George Cope is leading the transformation of Bell, Canada’s largest communications company, into the nation’s broadband leader with a strategy of unparalleled investment in advanced networks, innovative communications and media services, and an improved customer experience.

Recognized as Canada’s Outstanding CEO of the Year for 2015, Mr. Cope has earned a reputation as a strategic leader and builder of high-performance teams in public-company chief executive roles over the past 30 years.

When asked what makes a great leader, Mr. Cope said, “Recognizing the talents and ability of people who are not the same as you is what actually creates a great team, a successful operation, and ultimately…a great company.”

Appointed President and CEO of BCE and Bell Canada in July 2008, Mr. Cope also led the launch of the Bell Let’s Talk initiative, the largest-ever corporate commitment to Canadian mental health and now one of the country’s most prominent community investment campaigns.

“The Bell team put our name behind the mental health cause because eliminating the stigma is the first step in driving action. Bell Let’s Talk has helped spark a much-needed national conversation, driving awareness and engagement in mental health while also supporting new initiatives in care and access, research and the workplace.”

A graduate of the Ivey School of Business at Western University (HBA ’84), Mr. Cope was named Ivey Business Leader of the Year in 2013 and serves on the school’s advisory board. He has been awarded honourary doctorates by his alma mater and the University of Windsor, was Chair of United Way Toronto’s record-breaking 2013 campaign, received the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal for his work on Bell Let’s Talk, and was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada in 2014. He serves as a Director for the Bank of Montreal.

Ian Telfer has been a transformative force in the international mining industry for more than 35 years. A chartered accountant by training, the entrepreneur, financier, mine builder, and industry innovator has founded numerous companies with assets throughout the Americas, Asia, and Australia including TVX Gold, NewGold, Silver Wheaton (now Wheaton Precious Metals) and Goldcorp. Mr. Telfer is also credited with inventing the metal streaming business, which is now comprised of several multi billion-dollar companies.

“I like creating companies because they provide opportunities for people. By providing jobs, incomes and career paths, people have a chance to create their own success, to see how far they can go. An organization like Goldcorp creates that opportunity for a large number of people, and that’s what drives me.”

Seventeen years ago, Mr. Telfer founded Goldcorp’s predecessor, Wheaton River Minerals. He has served as Goldcorp’s chief executive officer and later as Chairman, rapidly growing the company from six employees to become one of the world’s premier senior gold producers, which now employs almost 20,000 people.

Mr. Telfer’s personal commitment to giving back is also a deeply embedded core value at Goldcorp, which has donated over $100 million to health, education, and the arts in the communities in which it operates. In 2007 he personally donated $25 million to what is now known as the Telfer School of Management at the University of Ottawa. At the time, it was the largest single gift ever given to a Canadian business school.

In 2007 he received the E&Y Entrepreneur of the Year Award. He served as Chairman of the World Gold Council from 2009 to 2013 and was named one of Canada’s top 25 most powerful business people by Canadian Business Magazine in 2013.

In 2015 he was inducted into the Canadian Mining Hall of Fame and in 2016 he was honoured as a Laureate of the British Columbia Business Hall of Fame.

Monique Leroux has always been a trailblazer. As CEO of the Desjardins Group (2008-2016), she was the first woman to head a major Canadian financial-services organization — having already been among the first female partners at what is now Ernst and Young.

She credits her success to the people she surrounds herself with. “It’s a lot about people — having the opportunity to work with people, learn with people and help people. I define myself as a real people person. This is a fundamental part of who I am,” she says, adding “I’ve had the privilege of working with outstanding professionals who believed in their respective teams and were passionate about training and developing talented young people.”

While maintaining her busy professional life as Chair of the Board of Investissement Québec and Vice-Chairman of Fiera Holdings Inc., Ms. Leroux lends her time and support to a host of not-for-profit organizations, with a particular focus on education and youth. “I hope to leverage some of my experience as a mentor and contribute to society, to the development of people and our communities.”

She remains very active in business and professional circles as well. For instance, Ms. Leroux was appointed to the Canada-United States Council for the Advancement of Women Entrepreneurs and Business Leaders by the Prime Minister of Canada in 2017, and served as co-chair of the 2018 ‘B7’ Summit in Quebec City.

Monique’s contributions and achievements have been recognized with numerous honours and awards, which include being named 2014 CEO of the Year by Les Affaires and a recipient of the Woodrow Wilson Award for Contribution to Canadian Society. She is a Member of the Order of Canada, an Officer of the Ordre national du Québec, a Chevalier of the Légion d’honneur (France), and holds honorary doctorates from eight Canadian universities.

Now Ms. Leroux adds the Canadian Business Hall of Fame to her list of achievements.