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Canadian Business Leader Awards Grande Finale in Vancouver
Thursday, September 25 | An evening in celebration of profound leadership
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On Thursday, September 25, members of Canada’s business community gathered in Vancouver to celebrate two profound leaders the the transportation and real estate industries: Tamara Vrooman and David Podmore.
The evening was a vibrant tribute to leadership, legacy and community — with no shortage of inspiration along the way. Guests enjoyed meaningful connections, moving tributes and a lively performance by Kadabra.
Our Canadian Business Leader Lifetime Achievement and Business Leader of the Year awards honour executives who lead with impact, not only driving business excellence but who also leave a lasting impact on their communities and the Canadian economy.
Their personal success has meant business success, and that is something everyone benefits from. When businesses invest in their communities through local hiring, philanthropy, partnerships, and shared purpose, the impact goes far beyond economic returns. It builds nations.
- Candace Laing, President and CEO, Canadian Chamber of Commerce
We were also honoured to welcome Alec Guerin, Councillor of the Musqueam Indian Band — a respected voice in building partnerships and advancing economic reconciliation — who opened our event with a powerful traditional welcome.
Tamara Vrooman, Canadian Business Leader of the Year Honouree
Tamara Vrooman is a transformational executive, recognized for her exemplary track record leading large, complex institutions in both the private and public sectors. In her role as President and CEO at Vancouver International Airport, Tamara has strengthened YVR’s position as a catalyst for innovation and a trailblazer in sustainability, driving towards a goal of creating a greener, more resilient future for the airport, the aviation industry, our community and the economy that supports it.
Tamara is a recipient of the Order of British Columbia (2019), and over the last year has accepted multiple awards for YVR, including the 2024 Skytrax Award for Best Airport in North America; the GPC Award for Excellence in Governance and Best Practices in ESG, Sustainability and Purpose; Waterstone Canada’s Most Admired Corporate Culture; and she has been personally named as one of British Columbia’s most influential business leaders, among many other citations.
David Podmore, OBC, Canadian Business Leader Lifetime Achievement Honouree
David Podmore, OBC, is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in real estate across Canada with a notable impact in British Columbia. As a co-founder of Concert Properties, founder of Concert Infrastructure, and now Chair Emeritus for both companies, David has left an indelible mark on the industry.
His legacy extends far beyond his work in real estate, as David has made significant contributions to communities across Canada through his dedication to giving back. He led over $200M in fundraising efforts for BC Children’s Hospital, was indispensable in building the Burn Fund Centre in Vancouver, and, through collaboration with industry partners, helped raise more than $12M for trades training in BC and Ontario. David was also instrumental in bringing the 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games to Vancouver.
David has been recognized with numerous honours, including the first Award of Excellence from the Real Estate Institute of BC, the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, and in 2014, he was inducted into the Order of British Columbia.
Entertainment was provided by Kadabra, a a Nuevo Flamenco group from Vancouver, B.C., that has been performing for over 20 years. We are very grateful to the members of Vancouver’s business community who joined us to celebrate the accomplishments of this year’s honourees.
We would like to extend a special thanks to the Pan Pacific Vancouver and all of our event sponsors.
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