The Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business is pleased to announce that the Right Honourable Paul Martin, the twenty-first Prime Minister of Canada (2003 – 2006), was selected as the inaugural recipient for the Award for Excellence in Aboriginal Relations.

Mr. Martin was selected for this enduring commitment to the prosperity of Aboriginal communities and the award’s selection committee highlighted Mr. Martin’s work since his retirement from public life.

The Award for Excellence in Aboriginal Relations is designed to recognize a Canadian who has contributed, through professional and voluntary commitments, to building bridges between Aboriginal people and Canadian society. Their efforts have made a substantial impact across Canada and across sectors, including the business sector. They have demonstrated an enduring commitment:

• To Challenging the Status Quo: They have asked “why” and challenged thinking as an impetus to change; recipients will have asked the question “what is” and envision what could be;
• To Taking Action: They have taken strategic action when an opportunity presents itself and have stepped-up when others may not; and
• To Working in Partnership: They realize that progress is achieved through collaboration and engagement; recipients bring people and groups together to find solutions that benefit the Aboriginal community and Canada.

Sodexo Canada is the founding and exclusive sponsor of this prestigious award which was presented to Mr. Martin on September 29, 2011 at the CCAB’s Annual Vancouver Gala held at the Four Seasons Hotel.

The Right Honourable Paul Martin’s bio can be found at www.paulmartin.ca.