In May 2023, on the 25^th anniversary of the Top 50 CEO awards, Atlantic Business decided to mark the occasion by paying tribute to members of the Top 50 CEO Hall of Fame. This elite group of five-time award winners are exemplary corporate leaders: building companies, advancing industries, and giving back to communities.

We knew their dedication to making Atlantic Canada a better place to live and work didn’t end with their Hall of Fame induction.

With that in mind, we created the Top 50 CEO Hall of Fame Legacy Project. We wanted to find a way to leverage the Hall of Fame to do something that would make a lasting impact on the Atlantic economy.

Hall of Fame alumni Robert Zed and Dianne Kelderman volunteered as co-chairs, helping to coordinate our transition from idea to reality. They personally reached out to each member of the Hall of Fame, determining that the Project’s focus should be on youth-driven initiatives. And, they recruited 50 Hall of Famers to contribute $1,000/year for five years.

Since the focus was on youth-driven initiatives, we recruited four young people to form a volunteer youth advisory committee. Specifically, Manoj Khandavelli, Sandenn Killoran, Mylène Lapierre and Monica Rivers.

With their input, the Legacy Project took shape as a micro-investment fund for youth-driven initiatives. The goal is to identify, nurture and support projects with the potential to make Atlantic Canada a more attractive place to live and work, while tackling barriers to sustainable and equitable growth.

After registering as a non-profit early in 2025, the Project recruited a new volunteer Board of Directors. We are finally ready to begin this important work.

Submit your email HERE to receive Project updates.

Our sincerest thanks to everyone who has contributed thus far.