Canada’s corporate governance landscape represents one of the most rigorous and demanding globally, extending across both public and private companies. Directors and officers must navigate fiduciary duties under the Canada Business Corporations Act alongside overlapping provincial securities rules, personal liabilities, and expansive fiduciary. Statistics demonstrate that over 75% of Canadian companies struggle with regulatory overlap compliance, while director personal liability claims have increased by 156% since 2019, creating significant recruitment and retention challenges for qualified board members.
This certified program is designed to equip participants with a comprehensive understanding of Canada’s corporate governance framework, board responsibilities, and directors’ legal liabilities, enabling them to effectively discharge their oversight duties in an increasingly complex regulatory environment. Participants will gain in-depth knowledge of the Canada Business Corporations Act (CBCA), provincial legislations required for Directors, and evolving governance expectations, while mastering directors’ fiduciary duties and liability exposures. The program also examines board effectiveness and composition, audit and risk oversight, executive compensation and shareholder engagement, crisis and reputational risk management, and governance best practices across Canadian public and private organizations.
Throughout the program, you will explore the core responsibilities of boards and directors, including fiduciary duties, duties of care and loyalty, board independence, and the effective functioning of board committees such as audit, risk, and compensation committees. Participants will develop a strong understanding of directors’ personal liability exposure, oversee financial reporting, while learning how to mitigate governance risks through robust oversight frameworks, internal controls, and risk management systems. It will also examine shareholder rights, stakeholder engagement, crisis governance, regulatory enforcement trends, and lessons from real-world governance failures, providing practical insights into strengthening board effectiveness and corporate accountability.
Upon successful completion of the program, you will be awarded the Certification in Canada Corporate Governance and Board Leadership. This globally recognized certification will enhance your professional standing, amplify your credibility in one of the most demanding regulatory environments worldwide and lead with governance excellence at the highest standards. With lifelong validity, this certification also serves as a testament proving your commitment to high standards of governance, accountability, and responsible corporate leadership.
1 Chartered Institute of Professional Certifications' reviews and ratings are a comprehensive collection of participants feedback we have gathered over the last decade. To view authentic and personal testimonials that are handwritten by our participants, please download our participants' written reviews here.
This program will entitle you:
Download Brochure Pricing & Registration- Experience 2 days of instructor-led live program covering the full spectrum of Canadian corporate governance — from foundational fiduciary duties, director liability, and CBCA compliance through to advanced topics including board effectiveness and composition, audit and risk oversight, executive compensation and shareholder engagement, crisis and reputational risk management, and navigating complex regulatory expectations across both public and private companies.
- Attain the industry-recognized Certification in Canada Corporate Governance and Board Leadership. This certification will offer a testament to your expertise in fulfilling legal duties, overseeing enterprise risk, and leading boards to the highest standards of Canadian governance excellence.
- Master the personal and collective liability landscape facing Canadian directors across corporate, securities, regulatory, criminal, and tort law, learn to establish the due diligence defense, understand director and officer insurance, navigate conflicts of interest, and implement governance safeguards that provide genuine legal protection.
- Develop critical boardroom competencies including financial oversight, audit committee responsibilities, risk management frameworks, CEO succession planning, board evaluations, and effective decision-making, while gaining the strategic confidence to govern complex organizations, engage institutional investors, and navigate hostile bids and regulatory investigations with authority.
- For inquiries, chat with our Program Advisers at [email protected] or call us at
- Singapore and Asia Pacific: +65 6716 9980
- Australia and New Zealand: +61 3 9909 7310
- UK, Europe and Middle East: +44 (020) 335 57898
- Canada: +1 833 879 8820
- USA: +1 888 745 8875
Accreditations
This program is accredited by the Chartered Institute of Professional Certifications, which maintains the governing standards for all professionals who have completed this program.
The content of this program has been fully certified and accredited by CPD Certification Service as conforming to Continuing Professional Principles. CPD is the leading independent CPD accreditation institution operating across industry sectors to complement the Continuing Professional Development policies of professional institutes and academic bodies. The CPD Certification Service provides support, advice and recognizes independent CPD accreditation compatible with global CPD principles.
What Can You Expect From This Live Program
Strong Canadian corporate governance is the backbone of board accountability and long-term value creation. Yet boards today operate under intensifying regulatory scrutiny, with over 120 enforcement actions initiated by Canadian securities regulators in 2023 alone. Directors must navigate overlapping federal and provincial regimes, while facing growing personal liability risks. Nearly 1 in 4 companies in Canada have disclosed material governance deficiencies in recent filings, underscoring the increasing complexity boards must manage.
This certified program will provide you with a comprehensive understanding of Canada’s corporate governance framework, equipping you with practical tools to lead boards effectively, manage liability risks, and ensure regulatory compliance. You will gain applied knowledge of the Canada Business Corporations Act (CBCA), provincial corporate statutes, and securities regulations, while mastering key concepts such as fiduciary duties, duty of care, duty of loyalty, and the business judgment rule to support sound board decisions.
Additionally, you will gain insights into critical governance domains, including board structure and composition, audit committee responsibilities, enterprise risk management (ERM), internal controls, and financial oversight. You will build the expertise to effectively manage director liabilities, establish robust due diligence defenses, and navigate D&O insurance frameworks. In addition, the program strengthens your capabilities in shareholder engagement, activism response, and crisis management, equipping you to drive governance excellence across both public and private organizations in Canada.
By mastering these competencies, you will be better positioned to avoid governance failures, mitigate legal exposure, and enhance board effectiveness. This program enables you to make defensible decisions, strengthen stakeholder confidence, and lead with assurance in Canada’s increasingly complex and evolving governance environment.
