‘A really strong fit’: Bowman takes on new role

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This article was published 09/06/2023 (853 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Brian Bowman has moved from the mayor’s office to Osborne Street.

Starting Monday, he’ll begin his role as vice-president of sustainability and social impact for Canada Life, an international insurance and wealth management company.

“I’m incredibly excited to be taking this step in my career,” Bowman said. “It’s a really strong fit for me.”

Though stationed in the company’s Winnipeg headquarters, Bowman’s work will cross borders. Three things will take priority, he said: advancing the company’s global sustainability and social impact strategy, increasing reconciliation efforts and growing community partnerships.

“I’ll get to really continue to do what I love most, which is building connections with people, both within and outside of the company, to accomplish all of these goals together,” he said.

Bowman helmed Winnipeg’s city council from 2014 to 2022. He chose not to seek re-election in last fall’s civic election.

Bowman said he’s been contacted about work opportunities from groups outside Winnipeg since stepping away from politics. He declined to give further details.

“I love Winnipeg,” he said, adding he was searching for a role within the city.

Meantime, Canada Life was conducting its own search for a person to fill Bowman’s new shoes. The company scouted beyond Canada’s boundaries.

“It’s a very senior role; it’s an important role to us,” said David Simmonds, Canada Life’s global chief communications and sustainability officer.

The company’s services extend to the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and Ireland.

One of Bowman’s tasks will be to help co-ordinate an international sustainability strategy for Canada Life.

Bowman will also interact with racialized communities and groups of all gender expressions, Simmonds said. His reconciliation work will take place locally and abroad, including reaching Indigenous groups in the United States.

Canada Life is a signee of Winnipeg’s Indigenous Accord and has committed to fostering reconciliation. In 2017, the City of Winnipeg launched the accord — which organizations sign to pledge their commitment to reconciliation — under Bowman’s leadership.

Nearly 230 organizations have since signed. Bowman noted that Canada Life was an early adopter.

“(That was) one of the things that appealed to me most about joining Canada Life’s team,” he said.

In recent years, Canada Life has partnered with local organizations such as Ka Ni Kanichihk, Circles for Reconciliation, the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation and Indspire. It has spent more than $2.5 million on Indigenous-focused causes across Canada over the last five years, parent company Great-West Lifeco stated in its 2022 annual report.

More than 900 of its employees have taken unconscious bias training.

The company has undergone “first steps” to reconciliation, said Simmonds.

“I think we’re very excited to learn more,” he said. “To have Brian as an adviser to us… on that journey is going to be key.”

Bowman was Winnipeg’s first Métis mayor.

He began talks with Canada Life about the job last year, he said.

“As a result of learning even more… the opportunity became just incredibly exciting,” he said, adding he’s excited about the job’s environmental responsibilities.

While mayor, he championed environmental initiatives. One of them was the One Million Tree Challenge, asking Winnipeggers to plant that many by the time the city hits one million residents.

Since its launch in 2019, approximately 51,000 trees have been planted, said Christian Cassidy, executive director of Trees Winnipeg. The challenge ends in 2040.

“We’re thrilled about Brian’s leadership when he was mayor, helping Winnipeg be one of the cities that actioned the UN sustainability goals,” Simmonds said.

Canada Life plans to reach net zero emissions by 2050. Great-West Lifeco has allocated $127 billion to environment-related strategies.

Bowman plans to keep his Law Society of Manitoba membership — he practised privacy law before politics — though his new role won’t require it.

As for missing politics?

“I do miss the interactions with Winnipeggers and community leaders, and that’s what I love most about this opportunity,” he said. “The parts of the job that I enjoyed the most, this role will afford me that opportunity to build on it.”

gabrielle.piche@winnipegfreepress.com