Canada West Foundation appoints top-drawer leadership
24-Feb-2010CALGARY – Former Alberta Cabinet Minister Jim Dinning is the new board chair of Canada West Foundation. The following distinguished Canadians are vice-chairs: Charles Fischer, retired Nexen President & CEO from Alberta, Jim Carr, founding President and CEO of the Business Council of Manitoba, Robert Linner retired Saskatchewan municipal leader, Tony Stewart, Quail’s Gate Estate Winery proprietor from British Columbia.
“It is an honour to take the baton from Jim Gray, a great Canadian icon, whose commitment to western Canadians is without comparison,” said Dinning. “I’m excited by Canada West’s focus: strengthening Canada by building a strong west. We have a highly-respected team of western Canadian directors who will support and provide counsel to Foundation President Roger Gibbins and his research colleagues.”
Jim Dinning is board chair of Western Financial Group and was previously the Executive Vice President of TransAlta Corporation. He’s chair and director of a number of public and private companies and he previously held several key positions during his 11 years as an Alberta MLA, including provincial treasurer from 1992 to 1997.
Charlie Fischer is the retired President and Chief Executive Officer of Nexen Inc., a global energy company headquartered in Calgary. He held this position from June 2001 until his retirement at the end of 2008. Among his many activities, Fischer is named “Clean energy Envoy” by Prime Minister Harper where he co-chairs a working group focused on carbon capture and storage which forms part of a Clean Energy Dialogue between Canada and the United States. Fischer is vice-chair for Alberta.
Jim Carr is founding President and CEO of the Business Council of Manitoba. He has a journalist background and previously served as Deputy Leader of the Manitoba Liberal party and as a member of both the Meech Lake and Charlottetown constitutional task forces. He was awarded the Commonwealth Fellowship for study in London. Carr is vice-chair for Manitoba.
Bob Linner was a municipal leader in Saskatchewan for 39 years retiring in 2006 after 19 years as City Manager in Regina and 11 in Prince Albert. He served as President of the Canadian Association of Municipal Administrators and was awarded the distinguished Lieutenant Governor's Gold Medal Award for excellence in public administration. He has participated on or chaired a number of public policy forums and Commissions. His current community and provincial commitments include 8 other Boards, notably Chair of Regina Habitat for Humanity and Vice Chair of both the Regina Airport Authority and Saskatchewan Housing Corporation. He also Chairs the Canada West Foundation Strategic Planning Committee. Linner is vice-chair for Saskatchewan.
Tony Stewart is President of Bacas Holdings Ltd., a company with various interests including commercial and residential real estate in the Kelowna area and Quails' Gate Estate Winery Ltd. He is an alumni of Canada’s Top 40 Under 40, a director with the Canadian Vintners Association and a member of the Cabinet for the Kelowna Family YMCA-YWCA Capital Expansion Campaign. He is a past chair and an active member of the British Columbia Wine Institute and past chair with the Central Okanagan Foundation. Stewart is vice-chair for BC.
Canada West Foundation is the only think tank dedicated to being the objective, nonpartisan voice for issues of vital concern to western Canadians. For 40 years, our research and commentary, the Foundation has contributed to better government decisions and a stronger Canadian economy.
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For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact:
Grace Kucey
Communication Coordinator
Canada West Foundation
24/7 contact: 403-700-9535
communication@cwf.ca