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April 2002

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SMART SOLUTIONS

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On February 19th, many of Toronto’s Business leaders from various corporations got together for the Aga Khan Foundation Canada’s Corporate Breakfast.  The important message they heard there was to “Think Locally and act Globally” by supporting the foundation’s annual World Partnership Walk to be held on the last Sunday in May.

Since 1980, Aga Khan Foundation Canada (AKFC) has worked with people in Africa and Asia to address these kinds of challenges and create hope for people by pooling the financial and intellectual resources of Canadians and people throughout the world.  AKFC gives people in these remote areas who previously did not have many opportunities, hope and a stake in the future by creating smart solutions through hard work, individual initiative, and smart investments in agriculture and enterprise development, education, health, and the natural environment. 

September 11th showed the whole world that we are vulnerable to events in other parts of the world, and that we need to create a safe environment by investing in developing countries.  Firoz Rasul, member of the AKFC’s national committee and chairman and CEO of Ballard Power Systems urged that “businesses must be seen as not to be part of the problem, but to be part of the solution to global poverty”. The message to send to the world is “that we are ready for action and ready to move forward”.  Mr. Rasul encouraged business to be socially responsible and raise awareness of social responsibility, and that Canadian businesses should play a role in rebuilding Afghanistan and make the world a safer place.

And one Canadian business playing a leading role in building a bigger walk and delivering real benefits to the people most in need is The Globe and Mail and CTV.  Phillip Crawley, publisher and chief executive officer of the Globe and Mail, and a member of the Aga Khan Foundation Canada’s national committee, announced a three-year commitment to promote the partnership walk and to be the National Media Partner for the World Partnership Walk. 

Mr. Crawley said, “the sheer magnitude of that act of terrorism (Sept 11th) has touched everyone in some way.  Ordinary people are looking for something they can do to make a difference, and I believe the Partnership Walk fits the bill very well”.

Last year, 20,000 people joined Partnership Walk in 10 Canadian cities including Toronto.  Over the past 17 years of the walk, more than $17-million has been raised which is matched by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), with 100% of the funds going to the projects in the villages in Asia and Africa.

Both Mr. Rasul and Mr. Crawley urged Toronto business leaders and colleagues to participate in the walk on May 26th.  “We want all you here today to support us by word of mouth, and by using your influence with your companies and organizations to get people out on the street on May 26”, said Crawley.