Pre-conference
EXTRA CHARGE APPLIES
One day for the people who build, advise on, lead and receive DAF gifts across Canada.
To ensure robust conversations and varied perspectives, we'll be striving for a balanced mix of participants from DAF foundations, charities, and professional advisors.
Learn more about The DAF Conversation
Pre-conference
EXTRA CHARGE APPLIES
Are you new to gift planning and want to learn the basics?
Are you an executive director or board member who is interested in starting a gift planning program at your charity but need to learn more before ‘jumping in’?
Or, perhaps you want to add some gift planning ‘tools and techniques’ to support your donors in expanding and enhancing their philanthropy.
If so, this course is exactly what you need.
Learn more about Gift Planning Fundamentals
Speakers: Sherri Grosz, CFP®, Abundance Canada
Claude Drouin, University of Ottawa
Sponsored session
Details to come.
Presented by
Reception Invite only
Is this your first CAGP Conference experience? We are excited to welcome you! Join fellow first-time attendees for a lively kickoff and networking event. Meet CAGP Board members and staff, make connections, and gather tips to help you make the most of your conference experience.
Sponsor:
Learn more
Exhibit Hall open
Enjoy the Exhibit Hall and a buffet breakfast before the opening plenary.
Wednesday Breakfast Buffet sponsor: Carters
Learn more
Plenary
Speaker: Bruce MacDonald, Imagine Canada
Plenary sponsor: 
Bruce MacDonald
TOPIC STREAM: Not About Gift Planning / Au-delà des dons planifiés
LEVEL: General / Général
Canada is facing a philanthropic sustainability crisis; 22% of donors account for half of donations. Despite a growing intention to give, a follow-through gap remains. To fully unlock the potential of gift planning to create a world where everyone can thrive, we must broaden the idea of legacy from a transactional transfer of wealth into a transformational transfer of generational values. Advisors can unlock deeper, more meaningful client relationships while helping charities secure multi-generational donor loyalty that thrives long after the initial estate gift. This interactive workshop will discover new and innovative ways to engage families in the planning conversation.
Speakers: Duke Chang, M.B.A., C.Dir, CanadaHelps
Sheldon Foster, CanadaHelps
Deep Dive Sponsor: BC Children’s Hospital Foundation
Duke Chang, M.B.A., C.Dir
Sheldon Foster
TOPIC STREAM: Building Relationships / Établissement de relations
LEVEL: General / Général
In planned giving and strategic philanthropy, relationships are often the catalyst behind transformational gifts. Yet many professionals approach networking as an obligation rather than an intentional practice. This interactive session explores how fundraisers, gift planners, lawyers, accountants, financial advisors, trust professionals, and nonprofit leaders can build authentic, mutually beneficial relationships that strengthen collaboration and ultimately benefit donors and communities. Participants will leave with practical strategies to network with purpose before, during, and after conferences, cultivate trusted referral networks, deepen cross-sector partnerships, and create meaningful professional connections that extend far beyond exchanging business cards.
Speakers: Melanie Riley, Pillar Nonprofit Network
Melanie Riley
TOPIC STREAM: Building Relationships / Établissement de relations, Gift Planning Vehicles / Véhicules de planification de dons
LEVEL: General / Général
Legacy gifts are among the most personal expressions of philanthropy, rooted in trust and shaped through long-term relationships with an organization. Fundraisers often build close, meaningful relationships with legacy donors, but less frequently have the opportunity to explore in depth how donors made their decisions and why specific giving vehicles were chosen, such as bequests or other estate provisions. In this panel, three legacy donors will share what influenced their giving journeys, including the conversations, cultivation, and stewardship that built confidence over time. They will explore how trust is earned, how fundraisers can strengthen relationships, and what ultimately leads donors to formalize a legacy commitment that reflects their values and impact.
Moderator: Richard Lefebvre, CFRE, The National Ballet of Canada
Donors:
Marcia McClung
Marje Virro
Ishrani Jaikaran
Topic Stream Sponsor: Canada Life
Richard Lefebvre, CFRE
TOPIC STREAM: Gift Planning Vehicles / Véhicules de planification de dons
LEVEL: Advanced / Avancé
What if every client conversation included a philanthropic question... regardless of why they walked in the door? This session makes the case that it should, and shows what happens when it does. Through three real case studies mapped to three stages of the wealth journey, financial planner Adam Malcolm, CFP, MFA-P, demonstrates how the giving conversation changes the plan: uncovering legacy intentions a tax strategy missed, revealing in-kind gift opportunities hiding in a retirement plan, and catching will language that would have undermined a donor's deepest wishes. Participants leave with the framework, the language, and the confidence to make this conversation standard practice.
Speakers: Adam Malcolm, MFA-P, CFP, IG Wealth Management
Topic Stream Sponsor: Canada Life
Adam Malcolm, MFA-P, CFP
TOPIC STREAM: Legal Issues & Ethics/ Questions juridiques & Éthique, Know your Charity / Connaissance de son propre organisme de bienfaisance
LEVEL: Intermediate / Intermédiaire
Join Hamilton Community Foundation and project partners for a candid case study on redesigning donation acceptance and asset development policies through Indigenous, equity, legal and community-centred lenses. Moving beyond theory, presenters will explore the governance questions, organizational tensions and practical decisions involved in aligning philanthropy with institutional values, Reconciliation commitments and community accountability. Participants will examine how policy changes related to donor relationships, naming, fund creation, third-party events, community consultation and reputational risk can influence organizational culture and philanthropic practice. Attendees will leave with practical tools, lessons learned and questions to consider within their own organizations.
Speakers: Andrea Buttars, MPNL, Hamilton Community Foundation
Shylo Elmayan, Niibin Advisory Services
Tanya Rumble, CFRE, CMP, MFA-P, Recast Philanthropy
Rudi Wallace, Hamilton Community Foundation
Topic Stream Sponsor: CanadaHelps
Andrea Buttars, MPNL
Shylo Elmayan
Tanya Rumble, CFRE, CMP, MFA-P
Rudi Wallace
TOPIC STREAM: Know your Charity / Connaissance de son propre organisme de bienfaisance, Marketing & Communications / Marketing et communications
LEVEL: Introductory / Introduction
The planned giving field has centuries of tradition and about a decade's worth of evidence. This session starts to close that gap. Drawing on a retrospective analysis of CRM interaction records from known estate donors at a Canadian hospital foundation, we will present preliminary findings on which stewardship interactions actually correlate with bequest realization. Providing data-driven recommendations about how best to engage donors in-life to meaningfully grow a planned giving program. But we're not stopping at one institution. We'll walk attendees through the research methodology step by step, so you can run this analysis on your own data and contribute to a sector-wide evidence base that planned giving has never had. Come for the findings. Leave with a recipe.
