The Global Compact Network Canada (GCNC) hosted the 4^th Annual Canadian SDG Leadership Awards to recognize organizations from the private, not-for-profit, and academic sectors across Canada with the goal of highlighting their leadership excellence in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“The Canadian SDG Awards is one of our flagship programs that recognizes the accelerators from the private sector for their contributions in achieving the SDGs”, said Ayman Chowdhury, Head of Secretariat of the GCNC. “The program showcases the value that the private sector brings to solving the most pressing sustainability challenges and offers an opportunity for others to learn about and contribute to the Global Goals,” he added.  The awards gala on Thursday, November 14^th brought together more than 100 business leaders and sustainability professionals from across the country. 

The 4^th installment of the awards program received great interest as the total number of applicants rose from sixteen last year, to thirty this year. The winners were selected based on combined weighted scores from public votes and peer reviews and were recognized in three main categories: large enterprises, small/medium enterprises (SME) and non-governmental organizations (NGO) respectively. The top three winners from the large enterprise category are Lundin Gold (SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth), BASF Canada (SDG 17: Partnership for the Goals) and Manulife Investment Management (SDG: 17: Partnership for the Goals).

“The SDG Leadership Awards Gala on November 14th demonstrated that Canada is well positioned to become a strong global leader in contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals”, said Amy Sandhu, Manager of Sustainability and Government Relations at BASF Canada. “BASF Canada was inspired by our fellow award winners and their unique approaches to tackling some of the world’s toughest sustainability challenges. We’d like to thank the Global Compact Network Canada for their continued dedication to guiding their members with tools and resources to achieve the SDGs. We’re honoured to have won the award for SDG 17, Partnership for the Goals, and we look forward to collaborating with other network members on achieving progress toward the SDGs in the future!”

The top three winners from the SME category are: Matrix360 (SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities), E.T. Jackson & Associates (SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth), and R&G Strategic Communications (SDG: 17: Partnership for the Goals).

“It was an honour to be recognized as a winner in the SME category at the 2019 Global Compact Network Canada SDG Leadership Awards. Matrix360 is passionate about our responsibility as partners for equity and inclusion in the private sector and we are deliberate in the way we demonstrate our commitment to enhancing the spaces we participate in. We look forward to continue to elevate a new tone for business, with a global and inclusive mindset for the future of the workplace and contribute to the advancement of the SDGs,” said David Bendea, Manager of Communications & Engagement at Matrix360. 

The top three winners from the NGO category are: CODE (SDG 4: Quality Education), Université Laval (SDG 13: Climate Action), and WaterAid Canada (SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation).

“Université Laval is honoured to receive this award. In recent years, our university has stepped up actions to reduce its climate footprint, whether by achieving carbon neutrality, reducing its greenhouse gas emissions at the source, or by implementing a voluntary compensation program. This honor is shared with our 43 000 students and 10 000 employee,” said Pierre Lemay, Assistant to the Vice Director – External Affairs, International Affairs, and Health at Université Laval

Earlier this year, GCNC also concluded one of its most applauded programs, the

Reporting Peer Review program, a platform for companies to exchange constructive feedback, share best practices and improve their corporate sustainability reporting processes. Suncor's annual Sustainability Report received great appreciation from its industry peers and came out on top of the program’s 9^th installment. 

The GCNC has also identified Lindsay Verhaeghe, Sustainability Initiatives Manager at Nutrien, as the 2019 Canadian SDG Pioneer. After winning the local round in Canada, Lindsay went on to compete on the global stage and was also named the UN Global Compact’s 2019 SDG Pioneer for Sustainability Goal Setting. 

About the Global Compact Network Canada

Global Compact Network Canada (GCNC) is the Canadian network of the United Nations Global Compact – a network of companies and organizations committed to building sustainable business solutions and advancing the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

The GCNC supports corporate sustainability among Canadian businesses by spearheading the SDGs and the 10 Principles of the UN Global Compact. In doing so, it unifies and builds the capacity of the Canadian private sector to embrace sustainable business practices by convening and accelerating opportunities for peer-learning, innovation and multi-stakeholder collaboration. 

To learn more about GCNC, visit our website www.globalcompact.ca and follow us on social media @globalcompactCA

Global Compact Network Canada

Global Compact Network Canada

The UN Global Compact is the world’s largest voluntary corporate responsibility initiative with over 10,000 signatories in 130 countries committing to ten universally accepted principles. The Global Compact Network Canada builds the capacity of the Canadian corporate sector to embrace sustainable business practices.

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