Rebecca MacDonald, founder of Toronto-based Just Energy Group, and Levi Sampson, co-owner of the Harmac Pacific mill in Nanaimo and part owner of CHEK Television, have been named to the board of directors of the David Foster Foundation.
MacDonald's Just Energy Group markets deregulated natural gas and electricity that supplies more than two million customers across Canada, the U.S. and United Kingdom. She's been named one of Canada's top woman CEOs by Profit Magazine, Canadian Woman Entrepreneur of the Year by the Rotman School of Business and is currently vice-chair of Toronto's Mt. Sinai Hospital where she founded the Rebecca MacDonald Centre for Arthritis Research. In 2009, MacDonald received an Honorary PhD from the University of Victoria.
Sampson, 31, is well known for his fight to save Harmac from a shutdown and has caught the attention of movie producers and could soon be seen in a featured upcoming film. His vision for an employee-ownership model that provides all employees with a say in the future of their company has been adopted by both companies. Sampson is also co-hosting a television series, Sky's The Limit, which combines the world of business travel and international culture.
"Rebecca and Levi add an entrepreneurial spirit and expertise to our board that will be invaluable as we prepare to launch our campaign to raise $30 million over the next five years," said David Foster.
Foster's foundation marked its 25th anniversary this year of providing financial support for nonmedical expenses to Canadian families with children in need of life-saving organ transplants. A star-studded 25th anniversary celebration for the foundation was held in Victoria earlier this year and raised $4.6 million.
The foundation's board also includes Jim Treliv-ing, chairman of Boston Pizza International; Jeffrey Latimer, founder of Jeffrey Latimer Entertainment; Dr. Anne Dipchand, a pediatric cardiologist and the head of the heart transplant program at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto; Dr. Dave Hepburn, author and syndicated columnist; Lorenzo Oss-Cech, a founding partner of the law firm Hutchison, Oss-Cech & Marlatt, Barristers and Solicitors; Allison Jones, account executive for BMC Software; and Derek Sturko, provincial deputy minister of agriculture.
