14, 2018
Module 1 (2018)
  • Vancouver, May 25-25, 2018
  • Toronto, Nov 9-11, 2018

The Foundations of Governance Course consists of two and a half days covering key areas of governance, which include: the role of the governance professional, director management, advising the board, board dynamics, effectiveness, culture, relationships and conflicts.

Within each of these areas, practitioners in governance will take a thorough look at central elements of practice and how to navigate difficult situations, apply best practices and important tools in the day to day running of a governance office. This course is a comprehensive view of the key foundations and practice of governance, and essential for professionals both seasoned and new to the role.  
Faculty:  



Janis Riven, BCL, LLB, MBA, FCIS, Acc.Dir
Heather Laxton,
Chief Governance Officer & Corporate Secretary, Wesdome Gold Mines Ltd.





John Dinner,
President, John T. Dinner Board Governance Services 

Sylvia Groves, FCIS, Acc.Dir.,
President and Creative Director, Governance Studio 

When and Where
 
Toronto 
November 3-5,  2017 
The Albany Club
91 King St E,
Toronto, ON M5C 1G3

Vancouver
November 17 -19, 2017
Terminal City Club
870 West Hastings Street  

Vancouver, BC, V6C 1B6

Schedule:
Nov 3rd & 4th:
8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. - (Breakfast & lunch included)
Nov. 5th:
8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. - (Breakfast included)

Schedule:
Nov 17th & 18th:
8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. - (Breakfast & lunch included)
Nov. 19th:
8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. - (Breakfast included)


If you didn't get a chance to participate in one of our PD sessions - don't worry - you are still able to purchase the webinars. See a glimpse of some from this past year below:

Subsidiary Governance: A Critical Tool for Risk Management, a full-day conference
Member: $310.75
Non-Member: $446.35

Meetings, Minutes and More with John Dinner
Member: $282.50
Non-Member: $395.50

Sustainability, ESG and Corporate Social Responsibility and the Board: What Governance Professionals Should know
Member: $28.25
Non-Member: $39.55

If you are interested in purchasing any of these, please contact Albert Orellana.

LOCAL ENGAGEMENT UPDATES

GPC held a very successful inaugural event for the GPC Toronto Chapter on September 18th, with Manulife Chairman Richard DeWolfe, (moderated by Geoffrey Creighton, Chair of GPC Excellence in Governance Awards judging panel) providing an insightful look into the Shareholder Engagement practices at Manulife, won the award for Best Engagement by a Governance Team in last year's EG Awards ceremony. A huge thank you to Elizabeth Boyd at Manulife and Glenn Keeling at Global Governance Advisors for organizing this great event and to Manulife for hosting!  
On September 27, 2017 the GPC Calgary Chapter hosted its Fall Social, "Rumble in the Alley". Many traded in their dress shoes for bowling shoes and had a ton of fun knocking down pins! It was a great social event and nice to meet and reconnect with GPC members and guests. 



The GPC Calgary Chapter Committee looks forward to seeing you at the next local chapter event. Watch for details.
Membership News
Not a GPC Member?
WHY JOIN ...

As a GPC Member, you will have access to:

  • A community of like-minded governance professionals

  • Key governance products, services and solution providers

  • Discounts for professional development, education sessions and webinars throughout the year, including the leading annual conference on corporate governance best practices in Canada.

  • Practical resources and guidance on best practices in good governance

  • Monthly electronic newsletter 'Governance Matters' and briefing on the latest developments in governance in Canada and internationally

  • Updates on the latest regulatory developments and their impact, as well as a voice in the consultation process through GPC

  • Preferential access to practical, professional development activities offered by various like-minded partners in Canada and internationally

We are the voice of corporate secretaries and governance professionals in Canada!


If you have any questions or require further information, email us at info@gpcanada.org.

   

Annual Membership Fees

 

The membership fees, are effective November 1, 2016 (plus applicable taxes):

  • Individual Professional - Commercial Interests: $515.00 CAD 

  • Individual Professional - Non-commercial Interests: $390.00 CAD

  • Non-practicing: $90.00 CAD

Visit our website - www.gpcanada.org/benefits to learn more about GPC membership and membership benefits.

REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE

Do you have a question you need an answer to? Looking for best practices? Our Request for Assistance service is an easy way to receive information from your peers. Below are some recent requests. Your response will be appreciated.

