James S. Kinnear
Alberta Business Person of the Year applauds The Banff Centre
The Banff Centre is one of the finest international centres in the world and is helping lay a proper foundation for the next generation of leaders to succeed, said James S. Kinnear. Kinnear, president and CEO of Pengrowth Corporation, who was named Alberta’s Business Person of the Year 2007 by Alberta Venture magazine. He shone a bright spotlight on the Centre during a luncheon held in his honour in Calgary on Tuesday, Feb. 5.
“The Banff Centre brings a unique approach to leadership management development programs,” said Kinnear during his speech to a crowd of the province’s ‘who’s who’ in business and politics. “It helps bring out people’s full potential and teaches us alternatives to achieve success.”
Alberta Venture’s Business Person of the Year Award, now in its tenth year, identifies and recognizes individuals who embrace principled leadership, strategic thinking, balanced workplace values, and an unrelenting pursuit of excellence.
Kinnear, who established Pengrowth Management Limited in 1982, is a supporter of The Banff Centre. Last fall, Kinnear, and the Friends of Pengrowth pledged $10 million to The Banff Centre, to be used for the construction of the new Kinnear Centre for Creativity and Innovation.
“At the end of the day, we all believe in supporting endeavours that foster strong communities,” said Kinnear. “We want to make a difference. And we want to partner with organizations that strive for excellence.”
Kinnear continued, “The Banff Centre is a perfect example of an organization that will make a real difference well into the future as it helps develop tomorrow’s leaders.”
“I have a deep personal conviction that we will require more experienced, educated and trained leaders in the future for Canada to compete globally,” he said. “For our national and business community to succeed, we need to provide people with the tools that set them up for success and develop Canadian talent that blazes new trails around the world.”
“The Banff Centre is well aware of this need for trained leaders,” said Nick Nissley, executive director of Leadership Development at The Banff Centre. “For more than 50 years we have been delivering programs to Canadian leaders and we will continue to build on our success.”
“We are a place where leaders retreat to develop their creative capacity to imagine new possibilities, so they may advance innovative solutions back at work,” Nissley added. “And we are thrilled and honoured that an exceptional leader like James Kinnear recognizes and champions the work we do.”