2003 Award Recipients & Nominees

CIBC Commercial Banking is proud to partner with the recipients and nominees of the 2003 CIBC "Spirit of Leadership" Community Award:

$20,000 Recipient - Canderel Group of Companies for their Défi Corporatif Canderel

Canderel Group of Companies, a Montreal-based real estate developer and property management group, received the first-prize CIBC "Spirit of Leadership" Community Award recognizing their community spirit and corporate giving programs, most notably through the Défi Corporatif Canderel/Canderel Corporate Challenge. Mr. Jonathan Wener, Chairman of Canderel was inspired to contribute to the search for a cure for cancer after his wife's devastating diagnosis over 15 years ago. Today, Jonathan Wener, his wife Susan, as well as every single Canderel employee is dedicated to this annual fund-raising campaign. Culminating in a unique costumed run through the streets of downtown Montreal, the Defi has the support of over 250 participating companies and in the 15-year history, has raised over $4 million for McGill University and Université de Montréal. These much needed funds have allowed for the purchase of state-of-the-art and specialized equipment, the allocation of fellowships and the development of several innovative cancer research projects. Canderel's dedication to the Defi continues to grow every year, as does their corporate pride.

CIBC Commercial Banking is proud to partner with Canderel and, as part of the CIBC "Spirit of Leadership" Community Award, has donated $20,000 to the Défi Corporatif Canderel in recognition and in support of Canderel's outstanding accomplishments. Additional information about the program is available on the Défi Corporatif Canderel website.

$10,000 Recipient - Thrifty Foods for their "Peek a Boo" Campaign

Thrifty Foods, a 100 % BC-owned and operated grocery retailer received the $10,000 CIBC "Spirit of Leadership" Community Award recognizing their community spirit and corporate giving programs, most notably through their "Peek a Boo" campaign. This 8-week campaign raised over a million dollars for the Greater Victoria Hospitals Foundation "Family Centred Maternity Care" initiative for upgrades and improvements to maternity wards making a difference in the lives of 5,800 babies and their families each year. Since their first store opening in 1977, community involvement has been at the very heart of Thrifty Foods' corporate culture. The "Peek a Boo" campaign is just one of the many examples of community spirit and corporate giving excellence that Thrifty Foods has undertaken in 2003. Additional information is available on the Thrifty Foods website www.thriftyfoods.com.

$5,000 Recipient - QSR Group for their "Camp Days" supporting the Tim Horton Children's Foundation

QSR Group, owner of Tim Horton's stores in the Halton Ontario area received a $5,000 CIBC "Spirit of Leadership" Community Award recognizing their community spirit and corporate giving programs, most notably through their unique participation in the Tim Horton Children's Foundation "Camp Days". QSR Group employees are encouraged to leverage and build on the head-office coordinated "Camp Days" by initiating unique in-store activities and events to raise funds to provide a fun-filled camp environment for children from economically disadvantaged homes. Additional information about the Tim Horton Children's Foundation is available through the Tim Horton's website www.timhortons.com.

$5,000 Recipient - Secunda International Ltd. for supporting the communities where their employees work and live

Secunda International Limited, a privately owned and operated business that provides specialty marine services to the offshore international petroleum industry, received a $5,000 CIBC "Spirit of Leadership" Community Award recognizing Secunda's numerous community spirit and corporate giving programs. Secunda's corporate giving program models the (often remote) communities where their employees work and live and their commitment to build their employees' communities throughout Atlantic Canada has proven Secunda to be a truly remarkable corporate citizen. Additional information about the company is available on the Secunda International Ltd. website www.secunda.com.

$5,000 Recipient - ZENON Environmental Inc. for their "Water for Humanity" Program

Oakville, Ontario-based ZENON Environmental Inc., an internationally recognized advanced environmental technology leader, received a $5,000 CIBC "Spirit of Leadership" Community Award recognizing their community spirit and corporate giving programs, most notably through their "Water for Humanity" program, which is a non-profit, volunteer based program created by ZENON employees. Now in its fourth year, employees and equipment suppliers volunteer their vacation time and work together to build a water treatment plant for communities in need. ZENON's most recent project has brought the gift of clean water to the community of Quang Dien, Vietnam. Additional information about the program is available on the Zenon Environmental Inc. website www.zenon.com/WFH.shtml.

2003 "Spirit of Leadership" Community Award Nominees

For more information about the CIBC "Spirit of Leadership" Community Award program, please contact your CIBC Commercial Banking Relationship Manager.