Inaugural Board of Directors chosen for new Waterloo Region Economic Development Corporation

Waterloo Region, Ontario – The Region of Waterloo, the Area Municipalities and the Selection Committee are pleased to announce the members of the Inaugural Board of Directors for the new Waterloo Region Economic Development Corporation (WREDC). The WREDC will foster, support and help deliver a more coordinated, integrated approach to economic development in Waterloo Region. The new Board of Directors will be responsible for launching the Corporation, hiring its first Chief Executive Officer and implementing much of the Waterloo Region Economic Development Strategy (WREDS).

The Board members are:

·         Arnold Drung

·         Barbara Fennessy

·         Bob Crow

·         Carol Leaman

·         Charlie Cipolla

·         Chris Donnelly

·         Gerry Remers

·         Greg McCauley

·         Jane Black

·         Jeff MacIntyre

·         Martha George

·         Mike Kirkup

·         Murray Gamble

The Selection Committee also appointed Gerry Remers to serve as the inaugural Chair of the Board.

Please see the attached Backgrounder and Board Members Profiles for more information regarding the new WREDC and the Inaugural Board members.

The Board Selection Committee, made up of both public and private sector representatives, was tasked with appointing board members with a range of knowledge, skills and experience, as well as strategic relationships with local, national and international businesses. They also looked for community members knowledgeable about various aspects of the local economy, as well as a keen interest in the ongoing success of the region’s overall economy and community well‐being. The Board positions were advertised across Waterloo Region and more than 100 applications were received.

“The quality of the applicants was extremely high, which made this a difficult job, but we’re confident that we’ve appointed a diverse, highly skilled Board of Directors that will set the new Corporation up for success,” said Bruce Gordon (Chairman of Manulife Bank, Manulife Trust, Standard Life Canada), on behalf of the Selection Committee.

Profiles of the new board members and a backgrounder about the Waterloo Region Economic Development Corporation are also available. 

For more information, please visit www.wreds.ca.

-30-

 For more information please contact: 

Bruce Gordon, on behalf of the Selection Committee (Bruce_Gordon@manulife.com)

Gerry Remers, WREDC Board Chair (Gerry.Remers@christiedigital.com)