Help Set the Course for Economic Prosperity in Waterloo Region – Apply for an Inaugural Position on the new WREDC Board of Directors

Waterloo Region, Ontario – The Region of Waterloo and Area Municipalities are looking for members of the community interested in applying for a position on the Inaugural Waterloo Region Economic Development Corporation (WREDC) Board of Directors. With the Waterloo Region Economic Development Strategy (WREDS) now complete, work is underway to establish the new Waterloo Region Economic Development Corporation (WREDC).

Waterloo Region already enjoys one of the most prosperous and globally competitive economies in Canada. The creation of a new WREDC will help the region remain competitive and build on our successes. The Selection Committee is looking for people interested in forming the first Board of Directors of the WREDC. In 2015, the Board will launch the new organization and hire its first chief executive officer. Those interested in applying for the board can visit www.wreds.ca to find out more and submit an online application.

The WREDC will play a major role in implementing the new WREDS, which was approved in principle throughout summer 2014 and is now complete. It provides a roadmap for local and regional government, as well a broad range of community stakeholders, to cooperatively support the ongoing economic prosperity of Waterloo Region. It includes a vision and several goals and strategic objectives that will be realized through a range of specific action items over the short and long term. Members of the community are invited to visit www.wreds.ca to find out more about this strategy and implementation plan.

“The WREDS provides a common focus for all of the economic development partners in Waterloo region, which will help this community support existing businesses and attract new investment”, said Gerry Remers, President and COO of Christie Digital Systems Canada, Inc, and Chair of the WREDS Advisory Committee.  “The new WREDC and its new Board of Directors will play a key role in coordinating the implementation of the Economic Development Strategy.”

Each of these initiatives are being co-ordinated jointly by the Region of Waterloo, the Cities of Cambridge, Kitchener and Waterloo, the Townships of North Dumfries, Wellesley, Wilmot and Woolwich and Canada’s Technology Triangle Inc. All recommendations have also been reviewed by an advisory committee of community leaders and other key stakeholders. Details of these initiatives were presented at an “All Council” meeting today, with individual reports outlining the status of this work to be presented to Regional Council and Area Municipal Councils for consideration and decision in early 2015. 

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Project Contacts:

Mike Murray, CAO, Region of Waterloo, mmurray@regionofwaterloo.ca

Gary Dyke, CAO, City of Cambridge, dykeg@cambridge.ca

Jeff Willmer, CAO, City of Kitchener, jeff.willmer@kitchener.ca

Tim Anderson, CAO, City of Waterloo, tim.anderson@waterloo.ca

Grant Whittington, CAO, Township of Wilmot, grant.whittington@wilmot.ca

Steve Stone, Acting CAO, Township of North Dumfries, sstone@northdumfries.ca

Willis McLaughlin, CAO, Township of Wellesley, wmclaughlin@wellesley.ca

David Brenneman, CAO, Township of Woolwich, dbrenneman@woolwich.ca