James Kinnear is riding high these days. The CEO and president of Pengrowth Corporation is widely acknowledged as one of Alberta’s most visionary business leaders — in December, Alberta Venture named him 2007 Business Person of the Year.

And The Banff Centre is key to James Kinnear’s vision for the future.

This fall, Kinnear and the Friends of Pengrowth pledged $10 million to the Campaign for The Banff Centre. The funds will be directed to the construction of the new Kinnear Centre for Creativity and Innovation.

“As someone who has been blessed with success in business, I believe we have a responsibility to help build a strong foundation for the next generation of leaders,” Kinnear said in announcing his gift on September 10.

“The Banff Centre holds a special place in my heart. It brings a unique approach to leadership development programs. It helps bring out people’s full potential and causes us to find new solutions to the challenges we face. And in typical Canadian fashion, it has quietly become an international centre and destination because of the natural beauty it surrounds itself with, and the quality of its arts, cultural, and leadership programs.”

Pengrowth has a long-standing relationship with the Centre. Close to 50 Pengrowth employees have attended leadership programs at the Centre, and eight team members have received the Certificate of Leadership Excellence. “Many of us already know how The Banff Centre has changed how we approach life,” Kinnear noted. “We look forward to seeing the Kinnear Centre do the same for the thousands of people from around the world who will walk through its doors.”

The Kinnear Centre will be the second facility to be constructed as part of The Banff Centre Revitalization project. To be located adjacent to the present site of Donald Cameron Hall, the Kinnear Centre will become the physical and intellectual heart of the campus. It will include over 21,000 square feet of classroom, performance, meeting, and learning spaces and will be the new home for the Paul D. Fleck Library & Archives. Site preparation was completed this fall and construction of the Centre will begin in early 2008.

“James Kinnear’s personal donation is the largest individual gift ever received by The Banff Centre,” says Mary Hofstetter, Banff Centre president and CEO. “Through the construction of the Kinnear Centre, we will continue to advance our vision for the future: supporting creative connections, interdisciplinary learning, and inspired leadership.”