Speakers: Laura Nicholl, MPNL, CFRE, North York General Hospital Foundation
Topic Stream Sponsors: CanadaHelps, Good Works
Laura Nicholl, MPNL, CFRE
Exhibit Hall open
Take a moment to refresh and reconnect, and stop by the Exhibit Hall. Meet vendors, source solutions, and enter the prize draws.
Learn more about the Exhibit Hall
TOPIC STREAM: Not About Gift Planning / Au-delà des dons planifiés
LEVEL: General / Général
Canada is facing a philanthropic sustainability crisis; 22% of donors account for half of donations. Despite a growing intention to give, a follow-through gap remains. To fully unlock the potential of gift planning to create a world where everyone can thrive, we must broaden the idea of legacy from a transactional transfer of wealth into a transformational transfer of generational values. Advisors can unlock deeper, more meaningful client relationships while helping charities secure multi-generational donor loyalty that thrives long after the initial estate gift. This interactive workshop will discover new and innovative ways to engage families in the planning conversation.
Speakers: Duke Chang, M.B.A., C.Dir, CanadaHelps
Sheldon Foster, CanadaHelps
Deep Dive Sponsor: BC Children’s Hospital Foundation
Duke Chang, M.B.A., C.Dir
Sheldon Foster
TOPIC STREAM: Building Relationships / Établissement de relations, Gift Planning Vehicles / Véhicules de planification de dons
LEVEL: Introductory / Introduction
New to the field? Curious how gift planning can amplify your overall fundraising results? What IS “Gift Planning”, anyway, and how does it work? You are welcome here and we want to ensure you are prepared with an understanding of key concepts and terminology to make the most of other sessions at the conference. Leave with an orientation to the basics, along with practical ideas and resources. There will be some time for group work and conversations, so please come prepared to share!
Speakers: Tara Sandler, MFA-P, CAGP
Topic Stream Sponsor: Canada Life
Tara Sandler
Details for this session will be announced soon. Please check back for updates.
TOPIC STREAM: Gift Planning Vehicles / Véhicules de planification de dons
LEVEL: Intermediate / Intermédiaire
Gift planners spend decades helping charities build endowments, reserve funds, and legacy assets. Yet once those gifts arrive, the conversation often stops. While enormous effort goes into raising transformational gifts, far less attention is given to stewarding transformational assets. This session explores how charities can strengthen financial resilience through thoughtful governance, capital stewardship, and reserve management. Through practical frameworks and real-world case studies, participants will examine how organizations are rethinking charitable capital to better balance liquidity, mission, and community impact. Because fundraising may secure the gift, but stewardship determines its legacy.
Speakers: Aneil Gokhale, Toronto Foundation
Topic Stream Sponsor: Canada Life
Aneil Gokhale
TOPIC STREAM: Know your Charity / Connaissance de son propre organisme de bienfaisance, Marketing & Communications / Marketing et communications
LEVEL: Intermediate / Intermédiaire
Many charities have the basic ingredients for a gifts-in-wills program but struggle to grow. The Alzheimer Society of Saskatchewan was one of them. They marketed gifts in wills and generated hand-raisers, but had more potential. They realized they were using the ""Pillsbury dough” equivalent of planned giving - cookie-cutter marketing that was largely based on templates. To create the “gourmet” version, they needed to take their program to the next level.
This session shares their journey and offers a roadmap for charities in the “messy middle” (not at 0, not huge). It explores the ingredients for success - leadership, systems, marketing, and donor conversations - helping participants leave with practical next steps to elevate their own programs.
Speakers: Maureen Harrison, CFRE, Alzheimer Society of Saskatchewan
Rebecca Snider, CFRE, Alzheimer Society of Saskatchewan
Tess Conrad, CFRE, Full Potential Fundraising
Topic Stream Sponsors: CanadaHelps, Good Works
Maureen Harrison, CFRE
Rebecca Snider, CFRE
Tess Conrad, CFRE
TOPIC STREAM: Not About Gift Planning / Au-delà des dons planifiés
LEVEL: General / Général
What's the financial thing you most want to stop pretending you understand? This session opens with that question, then puts it to the test, live. Using a real nonprofit's public financial filings, chosen with no connection to the presenters or to CAGP, an audit partner and a fundraising and leadership consultant read the numbers cold, the way a donor would: what does this say, what would you ask? Two lenses meet on the same page, what compliance confirms and what leadership still has to ask, surfacing the gap between a balanced statement and the real story underneath. Leave with three questions for your own organization's public record.
Speakers: Kathy Arney, CA, CPA, MFA-P, KEA Canada
Danzel Pinto, CPA CA, Doane Grant Thornton LLP
Kathy Arney, CA, CPA, MFA-P
Danzel Pinto, CPA CA
Get ready for a twist on networking! Quizmasters Holly Greatrex and Holly Wagg take the main stage to challenge you with a mix of fun and thought-provoking planned giving questions. Questions will appear on the screens, and each table will work together to record their answers. At the end, tables will swap answer sheets for scoring. Top-scoring teams will win prizes—and, of course, bragging rights!
This lively, casual session is designed to spark conversation, help attendees connect on day one, and maybe even teach a few new things along the way. Come for the trivia, stay for the laughs—and see if your table can claim the top spot!
A lunch buffet will be served.
Table Talks Trivia Lunch Sponsor: 
Holly Greatrex
Holly Wagg, CFRE
Exhibit Hall open
Take a moment to refresh and reconnect, and stop by the Exhibit Hall. Meet vendors, source solutions, and enter the prize draws.
Learn more about the Exhibit Hall
TOPIC STREAM: Marketing & Communications / Marketing et communications
LEVEL: Introductory / Introduction, General / Général
Speakers: Laurie Fox, MBA, Will Power
Topic Stream Sponsor: Good Works
Laurie Fox
TOPIC STREAM: Not About Gift Planning / Au-delà des dons planifiés
LEVEL: General / Général
Gift planning is technical on paper but human in practice. This session dives into the emotional labour, identity, bias, and personal transitions that shape how we show up for donors and for ourselves. These are the lessons we were never taught, but live every day. Through real stories and guided reflection, participants will confront the truth of what generosity asks of us and how our lived experiences shape the work. Expect honesty. Expect connection. Expect to leave with clarity, grounding, and a renewed sense of purpose.
