With 50 years as a leader in international economic development and many exciting opportunities for further growth, CESO has a lot to celebrate.
50th Anniversary Celebration
Montreal
Our 50th anniversary year celebrates the people, partners, clients and organizations who have contributed to CESO’s rich history. We also proudly recognize the impacts and contributions it has made through socio-economic change in the communities where we partner in Canada and around the world.
Events
Over the coming year, we will be hosting several events to celebrate CESO’s 50th anniversary and recognize those who have been a part of our organization in meaningful ways.
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14 Sep
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Nov
50th Celebratory Event
Ottawa
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Dec
50th Celebratory Event
Toronto
FACES of CESO
There are so many individuals and groups who have helped shape CESO over the last 50 years. Below you will find only some of the many staff, volunteers, clients and friends from the past and present who embody CESO’s values of collaboration, diversity and commitment to excellence. We will continue to highlight CESO’s rich mosaic of individuals, organizations, programs and assignments in a variety of ways.
HISTORY OF CESO
The concept and ideology that launched CESO in 1967 – matching retired Canadian business executives with businesses in developing countries using short term assignments that grow into long-term partnerships – remains at the core of what we do today. We look back on the events of the last 50 years.
1967
Location of CESO's first assignment is in
Tanzania
1968
Average length of assignments
4 months
50-60 assignments
at any one time
1970
100 doctors
sent abroad through CESO-CMA partnership
1971
C.A. Peachey
takes over as CESO’s new president
1972
50 Volunteer Advisors
work with Aboriginal communities
1973
Roster of Volunteers
reaches nearly 1,400
1974
CESO VAs on assignment in
33 countries
1976
130 Canadian companies
donate $62,000
1977
Partnership agreement
with UNIDO (United Nations Industrial Development Organization) begins
1978
Romney Lowry, MD, becomes
CESO’s CEO
1979
Canadian Native Program introduces
youth program
1980
950 assignments
within the year
1981
331 new projects in
63 countries
2,700 volunteers
on roster
1983
Canadian Native Program
expands to include Inuit people
1984
6,000 assignments
completed in Canada to date
1985
The "O" in CESO
changes from Overseas to Organization
CEO Daniel Haggerty
replaces Lowry after his death
1986
A single day of VA mentorship
valued at $350
1988
Rotary International
becomes a major sponsor of assignments
1989
Private donations
exceed $1M
1990
TD Bank, CIBC, RBC & Nova
host receptions to introduce CESO to the corporate community
1992
$400K
raised through donations
1994
Volunteer donations
total $95K
1995
CESO MBA program
initiated in National services
1996
Volunteer Advisory Fund and
Community Sponsorship
program begins
1997
Concept of
“Lead VA”
introduced in some projects
1998
First of many annual letters from
Prime Minister Jean Chrétien
and Ministers of INAC
2001
single board of 14 Directors
replaces multiple boards for each program department.
2002
CESO website offered in
English, French, Spanish, Russian and Inuktitut
2003
156 assignments completed under
CESO At Home Program
2004
MBA Experience Program
supports 400 students to date
2005
Public Engagement Program
launches
International
cluster model of delivery
is introduced
2006
TransCanada Pipeline
provides mentoring and capacity building to communities
2007
Scotiabank becomes a sponsor for domestic
Indian Residential School
Program
2008
Aboriginal Services
programming reduced by 60%
2009
Don Johnston becomes
New CEO
2010
Wendy Harris
becomes CESO’s first female CEO
2011
CESO creates a
local coffee cooperative
with 39 Haitian producers
2012
Contract with the
Nunavik Regional Board of Health and Social Services
2013
Volunteers donate more than
6,233 days
of their time
2014
Of the 5,977 people
trained and mentored
56% are women
2015
One CESO conference
brings together CESO community
66% increase in funding
for flagship international program STRIVE
Partnership with the
Native Women’s Association of Canada
(NWAC) to support female Indigenous leaders
2016
Senegal hosts
IN-AFO Regional Conference
Partnership with CANDO for
mentorship program
to support Indigenous youth
2017
CESO celebrates its
50 year anniversary
1967
1967
2017
Gallery
We are pleased to welcome Volunteer Advisors, government leaders and corporate partners to help celebrate CESO’s 50th anniversary and recognize those who have been a part of our organization in meaningful ways. Please enjoy some photos from some of our 50th anniversary events below.
Wendy Harris, CESO CEO speaks at the Vancouver event, April 2017
Robert Tuss receives an award at the Vancouver event, April 2017
MP Jenny Kwon presents an award at the Vancouver event, April 2017
Vancouver event, April 2017
Doug Bruce speaks at the Vancouver event, April 2017
Wendy Harris, CESO CEO speaks at the Victoria event, April 2017
Ralph Graham receives an award at the Victoria event, April 2017
Marcus Beuk receives an award at the Victoria event, April 2017
Victoria event, April 2017
Susan Wetmore, keynote speaker at the Victoria event, April 2017
