2006 PEAK Awards Honourees
Award for Performance & Excellence
Gail Stephens
Gail Stephens has been the CEO of the BC Pension Corporation, one of the largest pension benefit administrators in Canada, since 2003. Gail has previously worked in both the private and public sector, in such roles as Vice President and CFO of the Economic Innovation and Technology Council, City Auditor and CAO of the city of Winnipeg, during which time she not only replaced the former Board of Commissioners, but also led and created one of the most cost effective City Governments in Canada, as well as various teaching positions.
In the past Gail has won many awards including the Manitoba Gold Medal for achieving the highest level of excellence in the CGA Program, the Public Sector Award from CGA Manitoba, and has been named a Fellow of the CGA Association of Canada. She has also been named one of the 100 most powerful women in Canada.
Award for Knowledge & Leadership
Julia Kim
Julia Kim is a partner and Vice President at Phillips, Hager & North Investment Management Ltd, where she works as a portfolio manager for high net worth private and not for profit clients. Julia holds a Chartered Financial Analyst designation and is a member of the CFA Institute. Prior to her current position, she worked as a private banker at a large scale Canadian chartered bank.
Currently she serves on Boards for both the YWCA and the Minerva Foundation for BC Women. Julia has also had past involvement with the planning committee for the Learning to Lead Leadership Program, the Family Services Board of Greater Vancouver, and the United Way.
Award for Lifetime Achievement
Wendy McDonald
Wendy McDonald incorporated BC Bearing Engineers in 1944. Under her direction, the Company grew from what was initially a small machine shop into an international group of companies operating throughout the Americas – from Alaska to Chile. Currently, the BC Bearing Group exceeds $200 million in annual revenues from its 55 locations in Western Canada, the Western United States, Mexico, Chile and Peru.
During her career as one of Western Canada’s most prominent businesswomen, Mrs. McDonald has received numerous awards and accolades from her industry and business peers. In addition, her business acumen and leadership qualities were publicly recognized when she won Schenley’s Veuve Clicquot Award of Distinction as “Canadian Business Woman of the Year” in 1982.
She was elected Chairman of The Vancouver Board of Trade in 1990, the first woman to hold that position in its 103-year history. In 1995, Mrs. McDonald received an Honorary Doctorate Degree from Simon Fraser University. For her lifelong contribution to industry, commerce and business in British Columbia, Mrs McDonald was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada in February 1997. In May 1998, Mrs McDonald traveled to London, England to receive recognition as “Leading Women Entrepreneur of the World”. She was also awarded “Entrepreneur of the Year – Master Category, Pacific Region” in October 1999, and selected as the National Finalist representing the Pacific Region. In April 2000, she was inducted into the Sales and Marketing Executives International “Academy of Achievement” Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City. And, most recently, the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) presented Mrs. McDonald with the Honorary Doctorate of Technology, and last November she was awarded the RBC “Lifetime Achievement Award”.
Mrs. McDonald’s unique business qualifications and experience have been in great demand by her industry peers and she has willingly accepted numerous positions serving many industry and business associations. Devoted to her country and province, she is particularly proud of her association with the International Trade Advisory Committee, which provided valuable input to the Federal Government relevant to the Free Trade Pact with the United States and the expanded pact (NAFTA) with Mexico.
Under her leadership, the Company has received such distinguished awards as the “Power Transmission Distributor of the Year” in 1987 and again in 1998. The Top 50 Best Managed Private Companies in Canada by the Financial Post twice – in 1994 and 1996, and the “Jaguar Achievement Award” from the Canadian Association for Family Enterprise (CAFÉ) in 1998.
Despite the time constraints imposed upon her by managing a highly successful business enterprise, Mrs. McDonald has also found time to devote to community services and other organizations. She served as a Trustee for the Schenley Awards, University Hospital and the B.C. Sports Hall of Fame and has acted as an advisor to several charitable, educational and business organizations. She remains a Governor of the Vancouver Board of Trade, an organization for which she holds a special affection, and has served on the Board of Governors for BCIT (British Columbia Institute of Technology). Mrs. McDonald is also Chairman Emeritus of the Canadian Council for the Americas (BC Chapter), Chairman Emeritus of PACE (Pacific Corridor Enterprise Council), Director of the B.C. Paraplegic Association and Director of C.H.I.L.D. (Children with Intestinal and Liver Disorders).
Widowed three times, she has raised a total of 10 children, four of whom are shareholders in The BC Bearing Group, a privately owned family company. All four hold senior positions as part of the leadership team in addition to two grandchildren in middle management positions.
Not one to miss opportunities to grow the business, Mrs. McDonald led The BC Bearing group in closing its acquisition of Norcan Fluid Power Ltd. on July 29, 2005, adding locations and 100 employees to her thriving enterprise.