Nominations are now open for the 2023 IABC/Toronto Communicator
of the Year.
Jesse Wente named IABC/Toronto 2023 Volunteer of the Year
IABC/Toronto is pleased to announce that Jesse Wente, Ojibwe writer, broadcaster, curator, public speaker and best-selling author, has been named IABC/Toronto’s 24th Communicator of the Year.
Born and raised in Toronto, his family comes from Chicago and Genaabaajing Anishinaabek on the northern shores of Lake Huron. He is an off-reserve member of the Serpent River First Nation. A husband and father, Wente is best known for his
work as a film and pop culture columnist for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s Metro Morning (CBC). An outspoken advocate for Indigenous rights and First Nations, Métis, and Inuit art, Wente was named founding director of the Indigenous Screen Office in 2
018. Two years later he was appointed Chair of the Canada Council for the Arts.
As Canadians continue to grapple with the country’s colonial history, Jesse Wente is enabling honest conversations and creating space for other Indigenous artists to share their voices. Honest and accessible communication is essential for societal change and Wente is at the forefront of this action.
About the Communicator of the Year Award
Since 1997, IABC/Toronto’s Communicator of the Year Award has recognized a Greater Toronto Area executive whose demonstrated leadership and communications skills drive business results or have had a substantially positive influence on the community. Only one person is recognized as the Communicator of the Year each year.
The Communicator of the Year is not necessarily in a communication role; however, the recipient of the award is someone who uses the power of communication to deepen understanding, inspire action and transform their community.
Past Recipients:
Dr. Eileen de Villa, Toronto’s Medical Officer of Health (2021)
Wes Hall, Founder and Chairman of the BlackNorth Initiative and Founder and Executive Chairman of Kingsdale Advisors (2020)
Jodi Kovitz, CEO and Founder of #movethedial (2019)
Maayan Ziv, Founder and CEO of AccessNow (2018)
Masai Ujiri, President, Toronto Raptors (2017)
Andy Byford, CEO, Toronto Transit Commission (2016)
Stefan Sjöstrand, President, IKEA Canada (2015)
- Alan Middleton, Executive Director, Schulich Executive Education Centre (SEEC) and Assistant Professor of Marketing, Schulich Business School at York University (2014)
- Ted Garrard, President and CEO, SickKids Foundation (2013)
- Jim Grieve, Assistant Deputy Minister, Ontario Ministry of Education (2012)
- Catherine Zahn, President and CEO of CAMH (2011)
- Peter Aceto, President and Chief Executive Officer of ING Direct (2010)
- Rob Devitt, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Toronto East General Hospital (2009)
- Philip Blake, President and CEO of Bayer Inc. (2008)
- Annette Verschuren, President of Home Depot Canada (2007)
- Mayor Hazel McCallion, City of Mississauga (2006)
- Malcolm Heins of Law Society of Upper Canada (2005)
- Wayne Fyffe of Credit Valley Hospital (2004)
- Edward Marra of Nestlé Canada (2003)
- David Booth of Compaq Canada Corp. (2002)
- Paul Tsaparis of Hewlett-Packard Canada (2001)
- Marguerite Jackson of the Toronto District School Board (2000)
- Rudy Riedl of Enbridge Consumers Gas (1999)
- Jeff Lozon of St. Michael’s Hospital (1998)
- Paul Lucas of Glaxo Wellcome Inc. (1997)
The nominee must:
- Live in the GTA;
- Have a demonstrated ability to communicate successfully;
- Have had a positive influence with key stakeholders and the community; and,
- Demonstrates a strong code of ethics.
Submit your nomination today to toronto-programs@iabc.to