Retail Council of Canada (RCC) has awarded Bonnie Brooks, former Vice-Chairman of the Hudson’s Bay Company, as its 2017 recipient of RCC’s Excellence in Retail Awards Lifetime Achievement Award. The Award will be presented to Ms. Brooks at the Excellence in Retailing Awards Gala in Toronto on May 30, 2017, and tickets are still available to attend: retailawards.ca/content/gala-tickets

“RCC is delighted to recognize Bonnie Brooks with this Lifetime Achievement Award,” said Diane J. Brisebois, President and CEO of Retail Council of Canada. “Bonnie has spent more than 40 years in fashion and retail and was the first female President and CEO of the Hudson’s Bay Co., leading a transformation in the department store world that continues to be widely emulated and admired. Known for engineering turnarounds for brands and retailers, Bonnie is recognized as a builder, an innovator and a leader of change. Over the course of her career in Canada and abroad, she has mentored and shepherded the careers of many in this industry and has passionately supported careers in retail.”

The Excellence in Retail Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes a family or an individual in retail who has demonstrated outstanding business success and community service throughout his/her career, and who has left an indelible mark on the industry. Bonnie Brooks joins a long line of passionate merchants across Canada receiving the award, such as Founders of Roots Canada, Michael Budman and Don Green; Founder of The Brick Warehouse Corporation, Dr. William H. Comrie; The Billes Family, Founders of Canadian Tire Corporation, and most recently, Louise Wendling, former Country Manager of Costco Wholesale Canada.

Bonnie Brooks' illustrious 40-year career in fashion retail and marketing includes more than eight years at Hudson’s Bay Company, serving as its first female President and CEO from 2008 to 2012, later becoming President of the Hudson’s Bay Company with the integration of the American Lord & Taylor department store chain, and ultimately Vice Chairman of the Hudson’s Bay Company from 2014-2016. Prior to returning to Canada to join the Hudson’s Bay Company, Ms. Brooks spent 11 years in Hong Kong, and was President of the Lane Crawford Joyce Group - with department store and franchise distribution operations in over 500 locations in Asia. Prior to moving to Asia, she was Executive Vice President and General Merchandise Manager of Holt Renfrew in Canada.

The Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to Bonnie Brooks at the Excellence in Retailing Awards Gala in Toronto on May 30, 2017. For further information and to purchase tickets: retailawards.ca/content/gala-tickets

The Gala, taking place at STORE 2017, Canada’s largest and most important retail conference, will take place at the Toronto Congress Centre from 6:15 pm. to 8:30 pm.

Media are invited to attend STORE 2017, May 30 and 31, 2017. For further information: STOREConference.ca