The Conference for Advanced Life Underwriting (CALU) presented Gordon Thiessen with an award for outstanding public policy leadership relating to financial services on Sunday night.

Thiessen, a former Governor of the Bank of Canada, and founding chairman of the Canadian Public Accountability Board, was given the inaugural CALU Award for Leadership in Public Policy (CALPP) at the Association’s annual conference opening gala in Ottawa.

“CALU members nominated several highly respected public policy leaders,” said CALU Chairman Garry Zlotnik. “Our panel made an excellent choice in selecting Mr. Thiessen to receive the very first CALPP award. He is a tremendous example of a dedicated public servant who has demonstrated outstanding public policy leadership throughout his distinguished career.”

Thiessen joined the Bank of Canada in 1963, and eventually became its sixth Governor from 1994 to 2001. In 1996, he received Sweden’s Order of the Polar Star in recognition of assistance he provided to the Swedish Central Bank. He later served Canadians as the founding chairman of Canada’s new auditor oversight agency, the Canadian Public Accountability Board, from 2002 to 2008. He was made an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2002.

“My sincere thanks to the members of CALU for this special recognition,” said Thiessen. “CALU does tremendous work on behalf of Canada’s financial service sector and the Canadians who depend upon it. It’s an honour to accept the CALPP.”

CALU established the CALPP to honour the accomplishments of individuals who have advocated, or formulated Canadian public policy related to the financial services industry. Nominations for the CALPP were solicited from all CALU members of record and evaluated by a panel of independent panelists comprised of Leo De Bever, Isabelle Hudon and Bill Robson as well as members of the board of CALU.

CALU is also pleased to make a donation of $10,000 in Gordon Thiessen’s name to Christie Lake Kids, a program that brings disadvantaged children to a summer camp at Christie Lake near Ottawa, ON.

CALU is a national professional membership association of established financial advisors (life insurance, wealth management and employee benefits), accounting, tax, legal and actuarial professionals.