Northern Development Initiative Trust Chair Bruce Sutherland today announced the appointment of eight new directors to the Northern Development Board.
Northern Development is managed by a board of thirteen directors of which eight are elected officials and five are business leaders appointed by the Government of British Columbia. The eight new directors join the five provincial appointees to the Board, which is comprised of:
- Bruce Sutherland, President – Wolftek Industries Ltd., Prince George, Chair
- Lita Powell – Licar Property Management, District of Taylor
- Paulette Flamond – Northeast Aboriginal Business Centre, City of Fort St. John
- Mike Tarr – Northern Savings Credit Union, City of Prince Rupert
- Fred Punko – Fred Punko and Associates, City of Prince George
New directors include:
- Mayor Evan Saugstad – District of Chetwynd, Vice-Chair
- Mayor David Pernarowski – City of Terrace
- Director Lance Hamblin – Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako
- Mayor Dan Rogers – City of Prince George
- Councillor Lori Ackerman – City of Fort St. John
- Mayor Stephanie Killam – District of Mackenzie
- Mayor Mitch Campsall – District of 100 Mile House
- Director Ted Armstrong – Cariboo Regional District
In Chair Sutherland’s remarks to the Board, he stated "You have been selected by your peers to apply your regional knowledge to strong decision making by the Board in order to diversify the economy of central and northern BC. This is a huge transition in Board membership, but I am confident that the Board as a whole will immediately continue to work with our executive staff on continuing excellence in decision making, innovation and delivery as we build the momentum of Northern Development".
Northern Development Board of Directors
(Top row from left to right): Mayor Mitch Campsall – District of 100 Mile House, Mayor Evan Saugstad – District of Chetwynd, Vice-Chair, Mike Tarr – Northern Savings Credit Union, City of Prince Rupert, Director Lance Hamblin – Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako, Mayor David Pernarowski – City of Terrace, Fred Punko – Fred Punko and Associates, City of Prince George, Director Ted Armstrong – Cariboo Regional District
(Front row from left to right): Chief Executive Officer Janine North – Northern Development Initiative Trust, Mayor Stephanie Killam – District of Mackenzie, Paulette Flamond – Northeast Aboriginal Business Centre, City of Fort St. John, Bruce Sutherland, President – Wolftek Industries Ltd., Prince George, Chair, Lita Powell – Licar Property Management, District of Taylor, Councillor Lori Ackerman – City of Fort St. John, Mayor Dan Rogers – City of Prince George (missing from photo)
Northern Development also announced grant funding for several projects in central and northern British Columbia, including $278,000 from the Pine Beetle Recovery Account for the Cook’s Ferry Indian Band toward the Interior Allied Tribes Cultural Tourism Interpretive Center in Spence’s Bridge and $20,000 toward a feasibility study by the District of 100 Mile House for a Log Home Building Training Facility.
The Board approved grant funding of $30,000 each to the Port Edward Historical Society, the District of Fort St James, the City of Prince Rupert and the District of Clinton under the Community Halls and Recreation Facilities program for projects totaling $4.85 million dollars. In addition, the Board approved funding in the amount of $50,000 from the Cross Regional Account to assess the potential constraints to the economy and transportation of large manufactured loads from existing low clearance rail crossings and bridges along Highway 97 from Quesnel to Dawson Creek.
