Join the Aristotle Foundation for Public Policy for the Toronto presentation of the 2026 Gordon Gibson Memorial Citizenship Award.
This year, we are proud to recognize Dr. Jack M. Mintz for his extraordinary contributions and service to Canada. Dr. Mintz has spent decades shaping public debate through academic leadership, public service, policy research, and advice to governments, businesses, and charitable organizations. His work has influenced tax policy both in Canada and internationally.
The Gordon Gibson Memorial Citizenship Award honours Canadians whose careers reflect thoughtful citizenship, principled public service, and a commitment to strengthening Canada’s future. Established in memory of Gordon Gibson, the award celebrates individuals whose work has made lasting contributions to our country.
Guests will enjoy an evening of dinner, conversation, and the formal presentation of the award alongside leaders from business, academia, philanthropy, and the public policy community.
Additional information regarding tickets and sponsorship opportunities will be available soon.
*Note that the value of the charitable tax receipt will reflect a deduction for the value of the dinner as per CRA rules.
For more information on how to sponsor this year’s award please contact Svetlana Obukhova at: svetlanao@aristotlefoundation.org
The Gordon Gibson Memorial Citizenship award is to be given annually to a Canadian who has demonstrated a reasoned approach to Canada and her citizens and policies and whose personal qualities reflect the late Mr. Gibson’s own humanity.
Gordon served his fellow citizens over many decades. A proud Canadian with his roots in British Columbia, Gordon was a Liberal member of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia from 1974 to 1979 and leader of the BC Liberal Party between 1975 and 1979. His policy work included books and publications by the Fraser Institute, and his columns appeared in The Globe and Mail and the Vancouver Sun.
Gordon was Assistant to the Minister of Northern Affairs and then as Special Assistant to Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau. In the 1980s, Gordon was instrumental in founding the federal Reform Party with Preston Manning. Gordon’s work on indigenous issues has stood the test of time: He offered both thoughtful reforms and consulted for First Nations, showing that it was possible to earn respect from a wide variety of people on contentious issues. In the early 2000s, Gordon served as chair of the Committee on Electoral Reform for the Citizens’ Assembly on Electoral Reform of British Columbia, one of his favourite acts of service his home province.
Gordon exemplified the best of what it means to be a citizen: considerate, kind, erudite in his columns and other work, and committed to a better Canada. Gordon’s lifetime of service demonstrated a thoughtful commitment to citizenship, and this in a world where a renewal of such qualities is again needed. Gordon passed away in November 2023. He is survived by his wife, Jane Baynham, his five children, Michelle, Marc, Melissa, Paige, and Adrian, 12 adoring grandchildren, Valerie Gibson, and his sister Louanne Labbé. Gordon was predeceased by his dear Kilby in 2009.
Dr. Jack M. Mintz is the President’s Fellow of the School of Public Policy at the University of Calgary after serving as the Palmer Chair and founding Director from January 1, 2008, to June 30, 2015.
Dr. Mintz held the position of Professor of Business Economics at the Rotman School of Business from 1989-2007 and Department of Economics at Queen’s University, Kingston, 1978-89. He was a Visiting Professor, Columbia Law School, 2015; New York University Law School, 2007; President and CEO of the C. D. Howe Institute from 1999-2006; Clifford Clark Visiting Economist at the Department of Finance, Ottawa; and Associate Dean (Academic) of the Faculty of Management, University of Toronto, 1993 – 1995. He was founding Editor-in-Chief of International Tax and Public Finance, published by Kluwer Academic Publishers from 1994 – 2001.
He chaired the federal government’s Technical Committee on Business Taxation in 1996 and 1997 that led to corporate tax reform in Canada since 2000. He also served on numerous panels and boards at the federal and provincial levels including Vice-President and chair of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council 2012-2018, chair of the Alberta Financial Investment and Planning Advisory Commission 2007 and member of the federal Panel on Healthcare Innovation 2014-5. He recently chaired the Alberta Premier’s Economic Recovery Council from March 2020 to July 2022 and was a member of the Alberta Health Services board June 2021 to November 2022.
In the past he served on corporate boards including Brookfield Asset Management (2002-2012), Morneau Shepell (2010-2020) and CHC Helicopter (2003-2008). He has consulted widely with the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, and various governments, businesses, and non-profit organizations in Canada and abroad, including serving as National Policy Advisor for EY Canada from 2015 to 2021.
Dr. Mintz became a member of the Order of Canada in 2015 as well as receiving the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012 for service to the Canadian tax policy community. He has been recognized by Who’s Who Legal as one of the top global experts on corporate taxation since 2016 and Alberta Venture magazine as one of the most influential Albertans in 2008 and 2010.
Gordon Gibson served his fellow citizens over many decades. A proud Canadian with his roots in British Columbia, Gordon was a Liberal member of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia from 1974 to 1979 and leader of the BC Liberal Party between 1975 and 1979. His policy work included books and publications by the Fraser Institute, and his columns appeared in the Globe and Mail and the Vancouver Sun.
Early in his career, Gordon was Assistant to the Minister of Northern Affairs and then as Special Assistant to Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau. In the 1980s, Gordon was instrumental in founding the federal Reform Party with Preston Manning. Gordon’s work on indigenous issues has stood the test of time: He offered both thoughtful reforms and consulted for First Nations, showing that it was possible to earn respect from a wide variety of people on contentious issues. In the early 2000s, Gordon served as chair of the Committee on Electoral Reform for the Citizens’ Assembly on Electoral Reform of British Columbia, one of his favourite acts of service for his home province.
Gordon exemplified the best of what it means to be a citizen: considerate, kind, erudite in his columns and other work, and committed to a better Canada. Gordon’s lifetime of service demonstrated a thoughtful commitment to citizenship, and this in a world where a renewal of such qualities is again needed. Gordon passed away in November 2023. He is survived by his wife, Jane Baynham, his five children, Michelle, Marc, Melissa, Paige, and Adrian, 12 adoring grandchildren, Valerie Gibson, and his sister Louanne Labbé. Gordon was predeceased by his dear Kilby in 2009.
The Aristotle Foundation for Public Policy aims to renew a civil, common-sense approach to public discourse and public policy in Canada.
We champion reason, democracy, and civilization so that all can participate in a free, flourishing Canada.
For more, see www.aristotlefoundation.org
The Aristotle Foundation is a registered Canadian educational charity. We take no government funding, this to maintain our independence. Consider supporting our efforts to educate Canadians, especially younger and newer Canadians.
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