TORONTO, May 27, 2011 /CNW/ - Scotiabank is proud to sponsor the 2011 Caribbean-Canada Emerging Leaders' Dialogue (CCELD) bringing together thought leaders from business, government, labour, and broader society from across the Caribbean and Canada to share and learn from one another, strengthen ties between the region and the country and develop cross-cultural leadership skills.

"We have long-recognized the importance of investing in leadership and the value of exchanging ideas across multiple countries," said Sylvia Chrominska, Group Head, Global Human Resources and Communications. "Leadership is a core strategic priority for Scotiabank and we're pleased to support the work of the CCELD to enhance the development of future public and private sector leaders in markets where Scotiabank has a long history and very strong sense of commitment."

The CCELD is an intensive two-week conference that provides a regional approach to leadership development. Under its 2011 theme Growth Through Connections: Enabling Sustainable Progress the Dialogue will expose participants to ideas, issues and people that will fundamentally change how they see themselves and the world they work in.

Traveling in small groups to one of 10 Canadian and one of 10 Caribbean destinations, participants will meet with community leaders, workers and volunteers from a variety of sectors to engage, listen, inquire, share ideas and learn what it means to be a leader in an increasingly interdependent and complex world.

Scotiabank is the major sponsor of the groups, which will be touring many Caribbean locations where Scotiabank operates, including Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominican Republic, Guyana, Jamaica, as well as British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia. In Toronto, Scotiabank will host three groups for a full day of exposure to the financial services industry, at Scotiabank's head office. The Bank also has three participants from Bahamas, Jamaica and Canada taking part in the Dialogue.

"I am very pleased to be a co-chair of this year's CCELD because this Dialogue embodies the principles of global cooperation, which are integral to Scotiabank in running a successful business," said Wendy Hannam, Executive Vice-President, Sales and Service, Products and Marketing Scotiabank and this year's Canadian Dialogue Co-Chair. "I feel the participants will learn a lot from visiting our international operations just as the Scotiabank members taking part will be able to put this experience to use in their current roles."

The program begins today in Gatineau/Ottawa, Canada where all participants will engage in two days of presentations, discussion and networking. Participants then divide into study groups of 12 participants that travel to different locations in Canada and the Caribbean to visit communities and workplaces from the public and private sectors as well as civil society.  Finally, the full Dialogue reconvenes for three days in Barbados where each study group prepares a presentation on what they have observed and learned.

About the CCELD
Built on the proven model of The Duke of Edinburgh's Commonwealth Study Conference - with over fifty years of experience - and the Governor-General's Canadian Leadership Conference, the CCELD 2011 brings together a diverse group of influential and emerging leaders to participate in a series of learning tours in varied cultures and communities. For more information www.cceld.com.

About Scotiabank
Scotiabank is one of North America's premier financial institutions and Canada's most international bank. With more than 70,000 employees, Scotiabank Group and its affiliates serve some 18.6 million customers in more than 50 countries around the world. Scotiabank offers a broad range of products and services including personal, commercial, corporate and investment banking. With assets above $541 billion (as at January 31, 2011), Scotiabank trades on the Toronto (BNS) and New York Exchanges (BNS). For more information please visit www.scotiabank.com.