OTTAWA, June 27, 2007 - The Honourable Beverley J. Oda, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Status of Women, today announced the appointment of Roman Melnyk, of Toronto, to the board of directors of the Canadian Race Relations Foundation.
"Mr. Melnyk has a broad experience base in both the legal and broadcasting fields, which will be of great benefit to the Canadian Race Relations Foundation," said Minister Oda. "His involvement and commitment to the Ukrainian community will provide the Foundation with a wealth of knowledge and valuable expertise."
Mr. Melnyk is a broadcasting executive and legal counsel with extensive experience in public and private sector media operations on a national and international level. He has been a legal counsel and a broadcasting consultant since 2002. From 1996 to 2001, he served as vice-president of Business Affairs at CTV Television Inc. Mr. Melnyk was executive vice-president and chief operating officer of W. F. Cooke Television Programs from 1993 to 1996. He held several senior positions with the CBC from 1971 to 1993, including: director of Network Television; executive of Media Operations; TV Network program director; director of Independent Production and senior legal counsel.
From 1962 to 1966, he served in Stuttgart and Cologne, Germany as a foreign service officer with the Department of Citizenship and Immigration.
Mr. Melnyk is a member of the board of directors of the Independent Production Fund, a member of the board of directors of the National Catholic Broadcasting Council, and a member of the board of directors of St. Demetrius Development Corporation. He was also a member of the International Board of Advisors of the International Media Center in Kyviv, Ukraine.
The Canadian Race Relations Foundation undertakes research, collects data, and develops a national information base to further understanding regarding the nature of racism and racial discrimination. It provides a knowledge base from which governments, academia, business, labour and community organizations can draw for the development of effective race relations policies and practices. The Foundation also disseminates information to increase public awareness of the importance of eliminating racism. For more information on the Foundation and its board of directors, please visit www.crr.ca.
Information:Jean-Luc Benoît
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage
and Status of Women
819 997-7788
