BC Gas Inc., Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp., and the Canadian Institute for Health Information and are the winners of the 2003 National Awards in Governance, The Conference Board of Canada and Spencer Stuart announced today.

“Boards of directors are under greater scrutiny than ever to show firm and clear leadership in promoting sound governance,” said Anne Golden, president and CEO of The Conference Board of Canada, and co-chair of the awards program. “These awards are intended to showcase and applaud leadership that serves as a role model for all organizations when it comes to finding the right people to sit on their boards, and empowering them with strategic oversight of the organization.”

BC Gas Inc. is the private sector winner. Its board has demonstrated a long-term commitment to its enterprise risk management program, and provided leadership and resources in this area.

CMHC is the public sector winner. Its board of directors has most recently focused on integrating enterprise risk management and performance measurement into its governance framework. The initiative has enhanced the quality of CMHC’s strategic leadership and capacity to achieve corporate goals.

The not-for-profit winner, the Canadian Institute for Health Information, provides a unique example of a governance model and board that successfully integrated multiple stakeholder needs into a new, unified organizational culture, and achieved respected results in a critical sector that is facing enormous challenges.

The winners will be recognized at a gala ceremony and reception on Jan. 29, 2003, at the Four Seasons Hotel in Toronto, where the National Awards in Governance Overall Winner will be announced. Winning innovations will be showcased at the 2003 Corporate Governance Conference: Intention at the Top, on January 30, during the second day of the two-day conference.