Minister Copps Announces Appointments

OTTAWA, April 2, 1998 -- Minister of Canadian Heritage Sheila Copps today announced the following appointments to the boards of agencies within her portfolio:

Jean Thérèse Riley, Chairperson of the National Arts Centre Board of Trustees since 1995, has been reappointed to that position. Mrs. Riley is a freelance consultant for private-sector clients and not-for-profit projects. Mrs. Riley initiated and headed the first committee of ARTSWEEK, a project of the Arts Foundation of Greater Metropolitan Toronto, of which she was a founding member. This project has since become an annual public celebration. She has served on the boards of many artistic organizations, such as the Canadian Stage Company, the Ontario Federation of Symphony Orchestras and the National Theatre School of Canada. She also served as president of the board of the Chamber Players of Toronto. Mrs. Riley is currently the Chair of the Founding Committee of Jardins 2000 Gardens, a national millenium project organized by the Waterfront Regeneration Trust, Communities in Bloom and the Sierra Club of Canada.

Jane Dragon has been appointed to the Board of Trustees of the Canadian Museum of Nature. Mrs. Dragon, from Fort Smith, Northwest Territories, has devoted much of her time over the years to sharing her knowledge of native culture and heritage. She has taught children cultural skills such as beading, moose hair tufting, wilderness survival skills, her native language and the legends of her people. Mrs. Dragon was hired by the Canadian Museum of Civilization from 1993 to 1996 to assist in the preparation of the gallery exhibit "Threads of the Land". Recipient of the Silver Jubilee Walk of Life Award and the Commemorative Medal for the 125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada, she has served on many boards such as those of the Aurora College Board and the Aboriginal Head Start Program.

Patrick M. Polchies has been appointed to the Board of Trustees of the Canadian Museum of Civilization. Mr. Polchies, from the Kingsclear First Nation, New Brunswick, has been the General Manager of EZ4U Display Systems Ltd. He has studied photography, archaeology and anthropology. More recently, he worked as a Native Community Advisor for the New Brunswick Emergency Measures Organization and as a Project Manager for the Jemseg Crossing Archaeological Project. He sits on the boards of the New Brunswick Museum, the New Brunswick Craft Council and the New Brunswick Archaeological Society.

Merla Beckerman, a trustee of the National Gallery of Canada, has been promoted to the position of Vice-Chair of that board. During the past 20 years, Mrs. Beckerman, from Vancouver, British Columbia, has served on the boards of a number of arts organizations in various parts of the country, such as the Canadian Craft Museum, the Vancouver Art Gallery and the Toronto Arts Foundation. She has been a member of the National Gallery of Canada Board of Trustees since 1995.

Éric Lemieux, a trustee of the National Museum of Science and Technology, has been promoted to the position of Vice-Chair of the Board of Trustees for the Museum. Mr. Lemieux, from Ste. Foy, Quebec, has been President of Informatique Sofitech inc. since 1989. He is a lecturer at Limoilou College and Laval University. During his career, Mr. Lemieux has held a number of positions such as Assistant to the Director, Marketing and Sales at Peat Marwick Technologie and as Advisor at SystemOID, a division of Price Waterhouse. Mr. Lemieux has been a member of the Board since 1996.

Ruth Carol Feldman has been appointed to the National Capital Commission. Ms. Feldman, from Winnipeg, Manitoba, is a Real Estate Sales Associate with Delbro Real Estate, and is a member of the Winnipeg Real Estate Board. She has more than 17 years experience in residential and commercial real estate. This includes seven years, from 1980 to 1987, in real estate development as an associate and partner in Nusgart Ventures. Ms. Feldman has served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Young Men's Hebrew Association and the Village Clinic Fundraising Committee.

Michael E. Kusner has been appointed to the National Capital Commission. Mr. Kusner, of Markham, Ontario, an architect and retired professor, has extensive experience in the area of planning and building. Since 1968, he has been a planning consultant with Kusner Consultants Ltd. Mr. Kusner lectured from 1961 to 1963 at the London Polytechnic, London, England; followed by a period of more than 25 years as professor at Ryerson Polytechnic; School of Urban and Regional Planning, and Ryerson Polytechnic University.

The appointments are effective immediately, for a period of three years.

