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Corporate Social Responsibility
News
3.06.2006 ET
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Tim Hearn Delivers Keynote Address at Learning Partnership's Western Canada Dinner
Speech calls on business to increase support of high quality public education.
(CSRwire) At a Feb. 9 speech in Calgary, Tim Hearn, Imperial's chairman,
president and CEO, spoke to a business audience of more than 300 about the
importance of building and maintaining a strong public education system in
Canada. Hearn's speech was part of a tribute dinner event, the first of
several to be hosted across Western Canada, to raise awareness of The
Learning Partnership (TLP), a national non-profit organization established
in 1993 that is dedicated to strengthening public education.
Hearn shared his views on how an educated and capable workforce has
contributed to Canada's success and conditions that make it an attractive
place to live. Building and maintaining a strong public education system
is critical to remain competitive in today's global markets, and investing
in such a system for young Canadians is one of the most important
investments that can be made for Canada's future.
"Our well-educated workforce has contributed to our prosperity," said
Hearn. "But today's and yesterday's accomplishments provide no guarantee
of tomorrow's success. In a world that is continuously becoming more
competitive, we need to keep an eye on what's happening in the rest of the
world. Others are catching up, or in some cases, passing us."
Hearn expressed the urgent need to develop a technologically capable
workforce for today's knowledge-intensive work environment. As is being
done in other nations, an early interest in math, science and engineering
amongst Canadians students must be encouraged. He urged those present to
consider how business can work with other sectors to support innovative
learning programs, such as those offered by TLP. He also discussed how
business has a vested interest in education.
"The reason that most of our Canadian businesses are -- and must be --
committed to improving the quality and effectiveness of our education
system, has little to do with philanthropy. The fact is our success, our
competitiveness, and our future depend on it."
Over the past five years, Imperial has invested more than $15 million in
education-related initiatives.
Read Tim Hearn's speech.
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