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Canadian Business Leader Awards
Canadian Business Leader Awards
A celebration of those who have made a lasting impact on the Canadian business community.
Our Canadian Business Leader Lifetime Achievement Award and Canadian Business Leader of the Year Awards were established to celebrate and recognize Canadian business executives at the top of their fields who have distinguished themselves through stellar corporate leadership and meaningful contributions to their communities.
The 2025 Canadian Business Awards will be celebrated in four major cities across the country, honouring visionary leaders who exemplify excellence in their industries and beyond. Learn more about the honourees in each city below:
May 8, 2025
Canadian Business Leader of the Year
Guy Cormier
President & CEO, Desjardins Group
Guy Cormier has been President and CEO of Desjardins Group since 2016. He has worked for the cooperative for 30 years, becoming a Caisse general manager in 2002, Vice-President of Finance in 2009, and joining Desjardins Group’s senior management team in 2012.
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Since being elected President, Mr. Cormier has worked hard to instill a strong member-and client-focused culture that resonates with all of Desjardins’s employees and directors. On top of creating the $280 million GoodSpark Fund, he’s also helped the organization grow and become a household name across the country.
As a champion of the cooperative model, shared prosperity, youth and a greener, more inclusive economy, Guy Cormier makes decisions that are based on the common good. In 2024, Finance et Investissement named him the Financial Personality of the Year in its annual Top des leaders de l’industrie financière ranking.
Mr. Cormier is a graduate of HEC Montréal, where he earned both an undergraduate degree in business administration and an MBA. He also taught finance there for close to a decade. He currently sits on a number of boards, has been named a Chevalier of France’s Légion d’honneur, and in 2022 he was awarded an honorary doctorate of law by the John Molson School of Business.
Lifetime Achievement
Sophie Brochu
Economist & Corporate Director, Former CEO, Hydro-Québec & Énergir
Sophie Brochu was President and CEO of Hydro-Québec from 2020 to April 2023. She is the first woman to hold this position on a permanent basis in the company’s history.
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Ms. Brochu has 35 years of experience in the energy sector. She began her career in 1987 as a financial analyst at SOQUIP, the company responsible for developing Quebec’s natural gas network. She joined Energir in 1997 and was appointed President and CEO of the company in 2007, a position she held until 2019. Under her leadership, the gas distributor added renewable natural gas to its supply portfolio and became a leading player in the wind power sector, both in Canada and the United States.
Ms. Brochu holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Université Laval and is currently a member of the Board of Directors of CGI, CAE and Saint-Gobain. Prior to this, she spent many years on the boards of BCE and BMO. Very active on the social front, she has been involved with Centraide of Greater Montreal and is co-founder of the ruelle de l’avenir, an organization that fights against school drop-out in the Centre-Sud and Hochelaga neighbourhoods of Montreal. She is also one of the leaders of L’effet A, an initiative to promote the presence of women at all levels of organizations. Ms. Brochu has been awarded honorary doctorates by Université de Montréal (HEC Montréal), Bishop’s University, Université du Québec à Trois Rivières and Université Laval. She is a member of the Order of Canada and an officer of the Ordre national du Québec.
Contact
For more information on how to attend, please contact Anick DeSousa, Senior Director, Member Relations at adesousa@chamber.ca or 613.238.4000 (2239).
June 19, 2025
Canadian Business Leader of the Year
Edward S. Rogers
Executive Chair, Rogers Communications Inc.
Edward Rogers is Executive Chair of Rogers Communications Inc. and serves as Chair of Rogers Bank, the Toronto Blue Jays, CableLabs and Constantine Enterprises. Edward also serves on the Board of Directors of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE).
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Prior to his appointment of Executive Chair in August 2024, Edward was Deputy Chair of Rogers from September 2009 through 2017 and Chair from January 2018 until his Executive Chair appointment.
One of the most significant milestones of Edward’s tenure as Chair was overseeing the merger between Shaw and Rogers, which to date is the largest telecommunications merger in Canadian history. He also played a pivotal role in Rogers recent deal to acquire Bell’s 37.5% ownership stake in MLSE, solidifying the company’s leadership position in Canadian sports and entertainment.
Prior to joining the Rogers Board, Edward served in various operating capacities at the company for over 20 years, including as President & Chief Executive Officer of Rogers Cable Inc. from 2003 to 2009. He also served on the board of the Sick Kids Foundation from 2006 to 2020. Since 2019, Edward has been an active member of the Scarborough Health Network (SHN) and serves as the Honorary Co-Chair of its fundraising campaign, “Love, Scarborough.”
Mr. Rogers served on the Economic Advisory Council from 2010 to 2013, established by the late Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance at the time, to provide advice to the federal government on a broad range of fiscal, economic and financial issues.
Lifetime Achievement
Arlene Dickinson
Founder & General Partner, District Ventures Capital
Arlene Dickinson is a visionary entrepreneur and leader with a remarkable track record of success. She is the Founder and General Partner of District Ventures Capital, a venture capital fund that invests in innovative companies in the food & beverage and health & wellness sectors. Under her leadership, District Ventures Capital has become a leading force in the industry, with a portfolio of ground-breaking companies that are transforming the way we live and eat.
