Charles Coffey

Charles Coffey is the former executive vice president, government affairs and business development for RBC Financial Group. During his 44-year career with RBC, Coffey also headed business banking in Canada, and led three regional headquarters: Manitoba, Metro Toronto, and Ontario.

Community leadership has been a priority for Coffey throughout his career. He especially enjoys interacting with young people, entrepreneurs, and Aboriginal peoples and investing time in projects that make a difference, including a local, national and international “children first” agenda.

Coffey’s efforts on behalf of Aboriginal peoples led former Grand Chief Phil Fontaine and the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs to name him an Honourary Chief for his support of First Nations’ goals of economic development and self-sufficiency.

A proven record in private, public, and not-for-profit sectors across the country has resulted in several appointments and special honours for Coffey. He is chair, Canadian Council of Christians and Jews; chair, national advisory council, Canadian Museum for Human Rights; champion, the Aboriginal Human Resource Development Council of Canada; member, National Committee of Aga Khan Foundation Canada; and director of the Council for Early Child Development.

Coffey accepted the Canadian Women’s International Business Initiative Award from the Canadian Embassy in the United States, the Award of Distinction from the Public Affairs Association of Canada, and the Humanitarian Award for Community Service from Yorktown Family Services (Toronto). He has accepted a medal from the Centre of Excellence for Early Childhood Development; received an Honourary Doctor of Laws degree from Trent University; and was appointed an Officer to the Order of Canada in 2004.