Staff and Board

Strategic Alliances

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For more information,
contact us at:

Fort Erie Economic Development & Tourism Corporation
660 Garrison Road, Unit 1
Fort Erie, Ontario L2A 6E2
Phone: (905) 871-1332
Fax: (905) 871-1077
General Inquiries Email

Staff and Board

The Fort Erie Economic Development & Tourism Corporation (EDTC) is an independent, stand-alone corporation. It was established this way by the Council of the Town of Fort Erie so they had a means to consult with and support the business community in a more business like approach. For that reason, and to protect their business confidentiality, the Council also supported that the EDTC be established offsite from the Municipal Town Hall.

The Fort Erie EDTC operates within a client-based policy. Residents of Fort Erie, the general public and members of the development and investment community are encouraged to approach the EDTC with any questions or concerns that fall within the EDTC mandate; more specifically, business development, property acquisition and development, development policies and relevant economic analysis.

We achieve our economic development mandate by;
• Fostering an environment in the Town of Fort Erie conducive to business creating jobs and economic prosperity;
• Leveraging the knowledge of a Board of Directors that is comprised of business professionals who have a demonstrated understanding of the local, international and global business climate;
• Saving our clients time and expense by providing them with valuable market information and data, and by brokering critical relationships that can help them make important business decisions;
• Acting as advisers to the Town of Fort Erie, the Mayor and Council on important community and business development matters; and,
• Networking with economic development counterparts throughout Niagara via the Niagara Development Corridor Partnership, as well as across the Province and into the United States.

The EDTC is staffed by trained and experienced professionals who follow industry best practices in terms of client development and service (confidentiality is highly respected).

In addition, while the EDTC receives significant annual operating funds from the Town of Fort Erie, this serves as a base to ensure continuity of process through a fee for service contract. Within that fee agreement, the EDTC is responsible to be the main advocate for business in Fort Erie. The agreement expects the EDTC to speak on behalf of business and encourages the EDTC to present arguments, both for or against a particular Town policy that they feel hinders responsible business development.

Call our toll free number, send us an e-mail, or visit our office and you’ll be sure to find a member of our professional staff ready to help you.

Fort Erie Economic Development & Tourism Corporation
660 Garrison Road
Fort Erie, ON, L2A 6E2

1-888-270-9151 (Toll Free)
905-871-1332 (Phone)
905-871-1077 (Fax)
edtc@forteriecanada.com (E-mail)

Board Meetings
Board meetings are generally held in the last full week of each month. While the EDTC does not have a policy regarding public access to these meetings, the only precedent we have is for clients on a delegation based appointment. This is due primarily because the agendas are very full and the need to respect business confidentiality is paramount.

Annual General Meeting
Each year, as required by the Canada Business Corporations Act, the Fort Erie EDTC conducts is Annual General Meeting (AGM). The AGM, held annually (usually in April), is supervised by the Fort Erie EDTC’s corporate solicitor (Mr. David Hurren) and audit firm (Durward Jones Barkwell & Company LLP).

Membership & Elections
The Fort Erie Economic Development & Tourism Corporation is governed by a 5 member Board of Directors, who, at the Annual General Meetings are joined by the Membership of the Fort Erie EDTC to review and ratify the annual program of economic development rendered by the Fort Erie EDTC and fulfill AGM responsibilities.

The Directors of the Corporation, save and except the two members appointed by the Municipal Council of the Town of Fort Erie (the Mayor and a Councillor), are elected by the Membership, from the pool of eligible candidates (the Membership), to serve the Corporation, throughout the year and attend the Corporations regularly scheduled Board meetings. Elections are conducted at the Annual General Meeting and are facilitated by the EDTC’s corporate solicitor.

The Membership of the Corporation is comprised of local business and community stakeholders who have either served the Corporation as a Director in the past, or who have demonstrated extraordinary service to the Corporation in a professional capacity. In the event of a vacancy within the Membership, the Membership can request that the Directors conduct a recruitment process and provide a recommendation to the Membership at the following AGM, whereupon the Membership will make a decision/choice as a whole to fill the vacancy at that time or defer to fill the vacancy at that time.

