1st Joint Summit for Canadian Board Diversity Council and Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business:

Bridging the Gap Between Aboriginal Business Leaders and Corporate Canada

VANCOUVER and CALGARY, April 28, 2015 /CNW/ - The Canadian Board Diversity Council  (CBDC) and the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business  (CCAB) will hold two joint Summits on Governance on Wednesday April 29^th in Vancouver and Thursday, May 14^th.  Media welcome at both events where invited business leaders from Aboriginal communities and Corporate Canada will address:

• How exactly do Aboriginal communities make decisions that affect the value of companies?
• What can Aboriginal leaders and corporate leaders learn from each other? 
• How can organizations benefit from having a higher representation of diverse board leadership?

In Vancouver on April 29 from 10 am to 2 pm at the Four Seasons:

• Kim Baird: former Chief, Treaty Implementation Director, Chief Negotiator for Tsawwa Nation
• Dave Tuccaro: Mikisew Cree First Nation in Fort Chipewyan. (former member), the National Task Force on Aboriginal Development Financing and the National Task Force on Oil Sands Strategies.
• Cliff Fregin: Chief Executive Officer, New Relationship Trust, member of the Haida Nation
• Pamela Jeffery: Founder, Canadian Board Diversity Council and the Women's Executive Network
• J. P.  Gladu, President and CEO, Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business
• Mark Selman, PhD, Director of the Executive MBA cohort for Aboriginal Business and Leadership at the Beedie School of Business, Simon Fraser University

In Calgary on May 14 from 11 am to 3 pm at the Calgary Westin:

• Chief Jody Wilson-Raybould:  Regional Chief, BC Assembly of First Nations, Advisor, BC Treaty Commission
• Thomas Issac: Lead, Osler, Hoskin and Harcourt's Aboriginal Law Group
• Mel Benson: Board Director, Suncor, Fort McKay Group of Companies, ECM Energy Services
• John Carruthers: President, Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipelines
• Marie Delorme, PhD, CEO Imagination Group of Companies, Board Member United Way of Calgary
• J. P.  Gladu, President and CEO, Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business

The Canadian Board Diversity Council (CBDC) is the leading Canadian organization advancing diversity on Canada's boards. Founded in 2009, the Council has since grown to 57 Founding and Corporate Member organizations that are committed to greater diversity in the Canadian workplace. The Council's definition of diversity in respect of boards expands the traditional definition of industry experience, management experience, education, functional are of expertise, geography and age to also include considerations such as gender, ethnicity and Aboriginal status.

The Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business (CCAB) is committed to the full participation of Aboriginal people in Canada's economy. A national non-profit, non-partisan association, CCAB offers knowledge, resources, and programs to both mainstream and Aboriginal owned companies that foster economic opportunities for Aboriginal people and businesses across Canada.

Event Registration: Power of Collaboration

Summit sponsors include CIBC as the Banking Sponsor and EY as the Accounting and Advisory Services Sponsor.

SOURCE Canadian Board Diversity Council (CBDC)

Media Inquiries: Claire M. Tallarico 416 616 9940 (CBDC); Chris Allicock 416-694-3131 (CCAB)