Business Leaders Join Golden Opportunities Board
Release Date: February 3, 2006
Golden Opportunities Fund Inc. is pleased to announce at the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders held on February 1, 2006, shareholders approved the Board expansion from 7 to 9 members, increasing its private sector business expertise with well known business and community leaders.
Mr. Donald Ching, current President and Chief Executive Officer of Cogema Resources joins the Board bringing extensive knowledge of the Saskatchewan business landscape. Previously Mr. Ching was the President and Chief Executive Officer of SaskTel, President of Crown Investment Corporation and managing partner in the law firm of Mitchell Taylor Romanow Ching. Mr. Ching is a member of the Saskatchewan Bar Association and is on the Board of Directors of several private businesses involved in forestry, biotechnology and manufacturing sectors. Mr. Grant Kook, CEO/Chairman of Golden Opportunities Fund indicates “Mr. Ching’s extensive business expertise, experience in broad sectors of Saskatchewan’s economy and corporate governance practices will be a great asset to the Fund.”
Mr. Bob Ellard is the Vice President of Stantec Consulting Ltd. responsible for architecture, facilities, planning and interior design throughout North America. Prior to his current position, Mr. Ellard was a Senior Partner with the ellard croft design group, and brings over 30 years of experience in the architectural industry. Mr. Ellard is a member of the Saskatchewan Association of Architects and a Fellow of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada. Well known for his extensive background in community leadership, Mr. Ellard was the Chairman of the Board for the 2005 Canada Summer Games, President of the 1995 Grey Cup and a past President of the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Mr. Kook indicates “Mr. Ellard’s architectural expertise is a good compliment to the existing private sector disciplines we have around our Board. Mr. Ellard’s community leadership skills will ensure Golden Opportunities continues to be the leading investment fund in Saskatchewan.”
Ms. Lorraine Sali replaced Mr. Boris Slipchuk on the Board of Directors in December 2005, and is currently the Business Manager of the Construction and General Worker’s Union Local 180, the sponsoring union of Golden Opportunities Fund Inc. Ms. Sali sits as Chairperson for the Saskatchewan Training Trust Fund, is Co-Chair of the Labourers Health and Welfare and a Trustee on the Labourers Pension Trust Fund. She also serves on the Board of Directors for Funds Administrative Service Inc. and FAS Benefit Administrators Ltd. Mr. Kook indicates “Ms. Sali’s extensive involvement with trust funds will add corporate financial governance while at the same time investment acumen”
Grant Kook, Chairman of the Board indicates “our new Board members join an existing proven Board who has extensive private sector experience in a variety of sectors, enabling us to meet the continued goal of maximizing shareholder value.”
Golden Opportunities Fund Inc. is Saskatchewan’s first and largest Provincial Labour-sponsored Fund, having raised over $65 million in share capital to date from approximately 10,000 shareholders. The Fund has completed 72 investment transactions in 47 different Saskatchewan growth companies across 12 different industry sectors for diversification, impacting the future of Saskatchewan.
For additional information please contact Mr. Grant Kook, CEO/Chairman of Golden Opportunities Fund Inc. at (306) 652-5557.
Saskatchewan Financial Services Commission has neither approved nor disapproved the information contained herein.