ECC's Coast & Cocktails with Bernd Christmas

East Coast Connected and McInnes Cooper proudly present Bernd Christmas, Founder of the Bernd Christmas Law Group, at the Royal Canadian Yacht Club’s Model Room Wednesday, November 24, at 6:00pm in Toronto.

Mr. Christmas will discuss opportunities for corporate Canada to engage the aboriginal business community. Find out how Bay St. can connect emerging business leaders from the First Nations community.

Mr. Christmas will discuss opportunities for corporate Canada to engage the aboriginal business community. Find out how Bay St. can connect emerging business leaders from the First Nations community.

Following the discussion, there will be a short question and answer session with the audience.

Ticket holders will receive one complimentary Alexander Keith’s and a delicious selection of hors d’oeuvres.

A limited number of tickets will be available at the door. Please purchase your tickets in advance online to avoid dissapointment.

Directions

TTC

Take the Bloor or University subway line to St. George Station. Exit via St. George Street and walk north to 141.

Parking

There are several parking lots within close proximity to the Club. Public parking is available at O.S.I.E. on Prince Arthur Avenue and at the Medical Arts Building on St. George Street.

About Bernd Christmas Mr. Christmas is a barrister and solicitor with the firm Bernd Christmas Law Group. He practices in the area of aboriginal law with a focus on corporate and commercial matters. Mr. Christmas was the Senior Vice-President and National Aboriginal Practice Leader at Hill & Knowlton Canada. As an Aboriginal lawyer, former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Membertou Band of Nova Scotia and the Membertou Corporate Division, and as a negotiator for several First Nations bands, Mr. Christmas brings a deep understanding of Aboriginal perspectives. He also brings extensive experience on national and international boards and commissions.

Mr. Christmas obtained his law degree in 1991 from Osgoode Hall at York University. In 1993, he accepted a position in corporate and commercial law with Lang Michener, where he also expanded the firm's Aboriginal practices.

In 2003, he was appointed by Prime Minister Chrétien to the External Advisory Committee on Smart Regulation. From 2000 to 2002, he was one of three Canadian commissioners to the International Commission for the Conservation of Tuna. He is a former member of the National Aboriginal Economic Development Board and of the executive committee organizing the Governor General's Conference on Leadership and Diversity. He is a former member of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation Board, CBC Pension Board and Keltic Petrochemicals Board. Currently he sits on the Boards of Investors Group and the Government of Nova Scotia’s $500 million Industrial Expansion Fund.

For the Membertou band, Mr. Christmas has negotiated contracts or agreements with Georgia Pacific, Sodexho Canada, Clearwater Fine Foods, Lockheed Martin Canada, Jacques Whitford Engineering, Dexter Construction, Grant Thornton, Boeing, and SNC Lavalin.

Mr. Christmas is a member of the Nova Scotia Barristers' Society and of the Law Society of Upper Canada (Ontario). He is a former commissioner for the Cape Breton-Victoria Regional School Board and sat on the Board of Governors of the Nova Scotia Community College.