There are 4 officers of the Corporation: Chairman, Vice-Chairman and the Treasurer who are voted upon annually and the Corporate Secretary who is the General Manager of the EDTC.

Public Accountability
The public are, and have been well served with the full and transparent accounting of the EDTC operations. Each year, our Corporate filings are completed by both our corporate solicitor Mr. David Hurren (minutes and letters patent) and via our annual, independent professional audit done through Durward Jones Barkwell & Company.

In addition, two members of the five member Board of Directors include the Mayor of Fort Erie and the Councillor designated under Boards & Committees structure of the Town of Fort Erie. The only difference in policy between the Board and Town on this matter is that typically the Town revises its business subdivision appointments every two years, while the EDTC delegate is appointed for the full term of Council (for continuity and because of the critical learning curve required).

Performance and Public Accounts
Each year the EDTC provides the Council with a detailed 3 year budget plan, backed up by action strategies and a strategic plan. These are submitted as public documents during the Town’s annual budget process. The General Manager then meets in public session and presents the new year budget plan and presents a detailed performance review of the current years activities.

The Council of Fort Erie have as much opportunity to question the submissions and reports as they deem appropriate, and all is conducted in public session. Detailed minutes and client reports are excluded for obvious reasons of client confidentiality.

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Audited Financial Statements of the Fort Erie Economic Development & Tourism Corporation

 

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James A. Thibert
General Manager

Photo of James A. ThibertJames is a decisive, proven leader with an impressive record of conceiving, developing and implementing strategic partnerships and initiatives in economic and community development.
Before joining the Fort Erie Economic Development & Tourism Corporation, James held a number of progressive positions in both the public and private sectors including;

- CEO/Executive Director, White Mountain Academy of the Arts;
- Senior Development Economist and Senior Community Development Economist;
- Ministry of Northern Development & Mines; and,
- Manager of Economic Development, City of Sault Ste. Marie.

As a seasoned public sector professional, James has a 20+ year track-record in the public service. Most notably, and in his role as Chief Executive Officer, he was instrumental in the founding of the $30 million White Mountain Academy of Arts.

As a Senior Development Economist, he facilitated a number of key projects and programs during his 12 years with the Ministry of Northern Development & Mines. James’ area of specialty is community economic development and crisis management.

Adam Joon, MBA
Sr. Economic Development Officer

Photo of Adam JoonA Fort Erie native, Adam has been with the Fort Erie EDTC for a total of 7 years, first as the Corporation’s Market Research Coordinator/Project Manager and now (since October 2005) as the EDTC’s Sr. Economic Development Officer.

Prior to re-joining the EDTC team in early 2005, Adam spent three years at Ipsos-Reid in Toronto where he led some of the companies largest, most high-profile accounts in the auto and consumer packaged goods industries.

Adam has extensive local market knowledge and a breadth of experience in client and key account management as well as a proven expertise in marketing strategy, market research and business and economic development.

Adam holds a Bachelor of Arts from York University, and a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) from Canisius College in Buffalo NY, where in 2003 he graduated with honors.

Caralee Grummett
Executive Assistant/Jr. Economic Development Officer

Photo of Caralee GrummettThe EDTC’s Executive Assistant to the General Manager and Junior Economic Development Officer, Caralee holds a Bachelor of Tourism Studies degree from Brock University, where she graduated with honors.

Caralee has a demonstrated passion for business administration and tourism planning and development, and manages many of the EDTC’s tourism industry initiatives.

Caralee has a strong understanding of, and appreciation for, the local market in Fort Erie, and is able to leverage her well developed network of local business and tourism industry stakeholders to achieve her objectives.

 

EDTC Board of Directors

The Fort Erie Economic Development & Tourism Corporation is governed by a Board of Directors comprised of the Mayor of the Town of Fort Erie and one Municipal Councillor, along with three local business professionals who have a demonstrated understanding of the local, international and global business climate and commitment to the economic and social well-being of the Town of Fort Erie.

Mr. Claude Pilato, Chairman

Mr. Ric Gorham, Vice-Chairman

Mr. Wayne Nelson, Treasurer

Mayor Doug Martin

Councillor John Hill


Fort Erie Economic Development and Tourism