Speakers: Rhonda Sogren, UNICEF Canada
Rhonda Sogren
TOPIC STREAM: Gift Planning Vehicles / Véhicules de planification de dons, Building Relationships / Établissement de relations
LEVEL: Intermediate / Intermédiaire
After decades in planned giving, I’ve learned that legacy recognition only works when leadership truly believes in it — and nothing proves that belief like board members making their own planned gifts. This session shares how genuine board conviction in stewarding legacy donors became the foundation for a campaign that reshaped our pipeline. Anchored by a legacy donor wall — physical bricks for realized bequests, a digital wall for those who’ve committed — the strategy paired estate and will planning seminars with a legacy donor pinning ceremony. The result: every seminar attendee finalized their plans, existing donors upgraded their gifts, intergenerational legacies emerged as families began considering their own bequests, board members included the organization in their own estates, and lapsed donors returned. I’ll share the strategy, the tangible recognition tools, and a framework any
Speakers: Kim Cavener, McGill University Health Centre Foundation
Topic Stream Sponsor: Canada Life
Kim Cavener
TOPIC STREAM: Legal Issues & Ethics/ Questions juridiques & Éthique
LEVEL: Advanced / Avancé
Charities routinely hold gifts tied to purposes or terms that have become impossible, unworkable, or obsolete. This session examines the legal tools available to modify donor restrictions under Canadian law. Through case studies and comparative analysis, attendees will learn how courts balance donor intent against institutional need, and gain practical strategies for soliciting and documenting gifts in ways that proactively manage these challenges.
Speakers: Andrew Valentine, LL.B, Miller Thomson
Stephen Hsia, Miller Thomson
Andrew Valentine, LL.B
Stephen Hsia
TOPIC STREAM: Legal Issues & Ethics/ Questions juridiques & Éthique
LEVEL: Intermediate / Intermédiaire
As members of CAGP and other professional organizations, we sign codes of conduct and accept ethical standards. But true ethics extend beyond protecting the best interests of donors and charities – and they begin with the gift planner.
Gift planners occupy positions of trust and vulnerability. Ethics is a perpetual grey area; what is legal is not always ethical, and what is ethical is not always moral. This presentation explores how we should conduct ourselves as gift planners and act in everyone's best interests, including our own.
Speakers: Kathryne Cardwell, BA, CFRE, Ducks Unlimited Canada
Kathryne Cardwell, BA, CFRE
Details for this session will be announced soon. Please check back for updates.
TOPIC STREAM: Gift Planning Vehicles / Véhicules de planification de dons
LEVEL: Introductory / Introduction
Life insurance is a valuable, yet often overlooked, component of charitable giving. This practical session explores life insurance from both the gift planner's and professional advisor's perspectives, focusing on what practitioners need to confidently identify, discuss, evaluate, and steward these gifts. Participants will gain a high-level understanding of four common life insurance gift structures, while examining donor motivations, tax considerations, administrative responsibilities, and risk management. Through practical examples and real-world insights, attendees will learn how collaboration between gift planners and advisors can unlock meaningful philanthropic opportunities and strengthen a comprehensive gift planning strategy.
Speakers: William Yu, PFP, Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada
Topic Stream Sponsor: Canada Life
William Yu, PFP
TOPIC STREAM: Building Relationships / Établissement de relations
LEVEL: Introductory / Introduction
Every gift reflects a vision for the future. Indigenous Peoples have always understood that the futures we create depend on the relationships we nurture: with one another, with the lands and waters, and with future generations. Grounded in reciprocity and accountability, Indigenous ways of being invite us to reimagine how philanthropy can move beyond transactional giving toward relationships that uplift community well-being and lasting systems change. Drawing on Indigenous Climate Action’s work advancing Indigenous-led climate justice, participants will engage in storytelling, reflection, and dialogue that cultivates deep listening as a practice for building authentic partnerships and supporting transformative change.
Speakers: Sarah Hernandez, Indigenous Climate Action
Minetta McNaughton, Indigenous Climate Action
Sarah Hernandez
Minetta McNaughton
TOPIC STREAM: Know your Charity / Connaissance de son propre organisme de bienfaisance
LEVEL: Intermediate / Intermédiaire
This session will help give a different perspective to charities, development officers, planned giving professionals, and their respective donors make better long-term decisions
1. Managing Charitable Investment Portfolios
• Balancing income generation and capital preservation
• Asset allocation for different liability durations
• Best practices for reserve management
2. Investment Management for Endowments and Legacy Gifts
• Spending policies and preserving purchasing power
• Long-term investing for perpetual funds
• Governance and investment committee responsibilities
• Lessons from successful endowment programs
3. Market Volatility and Planned Giving
• How market cycles affect donor behavior
• Managing gifts of appreciated securities during volatile markets
• Communicating with donors during downturns
• Opportunities created by market dislocations
Speakers: Candice Jay, CIM FCSI MFA-P, CC&L Private Capital
Topic Stream Sponsor: CanadaHelps
Candice Jay, CIM FCSI MFA-P
TOPIC STREAM: Building Relationships / Établissement de relations
LEVEL: General / Général
This session offers an inside look at how a Professional Advisors Network can strengthen gift planning and deepen donor/client relationships. Through intentional engagement, shared philanthropic values, and access to trusted legal and tax expertise, the network becomes a strategic asset that expands organizational reach. As advisors participate in events and learning opportunities, they also become ambassadors; sharing insights with clients and reinforcing philanthropic conversations. A senior volunteer and legacy giving manager will provide practical tools, case studies, and resources to build or enhance a Professional Advisors Network within any organization or community.
Speakers: Laura Byl, Michael Garron Hospital Foundation
Scott Rands, Scotia Wealth Management
Laura Byl
Scott Rands
TOPIC STREAM: Legal Issues & Ethics/ Questions juridiques & Éthique
LEVEL: Intermediate / Intermédiaire
A practical workshop on how to review an estate accounting. The participants will be split into groups to review case studies of estate accountings and learn hands on what to look for and why charities should not just sign releases.