Information:

Jacques Lefebvre
Senior Communications Advisor
Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage
(819) 997-7788

[ Media Room ]

Date created: 1998-04-02

Important Notices






Minister Copps Announces Appointments OTTAWA, April 2, 1998 -- Minister of Canadian Heritage Sheila Copps today announced the following appointments to the boards of agencies within her portfolio: Jean Thérèse Riley, Chairperson of the National Arts Centre Board of Trustees since 1995, has been reappointed to that position. Mrs. Riley is a freelance consultant for private-sector clients and not-for-profit projects. Mrs. Riley initiated and headed the first committee of ARTSWEEK, a project of the Arts Foundation of Greater Metropolitan Toronto, of which she was a founding member. This project has since become an annual public celebration. She has served on the boards of many artistic organizations, such as the Canadian Stage Company, the Ontario Federation of Symphony Orchestras and the National Theatre School of Canada. She also served as president of the board of the Chamber Players of Toronto. Mrs. Riley is currently the Chair of the Founding Committee of Jardins 2000 Gardens, a national millenium project organized by the Waterfront Regeneration Trust, Communities in Bloom and the Sierra Club of Canada. Jane Dragon has been appointed to the Board of Trustees of the Canadian Museum of Nature. Mrs. Dragon, from Fort Smith, Northwest Territories, has devoted much of her time over the years to sharing her knowledge of native culture and heritage. She has taught children cultural skills such as beading, moose hair tufting, wilderness survival skills, her native language and the legends of her people. Mrs. Dragon was hired by the Canadian Museum of Civilization from 1993 to 1996 to assist in the preparation of the gallery exhibit "Threads of the Land". Recipient of the Silver Jubilee Walk of Life Award and the Commemorative Medal for the 125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada, she has served on many boards such as those of the Aurora College Board and the Aboriginal Head Start Program. Patrick M. Polchies has been appointed to the Board of Trustees of the Canadian Museum of Civilization. Mr. Polchies, from the Kingsclear First Nation, New Brunswick, has been the General Manager of EZ4U Display Systems Ltd. He has studied photography, archaeology and anthropology. More recently, he worked as a Native Community Advisor for the New Brunswick Emergency Measures Organization and as a Project Manager for the Jemseg Crossing Archaeological Project. He sits on the boards of the New Brunswick Museum, the New Brunswick Craft Council and the New Brunswick Archaeological Society. Merla Beckerman, a trustee of the National Gallery of Canada, has been promoted to the position of Vice-Chair of that board. During the past 20 years, Mrs. Beckerman, from Vancouver, British Columbia, has served on the boards of a number of arts organizations in various parts of the country, such as the Canadian Craft Museum, the Vancouver Art Gallery and the Toronto Arts Foundation. She has been a member of the National Gallery of Canada Board of Trustees since 1995. Éric Lemieux, a trustee of the National Museum of Science and Technology, has been promoted to the position of Vice-Chair of the Board of Trustees for the Museum. Mr. Lemieux, from Ste. Foy, Quebec, has been President of Informatique Sofitech inc. since 1989. He is a lecturer at Limoilou College and Laval University. During his career, Mr. Lemieux has held a number of positions such as Assistant to the Director, Marketing and Sales at Peat Marwick Technologie and as Advisor at SystemOID, a division of Price Waterhouse. Mr. Lemieux has been a member of the Board since 1996. Ruth Carol Feldman has been appointed to the National Capital Commission. Ms. Feldman, from Winnipeg, Manitoba, is a Real Estate Sales Associate with Delbro Real Estate, and is a member of the Winnipeg Real Estate Board. She has more than 17 years experience in residential and commercial real estate. This includes seven years, from 1980 to 1987, in real estate development as an associate and partner in Nusgart Ventures. Ms. Feldman has served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Young Men's Hebrew Association and the Village Clinic Fundraising Committee. Michael E. Kusner has been appointed to the National Capital Commission. Mr. Kusner, of Markham, Ontario, an architect and retired professor, has extensive experience in the area of planning and building. Since 1968, he has been a planning consultant with Kusner Consultants Ltd. Mr. Kusner lectured from 1961 to 1963 at the London Polytechnic, London, England; followed by a period of more than 25 years as professor at Ryerson Polytechnic; School of Urban and Regional Planning, and Ryerson Polytechnic University. The appointments are effective immediately, for a period of three years. Information: Jacques Lefebvre Senior Communications Advisor Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage (819) 997-7788 [ Media Room ]

Date created: 1998-04-02			Important Notices