Governors’ Banquet and Rix Awards 2018

On April 23, 2018, the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade will host its 31^st Annual Governors' Banquet and Rix Awards.

Each spring, this black-tie gala brings together business, government, and community leaders to induct the Board of Trade's immediate past chair into its prestigious Council of Governors.

In addition, the event also honours the winners of the Rix Awards for Community and Corporate Citizenship, which are presented each year in memory of past Board of Trade Chair and renowned philanthropist Dr. Don Rix.

Read our full news release.

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2018 Inductee into the Council of Governors

Robin Silvester
President and Chief Executive Officer, Vancouver Fraser Port Authority

Robin Silvester served as Chair of the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade in 2016-17, a year in which the organization integrated findings of the Greater Vancouver Economic Scorecard 2016 into its advocacy efforts and continued to build on the strength of its four Signature Programs. This included the expansion of the Company of Young Professionals program to Members of the Richmond Chamber of Commerce, North Vancouver Chamber of Commerce, and Tri-Cities Chamber of Commerce, as part of an exciting new regional collaboration. Under Robin's leadership, the organization also refreshed its mission, vision, and values.

2018 Rix Award for Engaged Community Citizenship

Gordon Diamond, O.B.C., LL.D.
Leslie Diamond, O.B.C.

In recognition of their generous contributions to the community with time and resources. Gordon and Leslie Diamond are two of the most generous benefactors our community has ever seen. They are perhaps most well-known in the community for their $20 million donation to the VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation — the largest donation in the foundation's history — which led to the creation of the Gordon and Leslie Diamond Health Care Centre, one of the top facilities of its kind in Canada. In addition, Gordon and his father Jack Diamond also formed the Diamond Foundation, one of Canada's largest private family foundations, which has benefitted countless Vancouver residents and British Columbians over the past three decades. Since 1984, the Diamond Foundation's donations and pledges total more than $140 million, distributed in the areas of education, health care, social services, and at-risk youth initiatives. Read more.

2018 Rix Award for Engaged Corporate Citizenship

In recognition of the company's customer focus, outreach, environmental initiatives, and internal work culture. Established in 1954 by the late Keith Beedie, the company has grown from humble roots to become the largest private industrial landowner, developer, and property manager in Western Canada. For over 60 years, Beedie has been proving that its projects are "Built for Good." Founder Keith Beedie understood that being deeply involved in the communities where he lived and worked was not only good for business — it was the right thing to do. It's a legacy that the company continues to embrace today under the leadership of son Ryan Beedie. Read more.