or by phone to join: +1 647-734-7817 PIN: 752 587 814#
After seven years building the leading systems provider for law firms in Canada, Gavin returned to the executive search business, founding Delta Management Group in 1992 to serve the fast-growing networking technology industry.
In 2010, increasingly concerned about climate change, Delta expanded, pivoting to focus on becoming part of the solution, and is now Canada’s leading search and executive search firm for “clean & green professionals” and executives, helping clients identify the very best talent in Canada in the ESG, corporate responsibility, sustainable development and clean tech markets across Canada.
In 2011, as it became apparent the right people weren’t talking to each other, Gavin founded the Clean50 Awards, to recognize, and more importantly, to connect leaders from every form of endeavour and every part of the country for their leadership in sustainability.
The key: To collect their awards, senior executives were required to spend a full day participating with all of their fellow honourees and other expert guests in the annual Clean50 Summit – a day designed to inspire future collaboration, and which has since led to the creation of hundreds of jobs, hundreds of millions of dollars in sales and investment, and hundreds of collaborations, all of which have improved both environmental and economic performance of Canada. The group of now 600 plus honourees lends their collective voice to sharing the message with Canadians and governments that a low carbon economy isn’t just the right thing to do – it’s also the very best way to build our economy.
Believing that the very best talent is happy and “heads down”, far too busy delivering for their present employer to respond to (or even read) Linked-In or Indeed job posts, Delta actively headhunts talent for their clients, pursuing the most exceptional individuals for a particular role, starting from the best rolodex in the industry.
In contrast to the usual HR approach of relying upon social media to identify sub-par candidates who need a job, Gavin and his team live the Confucius proverb “Man must wait long time with mouth-open before roast duck fly in”. He leads Delta in a constant quest to find that accomplished and mission specific needle in a stack of needles, the one unique needle that can best serve a client - or make the next Clean50 list.
Let's Be Personal - Cijay Shah
I was born on the sunny tropical island of Mombasa, Kenya in 1947. My father immigrated to East Africa in 1917 from Gujarat, India, due to famine in India at that time. His farm could not produce enough to feed the family.
On completion of high school in Kenya, I studied A-Levels at Oxford, in the UK, before admitted to University College of Swansea, Wales, to study Chemical Engineering from 1966 to 1969. Then I went to USA where I completed Masters in Business Administration at the University of Wisconsin in 1973.
After MBA graduation, I was asked by the family to operate the Shah Family Export/Import business in London, England, from 1973 to 1977. The Shah Family has businesses in 15 countries and 5 generations of Shahs are beneficial owners of the Shah Family Enterprise. I started and managed family steel galvanizing businesses in Nigeria, West Africa, from 1978 t0 1988.
The family asked me to go to Canada in 1988 to establish businesses in North America. I was the Founder and Chairman of FOAMCO INDUSTRIES and ULTRAMATIC SLEEP PRODUCTS, largest independent fabricator of polyurethane foam and online retailer of high end mattresses & Adjustable Beds in Ontario.
As per the Family norms, I took back seat when I turned 70, about 3 years ago and passed on the baton to my son, Adarsh, who is a graduate of Cornell University. My daughter, Shreya, graduate from LSE, is a bond trader at RBC and my daughter-in-law, Sona, is a partner at an insolvency firm. I have two sweet granddaughters.
Currently, a lot of my time has been spent on advising the various Family Councils, under the Shah Family Constitution. For all my charitable activities, I enjoy great support of my wife, Ranjula, a graduate in microbiology.
I was encouraged to join the Rotary family by my eldest brother who resides in Kenya and is a triple Paul Harris Fellow. In the year 2001, I joined the Rotary Club of Don Valley, became its President in the year 2004/5 and was honoured with Paul Harris Fellowship by Don Valley Club.
Besides, Rotary, I have been involved in a number of community organizations in Toronto like the Jain Society of Toronto whose beliefs are non-violence and vegetarianism. I was a founder and Director for 25 years of Oshwals Canada which promotes family heritage matters.
I was Chairman of Canada-Kenya Chamber of Commerce in 2005 and 2006.
I have been an active member of the International Service Committee of this Club since 2010. Through all these non-profit organizations and especially Rotary, I have had the opportunity to initiate fund raising events for orphanages and schools for HIV children in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and currently a large Global Grant sanitation project in India for which I have to thank not only the members of the International Service Committee but also the Board of this wonderful club.
My hobbies include golfing, hiking, swimming, gardening, wine collection and mind challenging card game of bridge.
What you Missed October 23, 2020
by Maureen Bird
President John started off the meeting with chats with Mark McQuitty, Susan Hunter and Andrea Tirone. Be prepared to unmute if he calls on you next week!
John spoke about World Polio Day and how even through this pandemic Rotary and its partners continue the fight. Africa was declared polio-free this summer. Cijay Shah was our Let’s Be Personal speaker – an interesting life!
Bert Steenburgh introduced our speaker’s daughter Charlene who he met through LinkIn. This led to our current speaker, her father, who she had the privilege of introducing.
Paul Schafer is an author and strong supporter of the arts. He feels we need creative activities and arts act as a gateway to a fulfilling life. He thanked his parents for immersing him in music with a highlight being in a youth choir at his church. But in travelling in Europe his eyes were opened to gothic architecture as frozen music. Poetry is simplicity of words, strongly conveying new ideas.
He linked music and science as a total workout of the brain. Music can help create a fulfilling life – He mentioned Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. Our club has contributed to Dancing with Parkinson’s. Music can create a national identity – think about Finlandia and Beethoven’s Ode to Joy. Art can also help with this identity. Our Group of Seven and Indigenous works reflect a spiritual reverence of the land, helping us feel an intimate connection.
But what is a cultural age? It is finding a judicious balance between material and non-material things. We are in a constant cycle to create a better life but need to develop non-material things like caring, sharing and compassion. We need to envelope the distribution of wealth to create more harmonious relationships.
It was a fascinating talk and there were many requests for access to his new book.
We are living in a strange time! Many of us are isolated and not seeing family and friends for long periods during the COVID shutdowns. No one knows how long this situation will last. People are feeling sad and disconnected from others.
Yes, all this is true but be aware how fortunate we are that we are living in an age where amazing technology is available to us. Our Club has offered a variety of programs to hear each other’s voices and to see each other’s faces.
One of these ways, is our program “Staying Connected, Chat Group.” This informal group provides an opportunity to chat and catch up with each other about our daily activities and interests. We get to know each other and have some fun. Every month we learn something new about one of our members.
We chat on “google meet” on the last Tuesday of each month at 7:00.
We are here for the long term so please join in. All events are listed on our Google Calendar accessible through your @rotarytoronto.com account or find the emails sent out in advance. Contact Maureen Bird to set up your access. 416-804-3726.
Hallowe'en Virtual Cocktails - October 31..6 pm...Wear a costume and be ready with a ghoulish drink. There will be trivia and spooky tales.
