Meet Our Board Of Directors
The Community Futures Peace Country team is powered by its Board of Directors. Our board members really care about the community and understand the challenges of owning a business. Meet our Board of Directors:
George Leger
Board Chair
Representing Sub Region 1:
MD of Peace #135, Grimshaw, Berwyn
Originally from Montreal, George first moved to the Peace County in the early 1980’s. After living in Grimshaw for several years, he left for 25 years, and in 2001, remembering that he had drank the water of the Mighty Peace River, he moved back. In 2002, he started Valley Landscapes Ltd and continues to operate that company, providing maintenance and snow removal services to government and business clients around the area. In 2017, he decided a new challenge was in order, so he became a Realtor® and purchased the local Royal Lepage franchise. He continues with that that business today. Along the way, he has served on several nonprofit community boards and committees such as the Peace Regional SPCA, Lac Cardinal Regional Economic Development Board, North Peace Waterski Club, Peace Valley Snow Riders, MD of Peace Library Board, Agriculture Services Board, Assessment Review Board, Subdivision Appeal Board, Alberta Pond Hockey Board, and the Community Futures Peace Country Board since 2016.
"I believe that a big part of building and maintaining strong, vibrant, rural communities requires support for and access to capital for small and medium-sized businesses. That’s what CFPC is all about, and I am honored to be a part of that."
Frank Light
1st Vice Chair
Representing Sub Region 2:
Northern Sunrise County, Peace River, Nampa
Business owner and entrepreneur in Peace River. Owns and operates Channico Machine for the past 18 years and holds two Red Seal trades tickets. Frank has been on the CFPC board for the past six years. Frank is also a Past Dirrector of the Peace River Chamber of Commerce, and has lived in Peace River for 33 years.
"I enjoy seeing others take the challenge to become a business owner and grow our community."
Marie Dyck
2nd Vice Chair
Representing Sub Region 2:
Northern Sunrise County, Peace River, Nampa
Marie was born in McLennan on July 22, 1951 to Lewis and Opal Johnston and was raised on a farm east of Nampa. She Nampa Public School and Peace River High School. Marie married her husband Dave of 52 years on September 5/1969. They have three beautiful, successful children, three grandchildren and 1 great-grandson. Marie worked in various jobs while raising her children, including waitressing, AGT operator, hospital worker, grain elevator shipping dept, Northern Sunrise County agricultural division and land files. She was an Elected Official for 7 years for Northern Sunrise County and is now serving a second term as an Elected School Board Trustee for Peace River School Division. Marie has been a Board Member for Community Futures since 2017 and enjoys helping local residents in their business endeavours. She has always enjoyed being connected to the community she grew up in and has spent countless hours over the years volunteering on various organizations. Marie was appointed by the Advanced Minister of Education as a Board Governor for Northern Lakes College, and chaired the committee of the first Kindergarten in Nampa. She also chaired the Nampa Museum Committee for 12 years and worked diligently to ensure they had a new museum and restaurant in Nampa. She helped the Peace River Daycare get built, helped with the organization of building a new Dr’s Clinic in Peace River, sat on the Peace River Chamber of Commerce for several years, and many others. Marie looks forward to many more years of working with Community Futures, the Board of Directors and staff to ensure the success of the Peace Country area.
Carolyn Kolebaba
Director
Representing Sub Region 2/8:
First Nations, Metis, Indigenous Peoples
Carolyn was born in Peace River and raised in the Municipal District of Peace. She and her husband Mike operate a trucking company along with their sons in Northern Sunrise County. They retired from mixed farming in the spring of 2010 which they operated for over 30 years. Carolyn worked in the educational system as a Certified Teacher Assistant with a Structure of Intellect background. Carolyn entered municipal politics in 1998, and was elected Reeve of Northern Sunrise County in 2000. She was elected as the first female Vice President for the Rural Municipalities of Alberta (RMA) and served from 2005 – 2008. In the fall of 2010, she was re-elected as Vice President and served until 2017. In her role as municipal Councillor, Carolyn is the Chair of the NEW water Ltd Board, the Northern Transportation Advocacy Bureau, and the Peace Library System. Carolyn is also a Director on the Peace Regional Waste Management Company, and the Peace Regional Economic Development Alliance. Carolyn is an active volunteer in her community and enjoys being around people. Her love for making the community a better place to live has her on a journey that she is very grateful for and greatly enjoys.