Speakers: Jennifer Stebbing, LSO Certified Specialist in Estates and Trusts, LL.B., J.D., CPCA, LL.M. (Tax), EPC, TEP, Stebbing Butcher P.C.
Jennifer Stebbing, LSO Certified Specialist in Estates and Trusts, LL.B., J.D., CPCA, LL.M. (Tax), EPC, TEP
TOPIC STREAM: Building Relationships / Établissement de relations
LEVEL: General / Général, Advanced / Avancé
Many donors express a desire to make a significant charitable gift, yet never take the final step. Why? This session explores the hidden psychological factors that influence giving decisions, drawing on insights from behavioural finance and decades of experience working with affluent individuals and families. Participants will learn how common behaviours such as procrastination, loss aversion, decision paralysis, and family dynamics can delay or derail charitable intentions. Through practical examples and real world observations, fundraisers will gain valuable tools to better understand donor motivations, deepen relationships, and help donors move from intention to meaningful philanthropic action.
Speakers: Tina Tehranchian, C.M., CFP, CLU, CHFC, MFA-P (Philanthropy), Donor Motivation Program
Tina Tehranchian, C.M., CFP, CLU, CHFC, MFA-P (Philanthropy)
Join us for a warm Toronto welcome! Mingle with exhibitors, sponsors, and fellow delegates in a friendly, relaxed setting. Reconnect with old friends and meet new ones over light refreshments.
This alcohol-free reception will feature a special signature mocktail sponsored by the Toronto Foundation. Cheers to great connections!
Sponsor: Toronto Foundation
Learn more
Explore Toronto's amazing culinary scene with friends and colleagues! Choose from one of the city's top restaurants for an evening of good food and great conversation.
More information and booking links will be available in March 2027.
Delegates cover their own meal costs.
Learn more
Exhibit Hall open
Enjoy the Exhibit Hall and a buffet breakfast before the morning plenary.
Thursday Breakfast Buffet sponsor: Shibley Righton
Learn more
Plenary
Many team members feel constant pressure to mask and curate who they are at work, to perform as someone they’re not rather than be who they are. And it strikes at their ability to belong. This said, by cultivating authenticity and inclusion in how we work, we can unlock belonging in our organizations for everyone. Topics covered in this inspiring and practical keynote include:
Ritu Bhasin, LL.B., MBA
TOPIC STREAM: Legal Issues & Ethics/ Questions juridiques & Éthique, Building Relationships / Établissement de relations
LEVEL: Advanced / Avancé
When a legacy donor passes, the estate file arrives, and with it, the most consequential moment in a gift planning program's history. Most charities navigate this without strategy, policy, or relational intent. Through anonymized case studies from real healthcare estate files—covering executor compensation disputes, beneficiary name discrepancies, release negotiations, and multi-jurisdictional complexity—this session reframes estate administration as active stewardship. Participants leave with frameworks to protect donor intent, engage grieving families, and strengthen advisor relationships at every stage.
Deep Dive Sponsor: BC Children’s Hospital Foundation
TOPIC STREAM: Building Relationships / Établissement de relations
LEVEL: Intermediate / Intermédiaire
There are 258 million widowed people in the world, and you are going to meet some of them in your work. This session will give you two things you can’t get anywhere else. First, you’ll build real skills for working with widowed donors and executors: understanding grief, secondary losses, and how philanthropy can be part of healing. Then you’ll put those skills to work in a human library, courtesy of Soaring Spirits Canada. You’ll get the chance to speak directly with widowed people, hear their stories, and practise the conversations that matter most. Leave with the confidence, language, and humanity to do this work well.
Speakers: Holly Wagg, CFRE, Good Works
Samantha Barr, Trillium Health Partners Foundation
Holly Wagg, CFRE
Samantha Barr
TOPIC STREAM: Legal Issues & Ethics/ Questions juridiques & Éthique
LEVEL: Intermediate / Intermédiaire
What happens when a charity sets up an ""endowment"" without understanding the legal and accounting implications? At best, confusion. At worst, non-compliance and donor disappointment.
Endowments are attractive to donors and beneficial for your cause if done right, so come and learn the specifics, including when they are appropriate, tips and traps in drafting agreements, and the challenges accounting for and managing them.
The panel will also discuss real life examples of the trouble a poorly designed endowment can cause, and how these problems could have been avoided.
This will be useful for gift planners, major gifts, donor relations, policy, finance, administration, and professional advisors.
Speakers: Danzel Pinto, CPA CA, Doane Grant Thornton LLP
Terrance Carter, LLB, Carter's Professional Corporation
Jill Nelson, Global Philanthropic Canada Inc
Danzel Pinto, CPA CA
Terrance Carter, LLB
Jill Nelson
TOPIC STREAM: Building Relationships / Établissement de relations
LEVEL: General / Général
As the sector continues to evolve with new tools, data, and efficiencies, meaningful human connection remains at the heart of generosity. Drawing on insights from habit research and real-world fundraising experience, this highly interactive session explores how small, intentional acts of connection can strengthen donor relationships, deepen engagement, and foster lasting generosity. Participants will discover the 4 C’s of Connection and the Connection Habit Cycle, practical frameworks for building sustainable donor engagement habits. Through guided exercises, peer discussion, and action planning, attendees will leave with a personalized Connection Habit Plan and actionable strategies they can implement immediately to create meaningful donor relationships every day.
Speakers: Kristy Rousseau, CFRE, MBA, Operation Smile Canada Foundation
Kristy Rousseau, CFRE, MBA
TOPIC STREAM: Know your Charity / Connaissance de son propre organisme de bienfaisance
LEVEL: Introductory / Introduction
Complex gifts often bring together donor wishes, organizational capacity, professional advice, ethical responsibilities and competing internal perspectives. Without a clear process, conversations can become dominated by urgency, hierarchy or premature solutions. In this interactive workshop, participants will use the Focused Conversation Method facilitation method to work through a realistic gift-planning scenario.
They will practice separating facts from assumptions, surfacing tensions, identifying missing perspectives and clarifying decision authority and next steps.
Participants will leave with a practical process and facilitation checklist they can use to strengthen collaboration across fundraising, finance, programs, leadership and professional advisors when the gift gets complicated in their organizations.
Speakers: Manal Sayid, MBA, Sayid Consulting Inc.
Jo Nelson, CPF Emeritus, CTF, ICA Associates Inc.
