EDMONTON, ALBERTA--(Marketwired - June 5, 2015) - Canadian Strategy Group (CSG) is pleased to announce that Ken Georgetti, CM, OBC, and Moe Sihota are joining the firm as Strategic Counsel to its Principals and clients.
"Canadian Strategy Group strives to provide our clients with the depth of expertise required to assist in navigating public policy, government relations and strategic planning through a changing environment," said Hal Danchilla, Principal and co-founder of Canadian Strategy Group. "Ken and Moe bring to our firm a new dimension not found in other Western Canadian government relations firms. In addition to assisting our existing clients, they enhance our offering to social organizations, the not-for-profit sector, environmental organizations and trade unions."
Ken Georgetti is a former 15 year president of the Canadian Labour Congress and a nationally recognized labour leader. Moe Sihota recently served as the President of the British Columbia NDP and was as a BC cabinet minister for close to a decade. Full biographies are attached to this release.
Fellow Principal and co-founder Michael Lohner added, "The challenges organizations face are becoming more complex. Solutions involve multi-faceted strategies that go further than traditional government relations and often involve research, social license, labour and the ability to have conversations across the political spectrum. Ken and Moe really complement our ability to offer the most comprehensive service in the west."
"Large and small projects need increasing attention to employee issues regarding recruitment, retention and productivity. The creation of stable, well-paying jobs is in the interest of all governments," said Mr. Georgetti. "I look forward to working with CSG to build strategies that will help realize good ideas and opportunities."
Mr. Sihota added, "Issues today are broader than one province or one political culture. It is not just corporations that have pressing needs to understand and interact with government. I think with CSG we have the ability to do government relations fundamentally differently than our competition; to assist not just traditional clients but also NGOs and the not-for profit sector."
Canadian Strategy Group assists organizations to navigate government, shape public policy and communicate effectively with decision makers and stakeholders at all levels of government. Although issue monitoring and conversations with government are important, CSG goes far beyond that, interpreting and translating initiatives and identifying the implications and opportunities for its clients. CSG is your partner in strategy development and execution.
CSG has recruited a team of senior, experienced leaders in their profession. All have managed campaigns, whether political or in the business community. Each member has a track record of delivering value to clients.
In addition to Georgetti and Sihota, Canadian Strategy Group's leadership team includes:
- Hal Danchilla, Co-Founder
- Michael Lohner, Co-Founder
- Marc Henry, ThinkHQ Research
- Brenda Barootes, Government Relations
- Katie Soles, Stakeholder Engagement
- Ron Liepert, Strategic Counsel
- Courtney Mosentine, Government Relations
- Gail Kelly, Government Relations
- Nicole Williams, Government Relations
For complete team biographies please visit www.canadianstrategygroup.com.
New Canadian Strategy Group Member Biographies
Mr. Ken Georgetti, CM, OBC, Strategic Counsel
Background:
- President Emeritus, Canadian Labour Congress
- Ken has been both the youngest and longest serving President of the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC).
- Over his 15-year term from 1999 - 2014 he led the CLC to add 750,000 new members - for a record 3.3 million - while achieving significant legislative improvements for workers.
- As CLC President, he led affiliated unions to win passage of the "Westray Act" that holds corporate executives criminally responsible where negligence is responsible for workers' deaths on the job -following Nova Scotia's Westray Mine tragedy where 26 miners died in a methane gas explosion in 1992.
- Under Ken's leadership, the CLC also persuaded Parliament to pass federal legislation that, for the first time, protects workers in employer bankruptcies so their wages and pension contributions come first over any other creditors and equally as important - that no bankruptcy judge can unilaterally alter an existing collective agreement.
- He spearheaded a labour movement campaign that led to a broad social and political consensus of the need to expand the Canada Pension Plan so that today's young people would have a better basic pension when they retire.
- He was instrumental in building an international movement of shareholder activism, as chair of the International Trade Union Confederation's Committee on Workers Capital,
- His lifelong work to protect the health and safety of workers everywhere led him to push the labour movement to make a unified stand against the export of deadly asbestos, and for government to implement a transition program for workers affected by the winding down of the asbestos industry in Canada.
- Before being elected CLC President, Ken led the BC Federation of Labour for 13 years, more than doubling its membership to 450,000 during his presidency.
- Ken has been awarded the Order of Canada, the Order of British Columbia, the Queen Elizabeth II Golden and Diamond Jubilee Medals
- A strong advocate for adult literacy stemming from his experience as a union representative helping his co-workers get access to literacy training, Ken was named a Life Literacy Ambassador by ABC Life
- Born in Trail B.C., Ken comes from a family of union activists and previously worked as a smelter and earned his trade ticket as a pipefitter.
Mr. Moe Sihota, Strategic Counsel
Background:
- President BC NDP 2009-2013
- First Indo-Canadian ever elected to a Legislature in Canada (1986 representing Esquimalt- Port Renfrew)
- First Indo Canadian ever to serve in a Cabinet in Canada (Mike Harcourt 1991)
- Broadcasting:
- Upon leaving Government was hired by Toronto's City TV to be the inaugural Talk Show Host and News Commentator for The NewVI (now CTV 2) in Victoria 2001-2004
- For the past 10 years, he has been a weekly Commentator on CBC Vancouver "Political Insiders Panel"
- Since 2008 has provided Government Relations advice to select medium sized Canadian Companies.
Political Background:
- Minister of Social Development (2000)
- Minister of Public Service (1999)
- Government House Leader (1998)
- Minister of Education (1997)
- Minister of Environment, Lands and Parks (1993-1997).
- Minister of Constitutional Affairs, Minister of Labour, Minister of Consumer Services Minister Responsible for BC Hydro and the Insurance Corporation of B.C. (1991)
- Elected in three consecutive provincial elections 1986, 1991, 1996 as a New Democrat in the ridings of Esquimalt - Port Renfrew and Esquimalt-Metchosin, BC
- Elected as Alderman in the Township of Esquimalt 1984
Experience with Crown Corporations:
- Board Member BC Hydro and Power Authority
- Board Member Insurance Corporation of British Columbia
- Board Member Workers Compensation Board
- Board Member BC Building Corporation
- Member, Board of Governors for the University of British Columbia
Contact Information:
Canadian Strategy Group
780-975-4462