President's Message : Leadership in the spotlight

It has been a very busy month for the Foundation, and I am pleased to be writing to you with some great news. My team and I are back from a four-day stop in Halifax, where two Future Forums sessions were held, as well as a meeting of the Board of Directors and the Annual Meeting of the Members of the Foundation. 

These gatherings constituted a milestone in the history of the Foundation, as they marked a close to John McCall MacBain’s simply remarkable term as Chair of the Board of Directors. John’s numerous accomplishments in this role, including the launch of our renewed mission, have brought us added hope and confidence as we look toward the future. I offer my wholehearted thanks to John for his brilliant legacy and for his deep commitment to our broader family which is the Foundation community.
 

Welcoming our new Chair

I am very pleased to announce that Patrick Pichette, a committed member of our governance team since 2003, is taking over as Chair of the Board of Directors and Chair of the Members of the Foundation. Currently general partner at iNovia Capital, Patrick brings to us an exceptional wealth of experience in business leadership, notably through his time as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at Google from 2008 to 2015. His outstanding career has been highlighted by numerous recognitions, including the Order of Québec (2015), and the designation of Chief Financial Officer of the Year in Silicon Valley (also 2015). We are privileged to have him as Chair of the Board.

I am also very proud to say that Patrick will lead a Board made up of an equal number of men and women.  Thanks to the recent recruitment of three new female Directors — Bessma Momani, Jennifer Welsh and Madeleine Redfern, two former Foundation Fellows and one former Foundation Mentor — alongside another new Director, Jameel Jaffer, as well as two new Members, Sacha Haque and the former Governor General of Canada the Right Honourable David Johnston, the overall diversity of our governance team has been greatly strengthened. 

New Wellness Policies for the Foundation

As we announced on October 25, the Foundation will implement new and proactive policies to enhance the well-being of members of its community. This includes a policy to prevent harassment and violence, and a policy addressing mental health.

News of the creation of these policies has been received very favourably within our community and I want to thank those who have supported this new and important initiative. I am compelled to mention the active role of our internal Well-being Committee, which was made up exclusively of Scholars.

Launch of the Foundation's Programs

I am delighted to announce that we will launch the annual competition for Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation's programs — Scholarship, Mentorship, Fellowship — on December 3rd, 2018.  In the spirit of Inclusive Excellence and Engaged Leadership, the programs will aim to develop bold and innovative thinkers and modern leaders who will work inclusively and be forward-looking. Recognized for their ability to think outside the box, these community members will continue to advance the Foundation’s four major themes: human rights and dignity, responsible citizenship, Canada and the world, and people and their natural environment.

Details regarding the process and the selection criteria for Scholars, Mentors and Fellows will be available on our website, and in the call for nominations, when the competitions launch on December 3rd.

Future Forums

In our series of Future Forums, our public consultations on the themes of Inclusive Excellence and Engaged Leadership, we recently held discussions in the communities of Iqaluit and Halifax.  We will continue our Canadian tour in December with stops in Fredericton, Moncton, Charlottetown and St. John’s. Visit the Future Forums section of our website to sign up for these events, as well as consultations planned in the New Year.