Brandt C. Louie, OBC, LLD, FCA, chairman and CEO of H.Y. Louie Co. Ltd., and chairman of London Drugs Ltd., renowned for his quiet community involvement “behind the scenes,” has been awarded The Center’s Rix Award for Engaged Community Citizenship 2011 which recognizes community-minded individuals.
Both awards will be presented at The Board’s sold-out annual Governors’ Banquet on April 5.
The Sauder School of Business at UBC, which adjudicated the corporate award on behalf of The Board of Trade, named the Vancouver Aquarium, The Keg and Scotiabank as Rix Award for Engaged Corporate Citizenship 2011 finalists.
The late well-known philanthropist Dr. Rix founded the Rix Center for Corporate Citizenship & Engaged Leadership at The Vancouver Board of Trade during his term as chairman in 2008. Its purpose is to promote and facilitate the engagement of businesses and individuals in activities that add value to both business and the broader community.
Criteria for the awards stipulate a good corporate citizen contributes to the community as an integral part of its core business and has embedded socially responsible practices into every aspect of its business; the Rix Center aims to not only recognize and celebrate the achievements of recipients, but also to encourage and inspire others with the mantra: “Engaged citizenship means bridging to the broader community to make a difference.”
- Vancity: Rix Award for Engaged Corporate Citizenship 2011
YWCA nominated Vancity for the Rix Award for Engaged Corporate Citizenship Award 2011. The adjudication team, chaired by the Sauder School of Business, stated that it was impressed Vancity had demonstrated “beyond a doubt” that it fully met the criteria used to assess this year’s Engaged Corporate Citizen. The team concluded Vancity’s customer-centric approach has seen the credit union deliver several highly innovative products targeting customers with a variety of tailored customized services, while keeping track of satisfaction rates through its unique Member Loyalty Score.
Reaching out to the community has proved pivotal in Vancity’s success, with initiatives such as Financial Literacy training, partnerships with ASPECT and the YWCA, and supporting over 160 charitable and community organizations during the year.
Realizing the effect that individuals have on the environment has also been central to the organization’s thinking, culminating in Maclean’s Magazine ranking Vancity as one of Canada’s greenest employers. Providing advice on greening operations, supporting urban density through LanewayClean Air Auto Loans and the ‘Cut the Carbon Climate Change’ exercise with BC Hydro are examples of how Vancity has actively pursued improving the community in which we live.
Vancity is also appreciated by its employees, with numerous flexible arrangements, tuition subsidies and a plethora of social events to reward everyone involved. Previous recognition has come from many corners, with Vancity being selected as one of Canada’s Top 100 Employers, one of B.C.’s Top 50 Employers, one of Canada’s Top Family-Friendly Employers, and a Top 50 Canada Employer for Young People.
Previously, the Rix Award for Engaged Corporate Citizenship was won by the Vancouver Airport Authority (YVR) in 2009, and RBC Royal Bank in 2010.
- Brandt C. Louie: Rix Award for Engaged Community Citizenship 2011
Rising through the ranks of the family business, Brandt Louie was named president in 1987 and became chairman and CEO of London Drugs in 1998. His business philosophy is the catalyst driving the ongoing success of the H.Y. Louie group of companies. He has a passionate belief in customer service, fairness in all employee relationships, and actively encourages creativity and innovation from all levels of the company.
Louie is an active and dedicated member of the community, serving as: Chancellor, Simon Fraser University; council of governors, Vancouver Community College; governor, The Vancouver Board of Trade and the B.C. Business Council; trustee of the Fraser Institute, and Director of the Historica Foundation of Canada in addition to his on-going philanthropic support of medical and educational institutions.
His many awards and honours include: Medal of Merit from the International Association of Lions Clubs; Golden Heart Community Achievement Award; Golden Jubilee Medal of Queen Elizabeth II; Business Impact Award, Simon Fraser University; the Great Canadian Achievement Award from the CH.I.L.D. Foundation and the Order of British Columbia.
The Rix Award for Engaged Community Citizenship was won previously by Craig and Marc Kielburger, founders of Free the Children in 2009, and Jimmy Pattison, OC, OBC in 2010.
*Rix Award for Engaged Corporate Citizenship Selection Criteria:
An Engaged Corporate Citizen is an enterprise which demonstrates in policy and practice the highest standards of stewardship towards the long-term well-being of customers, employees, owners, business partners, the environment and the broader community. Remarkable acts of corporate citizenship are welcomed.
The judges looked for evidence of superior corporate citizenship within the areas of Customer Focus, Outreach, Environment and Internal:
- Customer Focus
- Ensuring superior customer service is provided as a matter of course.
- Fostering a commitment of excellence towards customers.
- Seeking to ensure all customers are treated with respect.
- Outreach
- Helping to improve the quality of life for others.
- Giving back to the broader Community.
- Creating an organization that the community can feel proud of.
- Partnering with others to make a better world.
- Being a good neighbour by keeping business partners and surrounding communities well informed about operations and activities that may affect them.
- Possibly able to educate a wide audience with sound practices that have been developed in any successful organization.
- Environment
- Taking responsibility for the impact business has on the world.
- Demonstrating care for the environment.
- Actively pursuing sustainable practices.
- Internal
- Looking after employees.
- Creating a fun, challenging and rewarding place to work.
- Recognizing the importance of being a good corporate citizen as an integral part of the core business.
- Encouraging active participation in the community from all levels of employees and board members.
-30-
For further information, contact Terry Hadley at 604-640-5450 or thadley@boardoftrade.com