Upon successful completion of the program, you will attain the Certification in Canada Corporate Governance and Board Leadership. This lifelong, industry-recognized certification will validate your capability to exercise effective board leadership, strengthen governance oversight, and confidently navigate the legal and regulatory complexities of Canadian corporate boardrooms.
Key Skills You Will Gain
- Canadian Corporate Governance Framework
- Directors’ Fiduciary Duties
- Duty of Care Application
- Duty of Loyalty Compliance
- Director Liability Risk Management
- Due Diligence Defence Strategies
- Board Structure and Composition
- Board Committee Governance
- Audit Committee Oversight
- Board Independence Standards
- Corporate Governance Best Practices
- Board Charter Development
- Director Onboarding and Education
- Enterprise Risk Oversight
- Internal Control Evaluation
- Regulatory Compliance Oversight
- Financial Statement Oversight
- Audit and Assurance Governance
- Fraud Risk Identification
- Executive Oversight and Accountability
- Conflict of Interest Management
- Strategic Board Decision-Making
- Effective Board Meeting Management
- Director and Officer Insurance Governance
- Shareholder Rights and Engagement
- Shareholder Activism Response
- ESG Governance Oversight
- Climate Risk Governance
- Corporate Restructuring Governance
- Board Performance Evaluation
Your Faculty Director
David Kandestin is a highly distinguished corporate and securities lawyer, governance advisor, and educator with extensive experience advising boards and executives on corporate governance, regulatory compliance, and directors’ duties within Canada’s legal framework.
He has worked with both public and private organizations on governance structures, securities regulation, and strategic transactions. At DuMoulin Black LLP, he advised TSX, TSXV, and CSE-listed issuers on capital markets, governance compliance, and corporate restructuring. He later served as Director of Legal and HR at The Yield Growth Corp., where he led governance strategy, compliance, and legal risk management, including supporting go-public transactions.
David also brings strong experience in board advisory and governance training. At WATSON Advisors Inc., he delivered board training, conducted evaluations, and supported corporate secretary functions. Currently a Business Law lecturer at Langara College, he equips directors with practical, boardroom-ready governance skills. He is also a published legal author, contributing to professional legal scholarship.
Certified Canada Corporate Governance, Board Responsibilities and Directors’ Liabilities Program Agenda
How You Will Benefit
- Understand the Canadian Corporate Governance Framework: Gain a comprehensive understanding of the principles, structures, and regulatory expectations shaping corporate governance in Canadian corporations and boardrooms.
- Interpret Canadian Corporate Law Obligations: Develop the ability to interpret governance responsibilities under the Canada Business Corporations Act and relevant provincial corporate statutes.
- Apply Directors’ Fiduciary Duties with Confidence: Understand the duty of care and duty of loyalty and learn how to apply these legal obligations effectively in boardroom decisions.
- Recognize Directors’ Personal Liability Risks: Identify the various legal exposures directors may face under corporate, securities, regulatory, and civil law frameworks.
- Strengthen Due Diligence Practices: Learn how to establish robust due diligence processes to demonstrate responsible governance and protect against liability claims.
- Understand Board Structure and Governance Models: Gain practical insights into how effective boards are structured, including the role of independent directors and specialized committees.
- Enhance Board Committee Effectiveness: Understand the responsibilities and governance functions of audit, governance, compensation, and other board committees.
- Improve Executive Oversight Capabilities: Learn how boards monitor management performance and ensure executive accountability without interfering in day-to-day operations.
- Strengthen Financial Oversight at Board Level: Develop the ability to review financial statements, budgets, and audit reports while asking the right strategic questions.
- Address Cybersecurity and Data Governance Risks: Recognize the growing governance responsibility of boards in overseeing cybersecurity, digital risk, and data protection.
Certification in Canada Corporate Governance and Board Leadership
Upon successfully attending this program, you will be awarded with the Certification in Canada Corporate Governance and Board Leadership that can be used in your resume, CV and other professional credentials. This certification is industry-recognized with lifelong validity.
Globally demanded and recognized, this certification will amplify your professional qualifications and showcase your ability to navigate the complexities of Canadian corporate governance, board oversight, and directors’ legal duties, ensuring regulatory compliance, mitigating liability risks, and positioning you as a highly valued and sought-after governance professional. Developed by Chartered Institute of Professional Certifications, the content of this program has been independently accredited by CPD Certification Service as adhering to the highest standards of continuing professional principles.
Pricing & Registration
Canada
Dates: 10 - 11 Sep 2026
Venue: Online Executive Program (via Zoom)
Time: 8:00am - 3:30pm Pacific Time (PT)
10:00am - 5:30pm Central Daylight Time (CDT)
11:00am - 6:30pm Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)
| Early Bird Packages | Regular Pricing | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| By 01 Jul 2026 | By 12 Aug 2026 | After 12 Aug 2026 | |
| Canada Delegates | CAD 1,895 | CAD 2,095 | CAD 2,195 |
Group Discount: 2nd participant get 10%, or register 3 participants and 4th participant get a complimentary seat (1 discount scheme applies).
Register NowDownload Brochure
You can download our program brochure below. If you have any inquiries on this program, please contact our Program Advisor at [email protected] or call us at:
- Singapore and Asia Pacific: +65 6716 9980
- Australia and New Zealand: +61 3 9909 7310
- UK, Europe and Middle East: +44 (020) 335 57898
- Canada: +1 833 879 8820
- USA: +1 888 745 8875
Certified Canada Corporate Governance, Board Responsibilities and Directors’ Liabilities Reviews and Testimonials
Chartered Institute of Professional Certifications' reviews and ratings are a comprehensive collection of participants feedback we have gathered over the last decade. To view authentic and personal testimonials that are handwritten by our participants, please download our participants' written reviews here.
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Certified Canada Corporate Governance, Board Responsibilities and Directors’ Liabilities
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