Keith Sjögren’s commitment to Carleton University — and to the MPNL program in particular — has been extraordinary. He began his studies in political science at Carleton nearly 55 years ago, and has been the Chair of the Advisory Council to the MPNL and DPNL programs for the past 10 years.
“I was involved with the program before it was a program,” says Sjögren, who recently retired as Managing Director at Investor Economics, a leading provider of financial-services research. “I was a big enthusiast of the MPNL program from the start, and helped pull together groups of philanthropists when Dr. Susan Phillips conceived of the program more than 10 years ago.”
“I’m a firm believer that if you’re passionate about a cause, you should support the cause,” he says.
Keith and Dorothy Sjögren and their family.
Philanthropy Award
Sjögren and his wife also set up the “Keith and Dorothy Sjögren Philanthropy Award” in 2013. The award goes to an MPNL student with a demonstrated interest in working with the cultural or performing arts community in Canada.
Both Dorothy and he have been involved in the cultural sector for some time. She was a director of the National Ballet of Canada and the International Ballet Council, and he served on the Board of the Canadian Opera Company for several years and was also the president of Sock ‘n’ Buskin, a theatre company at Carleton, in the late 1960s.
“Being aware that the cultural sector is often an afterthought in terms of charities, we decided to demonstrate an ongoing commitment to both the MPNL program and the sector by establishing an annual award to a student from a performing arts organization, gallery, museum or other organization in the cultural sector.”
MPNL student Kira McDermid is the 2021 winner of the Keith and Dorothy Sjögren Philanthropy Award. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance from York University and created the She Can! Girls Empowerment Programs at Milton Community Resource Centre, where she works.
“We made an initial donation in 2013 and established a regular, quarterly donation to ensure that the fund would not dwindle,” he says. “In addition to our personal donations, friends have contributed to the fund in lieu of personal gifts on birthdays.”
Anyone can donate to the award.
Before joining the consulting profession in 1995, Sjögren held a number of executive positions at CIBC, including President of CIBC Securities. Now, he’s also a member of the Investment Committee of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health Foundation, a member of the Seniors Expert Advisory Committee of the Ontario Securities Commission, and a member of the Executive Committee of the Emeritus Counsel of the Canadian Opera Company.
But his heart is in the cultural sector — and in education.
“The MPNL program is the gold standard for education about the sector, and all of us who are involved, including the Advisory Council, do more than talk the talk — we walk the talk, and we support the program.”
Read Keith Sjögren’s article, “Fundraising Opportunities with High Net Worth Canadians & Their $5.9 Trillion,” from PANL Perspectives in January 2021. Banner photo is courtesy of Toni Reed. Photo of Keith Sjögren is courtesy of Dahlia Katz.
Monday, January 24, 2022 in News & Events
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