CSR Press Release

TORONTO, CANADA. - November 19, 2008 - For the second year in a row, Maytree Foundation announced and celebrated the winners of its Annual Diversity in Governance Awards at a gala event held Wednesday, November 12. Just as U.S. President-elect Barack Obama, with his African, Hawaiian and Indonesian roots, is now the world's most prominent symbol of diversity, the Diversity in Governance Award winners are leaders in diversity; well ahead of the curve in embracing and engaging the skills, experience and commitment of Toronto's racially and ethnically diverse communities onto their boards of governance.

DiverseCity OnBoard, an initiative of Maytree works to ensure that the governance bodies of public agencies, boards and commissions as well as
voluntary organizations reflect the diversity of the people who live and work in the GTA.

The Health Professions Appeal and Review Board, winner of this year's Public Governance category is thrilled to be honored by DiverseCity onBoard.

"Three years ago we started out with 12 board members and have grown to 40. One third of our board now reflects the cultural and regional diversity of Ontario, a microcosm of our world," says Linda Lamoureux, Chair. Harbourfront Centre is being honored with the Nonprofit Governance Award and the YMCA of Greater Toronto is being recognized as a Trailblazer.

Ratna Omidvar, Maytree's President, said it is urgent to improve the diversity of Toronto's public and nonprofit institutions. "Toronto is the most culturally diverse city in the world, organizations and institutions should reflect the people they are serving. It is time we diversify Toronto's leadership. DiverseCity on Board is committed to changing who is sitting at the board table of public and nonprofit organizations in the GTA."

Maytree is a private charitable foundation that promotes diversity in the workplace, in the boardroom and public office, changing the face of leadership in our country.

Speakers included: Alok Mukherjee, Toronto Police Services Board and Mark Cohon, Ontario Science Center.

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