Toronto, Ontario – The Canadian Public Relations Society Toronto will present its 19th annual CEO Award of Excellence in Public Relations to celebrate the growing importance communications plays in Canadian organizations. This year’s recipient is Dr. Robert S. Bell, CEO of University Health Network, which includes Toronto General Hospital, Toronto Western Hospital, Princess Margaret Hospital and Toronto Rehabilitation Institute.
Dr. Bell is internationally recognized as an orthopaedic cancer surgeon, clinician-scientist, educator and healthcare executive who has worked in Canadian healthcare for more than 30 years. He is a creative leader who is committed to University Health Network’s vision of achieving global impact, while working collaboratively to improve the performance in the Ontario healthcare system.
During his distinguished career, Dr. Bell has achieved an impact on the treatment of bone and muscle cancer patients in Canada and abroad through basic and clinical science as well as educating Canadian and international surgeons. He has contributed to improvement in the Ontario health system in the areas of Critical Care, Emergency Departments, Neurosurgery, and hospital physician care.
This past year, he has led University Health Network (UHN) through integration with the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute. The result of this process has been very positive and earned him the CPRS Toronto CEO Award of Excellence.
Mark your calendars and join us to commemorate this special occasion:
WHEN: Tuesday, January 24th, 2012, 12 p.m.
WHERE: Fairmont Royal York Hotel, Imperial Room
ADDRESS: 100 Front Street West, Toronto
TICKETS: Contact Lois Marsh at 416-360-1988 or marshl@marsh-executive.com
The spirit of the CEO Award, first created in 1991, is to recognize communications excellence and to advocate that a successful CEO must be an excellent communicator who can express a clear mission and shared values with a broad range of stakeholders.
Past recipients of the Award include Mr. Jim Leech, CEO of Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan, Robert Deluce of Porter Airlines, Galen G. Weston of Loblaw Companies, Frances Lankin of the United Way of Greater Toronto, Michael Budman and Don Green of Roots Canada, and Piers Handling of the Toronto International Film Festival.
The CPRS (Toronto) award is determined by a selection committee comprised of the society’s past presidents, all Accredited Public Relations practitioners, as well as some national past presidents. Members are encouraged to submit nominations throughout the year.
For more information or to schedule an interview, please contact:
Martin Waxman, APR, Chair CPRS Toronto
CEO Award Committee 416-569-0501 martinwaxman@gmail.com
Gillian Howard, VP Public Affairs and Communications, University Health Network
416-340-4838 gillian.howard@uhn.on.ca
ABOUT THE CANADIAN PULIC RELATIONS SOCIETY TORONTO
CPRS is a national association representing the public relations profession through the establishment and maintenance of high professional, educational and ethical standards. CPRS Toronto is one of the largest member societies comprising more than 600 members. The CPRS Toronto CEO Award of Excellence in Public Relations is generously sponsored by Marketwire, one of Canada’s foremost news distribution and communications services companies. The advisory is also available on Marketwire.
CPRS Toronto CEO Award of Excellence Criteria
The successful candidate will have demonstrated significant achievement in all or most of the measures of excellence during the previous year:
- Creating and delivering a vision that’s consistent with the goals and beliefs of the organization;
- Active member of the public relations team, and involved in media relations employee communications, shareholder and stakeholder relations;
- Fosters a climate which is sensitive to the needs and concerns of external publics;
- Involved in organizations and charities in the community;
- Has encouraged the development of a crisis communications plan and is familiar with it and/or has demonstrated excellence in handling an actual crisis;
- Operates with the highest professional standards of integrity and ethics.
Past recipients of the CPRS CEO Award of Excellence include:
- Mr. Jim Leech, CEO of Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan (2010-2011)
- Robert Deluce, President and CEO, Porter Airlines (2009-2010)
- Galen G. Weston, Executive Chairman, Loblaw Companies Limited (2008-2009)
- Frances Lankin, President and CEO, United Way of Greater Toronto (2007-2008)
- The late Richard Bradshaw, General Director of the Canadian Opera Company (2006-2007)
- Michael Budman and Don Green, co-founders of Roots Canada (2005-2006)
- Wayne Sales, President and CEO of Canadian Tire (2004-2005)
- Piers Handling, CEO of the Toronto International Film Festival (2003-2004)
- Julian Fantino, Chief of the Toronto Police Force (2002-2003)
- Charles Baillie, Chair, TD Bank Financial Group (2001-2002)
- Dominic D’Alessandro, President and CEO, Manulife Financial (2000-2001)
- Bobbie Gaunt, President and CEO, Ford Motor Company of Canada (1999-2000)
- Diane McGarry, President and CEO, Xerox Canada Inc. (1998-1999)
- Allan Stark, President and CEO, American Express Company Canada (1997-1998)
- George Cohon, President and CEO, McDonald’s Restaurants of Canada (1996-1997)
- John Cassaday, President and CEO, CTV (1995-1996)
- David Bloom, President and CEO, Shoppers Drug Mart (1992-1993)
- Peter H. Ellis, President and CEO, Sunnybrook Medical Centre (1991-1992)