Media/Interview Advisory - Canadian Board Diversity Council launches: Top
Canadian corporations join forces to promote diversity on boards

    
    -   In 2008, women held just 13 percent of corporate board seats in the
        FP500, up only one percentage point since 2005
    -   40 percent of FP500 companies in Canada have no female directors
    -   Companies with more female directors outperformed those with low
        representation by 53% as measured by return on equity
    

TORONTO , Nov. 10 /CNW/ - November 10, 2009 , marks the launch of the Canadian Board Diversity Council (CBDC), a groundbreaking new venture, led by 30 top Canadian corporations and an active steering committee in response to the surge of interest in board diversity in Canada and around the world. While improved gender diversity is currently the primary goal, the Council also intends to improve board diversity with respect to ethnicity and other diversity measurements.

Comprised of influential individuals and leaders from the private, public and not-for-profit sectors, the CBDC aims to increase the number of seats held by female directors of FP500 organizations from 13 percent to 20 percent and increase the number of female directors of federal agencies, boards, commissions and crown corporations. The creation of the Council has been spearheaded by The Jeffery Group Ltd.

    
    What:     Launch of the Canadian Board Diversity Council and an
              opportunity to speak with leaders at top Canadian companies on
              why board diversity is better for business

    Who:      Spokespeople available for interviews are:

              -  Bernard Wilson, Corporate Director, Former Chair, Institute
                 of Corporate Directors

              -  Stella Thompson, Corporate Director

              -  Sarah Raiss, Executive Vice-President, Corporate Services,
                 TransCanada Pipelines

              -  Pamela Jeffery, President and CEO, The Jeffery Group Ltd.

              -  Norman Inkster, President, Inkster Incorporated, Former RCMP
                 Commissioner and Interpol President, Chair, Advisory Council
                 on National Security

              -  Michael Bach, National Director of Diversity, Equity and
                 Inclusion, KPMG

    When:     Tuesday, November 10, 2009
              5:00 - 7:00 PM

    Where:    The National Club
              303 Bay Street, Toronto, ON
    

All participants will be available for interviews following the event.

For further information: or to schedule an interview, please contact: Ron Barry, Canadian Board Diversity Council, [phone] ext. 249, [phone] (mobile), [email protected], www.boarddiversity.ca