CIBC World Markets' Chief Economist, Jeff Rubin, and Dr. David Keith, one of Canada's most distinguished climate change experts, will be the keynote speakers at the Bennett Jones Lake Louise World Cup Business Forum, when 100 business leaders will discuss the “Business of Climate Change,” organizers announced today.

The Bennett Jones Lake Louise World Cup Business Forum, which has grown steadily in stature since its launch five years ago, will be held November 23-25, 2007, in conjunction with the Bombardier presents Lake Louise Winterstart World Cup, when the world's top men downhill and super-G racers return to the famed mountain resort for the 27th consecutive year.

The event engages senior business leaders from across Canada and around the world, as well as internationally-renowned experts in a wide-ranging discussion of timely business topics.

"Whether in practising law, supporting elite sport or sponsoring a forum where business leaders can meet in one of the world's most spectacular settings to discuss global issues, Bennett Jones is committed to promoting the world's best,” said Perry Spitznagel, partner and director of the firm's Partnership Board. “We are very pleased to host our business colleagues, and look forward to an engaging and thought-provoking day with our distinguished panel of speakers. We truly believe their presence will ensure that future Bennett Jones Lake Louise World Cup Business Forums will be a key date on the annual business calendar.”

“The support of Bennett Jones has allowed us to attract great attendees and truly exceptional keynote speakers,” said Ken Read, Chief Executive Officer, Alpine Canada Alpin. “The panel of speakers, combined with the momentum of our dynamic, Canadian alpine ski racing team, ensures a great weekend for our sport.”

This year's speakers are:

• Jeff Rubin, Chief Economist & Chief Strategist, CIBC World Markets Inc.
  For five consecutive years, Mr. Rubin has been ranked the top economist in Canada by the Brendan Woods survey of institutional fixed-income investors. He will bring an economic perspective to the topic of discussion by offering insight into how the investment community perceives climate change initiatives within the overall context of corporate opportunity and shareholder value.
• Dr. David Keith, Director, ISEEE Energy and Environmental Systems Group; Canada Research Chair in Energy and the Environment; Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, and Department of Economics; University of Calgary; Adjunct Professor Department of EPP, Carnegie Mellon, Harvard Dr. Keith works near the interface between climate science, energy technology and public policy. His technical and policy work addresses the capture and storage of CO2, the economics and climatic impacts of large-scale wind power, the use of hydrogen as a transportation fuel, and the technology and implications of geo engineering. Dr. Keith has served as a member of several advisory boards and panels including Canada's ‘Blue Ribbon' Panel on Sustainable Energy Technology and as a member of U.S. National Academy committees. He currently serves on Canada's Capture and Storage Task Force and is one of the world's energy experts named by national science academies to the InterAcademy Council study on Transitions to Sustainable Energy Systems. Dr. Keith spent most of his career in the U.S. at Carnegie Mellon, Harvard, and the National Center for Atmospheric Research. He returned to Canada in 2004 to build a research group on energy and environmental systems in Calgary, Alberta.

Other speakers include The Honourable Maxime Bernier, Minister of Foreign Affairs and The Honourable Jim Prentice, Minister of Industry.

In conjunction with the Business Forum, guests will spend the weekend in Lake Louise, where World Cup ski racing fans will hope to witness a repeat of last year's events, when John Kucera of Calgary made the dreams of all Canadian ski fans come true by becoming the first Canadian in history to win a World Cup Super G on home soil.

“The Bennett Jones Lake Louise World Cup Business Forum offers an unmatched setting for business leaders to discuss issues critical to the future prosperity of Canada while also attending the exciting first men's speed events of the season,” said Matt Mosteller, Senior Director of Business Development for Resorts of the Canadian Rockies, which operates Lake Louise Mountain Resort.

The organizing committee for the Bennett Jones Lake Louise World Cup Business Forum includes Co-Chairs Murray Edwards and Perry Spitznagel, as well as John Cassels, Ken Read, Jim Rooney, Q.C., Wayne Henuset, Justin Fogarty, Alison Keene, and Matt Mosteller.