 

Recording Movers and Seconders in Meeting Minutes

We are currently reviewing our format of minutes and are interested in best practices for whether or not companies document the names of movers and seconders in their minutes. Could anyone please share what your best practice is?

Director Development & Succession Board Policy

Working on a director development and succession board policy and looking for some information / samples regarding something like..."a director is expected to complete "X" level of education (i.e. CUDA Level A/B) within "X" number of months/years of being elected/appointed and have a minimum level of understanding of "X" (i.e. 1 - 4) in (i.e. list of competencies, etc.). Looking for verbiage for board and committee chairs specifically and directors overall. 

Annual work plan for Board/Committees

A small crown corp/development/government asks:

We are putting an annual work plan for our Board. Does anyone have a list of items that the Board/Committees should review on an annual basis? 

To Respond:

Please submit your response by going to GPC Forum.

 

If you wish to remain anonymous, click here for instruction on how to manage your privacy setting. 

 

To view responses to previous Request for Assistance, please click here or login and click on Members Only Section > Request for Assistance Responses.

NEWS AND UPDATES
Canadian directors advise on planning board agendas
Corporate Secretary

Don't forget about strategy, professionals warn
 

Boards need to set their agendas to ensure they address topics including strategy and diversity, a panel of senior industry officials and directors asserted last week.

Read More

Boards said to play greater role in crisis planning
Corporate Secretary

Helping prepare for an event is good governance requirement, experts say

Boards are increasingly driving companies' crisis planning to deal with potential ethical, financial reporting and cyber-security problems, according to industry professionals.

Read More

Standards setters target unified climate disclosure framework
Corporate Secretary

SASB and CDSB paper discusses plans to align with FSB task force recommendations

Two standards setters have agreed to tie their work to that of a G20 task force to help companies issue - and investors understand - disclosure regarding climate change, at a time when boards and governance teams are facing growing pressure to engage with shareholders on the topic.

Read More

The Relationship Between Council and the Chief Executive Officer

Field LLP

The Chief Executive Officer of a professional regulatory organization is the senior staff person responsible for the overall operations of the organization. Typically, the CEO will report to Council which is responsible for providing governance oversight and establishing the overall strategic direction of the organization. A Chair will be appointed or elected to lead Council. The CEO is Council's one employee and typically has a direct reporting relationship to the Chair and a general reporting relationship to all of Council.

Read More

"Eyes Open, Nose In, Fingers Out": Understanding And Managing The Potential Risks Of Signing On As A Corporate Director
Gowling WLG International Limited

Acting as a corporate director can be a highly energizing and rewarding experience, whether it's for a publicly traded company, a private company, or a not-for-profit or charitable organization. Before signing on, however, some potential risks must be considered and addressed.

Read More

2017 Diversity Disclosure Practices Report: Women in leadership roles at TSX-listed companies

Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP

As the corporate governance landscape in Canada continues to evolve and prioritize gender diversity, Osler has released its third annual 2017 Diversity Disclosure Practices Report [PDF] (the Diversity Disclosure Report) to provide an updated snapshot on the representation of women in leadership roles in corporate Canada. Our Diversity Disclosure Report examined gender diversity at the executive and board levels of all TSX-listed companies, other than closed-end and exchange-traded funds, that made disclosure prior to July 31, 2017. The 2017 report revealed that while there is still a long journey ahead, progress is being made.

Read More

Improving cybersecurity governance in the boardroom

CSO from IDG

To tackle increasing data threats, companies need to put cybersecurity at the very heart of the business.

The risk landscape for corporations is constantly changing with new threats, regulations, and evolving cybersecurity vulnerabilities and attack methods. The recently disclosed Equifax data breach is the latest high-profile event that has stirred senior executives and corporate boards of directors all over the country to ask themselves, "Can this happen to us?" Sadly, the answer remains "yes," as cybersecurity risk can never fully be removed. However, corporate boards can create a culture of security to mitigate risk and better protect their company's critical infrastructure, data systems and reputation.

Read More

Surprising Trends in Sustainability Reporting
CSRwire, LLC.

The Centre for Sustainability and Excellence (CSE) announces its second annual research of Sustainability Reporting Trends in North America 2017. This report presents 2015-2016 trends from 551 companies from the United States and Canada, many from the Fortune Global 500. The report is intended for stakeholders including investors, business leaders, company boards, CSR and sustainability professionals, NGOs and customers. New this year, research includes a comparative analysis of companies that publish sustainability reports with the highest scores in CSRHub, a global sustainability ratings agency.