Topic Stream Sponsor: CanadaHelps
Manal Sayid, MBA
Jo Nelson, CPF Emeritus, CTF
TOPIC STREAM: Not About Gift Planning / Au-delà des dons planifiés
LEVEL: Advanced / Avancé
Every organization is a weave of two threads: the values it holds, and the governance systems it operates within. When those threads pull against each other - inherited legal frameworks, the concentration of power and wealth, decision-making cultures built for someone else’s table - the fabric strains. In this advanced session, Kerry Shillito hosts an in-depth conversation with two sector leaders (one from an Indigenous-led organization, one from a Black-led organization) who have each had to weave their own governance within and around systems not built for them, while Josée Thibault leads a live exercise so participants experience an alternative way of making decisions together.
Speakers: Kerry Shillito, The Discovery Group
Josée Thibault, The Discovery Group
Kerry Shillito
Josée Thibault
Exhibit Hall open
Take a moment to refresh and reconnect, and stop by the Exhibit Hall. Meet vendors, source solutions, and enter the prize draws.
Thursday Refreshment Break sponsor: Carters
Learn more about the Exhibit Hall
TOPIC STREAM: Legal Issues & Ethics/ Questions juridiques & Éthique, Building Relationships / Établissement de relations
LEVEL: Advanced / Avancé
When a legacy donor passes, the estate file arrives, and with it, the most consequential moment in a gift planning program's history. Most charities navigate this without strategy, policy, or relational intent. Through anonymized case studies from real healthcare estate files—covering executor compensation disputes, beneficiary name discrepancies, release negotiations, and multi-jurisdictional complexity—this session reframes estate administration as active stewardship. Participants leave with frameworks to protect donor intent, engage grieving families, and strengthen advisor relationships at every stage.
Deep Dive Sponsor: BC Children’s Hospital Foundation
TOPIC STREAM: Not About Gift Planning / Au-delà des dons planifiés
LEVEL: General / Général
Organizations often search for the perfect planned giving professional: someone who combines expertise in fundraising, tax, estate planning, communications, relationship management, and more. This pursuit of the “unicorn” candidate can delay hiring decisions and cause organizations to overlook talented individuals with the potential to succeed. This session explores a new approach to recruitment by focusing on essential skills, transferable abilities, and team design. Participants will gain practical strategies to define hiring needs, assess candidates, and build effective planned giving capacity by prioritizing potential over perfection.
Speakers: Nathalie Gagnon, LLB, Fondation CHU Sainte-Justine
Marie-Ève Carpentier, Fondation CHU Sainte-Justine
Nathalie Gagnon
Marie-Ève Carpentier
TOPIC STREAM: Legal Issues & Ethics/ Questions juridiques & Éthique
LEVEL: Intermediate / Intermédiaire
A litigation-informed look at cases where charitable gifts failed or were challenged, and how drafting best practices can prevent disputes.
Speakers: Raman Johal, Gowling WLG
Raman Johal
TOPIC STREAM: Building Relationships / Établissement de relations, Marketing & Communications / Marketing et communications
LEVEL: Introductory / Introduction, Intermediate / Intermédiaire
Legacy and major gifts aren’t unlocked by tactics alone — they emerge from psychology, timing, family dynamics, and the cumulative threads of trust. This session reframes donor cultivation through a five-stage narrative arc, explores the hidden motivations behind giving, and demonstrates how consistent, values-based communication builds readiness for both major and planned gifts. Through real case studies, rural/urban donor insights, and the advisor–charity–donor triad, participants will learn how to navigate complex conversations with confidence. Attendees leave with practical tools, a 12-month touchpoint roadmap, and a renewed understanding of what truly moves donors to create lasting impact.
Speakers: Sarah Morkin, Quiet Legacy Planning Group Ltd.
Vincianne Tricand, Donor Motivation Program
Jenna Trollope, Donor Motivation Program
Topic Stream Sponsor: Good Works
Sarah Morkin
Vincianne Tricand
Jenna Trollope
TOPIC STREAM: Building Relationships / Établissement de relations
LEVEL: Introductory / Introduction
Charitable giving is often discussed as a tax or estate planning strategy, but its greater power lies in the conversations it creates. This session explores how advisors can integrate philanthropy into every client relationship by connecting giving decisions to personal values, family legacy, and long-term stewardship of wealth. Through practical examples, we will examine how charitable planning can become a vehicle for deeper client discovery, next-generation education, and family engagement. Attendees will learn how to help clients move beyond transactional giving toward intentional impact, while giving children and beneficiaries meaningful opportunities to develop leadership, responsibility, and a shared sense of purpose.
Speakers: Alysha Tse, FEA, CFP, TEP, MTI, CLU, CHS, MFA-P, CIM, Chernick James Tse & Associates Wealth Counsel, Richardson Wealth
Alysha Tse, FEA, CFP, TEP, MTI, CLU, CHS, MFA-P, CIM
TOPIC STREAM: Marketing & Communications / Marketing et communications
LEVEL: General / Général
As donor needs and expectations evolve, online will platforms present a powerful opportunity to grow legacy giving programs.
This session shares Ontario SPCA and Humane Society's experience working with Epilogue to remove barriers by making will writing more accessible, and the importance of engaging new audiences, while uncovering new legacy donors.
We will explore tactics used to promote online will making and integrating the option of an online will into donor conversations and cultivation strategies.
Discover how simplifying the will writing process can potentially deepen donor relationships and unlock sustainable revenue for your organization's mission.
Speakers: Sarah Zachariah, Ontario SPCA and Humane Society
Daniel Goldgut, Epilogue
Topic Stream Sponsor: Good Works
Sarah Zachariah
Daniel Goldgut
More details coming soon
Moderator: Sharon Avery
Plenary sponsor: 
Sharon Avery
Exhibit Hall open until 2:30 p.m.
Take a moment to refresh and reconnect. The Exhibit Hall closes at 2:30 p.m. today, so be sure to stop by.
Learn more about the Exhibit Hall
Join us for networking, drinks, and entertainment before the banquet begins.
Reception sponsored by BC Children's Hospital Foundation
Learn more
Join us for delicious food, chatting with friends and colleagues, and of course, awards! The evening includes the presentation of the Friend of CAGP Award and the Emerging Catalyst Award, and concludes with entertainment. More details to follow.
Banquet sponsored by CIBC Private Wealth
Friend of CAGP Award presenting sponsor: CI Assante
Sponsored session
Details to come.
