The Associates, a group of more than 250 prominent business leaders who support the Asper School of Business at the University of Manitoba are delighted to announce Jim Balsillie, Co-CEO at Research In Motion (RIM), the maker of the world renowned BlackBerry wireless solution, as the recipient of the 2009 International Distinguished Entrepreneur Award (I.D.E.A.). 

“We are thrilled to announce that this year’s I.D.E.A. recipient is Mr. Balsillie,” said Arni Thorsteinson, Chair of the I.D.E.A. Committee for the Associates and President of Shelter Canadian Properties Limited. “Jim encapsulates the idea of I.D.E.A. as a world-renowned entrepreneur who stands among very few Canadians in terms of what he has done, and what we anticipate he is yet to do.”

Balsillie has been RIM Co-CEO since 1992. In 2002, he founded the Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI), a world-class global research institute focused on the restructuring of international governance. In 2007, Balsillie announced the creation of the new Canadian International Council (CIC) of which he is the Chair. He founded the Balsillie School of International Affairs in 2008. Mr. Balsillie is a graduate of the University of Toronto and the Harvard Graduate School of Business. He is a chartered accountant and a fellow of the Ontario Institute of Chartered Accountants. He also holds numerous honourary doctoral degrees.

“The University of Manitoba is delighted that a Canadian of International business stature, who is also committed to higher education in many ways, is this year’s I.D.E.A. Award recipient,” said President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Manitoba, Dr. David Barnard.

The Associates created the annual I.D.E.A. Award 26 years ago to honour an individual who has achieved international stature, outstanding business success and who has made exemplary contributions to the economic life of Canada and the world.

“Jim Balsillie is a leader, innovator, entrepreneur and philanthropist,” said Associate member Pierre Blouin, Chief Executive Officer of MTS Allstream, and emcee of the June gala. “He is a brilliant man who is most deserving of the 2009 I.D.E.A. Award.

“The award will be presented to Balsillie at a formal dinner in Winnipeg on Tuesday, June 2, 2009, with an introduction by André Desmarais, O.C., President and Co-Chief Executive Officer of the Power Corporation of Canada. Balsillie will be presented at the gala with a custom-made pure gold medal produced by the Royal Canadian Mint that is created specifically for the award.

The Associates are committed to ensuring that the Asper School of Business remains one of the top business schools in Canada. The Associates support and promote interaction between the business community and faculty and students, culminating with the I.D.E.A. presentation.

Balsillie joins past I.D.E.A. recipients, including Israel Asper, Richard Branson, award founder Albert D. Cohen, Paul Desmarais, Akio Morita, Ross Perot, Heather Reisman, Dame Anita Roddick, Gerald Schwartz, Martha Stewart, W. Galen Weston and last year’s recipient, Peter Munk.

To arrange an interview with Mr. Arni Thorsteinson, Chair of the I.D.E.A. Award Committee for the Associates and President of Shelter Canadian Properties Limited please contact (204) 475-9090, ext. 202; For more information please contact Sheila Molloy, Executive Director, Associates of the Asper School of Business, University of Manitoba,(204) 474-6201;For I.D.E.A. Dinner tickets or event information please call (204) 474-6212;For a digital photograph of Jim Balsillie please contact Tamara Bodi at bodi@cc.umanitoba.ca.