Action Canada Directors, Advisory Council and Founding CEO

Action Canada was founded by two eminent Canadians: Sam Belzberg, Vancouver philanthropist/businessman and Jack Blaney, Simon Fraser University president emeritus.

In 2009, Vancouver businessman David Aisenstat generously accepted the role of lead private sector funder. Sam Belzberg and David Aisenstat, as co-chairs of the Board of Directors, together provide strategic direction to the program.

The Directors

Samuel Belzberg, O.C., O.B.C., co-chair of the Board, president and CEO of Gibralt Capital Corp.

David Aisenstat, co-chair of the Board, president & CEO, Keg Restaurants Ltd.

Clay Horner, Chair, Osler, Hoskin and Harcourt; Past Chair, Action Canada Board

Jodi White, Distinguished Senior Fellow, Carleton University; Secretary Treasurer, Action Canada

Advisory Council

Frances Belzberg, CM and Ann Cowan, are co-chairs of the Action Canada Advisory Council.
Lisa Belzberg is a member of the Advisory Council.

Executive

Cathy Beehan, founding chief executive officer (appointed 2002).

Dear friends of Action Canada, Fellows and Alumnae in the growing Action Canada family:

Jack Blaney, the co-founder of Action Canada with Sam Belzberg, has chosen to resign from the Board of Directors of Action Canada effective October 2010.

Jack has been a steadfast, energetic, passionate and creative force behind Action Canada since he and Sam envisioned a program dedicated to building leadership for Canada’s future by creating a fellowship of distinguished young Canadians, enhancing their skills, broadening their understanding of Canada and expanding their contacts and experiences. Their desire was to develop Canada’s future leaders to ensure Canada continued to be among the best countries in which to live.

The program has been guided through its development and maturation by Jack’s keen insight and passionate commitment to Canada and by his unrelenting focus on developing leaders who share his passion for Canada.

There are now more than 100 Action Canada Fellows who have been transformed by the program that Jack helped conceive.

Please join me in thanking Jack Blaney for his valuable contribution to the conception, development, launch and careful nurturing of Action Canada. He will always be our founder emeritus and his passion will be a beacon that will guide us through our future.

~Cathy Beehan, founding CEO