On Tuesday, September 16, 2025, Kingsdale Advisors was honoured to welcome a record number of senior executives from Canada’s leading issuers, investment firms, and law firms to our Toronto office for an exclusive panel discussion on the future of proxy advice and shareholder engagement. The event also marked the launch of our 2025 Proxy Season Review, the most comprehensive analysis of the trends and forces reshaping Canadian and U.S. boardrooms.
Our panel featured Nichol Garzon-Mitchell, CLO & SVP of Glass Lewis; Jason Koskela, VP, M&A at the Ontario Securities Commission; Catherine McCall, CEO of the Canadian Coalition for Good Governance (CCGG); and Shengjun (Victor) Li, EVP, Governance Advisory at Kingsdale Advisors. With opening remarks from our Founder and CEO, Wes Hall, and moderation by our President, Aaron Boles, the discussion explored the findings of this year’s review and outlined actionable next steps for boards and executives preparing for the 2026 proxy season.
To learn more, we invite you to read our in-depth 2025 Proxy Season Review, which provides a comprehensive look at activism, regulation, ESG, AI, and the evolving role of proxy advisors.
View highlights from the event in our photo gallery.
Latest Insights
In the Globe and Mail: "Companies Diverge on Diversity Disclosures, With No Fix in Sight"
As institutional investors increasingly seek greater transparency and robust commitments to diversity at both the board and executive levels, Canadian companies may fall behind in attracting global capital. Kelly Gorman, EVP of Governance Advisory at Kingsdale Advisors, recently offered her insights on the importance of diversity reporting.
In the Globe and Mail: "Canadian Companies Faced Record Number of Activist Campaigns in 2023, Says Toronto Consulting Firm"
The Globe and Mail featured Kingsdale's latest Proxy Season Review findings, highlighting the changes in the activism landscape in Canada and the pivotal shifts that demand every company's attention.
In The Globe and Mail: "Law firm Develops New Tactic to Help Companies Defend Against an Activist Investor 'Ambush'"
Over the past proxy season, Kingsdale recorded an uptick in “Vote No” campaigns. Ian Robertson, CEO of Kingsdale Advisors, expressed concern that these campaigns, which require little cost and transparency, pose a significant threat to corporate boardrooms.
When The Stakes Are Highest, Business Leaders Choose Kingsdale
Subscribe to Our Newsletter
* Source: Bloomberg Global Shareholder Activism League Tables FY2025 and LSEG Global Shareholder Activism Review FY2025.
#2025 and 2026 indicate proxy seasons: July 2024 to June 2026.