Presented by
Open seating - meet new friends, or organize a gathering together with others, the choice is yours.
Sponsor: 
TOPIC STREAM: Gift Planning Vehicles / Véhicules de planification de dons
LEVEL: Intermediate / Intermédiaire
The next wave of fundraising growth is not driven by cash. It is driven by assets.
As donors increasingly give through securities, donor-advised funds, real estate, business interests, retirement assets and estates, many organizations remain structured around income-based fundraising models that limit both conversations and outcomes. Yet asset-based giving is no longer solely the domain of gift planning. It represents a fundamental shift in how organizations engage donors, build relationships and unlock long-term value.
This interactive Deep Dive explores how organizations can embed asset-based giving across the entire donor journey, from acquisition and annual giving through major gifts, mid-level programs, and legacy giving. Through the combined expertise of fundraising, donor insights and wealth philanthropy, participants will examine how donor behaviour is evolving, why traditional models often fail to identify true lifetime supporters and how organizations can reframe their strategies around the way donors actually think about their wealth, values and legacy.
Through three expert perspectives, fundraising strategy, donor motivation and organizational practice, this interactive Deep Dive will explore how nonprofits can embed asset-based giving across the entire donor journey. Using practical frameworks, case examples, facilitated discussion and organizational assessment exercises, participants will learn how to identify opportunities, reduce internal silos, build stronger donor experiences and create more intentional journeys to blended and future gifts. Whether your organization is just beginning its asset-based giving journey or looking to accelerate growth, this session will provide the tools and strategies needed to unlock significantly greater donor lifetime value.
Speakers: Kimberley Blease, Blakely
Serena Hak, MFA-P, The Donor Motivation Program Canada
Nancy Horvath, SickKids Foundation
Topic Stream Sponsor: Canada Life
Deep Dive Sponsor: BC Children’s Hospital Foundation
Kimberley Blease
Serena Hak, MFA-P
Nancy Horvath
TOPIC STREAM: Legal Issues & Ethics/ Questions juridiques & Éthique
LEVEL: Advanced / Avancé
What happens when good intentions collide with poor governance, weak oversight, or ethical blind spots? In this engaging and eye-opening session, we explore real-life “horror stories” from the charitable sector: cases involving compliance failures, conflicts of interest, fundraising missteps, financial irregularities, governance breakdowns, audits and investigations. Through real-life examples, attendees will discover how seemingly minor issues can escalate into serious legal, financial, and reputational consequences. More importantly, we will examine the lessons learned, sanctions imposed, remediation strategies, and practical steps organizations can take to strengthen compliance, foster an ethical culture, and safeguard the public trust that is essential to their mission.
Speakers: Jonathan Lafrance, Lawyer, Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP
Jonathan Lafrance
TOPIC STREAM: Building Relationships / Établissement de relations
LEVEL: General / Général
Generosity is woven through relationships, stories, and the values we pass from one generation to the next. This workshop explores how the First Peoples' Cultural Foundation's intergenerational giving framework can help gift planners deepen donor relationships and reimagine legacy giving. Participants will explore how Indigenous perspectives on reciprocity, responsibility, and cultural continuity offer new approaches to donor engagement. Through storytelling and reflective activities, attendees will gain practical approaches to inspire meaningful conversations and help donors connect their legacy with a future they want to help shape.
Speakers: Magie-Mae Adams, MBA-IBL, First Peoples' Cultural Foundation
Magie-Mae Adams, MBA-IBL
TOPIC STREAM: Marketing & Communications / Marketing et communications
LEVEL: General / Général
As AI reshapes our fundraising practices, legacy giving reminds us that human connection remains our greatest advantage. Legacy giving often intersects with life’s most significant moments, including caregiving, serious illness, end-of-life planning, and loss. These conversations require trust, empathy, and presence which AI cannot replicate. This interactive session explores how collaboration, emotional intelligence, and responsive relationships drive meaningful philanthropy. While AI can streamline processes and create capacity, it cannot replace the human skills that build lasting donor relationships. Through our own organizational examples, donor stories, and collaborative dialogue, participants will discover practical ways to leverage AI tools while strengthening authentic relationships and keeping human connection at the forefront of their legacy giving work.
Speakers: Becky Fallis, CFRE, University of Toronto
Tammy Garcia, University of Toronto
Topic Stream Sponsor: Good Works
Becky Fallis, CFRE
Tammy Garcia
TOPIC STREAM: Building Relationships / Établissement de relations
LEVEL: Intermediate / Intermédiaire
To fully engage with the range of HNW donors, fundraisers need to shift from tax-driven giving → values-driven + impact-oriented giving.
• Rising role of: DAFs and family philanthropy governance
• Increasing expectations for transparency, measurable outcomes and flexibility vs restriction
• What turns donors off today is administrative friction, rigid gift structures and weak stewardship
With respect to legacy gifting, fundraisers need to move from passive e bequest marketing → active donor engagement.
• Integrating storytelling, family engagement and values-based planning
• Using DAFs as legacy tools and non-cash assets
As a practitioner at the intersection of wealth advisory, philanthropy and governance I can speak from live client and advisor experience and share how decisions actually are made.
Speakers: Karen Sparks, CFP, MBA, TEP, BMO Private Wealth
Karen Sparks, CFP, MBA, TEP
TOPIC STREAM: Gift Planning Vehicles / Véhicules de planification de dons
LEVEL: Intermediate / Intermédiaire, Introductory / Introduction
DAF's not from the perspective of the providers of DAF's but from the Charities - the front line for community impact.
Session will begin with audience poll questions by show of hands:
A panel of three diverse charities receiving DAF's:
Panelist Intro: Introduce themselves, their charity; answer how significant are DAF gifts to their fundraising efforts; what is one word to describe your charity's relationship with DAF's
Delving into DAF's - The Charity Experience
What changes have you observed in DAF giving in the last 3 years
What value does DAF's create for your charity and your donors?
Has the growth of DAF's changed the way you build relationships with donors?
What practical strategies has helped your charity engage with DAF donors?
Delving into DAF's - Challenges, Tensions & Opportunities
How much transparency should exist around DAF assets, grant making & donor identifies?
Do DAFs help direct more resources to charities, or do they concentrate resources among organizations already well-positioned to attract major gifts?
Should there be stronger expectations or requirements around how quickly DAF assets are distributed to charities?
What should charities be doing today to prepare for continued DAF growth?
