2025 Program and Livestream

Recipient: Rob Clark

Born and raised in Moose Jaw, Rob began his business career in late 1985, with the majority of his professional career rooted in media sales and management.  Over the years, he advanced into leadership roles, including serving as Provincial Director of Operations, where he cultivated strong community partnerships and long-standing relationships across Saskatchewan.

Rob’s passion for community involvement extends beyond the workplace.  For over 35 years, he was actively engaged in the local sports scene as both a player and coach.  These experiences provided invaluable opportunities for him to connect with people from all walks of life, fostering teamwork, mentorship, and lifelong friendships.

He proudly served on the Moose Jaw & District Chamber of Commerce Board for over a decade, including time as President, and has been the Chamber’s CEO since 2015.  The commitment to community and economic development is further reflected in his past board roles with Tourism Moose Jaw, South Central Community Futures, the Downtown Moose Jaw Business Association, and the City’s Economic Recovery Task Team.  In 2021, Rob was awarded the Roger Phillips Chamber Builder Award from the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce.

Outside of work, Rob cherishes time with his family—two daughters, four granddaughters, two great-grandsons, and three great-granddaughters—who continue to inspire him every day.

Recipient: Victor Thomas

Born and raised in Regina, Victor Thomas is a proud son of Saskatchewan. Currently, he is President and CEO of the Canada-India Business Council where he leads efforts to strengthen trade and investment between Canada and India. He also serves as Chair of the Investment Advisory Counsel at Marval Capital Ltd., an investment firm focused on small and mid-cap Indian public equities.

Over the past 20 years, Mr. Thomas has served in several leadership roles including as Chair of Precision AI, Innovation Place, and was Vice-Chair of SaskEnergy. Moreover, he was the inaugural Chair of the Canadian Red Cross Executive Cabinet for Saskatchewan and was the Regina Co-Chair for the Saskatchewan Ronald McDonald House Expansion Campaign. Mr. Thomas is also a former Chair of CARE Canada, CARE International in Kenya, and the Banff Forum. Notably, in 2011, he became the youngest Chair in the 135+ year history of the Regina & District Chamber of Commerce.

Mr. Thomas is currently a National Executive Member for the Governor General's Canadian Leadership Conference, the Pacific NorthWest Economic Region – North American Advisory Council, and Canada’s Energy for a Secure Future Advisory. He is a Director Emeritus of the Rideau Hall Foundation.

He has been recognized with the Public Policy Forum’s Emerging Leaders Award for Canada, Order of the Red Cross, and the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal. Mr. Thomas holds a Master of Administration in Leadership from the University of Regina and graduated from the Advanced Management Program at the Wharton School.

Recipient: Jim Pattison

Recipient: Kelly Lendsay, President and CEO of Indigenous Works

Kelly Lendsay, a social entrepreneur, is an Indigenous Cree-Métis leader, internationally recognized as one of Canada’s foremost innovators and organizational development experts in Indigenous employment, workplace and economic innovation strategies. His dynamic communications style has earned him the reputation as an engaging thought leader and effective bridge-builder fostering trusted partnerships for workforce and economic development in Canada and abroad. A proud Canadian, he moves seamlessly between both worlds fostering innovation, economic inclusion and wellbeing for all.  

In 2020, he launched Luminary - Advancing Indigenous Innovation. In 2024, Luminary was one of 24 organizational initiatives awarded funding from Innovation, Science and Economic Development new Strategic Science Fund (SSF) for five years, 2024-2029, to engage post-secondary academic community, business schools, research agencies and Indigenous businesses and organizations to grow the Indigenous innovation eco-system and support research and innovation investments that not only lead to stronger business and industry competitiveness, but will enable new product and market expansions, and create jobs and grow Indigenous business and research talent.  

More recently, Kelly was one of eight Indigenous leaders who served on the core group to develop the National Indigenous Economic Development Strategy launched in 2022 (NIES.ca).   In 2023, he became an adjunct instructor with Rotman’s Institute for Corporate Directors, leading the first “Indigenous Governance and Reconciliation” session incorporated into Toronto’s ICD Director Education Program.  

He is married and has five adult children and three grandchildren; he is an avid competitive pickleball player, kitesurfer, wing foiler, jogger, yoga and Tae Kwon Do (Black Belt 2015).