Halifax Community Board

CN is proud to create a volunteer-driven community board to guide our CN Stronger Communities Fund’s decisions and strengthen community partnerships in Halifax. Through the Halifax Community Board, CN is putting funding decisions into the hands of local community and business leaders who know their city best. Bringing community leaders together enhances local decision-making, strengthens community relations and increases the impact of local community investments. cn.ca/community Alan R. Abraham, Jr. Halifax Community Board Chair Robert Ghiz

Al Abraham, of Halifax, NS, was Robert Ghiz served as Premier of appointed Vice-President of the Prince Edward Island from 2007 Environmental Services Group in to 2015. He was born and raised in 2017. Mr. Abraham has 30 years of Charlottetown, PEI, and attended experience in the waste removal Bishop’s University where he earned a industry. He founded Green Waste bachelor’s degree in political science. Systems in 1989 and grew it into Robert moved to Ottawa where the second largest waste removal he worked as a political aide for company in Atlantic Canada before Deputy Prime Minister Sheila Copps before joining the Bank it was purchased by the Royal Environmental Group in 2010. of Nova Scotia in 1998. In 2001, Robert joined the office of Prior to entering the waste removal industry, Mr. Abraham Prime Minister Jean Chrétien where he served as Atlantic held executive positions in both Nova Scotia and Canada advisor before leaving to run for leader of the New Brunswick in the moving, storage and warehousing Prince Edward Island Liberal Party in 2003. industries following graduation from Saint Mary’s University. Robert is currently President and CEO of the Canadian Mr. Abraham was active with industry associations, serving on Wireless Telecommunications Association. He is a member of their Board of Directors as well as the Fredericton Chamber the Board of Directors of The True Patriot Love Foundation, of Commerce and Better Business Bureau of New Brunswick. the Advisory Council of the Prince’s Charities Canada and is Mr. Abraham currently sits on the Saint Mary’s University a former member of the Board of Ducks Unlimited. Board of Governors. In 1999, Mr. Abraham was appointed a Director of the Halifax Port Authority and was elected Chairman of the Board in March 2002.

Roy G. Argand François Boucher

Roy G. Argand is a lawyer in the François Boucher began his career Halifax office of Cox & Palmer. at CN in 1994 in Customer Support. He is committed to innovative He moved to Operations in 1995 as development and growth in the a train conductor. Since then, he region and advises business has held several senior positions, owners on mergers, financing, including Superintendent of Montreal technology, and commercial real and Atlantic, General Superintendent estate opportunities. He is actively of BC South, and General Manager involved in the Nova Scotia start-up of BC. ecosystem, regularly providing pro-bono advice to start-ups In April 2020, François relocated back to Eastern Canada in Halifax and judging pitch competitions at Volta (one of as General Manager of Champlain Division, which covers Canada’s largest innovation hubs). Brockville, ON, to Halifax, NS. A trusted advisor to the Active in the local business community, Roy is a board Communications team on operational procedures, François is member of the Nova Scotia Salmon Association, the known for his leadership in driving significant improvements Vice‑Chair of the Nova Scotia Canadian Bar Association in productivity, community engagement, and teamwork. Business Law Section and a volunteer at the Nova Scotia François received a CN President’s Award for Excellence Courts Free Legal Clinic. He is a past board member of – CN’s highest honour – in 2013. He is a strong advocate Lawn Summer Nights Halifax, a community lawn bowling for safety, and his leadership style fosters positive working fundraiser for Cystic Fibrosis, and remains an active relationships with unions. participant. Prior to joining CN, François was an artillery officer for the Department of National Defence. He holds an undergraduate degree in military studies from the Royal Military College. Andrew de Freitas, MBA Robert Dempsey