If time permits, follow up with a Rapid Response Round:
Complete the sentence:
The biggest missed opportunity with DAF donors is ....
If I could change one thing about the DAF ecosystem, it would be ....
Open up to questions.
DAF's are a permanent and growing feature of the Canadian landscape for philanthropy
Charities of grants need to be a viable voice in this discussion challenging the status quo of DAF's. Understanding the opportunities, questions and challenges in this evolving landscape is imperative as we move forward.
Speakers: Susan Yakabowich, Abundance Canada
Topic Stream Sponsor: Canada Life
Susan Yakabowich
Take a moment to refresh and reconnect with fellow delegates.
TOPIC STREAM: Gift Planning Vehicles / Véhicules de planification de dons
LEVEL: Intermediate / Intermédiaire
The next wave of fundraising growth is not driven by cash. It is driven by assets.
As donors increasingly give through securities, donor-advised funds, real estate, business interests, retirement assets and estates, many organizations remain structured around income-based fundraising models that limit both conversations and outcomes. Yet asset-based giving is no longer solely the domain of gift planning. It represents a fundamental shift in how organizations engage donors, build relationships and unlock long-term value.
This interactive Deep Dive explores how organizations can embed asset-based giving across the entire donor journey, from acquisition and annual giving through major gifts, mid-level programs, and legacy giving. Through the combined expertise of fundraising, donor insights and wealth philanthropy, participants will examine how donor behaviour is evolving, why traditional models often fail to identify true lifetime supporters and how organizations can reframe their strategies around the way donors actually think about their wealth, values and legacy.
Through three expert perspectives, fundraising strategy, donor motivation and organizational practice, this interactive Deep Dive will explore how nonprofits can embed asset-based giving across the entire donor journey. Using practical frameworks, case examples, facilitated discussion and organizational assessment exercises, participants will learn how to identify opportunities, reduce internal silos, build stronger donor experiences and create more intentional journeys to blended and future gifts. Whether your organization is just beginning its asset-based giving journey or looking to accelerate growth, this session will provide the tools and strategies needed to unlock significantly greater donor lifetime value.
Speakers: Kimberley Blease, Blakely
Serena Hak, MFA-P, The Donor Motivation Program Canada
Nancy Horvath, SickKids Foundation
Topic Stream Sponsor: Canada Life
Deep Dive Sponsor: BC Children’s Hospital Foundation
Kimberley Blease
Serena Hak, MFA-P
Nancy Horvath
TOPIC STREAM: Building Relationships / Établissement de relations, Know your Charity / Connaissance de son propre organisme de bienfaisance
LEVEL: General / Général
What if your next transformational legacy gift comes from a donor who gives $100 a year? Many organizations reserve legacy conversations for major gift donors or wait for supporters to self-identify. As a result, some transformational future donors are overlooked. remain hidden in plain sight. This session explores how meaningful one-on-one conversations can uncover legacy opportunities across all giving levels, deepen donor engagement, and inspire lifelong commitment. Drawing on real-world examples from The National Ballet of Canada, participants will learn practical strategies to identify overlooked prospects, create a culture where legacy giving is woven throughout the donor experience, and confidently engage donors in conversations about their lasting impact.
Speakers: Richard Lefebvre, CFRE, The National Ballet of Canada
Nicholas Melymuk, The National Ballet of Canada
Topic Stream Sponsor: CanadaHelps
Richard Lefebvre, CFRE
Nicholas Melymuk
TOPIC STREAM: Building Relationships / Établissement de relations, Gift Planning Vehicles / Véhicules de planification de dons
LEVEL: General / Général
When advisors lead with tax mechanics, clients delay planning. When they lead with purpose, clients act, and the technical outcomes follow. This interactive workshop reframes gift planning around a single question: what is this wealth actually for? Through real, anonymized case studies, including a corporate share donation that eliminated a seven-figure tax bill while creating a perpetual family giving fund, participants will learn how purpose-first conversations unlock both deeper donor relationships and stronger technical results. We will practice the questions that move donors from avoidance to action, and explore how strategic philanthropy becomes a tool for tax efficiency, family continuity, and living legacy, not charity at the expense of family.
Speakers: Elise Keller, MFA-P, Stewart Fisher Financial
Topic Stream Sponsor: Canada Life
Elise Keller, MFA-P
TOPIC STREAM: Building Relationships / Établissement de relations
LEVEL: General / Général
A strong philanthropic culture is built through connection. This session explores how national and local YMCA partners work together to weave a fabric of generosity that strengthens communities across Canada. Attendees will learn how collaboration, shared purpose, and coordinated donor engagement can create greater impact than any organization could achieve alone. From a national brand platform/campaign and stewardship to storytelling and capacity building, this presentation offers practical strategies for aligning a national vision with local action while deepening relationships with donors and communities equitably.
Speakers: Kristen Wheaton Clayton, CFRE, YMCA Canada
Kelly Hardy, YMCA Canada
Kristen Wheaton Clayton, CFRE
Kelly Hardy
TOPIC STREAM: Legal Issues & Ethics/ Questions juridiques & Éthique
LEVEL: Intermediate / Intermédiaire
This panel will explore key strategic considerations for charities navigating legal disputes. The panelists will examine when and how to engage legal counsel, including consideration of the implications of doing so, the cost, and timing. The discussion will weigh the benefits and risks of collaborating with other charitable beneficiaries, addressing alignment, shared resources, and potential conflicts. Panelists will also review the litigation process, outlining what to expect from court proceedings, mediation, and settlement negotiations. Attendees will gain practical insights to make informed decisions, manage risk, and pursue outcomes that advance their organization’s mission while preserving relationships and resources.
Speakers: Liana Murphy, SickKids Foundation
Christie Geen-Difede, The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation
Matthew Urback, Shibley Righton LLP
Liana Murphy
Christie Geen-Difede
Matthew Urback
TOPIC STREAM: Legal Issues & Ethics/ Questions juridiques & Éthique
LEVEL: Advanced / Avancé
Securing transformational gifts increasingly requires engaging not only individual donors, but also the institutional structures through which significant philanthropic capital is deployed. Family offices and private foundations operate within complex legal frameworks that shape how charitable gifts can be structured. This advanced session examines how these vehicles operate under Canadian law, including disbursement quota requirements, transparency and disclosure obligations, and the legal constraints governing gift planning. Participants will gain practical guidance on working effectively with foundations and family offices while respecting their legal realities and advancing philanthropic opportunities toward a successful close.
