RICS Honours Canadian High Commissioner to the UK

TORONTO, Oct. 16, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- High Commissioner for Canada, Gordon Campbell, has been presented with Honorary RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors) membership, during a dinner with prominent Canadian business leaders at the RICS London headquarters. The ceremony, fittingly held on Canadian Thanksgiving, highlights the significance of Canada in RICS' operations worldwide and marks RICS' ongoing commitment to strengthen UK-Canada business relations.

Canada is a key market for the UK, supported by a strong, reliable financial sector. Canadian banks are frequently ranked the best performing globally with six banks featuring in the top 50 world's safest banks.

The country is also home to some of the world's largest pension funds; investing in and shaping the global real estate market. The evening was attended by a number of high profile Canadian investors, developers and leaders of real estate funds including eminent member Robert Courteau, CEO, Altus Group. This July, Altus Group became the first company to be globally regulated by RICS; indicating an important move for the global regulation of real estate practices.

Gordon Campbell, High Commissioner, Government of Canada:

"I am delighted to have the honour of being an honorary member of the RICS. The professional expertise they offer is characterised by integrity and independence. I look forward to assisting them in their endeavours in the years to come."

Robert Courteau, CEO, Altus Group, commented:

"I am honoured to have been named a Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. This is particularly meaningful for me as I join the ranks of Altus Group employees who are already RICS members contributing to the global success of the surveying profession. Altus Group, in partnership with RICS, is committed to the advancement of standards and practices in the global real estate industry and I am proud of the work we have done. I look forward to continuing our relationship and I thank the RICS Eminent Nomination Panel for this recognition."

Michael Newey, RICS President, said:

"I am delighted to present Honorary RICS Membership to High Commissioner Gordon Campbell, in recognition of his extraordinary contribution in the land, property and construction sector, throughout his career as a developer, and as Premier of British Columbia. Only some 200 individuals around the world have been appointed to this prestigious status, and Gordon richly deserves this recognition. I also pay tribute to Robert Courteau on becoming an eminent member. Robert is a powerful advocate for RICS, and the professional standards we promote. Under Robert's leadership, Altus Group has become a leading employer of RICS professionals worldwide."

As part of the RICS' ongoing work on behalf of its 700 Canadian members, next year the RICS Summit of the Americas will take place in Toronto, Canada. The Summit will share and showcase local and international best practice across land, property and construction sectors.

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For further information on the 2014 Summit of the Americas visit: http://www.rics.org/uk/knowledge/news-insight...onto-2014/

About RICS

RICS is the world's leading qualification when it comes to professional standards in land, property and construction. In a world where more and more people, governments, banks and commercial organizations demand greater certainty of professional standards and ethics, attaining RICS status is the recognized mark of property professionalism. Over 100,000 property professionals working in the major established and emerging economies of the world have already recognized the importance of securing RICS status by becoming members. RICS is an independent professional body originally established in the UK by Royal Charter. Since 1868, RICS has been committed to setting and upholding the highest standards of excellence and integrity - providing impartial, authoritative advice on key issues affecting businesses and society. RICS is a regulator of both its individual members and firms enabling it to maintain the highest standards and providing the basis for unparalleled client confidence in the sector.

About Altus Group Limited

Altus Group is a leading provider of independent commercial real estate consulting and advisory services, software and data solutions. We operate five interrelated Business Units, bringing together years of experience and a broad range of expertise into one comprehensive platform: Research, Valuation and Advisory; ARGUS Software; Property Tax Consulting; Cost Consulting and Project Management and Geomatics. Our suite of services and software enables clients to analyze, gain insight and recognize value on their real estate investments. Altus Group has over 1,800 employees in multiple offices around the world, including Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Asia Pacific. Altus Group's clients include financial institutions, private and public investment funds, insurance companies, accounting firms, public real estate organizations, real estate investment trusts, industrial companies, foreign and domestic private investors, real estate developers, governmental institutions and firms in the oil and gas sector.
For more information, please visit www.altusgroup.com .

Zoe Holder RICS Global External Relations & Communications Advisor t: +44 0207 695 1601 m: +44 07530627001 e: w: rics.org