Scotiabank Ethical Leadership Initiative to support student-led Ethics in Action program

HALIFAX, April 8, 2013 /CNW/ - Dalhousie's Rowe School of Business today announced, as part of the Bold Ambitions campaign, a $1.5 million donation from Scotiabank. The gift will support a new program, to be named the Scotiabank Ethical Leadership Initiative, which is aimed at engaging business students and the Canadian business community in shaping ethical business leadership. Dalhousie and Scotiabank executives will unveil a new trophy associated with the program at a customer reception being held in advance of the Scotiabank Annual General Meeting scheduled to take place in Halifax on April 9.

The gift was made through the Scotiabank Bright Future philanthropic program and will support an annual November conference, Ethics in Action, which will feature a case competition, student video and essay contest and national ethical leadership award program for corporate, non-profit and government leaders. The event will build upon the success of the Dalhousie Business Ethics Case Competition that has been attracting teams of undergraduate business students from top US and Canadian schools for the past nine years.

"Scotiabank shares with the Rowe School of Business a strong commitment to the advancement of values-based leadership and management," said Rick Waugh, Scotiabank Chief Executive Officer. "The development of strong ethical leadership is a strategic priority for Scotiabank and a critical component of our continued success over the last 180 years. The Scotiabank Ethical Leadership Initiative will foster a new generation of leaders, well-grounded in the principles of ethical leadership, making our donation an investment that will undoubtedly yield both immediate and future returns. We are proud to support Dalhousie through our Scotiabank Bright Future philanthropic program."

Ethics in Action will provide business students with three ways to participate. A national contest will award prizes for the best video and written essays on the topic of ethical leadership. The case competition will be open to undergraduate business students and MBA students from across Canada and the United States. A student conference will be held in conjunction with the case competition November 8-10, 2013, at a Halifax hotel and the Dalhousie campus.

A highlight of the conference will be the presentation of the Scotiabank Ethical Leadership Award at the gala dinner. A judging panel of Canadian business leaders, students and academic experts will select the recipient. Nominations from across Canada will be sought from the private, public and not-for-profit sectors. The Canadian Chamber of Commerce is also supporting the call for nominations.

"Leaders must not only have strong ethical values, they also need to focus the attention of the organization on ethics. In addition, they must infuse the organization with ethical principles to guide the actions of employees and create cultures and management systems that enable ethical actions. We are so pleased to have the generous support of Scotiabank to advance these ideas with business students and the community at large," said Peggy Cunningham, Dean of the Dalhousie Faculty of Management, home of the Rowe School of Business.

"Scotiabank has a deep history of operating in an ethical, responsible way," says Brian Porter, Scotiabank President and Dalhousie University alumnus. "Ethical leadership is at the core of our culture and values, which include operating with integrity and respect. We believe that businesses have a responsibility to support economic and social progress for a brighter future for everyone, and are proud to enable the Rowe School of Business in developing ethical leaders of tomorrow."

The organizers of Ethics in Action have already completed much of the preparation for the November events. Nominations for the Scotiabank Ethical Leadership Award, conference and case competition registrations, and essay and video submissions can be made at their website, www.EthicsinAction.ca. In advance of these events, the organizing committee will be using blog postings, Twitter and Facebook to engage students in conversations about ethical leadership.

"We want as many students as possible to get involved. Thinking and acting on ethical leadership can make a difference in the future landscape of Canada's business world. It's not just about holding others accountable for their actions, it's about working together to support ethical behaviour in our workplace," said Rebecca Rogez, MBA Candidate, Ethics in Action Chair.

About Dalhousie University Faculty of Management
Dalhousie University's Faculty of Management, which includes programs in Business, Public Administration, Information Management, Marine Affairs and Resource and Environmental Studies, offers a holistic and values-based approach to management education and research. The Faculty's vision is to be the acknowledged centre of values-based management whose graduates become private sector, public sector and civil society leaders who manage with integrity, focus on sustainability and make things happen.

About Scotiabank
Scotiabank is committed to supporting the communities in which we live and work, both in Canada and abroad, through our global philanthropic program, Scotiabank Bright Future.  Recognized as a leader internationally and among Canadian corporations for our charitable donations and philanthropic activities, Scotiabank has provided on average approximately $47 million annually to community causes around the world over each of the last five years. Visit us at www.scotiabank.com

About Bold Ambitions: The Campaign for Dalhousie
The $250-million Bold Ambitions campaign is the largest and most comprehensive in Dalhousie's history; focusing on student success and enrichment, interdisciplinary programs, and innovation and design. Its impact will deepen Dalhousie's capacity for excellence, pushing us further to achieve our vision of becoming the very best university in Canada.

For latest news, follow Scotiabank's AGM discussion on Twitter at @dalethics and #BNSAGM, #BNSBrightFuture

Image with caption: "Scotiabank President Brian Porter announces $1.5 million endowment to Dalhousie's Rowe School of Business to help shape ethical business leadership. (CNW Group/Scotiabank)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20130408_C2901_PHOTO_EN_25318.jpg

Image with caption: "Scotiabank CEO Rick Waugh, Rowe School of Business student Rebecca Rogez and Scotiabank President Brian Porter unveil Ethical Leadership Award. (CNW Group/Scotiabank)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20130408_C2901_PHOTO_EN_25319.jpg

SOURCE: Scotiabank