December 05, 2024
Ottawa, ON and Cleveland, OH – CGLR is extremely pleased to announce the appointment of two new Honorary Patrons, the Honourable Elizabeth Dowdeswell, the longest-serving Lieutenant Governor of Ontario (2014–2023) and Ambassador Bob Rae, Canada’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York. CGLR is also very pleased to announce the reappointment of Bruce Heyman, the former United States Ambassador to Canada, the new CEO of Power Sustainable and a long-time supporter of CGLR, as a Patron.
Only 15% of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals are on track to be achieved by 2030. CGLR is on a mission to accelerate the regional transition to a sustainable future by uniquely bringing diverse perspectives and interests together, across borders and sectors, to explore and solve the most pressing socioeconomic and environmental challenges facing the Great Lakes region. Our new and returning patrons are joining CGLR at a pivotal moment as the organization advances this critical mission and seeks to create the first truly sustainable region in the world.
Quotes:
“For many decades Canada and the United States have nurtured a vision of a sustainable and resilient Great Lakes Region based on the health of an ecosystem. That approach crosses jurisdictional lines of geography and sector and demands the best efforts of citizens, business and industry and governments. And it works. Common cause has become part of our identity. I am honoured to lend my voice in support of CGLR.” – The Honourable Elizabeth Dowdeswell, former Lieutenant Governor of Ontario
“We are now halfway through the implementation of the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda, and we still need to get more than 80% of the Sustainable Development Goals back on track. This is a critical moment for action. The Great Lakes region, shared by Canada, the United States, and many Indigenous Nations, can lead the way in building a better future for all.” – The Honourable Bob Rae, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Canada to the United Nations in New York
“The Great Lakes region is a treasure shared by the United States and Canada,” said Ambassador Bruce Heyman. “With the proper stewardship, it could become the world’s first truly sustainable region. I am looking forward to working with the Honourable Elizabeth Dowdeswell, Ambassador Rae, and the whole CGLR team on this important mission.” – Ambassador Bruce Heyman, former United States Ambassador to Canada
“The Great Lakes region serves as North America’s economic engine and the guardian of the largest surface freshwater system on the planet. I am delighted to welcome these eminent individuals to our Patrons group at a time when the pressure is on to advance the policy solutions, business strategies, and investments that will ensure our economy is competitive and growing responsibly, our people are thriving, and our environment is protected for future generations” – Mark Fisher, President and CEO, CGLR.
Biographical Details:
The Honourable Elizabeth Dowdeswell
As the longest-serving Lieutenant Governor of Ontario (2014–2023), The Honourable Elizabeth Dowdeswell carried out thousands of constitutional and ceremonial duties and encouraged Ontarians to think deeply about their role as residents of a province and as global citizens. Ms. Dowdeswell’s eclectic public service career has spanned provincial, federal, and international borders and transcended disciplinary lines. She contributed globally as Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme. In Canada, her diverse portfolios ranged from culture, the arts, and education, to the environment, science and technology, and management of public enquiries. She was the founding president and CEO of the Nuclear Waste Management Organization, and later the President and CEO of the Council of Canadian Academies. She has served on the boards of numerous Canadian and international corporate and non-profit organizations. Ms. Dowdeswell holds a B.Sc. in home economics and a teaching certificate from the University of Saskatchewan, an M.Sc. in behavioural sciences from Utah State University, and 11 honorary doctorates. She is an Officer of the Order of Canada, a member of the Order of Ontario, and the recipient of numerous other distinctions and fellowships.
Ambassador Bob Rae
Ambassador Rae is the Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Canada to the United Nations in New York. He was elected to federal and provincial parliaments 11 times between 1978 and 2013 and served as the Premier of Ontario from 1990-1995. Ambassador Rae received his Honours B.A. in Modern History from the University of Toronto, an M.Phil. in Politics as a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University and graduated from the University of Toronto Faculty of Law in 1977. He has authored numerous government reports, from the “Lessons to be Learned” report on the Air India bombing and “Tell Them We’re Human” report on the crisis in Myanmar’s Rakhine State, to the “A Global Pandemic Requires a Global Response” report. Ambassador Rae is a Companion of the Order of Canada, a member of the Order of Ontario, and has numerous awards and honorary degrees from institutions in Canada and around the world.
Ambassador Bruce Heyman
Ambassador (retired) Bruce Heyman is a 33-year veteran of Goldman Sachs, where he served as partner and managing director in the Chicago office. He left Goldman to serve as the United States Ambassador to Canada under President Barack Obama from 2014 until 2017. Since then, he has joined the board of Chicago Public Media, served as a co-chair of the advisory board to the Canada Institute at the Wilson Center, and been named as an honorary patron to the Council of the Great Lakes Region. In October 2024, Ambassador Heyman became CEO of Power Sustainable, an infrastructure and private equity investment firm controlled by Power Corporation of Canada. He is the co-author of the best-selling book The Art of Diplomacy, which highlights the extraordinary country of Canada and takes an in-depth look at why diplomacy matters now more than ever. He holds a B.A. in Economics and a M.B.A. from Vanderbilt University.
About CGLR
CGLR is made up of the Council of the Great Lakes Region (Canada), the CGLR Canada Foundation, the Council of the Great Lakes Region (USA), and the CGLR Foundation. Together, they are focused on accelerating the transition to a sustainable future by uniquely bringing diverse perspectives and interests together to explore and solve the most pressing socioeconomic and environmental challenges facing the Great Lakes – St. Lawrence region. Their aim is to create the first sustainable region in the world. Please visit https://councilgreatlakesregion.org for more information.
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