Garry McKinnon has been elected President of Community Futures Ontario, following the Association’s recent Conference and Annual General Meeting at the Clarion Lakeside Inn, Kenora. Mr. McKinnon has been the Executive Director of the Atikokan Economic Development Corporation (EDC) in Atikokan, Ontario for the past 15 years and has been a board member with Community Futures Ontario since 2012. The Atikokan EDCis one of 60 Community Futures Development Corporations (CFDCs) across rural Ontario.
Mr. McKinnon has been with the Atikokan EDC for the past 25 years having started as a Community Development Advisor and Investment Manager.
In addition to his new duties as CF Ontario President, Mr. McKinnon was elected by his Northern colleagues to be one of the Ontario representatives on the Community Futures Network of Canada (CFNC) Board of Directors. The CFNC works with national decision-makers to ensure the long term sustainability of the Community Futures Program.
He was elected to the Atikokan Township Council in 1988 and was re-elected in each municipal election, until leaving politics in 2003. As a Councillor, he chaired a number of committees, including finance, public works, parks and recreation and cemetery. In 2000, he was elected as President of the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association (NOMA) by his colleagues in the region. As President of NOMA, he served as Vice-President of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario. Garry served 2 years as President of the Northwestern Ontario Development Network.
As a provincial Association, Community Futures Ontario brings together CFDCs from across Ontario to share best practices and work together as a whole, for the betterment of Ontario’s non-urban areas. The Association provides services to their member CFDCs, acts as an advocacy group, and offers professional development.
As he takes on his role new as President of the provincial Association, Mr. McKinnon is optimistic about the part that he and the organization can play: ““I see the CF program continuing to play an important and vital role in the development and survival of rural communities. We will be ever more innovative in the way we deliver our services in order to better meet the needs of our clients and communities. Through consultation and discussions with our members and funding partners, we can help shape the future of the CF Program in Ontario and ensure that Community Futures Ontario remains responsive to the needs of its members.”
To reach Garry McKinnon, contact:
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Telephone: 807-597-2757