Speakers: Troy McEachren, BSc, BCL/LLB, McCarthy Tétrault LLP
Megan Davidson, McCarthy Tétrault LLP
Troy McEachren
Megan Davidson
Details coming soon
Speaker: Kardinal Offishall
Plenary sponsor: 
Kardinal Offishall
Optional add-on
Price: $30 per person (plus tax)
Deadline to book: March 1, 2027 (or until sold out)
A gem in the heart of Toronto's ravines, Evergreen Brick Works is a historic brick factory transformed by Evergreen, a national charity, into Canada's first large-scale environmental community centre. Your visit includes a private guided tour and round-trip transportation from the Hilton Toronto.
Registration opens soon.
Learn more
Sana Mahboob is a passionate advocate for inclusive philanthropy and values-driven leadership. A sought-after speaker, she has shared her voice across Canada and beyond on topics including Islam and philanthropy, values-based giving, mentorship, ethics in leadership, and anti-Black racism. Her transparent and thoughtful style resonates with professionals across the charitable, advisory, and public service sectors alike. For over a decade, Sana has helped organizations and leaders bridge generosity, purpose, and equity while serving in executive roles on local, national, and international boards spanning philanthropy, youth, sports, and technology. A proud graduate of the University of Manitoba, she continues to give back through mentorship through the President’s Student Leadership Program.
Building on this foundation of community and connection, Sana serves as a Senior Officer with the Government of Canada, where she contributes to advancing inclusive economic development and public service excellence. Sana has been invited to speak by the Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, academic institutions across Canada, and AFP chapters throughout North America. Her insights have been featured by CBC on International Women’s Day, CTV Canada, and international media outlets in Pakistan.
As an immigrant to Canada, Sana brings a deeply personal understanding of belonging, generosity, and the shared responsibility we all have to build stronger, more connected communities – the kind that we are proud to call home.
Nathan Chappell is a thought leader, public speaker, author, and AI inventor, recognized globally as an expert on the intersection of Artificial Intelligence and generosity. Nathan serves as Chief AI Officer at Virtuous Software where he supports AI integration to help nonprofit organizations amplify mission at scale. In 2018, Nathan founded Fundraising.AI, a global advocacy organization for Responsible and Beneficial AI in the nonprofit sector. Additionally, he is author of two books, Nonprofit AI: A Comprehensive Guide to Implementing Artificial Intelligence for Social Good and the 2022 award-winning book, The Generosity Crisis: The Case for Radical Connection to Solve Humanity’s Greatest Challenges, which has been deemed “required reading for this generation of fundraisers”. With over 20 years of nonprofit leadership experience, Nathan is a global keynote speaker and content contributor. His work has been featured in The Chronicle of Philanthropy, NPR, Forbes, Fast Company and more. His podcast, Fundraising AI, is among the top nonprofit technology podcasts worldwide.
Nathan serves as an advisor for the OpenAI Users Forum, the AI for Good Foundation, the International Committee for Information Technology Standards (INCITS), and the Forbes Technology Council.
He holds a Masters in Nonprofit Administration from University of Notre Dame, an MBA from University of Redlands, a certificate in International Economics from University of Cambridge, a certificate in Artificial Intelligence from MIT, a certificate in Philanthropic Psychology from the Institute of Sustainable Philanthropy, is a certified fundraising executive (CFRE) and holds a credential by IAPP as an AI Governance Professional (AIGP).
Niigaan Sinclair is Anishinaabe from Peguis First Nation. He is an award-winning writer, editor and professor of Indigenous Studies at the University of Manitoba who was named by Maclean’s magazine in 2022 as one of the most influential people in Canada. Niigaan is a multiple nominee of Canadian columnist of the year (winning in 2018) and his commentary appears weekly on multiple platforms across Canada – from the pages of The Winnipeg Free Press to TV shows on CBC, APTN and on his co-hosted podcast Niigaan and the Lone Ranger. His first book Wînipêk: Visions of Canada from an Indigenous Centre (McClelland & Stewart, 2024) was a national bestseller that won the 2024 Governor General Award for Non-fiction. He is a former secondary school teacher who won the 2019 Peace Educator of the Year from the Peace and Justice Studies Association based at Georgetown University in Washington, DC.
Rob was appointed Director of the Policy, Planning, and Legislation Division of the Charities Directorate in May 2022. He brings a wealth of experience to the role, having previously served within the Directorate as an Audit Advisor and as Director of Compliance from 2014 to 2019. During his tenure in Compliance, he led a significant redesign of the Directorate’s compliance approach.
Rob holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Acadia University and has over 28 years of experience with the Canada Revenue Agency. Beyond his work in the Charities Directorate, he has held various leadership roles within the Compliance Programs Branch, including auditor, audit team leader, audit program manager, and Director overseeing Business Intelligence and Case Management Teams.
How can we harness technology to make a difference in the world? That’s the question Jason loves to explore with organizations. Jason serves as Chief Digital Officer of the Canadian Centre for Nonprofit Digital Resilience which aims to build a digitally-enabled nonprofit sector, where Canada’s diverse nonprofits use data and tech to advance their mission and multiply their impact. As an experienced digital executive, Jason has consistently provided leadership to help organizations stay ahead of the technology curve. He has successfully championed organization-wide digital-first approaches and has developed and implemented strategies that support operations, marketing, fundraising, and program delivery.
Jason also serves as an editor for Ledger, a journal focused on blockchain research, and has previously contributed his expertise to the boards of Ontario 211 and NTEN, promoting the skillful and equitable use of technology.
Bruce MacDonald is the President & CEO of Imagine Canada. When carnivals and social good combined, it pointed to a path and for 30 years Bruce has been walking that route. From working for organizations that provide services to young people, older adults, persons with disabilities, community service clubs and sports and recreation groups, Bruce’s experiences have lead him to Imagine Canada. Prior to that, he was the CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada where he participated in a collective effort to bring mentoring programs to kids. Bruce holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Sports Administration from Laurentian University, a Masters in Management in the Voluntary Sector from McGill University and a former record in the Guinness Book of World Records. From 2019-2023, Bruce served as Co-Chair of the Permanent Advisory Committee on the Charitable Sector working with the federal government. In 2025, Bruce received the King Charles III Coronation Medal in recognition of his distinguished achievements and leadership.