April 24, 2017
Province Announces New Appointments to Liquor and Gaming Authority of Manitoba Board
A new chair, vice-chair and new directors have been appointed to the board of the Liquor and Gaming Authority of Manitoba, Justice Minister Heather Stefanson announced today.
“The board of the Liquor and Gaming Authority of Manitoba plays an important role in our province providing responsible oversight and regulation of these important services,” said Stefanson. “Once age eligible, participation in liquor and gaming services is a right for all Manitobans and our government depends on the guidance and direction of the board to ensure these services are delivered to Manitobans in a responsible and sustainable manner. We look forward to the wealth of knowledge and experience that our incoming board members will contribute to the operation of the Liquor and Gaming Authority of Manitoba.”
The Liquor and Gaming Authority of Manitoba is mandated under the public interest to license liquor sales, service and manufacturing, and license gaming employees, products and operations. The board is responsible for governance and strategic direction of liquor and gaming in Manitoba.
The newly appointed chair and vice-chair are Bonnie Mitchelson and Eric Luke.
Mitchelson was a long-serving member of Manitoba’s legislature, sitting as the MLA for River East for 30 years and serving separate periods of time as the provincial minister of lotteries; culture, heritage and citizenship; status of women; and family services. She also has an extensive volunteer background with various community organizations. Previous to her work in government, Mitchelson worked as an intensive care unit and post-operative recovery room nurse.
Luke is currently the president of E.R. Luke & Associates consultants. He was previously the executive vice-president of gaming operations for the Manitoba Lotteries Foundation and is a former RCMP staff sergeant. His work in gaming consultation is extensive at both the provincial and federal levels with experience giving advice and direction to First Nations and also providing gaming and legislative assistance to provinces in the creation of Canada’s current gaming legislation.
The newly named directors are Sheila Atkinson, Catherine C. Cronin, Stéphane Dorge, William Duff, and Courtney Hirota.
Atkinson has extensive experience in board governance, formerly serving as chair of the Manitoba Liquor Licensing Board. She is committed to volunteerism and has served her community through her role as chair of the YMCA board on women’s shelter.
Cronin has a wealth of financial expertise developed through her career as a chartered accountant and auditor. She has demonstrated her commitment to volunteerism by supporting various sporting groups, community clubs and school boards.
Dorge has experience in corporate and commercial law working at the Competition Bureau of Canada and the Université de Saint-Boniface, where he has been the institution’s University Secretary since 2004.
Duff has extensive experience owning and managing licensed establishments and venues as the former owner of the Howland Hotel and general manager of the Royal Canadian Legion Charleswood Branch.
Hirota currently serves as director of strategic communications for Pulse Canada, where she is responsible for strategic planning, corporate communications, public and stakeholder relations, and team management. Prior to working with Pulse Canada, she spent eight years with the Canadian Restaurant and Foodservices Association.
The minister would like to thank the outgoing board members for their past service to the Liquor and Gaming Authority of Manitoba and to the province of Manitoba.
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