OTTAWA, ONTARIO, February 1, 2008 — The Honourable Monte Solberg, Minister of
Human Resources and Social Development, today announced the following
appointments to the National Council of Welfare: Ms. Brenda Hall of the
Northwest Territories, Mr. John Guyon Richards of British Columbia,
Mr. Mark Chamberlain of Ontario, Ms. Mildred A. Dover of Prince Edward
Island, Reverend Richard Bragdon of New Brunswick and
Mr. Zulfikarali R. Kassamali of Ontario.
"I am pleased to announce the appointments of these individuals to the
National Council of Welfare," said Minister Solberg. "Their combined
experience in various areas will be a valuable asset to the Council."
Ms. Brenda Hall has been playing an active role in social and community
development for many years. She worked with the Hay River Métis Nation
from 1997 to 2000, where she organized community consultations, addressed
the needs for community wellness, and participated with the Board of
Directors in long-term and strategic planning. Since 2000, Ms. Hall
has been the Executive Director of the Growing Together Society, in
Hay River. She works with other community-based organizations,
manages partnerships with local First Nations communities, and
facilitates program activities involving high-risk mothers.
Ms. Hall received extensive training from several community-based and
educational organizations including the Institute of Cultural Affairs,
the National Indian and Inuit Community Health Representatives Organization,
the Nechi Institute, and the Canadian Hospital Association.
Mr. John Guyon Richards served the public as a member of the
Saskatchewan Legislative Assembly from 1971 to 1975, and then
continued into an impressive career teaching and writing on economics,
business administration, and public policy. He began his teaching career
in 1970 as a visiting assistant professor in the Department of Political
Science and Economics at the University of Saskatchewan. Since 1978,
he has been teaching at Simon Fraser University in British Columbia,
and in 1993 he joined a visiting faculty of the International University
of Business Agriculture and Technology (IUBAT) in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Mr. Richards has published numerous books, series, and journals on
socio-economic issues, including Reducing Poverty: What has Worked and
What Should Come Next (C.D. Howe Institute, 2007). He also acted as an
academic advisor, editor, and senior editor of many other publications
for the IUBAT and the C.D. Howe Institute.
Mr. Richards holds a master's degree and a doctoral degree in economics
from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, in the United States.
Mr. Mark Chamberlain is the recipient of the Distinguished Citizen of
the Year award for 2007 for his work in reducing poverty in Hamilton,
Ontario, and was recently featured in an article in the Hamilton Spectator
detailing his contributions. Mr. Chamberlain started his career in 1985,
after joining a small technology company named Wescam. Under his management, Wescam distinguished itself with many awards and
titles, including an Academy Award for Technical Achievement, and was
named one of Canada's Top 100 Employers in both 2000 and 2001. He is
currently President and Chief Executive Officer of Trivaris, a
commercialization firm that helps technology companies set up.
In addition to pursuing a successful professional career, Mr. Chamberlain
has been actively involved in the community. He chaired the Hamilton
Community Foundation, and he was a member of the Hamilton Tackling
Poverty Roundtable. He was also the chair of other socially oriented
organizations including the Metrolinx Advisory Committee and the Golden
Horseshoe Innovation Alliance. Mr. Chamberlain is currently a member of the
Board of Directors of the Ontario Centers of Excellence.
He holds a Bachelor of Applied Science and a Master of Applied Science
in Mechanical Engineering, both from the University of Waterloo.
Ms. Mildred A. Dover was elected to the Prince Edward Island Legislative
Assembly in 1996, and served three terms up to 2007. While in office,
she held several high profile portfolios as appointed Minister of Health
and Social Services, and Minister Responsible for Seniors and Housing;
Speaker of the Legislative Assembly; Minister of Education; Attorney
General; and Minister Responsible for Native Affairs and the Coroner's
Office. Ms. Dover was a member of several committees reviewing bills,
developing legislation, and addressing other matters of public importance,
and she participated in delegations travelling to other countries to build
partnerships and forge consensus.
Ms. Dover began teaching in 1958. During her career, she was a
principal of three schools before retiring from Charlottetown Rural
High School in 1993, where she taught English. She was a member of
the Board of Governors of the Prince Edward Island Teachers' Federation
and an active participant in school and student committees.
Ms. Dover holds a Bachelor (Honours), majoring in English and History,
from the University of Prince Edward Island, where she also completed
postgraduate courses.
The Reverend Richard Bragdon is on the board of directors of Bridges
of Canada and Samaria House/God is Able Ministries. Their focus is to
work with women who have been incarcerated or are suffering from
addictions or other life controlling problems and who wish to restore
their lives and become productive members of society.
Rev. Bragdon is highly respected in the First Nations community, and is
called for advice and counsel throughout New Brunswick and across Canada.
Working with First Nations people is a passion for Rev. Bragdon.
His experience with them has presented many challenges and the
opportunity to work in crisis pregnancy centres as well as with
people struggling with addictions, substance abuse, and mental health
issues; people who are incarcerated; people with depression; and people
who have low self-worth and low self-esteem.
Rev. Bragdon is also the founding pastor of First Nations Christian
Outreach, a ministry with a focus on helping native people in local
First Nations Communities. Since 1996, he served as an associate
pastor specialized in counselling, teaching and preaching.
Mr. Zulfikarali R. Kassamali began his career in East Africa, where he
worked primarily in business. He was vice-president of the Lake
Victoria Bottling Company Inc. (Pepsi-Cola) and regional sales
manager for Schweppes East Africa. Mr. Kassamali came to Canada
in 1972 as a refugee. Upon his arrival, he joined the Welcome House,
Manpower and Immigration Center, committed to helping Ugandan refugees
integrate into society. That same year, he created Seniors Fling, the
first multicultural program for the Don Mills Foundation for Seniors.
Throughout his career, Mr. Kassamali has acquired considerable expertise
in a number of areas, particularly with respect to the elderly and cultural
diversity. From 2000 to 2004, he was a member of the Ontario Network for
the Prevention of Elder Abuse board and of the Toronto Seniors' Assembly
for Toronto City Council. Mr. Kassamali also founded a number of
organizations and programs for seniors including the Hospital Visitation
Program, the Senior Resource Team, the Federation of Jambo Seniors and
the Ismaili Seniors Action Team. In addition, since 1991, Mr. Kassamali
has chaired the North York Seniors' Health Centre Family Advisory Committee,
which serves caregivers by providing advice and raising awareness of ethno-cultural differences and how to deal with
them. Mr. Kassamali's community involvement has garnered him a number of
awards such as the Toronto Police Services Community Services Award in
1998 and the Premier's Award for Community Service in 1996.
The National Council of Welfare, which was created in 1969, advises the
Minister on the needs and problems of low-income Canadians, and on social
and related programs and policies that affect their welfare. To this end,
the Council communicates directly with the Minister, informs and influences
public opinion through widely-disseminated reports, and provides a
vehicle through which people concerned with the problems of low-income
Canadians can make their views known to the Government.
For more information on the Council, please visit
http://www.ncwcnbes.net/
.
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This news release is available in alternative formats upon request.
For more information (media only):
Ms. Lesley Harmer
Director of Communications
Office of Minister Solberg
819-994-2482
Media Relations Office
Human Resources and Social Development Canada
819-994-5559
