Putting the spotlight on Canada's governance professionals - CSCS opens nominations for its Excellence in Governance Awards

TORONTO, Feb. 15, 2013 /CNW/ - Nominations are now open for the inaugural Excellence in Governance Awards (EG Awards), presented by the Canadian Society of Corporate Secretaries (CSCS). Nominations can be submitted at www.excellenceingovernanceawards.org starting today, February 15, 2013, until April 15, 2013.

The shortlist of finalists will be announced in early June, 2013 and winners will be announced and celebrated on August 18, 2013 in Halifax, Nova Scotia at the opening dinner of the CSCS' 15^th Annual Conference.

The CSCS EG Awards recognize the important contribution governance professionals make to the best practices that build shareholder and stakeholder value in Canadian organizations across sectors and industries. The awards underscore the critical role that good governance plays in sustaining the value of Canada's public and private companies, crown corporations, government agencies, and not-for-profit organizations, and in contributing to Canada's economy, its services, and its capital markets.

"Corporate secretaries and governance professionals so rarely get the acknowledgment they deserve for their contribution to the successes of their organizations," says CSCS President, Lynn Beauregard. "We created the EG Awards to celebrate their leadership, guidance, and the best practices they bring to their boards, their organizations and to the quality of governance in Canada."

Nominations are sought for the following Awards categories:

• Best sustainability, ethics and environmental governance programs
• Best use of technology in governance, risk and compliance
• Best approach to board and committee support
• Best shareholder or stakeholder engagement by a governance team
• Best overall corporate governance
• Best approach to board diversity
• Peter Dey Lifetime achievement award
• Joyce Borden-Reed CSCS distinguished contribution award

Descriptions of each category can be found at http://cscs.org/EGA_entry.

The Excellence in Governance Awards jury panel includes the following governance thought leaders:

Gigi Dawe, Risk Oversight and Governance, and National Practice Area Leader, Governance, Strategy and Risk, CICA
Stephen Griggs, Director and past Executive Director of CCGG
Sylvia Groves, President and Creative Director, Governance Studio
Carol Hansell, Senior Partner, Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP
Richard Leblanc, Associate Professor, Governance, Law & Ethics, Faculty of Liberal Arts and Professional Studies, York University
Carol McNamara, Vice President, Associate General Counsel and Secretary, Royal Bank of Canada
Paul Schneider, Manager, Corporate Governance, Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan (OTPP)
Elizabeth Watson, Q.C, President of Watson Inc.

These experts will be joined by Honorary Judge Peter Dey, Chairman, Paradigm Capital, Master of Ceremonies, David Beatty, Conway Director Clarkson Centre for Business Ethics and Board Effectiveness, and judging facilitator Brendan Sheehan, Founder and President, The Illawong Group.

About the Canadian Society of Corporate Secretaries (CSCS)
The Canadian Society of Corporate Secretaries is recognized as the most important organization for corporate governance professionals in Canada.

As the principal advocate for those who work in corporate governance, CSCS strives to enhance the public's awareness of the importance of good governance. CSCS is the voice of corporate governance professionals in Canada and participates with other stakeholders, including capital markets participants, government bodies and regulators, in fostering a governance environment that sets Canada apart in the world. CSCS supports its membership with continuing education and networking opportunities that are second to none.

SOURCE: Canadian Society of Corporate Secretaries