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New chair Dr. Don Rix welcomed at Board’s 121st AGM By Madeline Sept (June 19, 2008) Dr. Don Rix, CM, OBC, chair of LifeLabs Diagnostics Inc. and Cantest Ltd., was invested as The Vancouver Board of Trade’s new chairman today at The Board’s 121st Annual General Meeting. This year’s AGM, presented by CN, also featured special guest speaker Rex Murphy, social commentator and editorial journalist for CBC’s The National and The Globe and Mail. Rix received his chairman’s gavel and lapel pin from outgoing chair Henry Lee, president of Tom Lee Music Company Ltd., before addressing the sold-out crowd. In his first speech as chairman, Rix emphasized that his two passions, technology and philanthropy, would inform his priorities in his upcoming year as chairman of The Board. Rix commended The Board for causes it champions. Specifically mentioning how The Board has built up the Leaders of Tomorrow Mentorship Program™, focused attention on the problem of crime in Canada, and helped foster Vancouver community spirit with its Spirit of Vancouver® initiatives, Rix applauded The Board’s passionate commitment to promoting engaged community leadership. “That’s what I call effective corporate citizenship – putting your resources to work for the things you are passionate about,” said Rix. “It is something that The Board of Trade has been doing for a long time.” Outgoing chair Lee also spoke at the AGM, stressing the tremendous value of volunteers as Yvonne de Valone, Shane Gibson and Bill Massender were recognized with Chairman’s Awards. As The Board’s new chairman, Rix welcomed several new members to the board of directors and presented Lee with a sculpture of an eagle, in recognition for his past year of service as chairman. The sculpture was carved by Board sculptor-in-residence, George Pratt, and commissioned by The Board. Guest speaker Rex Murphy then spoke about the nature of community and civil life in Canada, describing what he termed, “the Canadian temperament,” which is common to Canadians no matter where they live. “We’ve built up a familiarity or a taste for certain social and civic codes,” said Murphy about Canadians. “[It is] the taste for temperance, the taste for moderation, the idea that quarrels can be had at great vigour and with the most frank exchange but they never degenerate or see the need to go sideways into violence or hatred,” he said. After concluding his address to a standing ovation, Murphy received the gift of an aboriginal talking stick. Carved by Jim Yelton of the Coast Salish Nation, the talking stick was presented by David McLean, chairman of CN and Board of Trade governor, and Rix. |
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