April 30, 2009

CFL Executive Michael Copeland Honoured

Canada’s Top 40 Under 40TM
HONOURS CFL EXECUTIVE MICHAEL COPELAND

Toronto, ON – (May 1, 2009) – The Canadian Football League (CFL) is pleased to announce that Michael Copeland,  Chief Operating Officer, has been named a Recipient of Canada’s Top 40 Under 40 TM for 2008.

Canada’s Top 40 Under 40 TM is a prestigious national award program, which annually honours 40 Canadians in the private, public and not-for-profit sectors under the age of 40. The program, now in its 14th year, is managed by founding sponsor, The Caldwell Partners International. In addition to The Caldwell Partners, national sponsors include Deloitte, National Bank Financial, The Globe and Mail, and Air Canada.

“On behalf of our Board of Governors, and our fans across the country, I want to congratulate Michael on this honour, which is richly deserved,” said Canadian Football League Commissioner Mark Cohon.

“Michael is an extraordinary talent, possessing outstanding leadership qualities, tremendous skills and exemplary judgment. And he would be the first to agree that his hard work and dedication is representative of the people who work on behalf of today’s CFL.”

Michael and his Canada’s Top 40 Under 40 peers were selected from over 1100 nominees by an independent Advisory Board, comprised of 25 business leaders from across Canada. Honourees were chosen on five key criteria: vision and leadership; innovation and achievement; impact; community involvement and contribution; and strategy for growth.

“I want to thank the Canada’s Top 40 Under 40 Advisory Board for this honour, and our league’s own Board of Governors for the tremendous opportunities they have afforded me,” Copeland said.

“To me, this recognition reflects the good fortune I’ve had to be surrounded by some very special people throughout my career, and notably within the CFL.”

The 2008 Recipients of Canada’s Top 40 Under 40 TM are featured in The Globe and Mail today, May 1st. Honourees will attend a series of celebratory events at the beginning of May in Toronto, including an Awards Ceremony to be held at Arcadian Court at 12noon on Tuesday, May 5th where they are presented with their Top 40 Crystal Cube.

Mr. Copeland is the second member of this exclusive group in a senior management position with the CFL league office. Mr. Cohon was a member of Canada’s Top 40 Under 40 for 2005.