The Atlantic Canada Opportunities Board provides advice on matters of policy and strategic direction, and helps support ACOA's efforts to enhance economic development in Atlantic Canada. The board has no authority to make decisions or to direct actions of the Agency.
Board members are appointed by the Governor in Council on the recommendation of the Minister. They hold office at the Minister's pleasure for a term not exceeding three years. Members may be re-appointed for one additional term only.
The board members are:
Ross McNeil
Entrepreneur
Halifax, Nova Scotia
Ross McNeil is a seasoned business executive with an extensive background in both the food service and retail industries. He began his career working in a family-owned clothing business, and took over the ownership and management of a restaurant in his early twenties. Among his active business interests, Mr. McNeil is currently the sole owner/operator of Duggar's Men's Wear Limited, an established retail clothier located in downtown Halifax.
Mr. McNeil is a charter member of a national group of owners of retail clothing stores and is active in various community organizations. He has served as a member of the boards of the Ashburn Golf and Country Club and the Nova Scotia Restaurant Association. Mr. McNeil resides in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Darrell M. Rushton
Retired Business Executive
Stellarton, Nova Scotia
Darrell Rushton worked with Sobeys Inc. for more than 40 years and retired from the company as President of Sobeys Inc. Wholesale Operations. Mr. Rushton began his career with a local Sobeys store in his hometown of Truro, Nova Scotia. He moved to assume new responsibilities with Sobeys in Halifax and eventually to the company's head office in Stellarton. His professional experience includes retail operations, merchandising, advertising, corporate marketing and management. He became President, Wholesale Operations, for Sobeys Inc. in 1991, with responsibility for retail operations in five provinces and employment of more than 3,000 people.
During his career with Sobeys Inc., Mr. Rushton served as a board member for several wholesale and retail divisions as well as advisory and planning committees. He has lived in Pictou County for the past 35 years, where he has been active in his church and a number of community organizations.
James Armstrong
Entrepreneur and Educator
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
James Armstrong began his career as a junior high school teacher in 1973, and became a school administrator in 1985. He retired from teaching in 2000 and moved on to tackle new challenges, including retail sales and the pursuit of independent business interests. An experienced public speaker, Mr. Armstrong has an interest in social development and team building, and has studied organizational development, leadership development, employee relationships and communications, and conflict resolution and mediation.
Mr. Armstrong holds bachelor degrees in arts and education, and a Master of Education degree from Memorial University of Newfoundland. He resides in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador.
Julie C. Eveleigh
Retired Educator
Comfort Cove, Newfoundland and Labrador
Julie Eveleigh retired from her career as an educator with the Lewisporte-Gander Integrated School Board in 2003. Over the course of this career, Ms. Eveleigh was active in several teaching and literacy organizations, and served as a member of the Board of Governors of the Central Newfoundland Community College. She has studied at both Acadia University and Memorial University of Newfoundland.
Ms. Eveleigh is deeply committed to the development of her community and served on the Town Council for Comfort Cove-Newstead as a councillor, deputy mayor and mayor. She and her husband, David, have two sons, Peter and Lucas.
Fraser Walsh, P.Eng.
Corporate Executive Advisor
Blacks Harbour, New Brunswick
Fraser Walsh joined Connors Brothers Limited in 1970 as a project manager and, in the subsequent years, has enjoyed a distinguished career with progressive responsibility and success. These have included terms as Senior Vice President of Connors Brothers' divisions for Canning, Operations, and Aquaculture, as well as President of Heritage Salmon Limited.
Mr. Walsh is very active in both industry associations and community life. He is a graduate of the University of New Brunswick (Electrical Engineering) and has studied through Harvard and Queens universities. He currently resides in Blacks Harbour, New Brunswick.
A.M. Lily Durepos
Business Owner and Executive
Grand Falls, New Brunswick
Lily Durepos is a founding shareholder of Alliance Assurance Inc., which started operations in 1972. She has a wealth of experience in the insurance industry and has been a member of various insurance and broker councils for companies such as Wellington Insurance, Zurich Insurance and ING.
Ms. Durepos holds a degree in social sciences from the Université de Moncton. She has received numerous awards for her business accomplishments as both an entrepreneur and financial broker. She actively supports community organizations and is currently chair of the Women in Business Network and a director of the Edmundston Regional Hospital Foundation.
Thomas L. DeBlois
Retired Business Executive
Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
Tom DeBlois enjoyed a successful 36-year career in wholesale distribution management, becoming General Manager, Operations, in 1986 when family-owned DeBlois Brothers Limited was acquired by TRA Atlantic, a division of the Sobey Group. He has extensive background and experience in both productivity enhancement and customer service, as well as in marketing and financial control.
Mr. DeBlois has contributed substantially to economic development efforts in his home province over the past three decades. He has served as a board member of the Atlantic Provinces Economic Council, the Prince Edward Island Development Agency, PEI Business Development Inc., and the PEI Market Development Centre (including four years as chair). He’s also been very active as a volunteer in numerous community service, not-for-profit, and religious organizations, as recognized by the Governor General’s Caring Canadian Award and Rotary International’s Paul Harris Fellowship Award.