Lakehead’s PACED to Focus on Economic Development in Northwestern Ontario

September 18, 2013 – Thunder Bay, ON

Lakehead University President & Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Brian Stevenson, has announced the creation of the President’s Advisory Council on Economic Development (PACED) for Northwestern Ontario. The council will meet regularly, and is comprised of regional industry and business leaders.

“PACED’s purpose is to advise me on how Lakehead University can fulfil an even more integral role in the economic development of Northwestern Ontario,” said Dr. Stevenson, who will serve as Chair of the new council. “Council members will help me determine where this University can best contribute to our region and how to measure that success.”

PACED members were selected based on individual skill sets and include private-sector business representatives from the Aboriginal community, as well as various industries such as transportation, mining, banking, and construction:

Harvey Cardwell… Vice-Chair of PACED, and CEO, Northco Group
Rob Bell… President & General Manager, Dingwell’s North America
Don Campbell… former President & CEO, TBaytel
Andrew Cheatle… President, Chief Executive Officer, Director, Unigold Inc.
Ed Collins… Manager of Economic Development, Fort William First Nation
Barb Courte… President & CEO, North Star Drilling and Cobra Drilling
Silvio Di Gregorio… Secretary Treasurer, Bruno’s Contracting
Tim Heney… CEO, Thunder Bay Port Authority
Irene Kozlowski… President & CEO, Sencia Canada Ltd.
Ian McCormack… Director of Business Operations, Tetra Tech, and Chair, Thunder Bay Airport Authority
Joe Moses… Account Manager, Commercial Banking, RBC Royal Bank
Doug Murray… President & CEO, Thunder Bay Community Economic Development Commission
Robert Poulter… President & CEO, Mitomics Inc.
Madge Richardson… Executive Director, North Superior Workforce Planning Board
Murray Walberg… Regional Vice-President, RBC Royal Bank
Frederic Gascon… Vice-President Manufacturing, Bombardier

“I want to thank all council members who have stepped forward to give of their time and expertise,” said Harvey Cardwell, Vice-Chair of PACED, and a Fellow of Lakehead University. A former member of Lakehead’s Board of Governors, Cardwell added, “We look forward to this group’s recommendations and counsel, as Lakehead endeavours to make an even greater impact on economic development in Northwestern Ontario for years to come.”

A PACED for Central Ontario will be established in Simcoe County, in the coming months, to guide Lakehead University’s economic development activities in that region of the province, as well.

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Media: For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact Brandon Walker, Media Relations Officer, at (807) 343-8177.