The GTAA is honoured to have received the Mississauga Board of Trade’s 2008 Business Award of Excellence in Corporate Governance. Recipients of this award are businesses that operate within Mississauga and demonstrate innovative practices that increase governance effectiveness and provide measurable, tangible results for their organization. Judging criteria included a demonstrated effort to improve areas of a company’s business such as adequate representation of independent directors, open lines of communication, and an ethical code of conduct.

This award highlights the GTAA’s continued corporate development over recent years with a vision to be “A leading airport company championing sustainable global access for the Greater Toronto Area.” To achieve this vision, a variety of initiatives have been implemented, many of which are detailed in a variety of publications, including: the Strategic Plan for 2007–2011, focusing on global competitiveness, corporate sustainability and gateway development; producing Taking Flight: The Airport Master Plan 2008–2030, which sets out the development necessary to ensure sustainability through 2030; delivering a Corporate Social Responsibility report entitled Outside, Inside, Upside – A three dimensional look at Corporate Social Responsibility, guided by the Global Reporting Initiative in the areas of social, financial and economic sustainability; creating a mechanism to allow employees to report unethical activities in the workplace; and publishing an Annual Report, summarizing both the operational and financial activities of the corporation.

In addition to these initiatives, the GTAA continues to maintain open lines of communication with stakeholders to ensure that airport activities are undertaken with complete transparency. For example, the Community Environment and Noise Advisory Committee and the Consultative Committee meet regularly to engage stakeholders in the operation of the airport and to discuss issues facing the airport. Other communication media include GTAA.com and the Toronto Pearson Today newsletter, available in the terminal buildings, which provide up-to-date airport news.

The Mississauga Board of Trade will host its exclusive annual Business Awards of Excellence on November 6, 2008, at the International Centre, where the GTAA and other successful Mississauga businesses will be recognized for their achievements and contributions to the economic well being of Mississauga and its citizens.