3rd Annual York Region Character Community Conference to focus on striving for excellence and ethics

Conference keynote speaker Dr. J.P. Pawliw-Fry of the Kellogg Graduate School

of Management says Emotional Intelligence is key to leadership

NEWMARKET – The York Region Character Community Council will host its third annual “Building Communities of Character Conference” this Wednesday, April 5^th and Thursday, April 6^th at the Angus Glen Golf and Country Club in Markham.

The conference will feature numerous speakers and workshops on how to integrate Character Community principles of excellence and ethics in everyday living.

“York Region has become a model Character Community in every way imaginable,” said York Regional Chair and CEO Bill Fisch.  “Character has become a mantra in many workplaces, schools and neighbourhoods all across our Region.”

“It is remarkable how so many people and organizations in York Region have embraced the notion of Character Community,” added Town of Markham Mayor Don Cousens, who chairs the Character Community Council.  “This conference will help advance character even further among our residents, businesses and communities.”

The Character Community Vision Statement is as follows: In York Region, people recognize and promote the importance of good character.  They treat others as they would like to be treated, show respect, are accountable, fair, honest and courageous, have empathy, persevere, show initiative and act with integrity.

The conference will feature a dinner keynote address offered by Dr. J.P. Pawliw-Fry, President and Co-founder of the Institute of Health and Human Potential and a lecturer at the Kellogg Graduate School of Management, on the importance of Emotional Intelligence in increasing performance and leadership. (Note: Emotional Intelligence or EI is the capacity for recognizing one’s own feelings and those of others and is distinct from purely cognitive capacities measured by IQ.)

Award-winning CBC broadcaster Wendy Mesley will also deliver an address examining the need for higher ethical standards in the media and technology.

Angus Glen Golf and Country Club is located at 10080 Kennedy Road in Markham.

Conference registration and fee information for the public, as well as on York Region’s Character Community initiative, can be found at www.charactercommunity.com

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For more information on the Regional Municipality of York and the services our Region offers, please visit our Web site at: www.york.ca

Media Contact:         Ken Turriff, Corporate Communications, York Region

                                 Phone:  (905) 830-4444 / Toll Free: 1-877-464-9675, Ext. 1226

                                 Corporate Communications After Hours Pager 905-830-3302

                                 Email: ken.turriff@york.ca