Members of the PDD Edmonton Region Community Board are appointed by Alberta's Minister of Seniors and Community Supports. Each brings a different perspective to the community governance of supports and services in the region. The PDD Edmonton Region Community Board also selects two individuals with developmental disabilities to sit as interns.

Pictured in the front row (left to right) are Martin Prentice, Cathy Palmer, Dr. Denise Armstrong, Shirley Jolly and Douglas Fletcher.
In the back row (left to right) are Keith Meagher, Derrick Seabrook (Board Intern), Tim O’Brien, Blair Lundy (Board Chair) and Cam Schwartz.

Board Chair: Blair Lundy of Leduc was appointed chair of PDD Edmonton Community Board on March 6, 2009. He has been a member of the Persons with Developmental Disabilities Appeals Secretariat for the past year and a half. Prior to that, he served on the PDD Provincial Board for approximately seven years. Most recently, Mr. Lundy has been the chair of the task force on workplace diversity for the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce.

Martin Prentice of Drayton Valley is returning for a second term on the board as he was reappointed for a three-year term on June 9, 2009. Mr. Prentice was first appointed to the board in August of 2007. He is a lawyer, who has long been active in his community through his work with the Drayton Valley Community Foundation, the Community Hockey Association, the Community Scholarship Trust Society and Beehive Community Support Services.

Doug Fletcher of Edmonton is currently the practice leader of the Osborne Group. He has many years of board experience, having served as chair of the Alberta Lung Association and as a council member with the Canada Lung Association. Mr. Fletcher's three-year term expires in 2010.

Cam Schwartz is from Edmonton. He is a practicing lawyer who was appointed for a three-year term on June 9, 2009. As a former employee of the Persons with Developmental Disabilities, Edmonton Region Community Board, Mr. Schwartz brings a unique set of skills to the board. He is active in his community and has served on numerous not for profit boards. His passion and understanding of the disabilities community will establish him as a valued contributor.

Cathy Palmer of Edmonton was appointed to the board for a three-year term on June 9, 2009. Ms. Palmer is a management consultant who has many years of experience as a senior and executive manager within Alberta Health and Wellness. She is an active volunteer in her community, and a former chair of the Edmonton Community Services Board. She currently sits on the board of the Bissell Centre.

Keith Meagher of St. Albert was appointed to a three-year term on the board in June of 2010. Mr. Meagher is also currently a member of the Board of Directors of the Royal Canadian Mint-Ottawa. In addition, he has served in numerous capacities with organizations like the St. Albert Food Bank Society and Edmonton United Way . He brings an interesting perspective to the board as an individual with a spinal cord injury and some mobility problems.

Dr. Denise Armstrong is from Edmonton. She was appointed to the board for a three-year term on June 30, 2009. Dr. Armstrong was an independent consultant for many years and is currently working at the University of Alberta's Department of Family Medicine. She brings to the board extensive experience in strategic planning and analysis, and performance management. In addition, Dr. Armstrong has a comprehensive background in board governance at the community and non-profit level.

Shirley Jolly was a long-time resident of Strathcona County, where she served on School Council, Strathcona County Council and the Board of Education. Most recently she served on the Edmonton and Area Region 6 Child and Family Services Authority and the Alberta Transportation Safety Board. Ms. Jolly recently sold her business and moved to Leduc County. She was appointed to the Board on August 31, 2011 and will serve until April 30, 2014.

Tim O’Brien is a lifelong Edmontonian who is an executive with Finning Canada. He strongly believes in giving back to the community and has served on several boards and committees in the past. Mr. O’Brien brings a strong business background to the Board as he has both an Economics Degree and a Masters in Business Administration from the University of Alberta. He was appointed to the Board on September 13, 2011, and will serve until April 30, 2014.

Derrick Seabrook lives in Edmonton and is active with the Self Advocacy Federation, Healthy Communities, Special Olympics, Gateway Association and the Schizophrenia Society. In 2010, Mr. Seabrook was the recipient of the PDD Edmonton Regional Award in the Individual Leadership category for his work to inspire others with disabilities to become community leaders. He was appointed to one-year Board Intern position on September 1, 2011.