2023 Governors' Gala and Rix Awards celebrate local business leaders

The 2023 Gala brought together business leaders from across the region to celebrate outstanding contributions to the community. The Rix Awards is a unique program of the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade that was created to pay tribute to the late Dr. Don Rix, who was a pillar of the community and the Chair of The Greater Vancouver Board of Trade in 2008-09. 

Every year, the recipients of the Rix Awards are carefully selected by a special committee based on their dedication to charitable giving and leadership in the community. This year, the Gala featured special performances by the White Spot Pipe Band, and Canadian musician and founding member of the Barenaked Ladies, Steven Page.

"The 2023 Rix Awards recipients are living proof of the power of community and determination. It is a privilege to be able to celebrate the outstanding accomplishments and unwavering commitment to excellence of our honourees who inspire and drive positive change within our community," said Bridgitte Anderson, President and CEO of the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade.

The prestigious Rix Award for Engaged Community Citizenship was presented to Wendy Lisogar-Cocchia, C.M., O.B.C., LL.D. (HON.) and Sergio Cocchia, O.B.C., LL.D. (HON.), in recognition of their inexhaustible drive to broker positive relationships and advance economic and social good. The Cocchia's have been called "a B.C. power couple" by the Vancouver Sun. The Vancouver-based entrepreneurs and philanthropists are fueled by their desire to make their community a better place to live, work and raise a family.

The Board of Trade presented its 2023 Rix Award for Engaged Corporate Citizenship to White Spot in honour of its support for local businesses and longstanding commitment to charitable giving in the community. White Spot has managed to retain the essence of its legendary brand for more than nine decades, while continually reinventing itself and staying relevant to changing times. The support of generations of dedicated employees and business partners, strong core values, openness to innovation and the courage to try new ventures have helped White Spot live up to its credo "Make a Difference".

"Our 2023 honourees are outstanding and inspirational examples of what it means to be a volunteer, advocate, philanthropist, community leader, visionary, and so much more. This recognition is so well deserved and important for our community to acknowledge. We are fortunate to be recognizing some incredible community and business leaders," said Juggy Sihota-Chahil, Gala Chair and Senior Vice Chair of the Board at the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade.

In addition to the presentation of the 2023 Rix Awards, the immediate past Chair of the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade, Kirsten Sutton, ICD., was inducted into the prestigious Council of Governors by Board Chair, Radha Curpen, Vice Chair, Vancouver Managing Partner and National Leader ESG Strategy & Solutions, Bennett Jones, LLP.