Andrew de Freitas is a second- Robert Dempsey is a strategist with generation railroader with 24 years an eye for innovation, entrepreneur of railway experience. Beginning his and co-owner of The Binnacle CN career at the Customer Service Yachting Equipment. He balances risk Centre in Winnipeg, Andrew has held taking with integrity and giving back roles in Customer Service, Training, to the community. Transportation, Traffic Management After leaving the federal government and Operations. in 1993, Robert and his business Based in Halifax, NS, Andrew is a National Account Manager, partner purchased a faltering Halifax retail business with responsible for developing and fostering CN’s domestic one employee. In 1999, The Binnacle launched the first intermodal and regional carload growth by building B2B online marine store in Canada and one of the very first in relationships and network connections throughout Atlantic North America— a daring decision and investment at the Canada. time. Today, The Binnacle, with over 25 employees, has Andrew is proud to call Atlantic Canada home and become Canada’s leading online marine store with reach believes community engagement and volunteerism are key across Canada and into the US. Robert attributes this success to good decisions, focus and community involvement. components to organizational success. Andrew is a past Area Governor with Toastmasters International and holds Robert was an avid sailor and raced large boats for many a CTM designation. Andrew currently serves on the Halifax years. The Binnacle is a proud supporter of the sailing Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, volunteers community’s youth programs and has sponsored new with 2nd Beaver Bank Scouting and works with charities aspiring sailors and Olympic Team hopefuls alike. Robert is throughout the Maritimes. a former Vice-Commodore of the Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron and a graduate of Saint Mary’s University. Andrew holds an MBA from Saint Mary’s University and is a Certified Sales Professional.

Gina Kinsman, CPA, CA Chris Lydon

Gina Kinsman is Assurance Partner at Chris Lydon, Senior Vice-President, EY. She has over 20 years experience Regional, joined m5 Public Affairs providing audit and advisory services in 2017 with over 17 years of public to a wide range of public and private policy experience. He has served as companies. At EY, Gina was Atlantic a senior communications advisor Canada’s Talent Leader, member of to the Premier of Nova Scotia, lead the Audit Quality Review program and in-house counsel on government Instructor Development Workshop and stakeholder relations at leader throughout North America. Atlantic Lottery, in Ottawa as Chief of Staff to the federal departments of Labour and Status Gina currently leads the Atlantic EY Entrepreneur of the Year of Women Canada and an extended stint in the Regional Award program, the world’s most prestigious business award Emergency Operations Centre leading the on-the-ground for entrepreneurs who are building and leading successful, crisis communications and coordinated response of Canada’s growing and dynamic businesses. insurance industry to the Fort McMurray wildfire. Just prior Gina’s community involvement includes being a board to his arrival at m5, he served as the Campaign Director for member of the Canadian Mental Health Association (Halifax/ the successful re-election of the Mayor of Halifax. Now again Dartmouth), Bryony House, YWCA, Waegwoltic Club and as a consultant in the private sector, he represents some of the a council member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants largest employers in North America. of Nova Scotia. She is currently Vice-Chair of the Public Chris is the past-Chair of Big Brothers Big Sisters, serves Accountants Certification Committee of CPA NS and is a on multiple non-profit boards, is a CBC Radio pundit, the Mentor with InnovaCorp’s MentorFirst Program. voice of the Halifax Wanderers FC, Halifax Hurricanes and USPORTS Final 8, and received a Papal knighthood in 2013. Tiffany Edwards Janet MacMillan Halifax Community Board Secretary

Janet MacMillan has devoted much Tiffany Edwards is named Secretary of her professional and volunteer to the Halifax Community Board. career to guiding and supporting She is a proud railroader and, for successful organizations in their the past nine years, has developed growth trajectories. As lead strategic various problem-solving skills in the counsel and former co-owner of distribution of emergency services NATIONAL Public Relations (Atlantic), and public relations within CN’s Janet supports clients and teams in Corporate Services function. such areas as risk, reputation and In 2008, Tiffany started with CN as a communications analyst crisis management, community engagement/social license. for the CN Police Service, covering both Canada and the U.S. A member of the Institute of Corporate Directors as well In 2015, she was appointed as Team Lead, where she became as a fellow and accredited (life) member of the Canadian the first point of contact for issues governed by Canada’s Public Relations Society, Janet holds considerable cumulative Transportation Act, Railway Safety Act, Grade Crossing governance experience and currently serves on a number of Regulations and Rail Operating Rules. In September 2017, international, national and regional boards. These include: she was promoted to Manager of Public Affairs in Atlantic COVE (Centre for Ocean Ventures and Entrepreneurship), Canada, where she continues to build and engage a strategic Fundy Ocean Research Centre for Energy (FORCE Tidal), network of municipal and provincial government and Dalhousie Medical Research Foundation, Halifax Dartmouth relevant stakeholders in Eastern Region. Bridge Commission, RCMP Foundation of Canada and Tiffany holds a graduate certificate in the emergency Sail Canada. She is past board chair of Mount Saint Vincent treatment of distribution and training in the workplace and University, the institution from which she received her degree is known for driving employee engagement for a safe and in public relations. secure network for CN and the community.