2009 - Dalton Philips (COO Loblaws Canada)
Born and raised in the charm of rural Ireland, Dalton Philips is a man of many languages, countries and capabilities. He holds a BA, a Graduate Diploma in Marketing and Business and, most recently, an MBA from Harvard.
Dalton’s career opportunities have taken him and his family to countries around the world. In January 2007, the Philips family moved to Oakville as Dalton assumed the role of Chief Operating Officer of Loblaw Companies Ltd.
Dalton, his wife Penny and their three young children, attend Chartwell Baptist Church where he currently serves as Board Chair.
2008 - Dave Toycen (President and CEO World Vision Canada)
As president and chief executive officer of World Vision Canada, Dave Toycen heads the country’s largest humanitarian relief and development agency. In his 18 years as a leader with World Vision Canada—10 as president—donations have increased almost seven-fold and the number of children sponsored by Canadians has quadrupled to more than 400,000.
Dave Toycen holds degrees in philosophy and divinity and has received three honorary doctorates—from Tyndale College and Seminary in Toronto, the Church Divinity School of the Pacific in Berkeley, California and Wycliffe College in Toronto.
Toycen feels “ strongly that hope flows out of reading the Scriptures and that one’s spiritual life won’t run without it. I also believe that the ache in the heart—over the ills of the world—can never be greater than the joy of the Lord. It’s important for us to be engaged, because we are in a battle that’s taking peoples’ lives physically and spiritually.”
2007 - Linda Lundström (President and Chief Creative Officer, Linda Lundström Inc)
Linda Lundström is the founder and Chief Creative Officer of Linda Lundström Inc. The recipient of over 20 awards including 3 honorary doctorates, various business awards as well as the Order of Ontario, Linda is also the founder of the KIISHIK Fund. An inspirational speaker, all honoraria for Ms. Lundström’s speaking engagements go to this fund, which supports initiatives in Linda’s hometown of Red Lake, Ontario to create awareness of First Nations culture.
Linda grew up attending the United Church in Cochenour, Ontario but left the church after witnessing racism by church members towards the native community. In the 1990’s Levi Beardy, a native minister who went to school with Linda, contacted her and guided her back to her faith. “Relationships are everything, in life and in business,” Lundström explains, “relationships with people, with oneself and with God.”
2006 - Dr. Brenda Zimmerman, Associate Professor, Schulich School of Business, York University
Dr. Brenda Zimmerman is an Associate Professor of Strategic Management at the Schulich School of Business at York University in Toronto. She is the founder and Director of both the Health Industry Management Program and the HIV/AIDS Strategy Studies for MBA students. Previously she worked at McGill’s Faculty of Management and had a joint appointment with the Faculty of Medicine. In addition to being an invited speaker at many conferences in North America and Europe, Dr. Zimmerman has written many articles and books. Her latest co-authored book is: Getting to Maybe: How the World is Changed.
“Much of my work focuses on how change happens. I have been fascinated by social change initiatives – like the challenge of HIV/AIDS, alleviating poverty, inner-city violence and health care. But I work in a business school and so my approach has been a secular one. How do organizations deal with impossible challenges and how do they become more effective? Yet over and over again as I study these seemingly intractable problems, I am confronted with the irrefutable fact that most of the stories have a faith base to them. I am beginning to understand that God is revealing to me how others act on faith and providing guidance as to how my work can be a testimony to acting on faith. To act on faith is not blind optimism but a profound hope.”
2005 - Rev. Eleanor Clitheroe (Executive Director Prison Fellowship of Canada and Curate of St. Cuthbert's Anglican Church)
“My journey has been largely one of the spirit. This is interesting, for my logic and strong will would seem to be the antithesis of this – you can’t touch or see it. The image of a sailing vessel is often used to illustrate our lives under the power and the influence of the Holy Spirit. The wind is an unseen power and yet the effects of its presence are undeniable. Living through politics and the media has been painful. Life with God is not about avoiding troubles: it is about living life and growing.”
2004 - Chris Houston (Co-Founder Change Alliance)
“The focus of all my work is growth: intentional, personal, business growth. I just love to grow things. It used to be fish, it is always gardens and now it is mostly the dreams and capacities of my clients. …And I have put my money where my dreams are and built a special place for my clients, a place to think and work and grow. It is called Nassagaweya – the Retreat.” – Chris Houston
As a co-founder of Change Alliance, Chris’s clients include many Fortune 500 businesses. He has allowed God to use his talents in his church and community as well as his business.
Prior to 2004
2003 – Stan Telchin, Director, Stan Telchin Ministries [DECEASED]
2002 – Leslee Bell, President, Décor and More Inc
2001 – Brian Semkiw, CEO, Rand Corporation Worldwide
2000 – Ron Nikkel, President/CEO, Prison Fellowship Int
1999 – Paul Henderson, Director, Leadership Ministries
1998 – Archie McLean, Vice Chairman and CEO, Maple Leaf Foods, Inc
1997 – Mike “Pin Ball” Clemons, Toronto Argonauts
1996 – Tom Caldwell, President, Caldwell Securities
1995 – Dr. Linda Williams, Principal, Oakville Christian School
1994 – A.E. Matthews, VP Finance and CFO, Ford Canada
1993 – W.I. James Harding, Chief of Police, Halton Region
1992 – Ron Ellis, Former Toronto Maple Leaf Star; Member, 1972 TEAM CANADA
1991 – Bruce Etherington, Chairman, Etherington Group
1990 – David Rae, President, Apple Canada Inc.
1989 – Ann Mulvale, Mayor of the Town of Oakville
1988 – Jerry Howarth, Voice of the Toronto Blue Jays
1987 – Marion Dewar, Former Mayor of Ottawa [DECEASED]
1986 – Bobby Bronk, Toronto Argonauts
1985 – Claude Simmons, President, A.C.Simmons & Co.
1984 – Paul Henderson, Director, Campus Crusade for Christ; Member, 1972 TEAM CANADA