Read More

Canada's largest institutional investors call for 30% women on boards by 2022

Transcontinental Media G.P.

Canada's largest institutional investors are calling for a boost in the representation of women on board and executive management teams of S&P/TSX composite index companies to 30 per cent by 2022.

Within the 215 largest issuers on the index, women occupied only 18 per cent of board seats as of September 2016, according to a review by the Canadian Securities Administrators.

Exciting news: Changes to the Corporations Act Ontario include some of the ONCA's most helpful provisions
Borden Ladner Gervais LLP

The Ontario government has introduced Bill 154, Cutting Unnecessary Red Tape Act, 2017 ("Bill 154"). It passed First Reading on September 14, 2017. Among other things, Bill 154 amends the Corporations Act to do a variety of things including:

Read More

Proxy season 2017 sees fewer contests, study finds

Corporate Secretary

First half of year witnesses 38 proxy contests

 

This year's main proxy season saw an unexpected drop in the number of proxy contests and a sharp rise in the number of AGMs taking place online, according to new research.

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Job Postings
Do you have a career opportunity that you would like to share with our readers?  Click here for more details
 
Recent Job Postings:-
 
CALL FOR NOMINATIONS: DIRECTOR, BOARD OF DIRECTORS - THREE YEAR TERM
Credit Union Deposit Guarantee Corporation

In-house legal Counsel and Corporate Secretary
Silvercorp Metals Inc.

Corporate Governance Secretary
Urban Systems

Manager, Subsidiary Company Governance
ATCO Group

Please login to www.gpcanada.org to view all the Job Postings. 
Board of Directors
Lynn Beauregard, (President)
Governance Professionals of Canada, Toronto, ON
 
Carmel Bellamy 
Corporate Secretary and Sr. Director, Governance, Member & Co-operative Relations, The Co-operators Group Limited, Guelph, ON
 
Brigitte Catellier
Vice President & Corporate Secretary, Sun Life Financial Inc., Toronto, ON
 
Misti Christensen, (Chair)
Manager Governance and Assistant Secretary, Nexen Energy ULC, Calgary, AB
 
Glenn Keeling 
Sr. Partner, Executive Compensation & Governance, Global Governance Advisors, Toronto, ON
 
Cyndie Kremyr
Independent Director, Abbotsford, BC
 
David Masse
Principal, Governance View,  Toronto, ON
 
Sally Maziarz (Vice-Chair)
Assistant Corporate Secretary, EPCOR Utilities Inc., Edmonton, AB
 
Janis McKenzie, (Treasurer)
Independent Director, Oakville, ON
 
Bonnie Oakes Charron
Founder and Principal,
Board Concierge, Ottawa , ON
 
Josée Turcotte
Senior Vice-President, Corporate Secretary and Head of Governance, HSBC Bank of Canada, Toronto, ON

Membership renewal notices 

Membership renewal notices are sent out 2 months prior to your anniversary date. 

If you haven't received your notice, or have questions about your membership, renewal payment or require a credit card authorization form, contact Manager, Membership and Marketing,  Caroline Bucksbaum


Take advantage of the GPC' flexible and green option of online renewal by:

  1. Logging on to your profile here with your email and password. Can't remember your password? Reset it here ;Following suggested actions on your profile screen; and
  2. Reviewing all information in your profile and revising as required 

Thank you for your continued support of GPC.

About GPC 

The Governance Professionals of Canada (GPC) is the voice of Corporate Secretaries and governance professionals in Canada. Its members deal with disclosure and matters affecting corporate governance, including the structure and meetings of the board of directors and its committees, the proxy process and annual meetings. As such GPC strives to provide valuable and timely information on recent changes and developments which affect our members - in all sectors. 


 

Specialties: Our members include professionals with positions such as Corporate Secretary, Manager Corporate Governance, General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer, VP Regulatory Affairs, Associate Corporate Secretary, and Board Administrator.

 

Mission Statement

The promotion and advancement of effective governance and corporate secretarial practice in organizations in the private, public, not-for-profit and other sectors through the continued development and application of governance and corporate secretaryship best practices.

This e-newsletter is issued monthly to all GPC members.  Non-members may also subscribe and receive the newsletter without access to member only content. 
 
If you have comments or wish to contribute material to this newsletter, please e-mail us at info@gpcanada.org