Board of Directors
Community Futures Grande Prairie & Region is governed by 11 members from within our communities.
The current Board of Directors is made up of elected officials and Chamber of Commerce representatives that are appointed by their respective councils and organizations to represent their community on the Community Futures board. The current Board of Directors are:
- City of Grande Prairie - Kevin McLean
- County of Grande Prairie - Leanne Beaupre
- M.D. of Greenview No. 16 - Lesley Vandemark
- Town of Wembley - Chris Turnmire
- Town of Beaverlodge - Stan Metcalfe
- Village of Hythe - Judy Amendt
- Town of Sexsmith - Matthew Barnfield
- Grande Prairie & District Chamber of Commerce -Ken Sutherland
- Beaverlodge Chamber of Commerce - Chris King
- Hythe Chamber of Commerce - Arthur Amendt
- Sexsmith Chamber of Commerce - Harley Janz
Message From the Board Chair
Community Futures Grande Prairie & Region was a top performer in the province in the 2008 – 2009 fiscal year, placing among the top ten in all areas including Business Development Services, Lending, and Community Economic Development projects. In fact, Community Futures approved and disbursed on 27 loans totaling just over $2 Million, leveraged over $5 Million, and created or maintained 116.5 jobs.
To add to a spectacular lending year, 536 new clients received business development assistance for starting, expanding, maintaining or purchasing a business. The organization started 34 new projects including, but not limited to, the Regional Grant Specialist Initiative, Travelling Board Shows and strategic and project planning for several organizations. We also started or maintained 58 partnerships in the region; of particular mention is our strong relationship with Business Development Bank of Canada, Grande Prairie & District Chamber of Commerce, PREDA, NADC and Alberta Employment & Immigration.
In addition, 15 individuals were accepted to the Self Employment program and took part in all of the training opportunities available to them while Youth Connections succeeded in placing over one hundred 15-24 year olds in full-time employment, education or training.
Our 11 member Board of Directors made up of municipal and Chamber of Commerce representatives dedicated just over 600 hours to the organization as well! We are proud of our success and wanted to share it with you; hence this Annual Report.
As Community Futures moves into the last year of its existing five-year contract and begins negotiations with Western Economic Diversification along with its 26 sister CFs in Alberta, several things become a priority. Of particular importance is maintaining excellent client interaction and service. A well-supported and satisfied client base is the foundation of our success. Secondly, we will focus on those initiatives and services that we are already successful at and find ways to add value and worth to them. Lastly, we will continue to partner and collaborate with municipalities, non-profit organizations, associations, Chamber of Commerce organizations and the like to ensure that we really are serving the economic development needs of the entire region
Leanne Beaupre, Chair