Dear ABMInsider,

I’d like to talk about two very disparate things in this newsletter, one very serious and the other decidedly not.

Let’s start with the decidedly not serious topic: our Top 50 CEO awards.

We are BACK!!! More accurately, we will be back on Thursday, May 12 at the Halifax Convention Centre. I can’t believe it’s been three years since we last held an in-person Top 50 CEO awards gala. But we can finally return to an in-person event, and we have every intention of making up for lost time. We have plans. BIG plans. Epic eleganza extravaganza plans!

In homage to the creative thinking organizations had to embrace so they could survive the pandemic, we’re making creativity the heart of this year’s show.

Forget the stereotypical “grip and grin” march across the stage. We’re working closely with the event planning wizards at Zed Events to produce a full-on theatrical production. Think Hugh Jackman’s Oscar opening number (ok, Hugh Jackmanesque – you didn’t really think we had the budget to get the big man in the house, did you?). The Top 50 CEOs will, of course, be the stars of the show. It’s going to be fun and entertaining and all the things we’ve missed out on since 2019.

Advance tickets went on sale last Friday and we’re already halfway to sold out. Don’t be disappointed – click HERE to get your tickets today.

Now for the serious topic: the war on Ukraine.

I know… it’s a strange and awkward segue from awards show to international crisis. I just can’t help thinking there has to be a way that we can use our creative energies to help Ukrainians and stop Putin - NOW.

Yes, the Government of Canada has instituted punitive trade sanctions and offered $145 million worth of humanitarian assistance. And yes, we’re offering military training and undefined “capacity building” to Ukraine’s armed forces. But it’s been four weeks since the Russians launched their unprovoked attack on Ukraine and they show no signs of stopping. Indeed, many reports appear to indicate that this is but the first step of Putin’s larger plan.

None of us wants a world war… but does that mean Putin (or some other deranged leader) will threaten the nuclear trigger every time they don’t get his own way? Where/when will it end?

More pertinently for the moment – what can WE do to help this end now? How can we step up to support Ukraine in an immediately tangible way? I’m open to suggestions.

 

Dawn Chafe Executive editor & co-owner [email protected]