Catherine Dezutter
Director
Representing Sub Region 2:
Northern Sunrise County, Peace River, Nampa
Catherine DeZutter is a seasoned professional with 20 years of retail experience. She has a strong background in joint community initiatives aimed at gaining more exposure in financial realms. Currently serving as the Food Division Manager at Peace Country Co-op, Catherine's expertise lies in the food industry.
In addition to her professional role, Catherine has a deep passion for working on farms and with cattle, reflecting her love for the outdoors. This blend of experience in retail, community involvement, and a fervor for agriculture showcases Catherine as a well-rounded individual dedicated to making a positive impact in the community.
Dalen Richardson
Director
Representing Subregion 5: Fairview and Area
Board Criteria
Authority
The Board of Directors is the legal authority for Community Futures Peace Country. As a member of the Board, a Director acts in a position of trust and is responsible to provide governance for Community Futures Peace Country.
Responsibility
The Board of Directors acts of behalf of the citizens of the community. They have the principal responsibility for establishing the mission and goals of Community Futures Peace Country, to provide leadership in accordance with the mandate of the Community Futures program. The Board of Directors governs through policy making. They delegate the authority to carry out the mission and goals to the Executive Director.
Responsibilities of the Board Director:
- Understand and demonstrate commitment to achieve goals
- Contribute of yourself, participate and ask questions
- Keep informed, prepare for and attend all meetings
- Participate in board development activities
- Be informed and support Community Futures Peace Country’s effort and activities
- Represent Community Futures Peace Country at various events and functions
- Understand and monitor the finances
- Monitor legal and regulation aspects
- Exercise good faith and uphold board decisions
Requirements
Directors are required to:
- Be committed to the work of Community Futures Peace Country
- Be eighteen years of age or older
- Reside in the region
- Have knowledge and/or experience in one or more of the following areas: education, industry, agriculture, small business, government, labour, nonprofit organizations or involvement in the community
- Report and declare any real or perceived conflict of interest
Term
Newly appointed directors serve a probationary period of six months. After the probationary period of six months, a director may be appointed for a term of two years, to a maximum of three (3) consecutive terms.
Duties of the Board of Directors
- Promoting the objects of the Corporation
- Hiring an Executive Director to operate the Corporation
- Maintaining, monitoring and protecting the Corporation’s assets and property
- Approving an annual budget for the Corporation
- Investing the funds of the Corporation
- Oversee the financing of the operations of the Corporation and borrowing or raising monies
- Making policies for managing and operating the Corporation
- Approving all contracts for the Corporation
- Ensuring maintenance of all accounts and financial records of the Corporation
- Appointing auditors, accountants or legal counsel as necessary
- Selling, disposing of, or mortgaging any or all the property of the Corporation
- Without limiting the general responsibility of the Board, delegating its powers and duties to the Executive Committee and the Executive Director of the Corporation.
- Investment Review
a) reviewing applications for business loans, loan guarantees and/or equity participation.
b) approval or rejection of applications for business loans, loan guarantees, and/or equity participation.
c) approving or modifying the conditions and terms of recommended applications for business loans, loan guarantees, and/or equity participation.
d) monitoring loan clients and repayment of loans and approving recommended action to be taken by the Executive Director or alternate action recommended by the Board in respect of loan clients.
Are You A Prominent Member Of Our Business Community And Looking To Make A Difference?
Impact the growth of our community and join our board. We’re always looking for great people to help better our business community here in the Peace Country region and offer new growth opportunities to Peace Country region based entrepreneurs.