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Beyond her business ventures, Dickinson is a sought-after speaker, three-time best-selling author, and philanthropist. She is widely recognized for her role as a Venture Capitalist on the hit television series, Dragons’ Den, where she currently has starred for over 15 seasons.
Dickinson’s leadership and entrepreneurial prowess have earned her numerous accolades over the years, including induction into the Southern Alberta Business Hall of Fame, the Marketing Hall of Legends, recognition as one of Canada’s Most Powerful Women Top 100 Hall of Fame, and the prestigious Queen Elizabeth Diamond and Platinum Jubilee Awards. Dickinson served as an honorary captain of the royal canadian navy for over 10 years visiting our troops overseas numerous times.
With her unwavering commitment to excellence, her passion for innovation, and her deep dedication to her community and country, Arlene Dickinson is a true Canadian icon and a shining example of what can be achieved through hard work, determination, and vision.
Contact
For more information on how to attend, please contact Alexandra Miceli, Director, Member Relations at amiceli@chamber.ca or 416.868.6415 (3232).
September 11, 2025
Canadian Business Leader of the Year
Rich Kruger
President & CEO, Suncor Energy
Rich joined Suncor in April 2023 with 40 years of global experience in the energy industry, including extensive experience in the Canadian oil sands. Since joining Suncor, Rich’s priorities have been to increase the organization’s focus on the fundamentals and improve overall performance.
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Rich was Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Imperial Oil Limited, a major petroleum refiner, producer of crude oil and fuels marketer in Canada, for nearly seven years, from 2013 until his retirement in December 2019.
Prior to Imperial, Rich was Vice President of Exxon Mobil Corporation and President of ExxonMobil Production Company responsible for the company’s global oil and gas producing operations. In total, Rich worked for Exxon Mobil Corporation and its predecessor companies since 1981 in various upstream and downstream assignments with responsibilities in the United States, the former Soviet Union, the Middle East, Africa, and Southeast Asia.
Rich has deep experience in successfully driving a strong performance culture focused on safety, reliability and operational excellence, with a proven track record of enabling companies to deliver exceptional financial results and returns to shareholders. He holds a mechanical engineering degree from the University of Minnesota and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Houston.
Lifetime Achievement
Jay Westman
Chairman & CEO, Jayman BUILT
Jay Westman is a highly respected Canadian entrepreneur, visionary leader, and philanthropist, widely recognized for his remarkable contributions to the homebuilding industry and his ongoing commitment to community development. As the co-founder, Chairman, and CEO of Jayman BUILT and JWI Investments, Jay launched the company in 1980 alongside his late father and mentor, Al Westman. Since then, he has guided Jayman BUILT to become one of Western Canada’s most prominent homebuilders, earning the prestigious title of Builder of the Year in Alberta 25 times.
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A lifelong learner and passionate builder, Jay holds a Business Administration designation from SAIT, graduating in 1984, and credits much of his success to the invaluable lessons he has learned throughout his career. He has played a key role in several influential organizations, including the Calgary Business Group, Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO), and TEC (The Executive Committee). In addition, he is a founding director of both the Professional Home Builders Association and the Alberta Home Builders Association and has served as past chair of Alberta New Home Warranty.
Jay’s commitment to innovation extends far beyond the building industry, particularly in the realm of environmental sustainability. In 2005, he was instrumental in bringing Built Green to Canada, promoting eco-friendly building practices. Through the Westman Charitable Foundation, he has contributed millions of dollars to causes that resonate with him, such as Multiple Sclerosis (MS) research, ending homelessness and educational initiatives. His philanthropic efforts include a $3 million donation to MS research and $5 million to the University of Calgary’s Westman Centre for Real Estate Studies. Jay’s charitable efforts extend to organizations like Calgary Health Trust, which received $2.4 million, and the Mustard Seed, which was given $1.4 million, along with his contributions to the Resolve Homelessness Campaign, which totaled over $70 million in funds raised through Jayman BUILT and other prominent Alberta builders.
Contact
For more information on how to attend, please contact Kimberly Gale, Vice President, Member Relations at kgale@chamber.ca or 403.271.0595.
September 25, 2025
Canadian Business Leader of the Year
Tamara Vrooman
President & CEO, Vancouver International Airport
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.
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Prior to joining YVR, Tamara served for 13 years as the President and CEO of Vancity, Canada’s largest community credit union, propelling the business into a global reference point for values-based banking. Tamara was a formal chair of the Canada Infrastructure Bank and the Rick Hansen Foundation. She currently serves as Simon Fraser University’s 12th Chancellor, and Chair of the Board for the Canadian Airports Council.
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.
Lifetime Achievement
David Podmore, OBC
Co-Founder, Concert Properties; Founder, Concert Infrastructure; Chair Emeritus
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.
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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 also held many prominent Board roles including Chair of INSPIRE, the largest fundraising campaign in the history of the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT), Chair of the BC Children’s Hospital Foundation, Chair of BC Pavilion Corporation (PAVCO), Director of BC Ferries and Chair Capital Projects Committee, among many others.
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.
Contact
For more information on how to attend, please contact Lianne Cheng, Director, Member Relations at lcheng@chamber.ca or 416.868.6415 (3239).
2024 Recipients
Calgary
Toronto
Vancouver
Montreal
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