Award Recipients
2025 - Keith Thomson
Keith Thomson is an internationally recognized financial educator, author, and consultant, specializing in estate and charitable tax planning. Keith has authored the book, “What Was Your Great Grandmother’s Name? Fifty Thoughts On How Canadian Philanthropy Can Transform You, Your Family And Your Community”. His numerous articles have appeared in publications such as The Globe and Mail and CPA Magazine. Hundreds of lawyers, accountants, financial advisors and philanthropic professionals have also benefited from his instruction.
Keith is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) and more recently has earned the Master Financial Advisor of Philanthropy (MFA-P)TM designation. Keith’s presentations expand on the strategies he has developed to take full advantage of the tax incentives our government has created to encourage charitable giving. The expertise that Keith offers in his presentations to entrepreneurs, professionals, and retirees have already redirected more than $50 million of their social capital … also known as taxes.
For over five years he was chair of The African Medical and Research Foundation and has also served on the boards of The Power Plant Contemporary Art Gallery, Seva Canada and The Toronto Foundation. Keith and his wife, Tanja, their daughter, Kiera, and their dog, Haggis, reside in the Beach neighbourhood of Toronto.
2024 - Ken Ramsay
Ken Ramsay is the founding Chair of the Canadian Association of Gift Planners. He laid the foundation for excellence in our field and helped launch the very first CAGP conference back in 1994. His work as Founder/Managing Partner at Legacy Leaders has resulted in over $2 billion in commitments for North American charities. His groundbreaking work has centered around the 'Empowerment Dialogue' – a method that has empowered countless fundraisers, foundation staff, and volunteers to engage with donors authentically and with passion – building lasting relationships based on trust and shared vision, not just securing financial commitments.
2018 - Donald K. Johnson, O.C., LL.D.
Donald K. Johnson is an accomplished entrepreneur and celebrated philanthropist. Currently serving as a member of the Advisory Board of BMO Capital Markets, Don was recognized with a Lifetime Achievement Awards because of his tireless advocacy for tax incentives that support charitable giving, including successful lobbying for gifts of publicly-listed securities, resulting in millions of dollars of gifts to Canada’s charities. He continues his efforts advocating for a capital gains exemption on gifts made from the proceeds of the sale of real estate and private company shares. Don Johnson is also a Founding Donor of the CAGP Foundation.
2015 - Dr. Frank Minton
The CAGP Lifetime Achievement Award was created in 2015 to recognize Dr. Frank Minton and his distinguished career in gift planning and his tremendous impact on CAGP and on gift planning in Canada. Dr. Minton was also the first recipient of the Friend of CAGP Award, in 1997.