Communities of Tomorrow
250-10 Research Dr., Innovation Place
Regina, Saskatchewan S4S 7J7
P: 306.522.6699
F: 306.522.6695
info@communitiesoftomorrow.ca
John Lee
President
John has over 25 years experience working in diverse industries. He holds an Honours Bachelor of Commerce Degree from Laurentian University. Results oriented and a big believer in the enormous potential of the CT partnership, John believes the next 5 years will be about maximizing growth and capitalizing on the tremendous opportunity that exists in the field of sustainable infrastructure innovation.
John was the General Manager and Chief Operating Officer of the Regina 2005 Canada Summer Games from February 2002 to April 2006. This $28million dollar event was the largest multi-sport event ever held in Regina and was proclaimed the most successful Canada Games ever held. The Games economic impact is estimated to have exceeded $100million and also left a multi-million dollar facility, human and financial legacy that will benefit the City of Regina and the Province for years to come. In recognition of his outstanding contributions to sport through the Canada Games, he received the prestigious President’s citation from Sask Sport Inc.
John was Executive Director of the Sport Federation, A Division of Sask Sport Inc. for 15 years. He also was an active partner with his wife Janet in a successful international retail and clothing manufacturing company based out of Regina for more than 9 years.
Involved in the community, John is currently on the following committees and boards; Mayor’s Community Advisory Committee; Chair of the Board-Regina Palliative Care Inc. and the Greystone Bereavement Centre; Senior Vice President and Chairperson-Regina Host Organizing Committee 2010 World Junior Hockey Championships; Sask Chamber of Commerce Investment and Growth Committee; Regina Regional Opportunities Corporation Events Committee; Wascana Centre Authority Strategic Planning Committee and is a Committee member of the Regina INmotion Advisory Committee. Previously John was President of Regina Community Basketball Association, Vice Chair of the Tourism Regina Events Committee and served as AVP Festivals for Regina’s first Grey Cup in 1995.
P: 522-6698
Email: jlee@communitiesoftomorrow.ca
Judy Gates
Executive Assistant & Office Administrator
As Executive Assistant and Office Manager, Judy’s main role is to provide executive support to the President in addition to being responsible for the smooth operation of the day-to-day business of the CT office as a whole. Judy also provides efficient and effective administrative service to the Board of Directors and a number of CT’s committees.
Judy has been employed as a senior legal assistant/executive assistant in Regina for a number of years. She also brings expertise from being employed with two levels of government as well as a broad range of experience that she has gained through being an active volunteer in our community. Judy is a member of the International Association of Administrative Professionals-Regina Chapter.
P: 522-6691
Email: jgates@communitiesoftomorrow.ca
Jean-Paul (JP) Martin
Acting Vice President Innovation and Business Development & Project Officer
J.P. was born and raised in Regina and believes heavily in the innovative and entrepreneurial spirit of Saskatchewan. He is convinced that Saskatchewan can lead the globe in creating and developing Sustainable Municipal Infrastructure Solutions. Saskatchewan holds a unique competitive advantage that allows industry players, municipalities and researchers to create local solutions to global problems.
J.P. holds a Bachelor of Business Administration with a focus on Finance, and a Certificate of Economics from the University of Regina. He has experience in Management, Sales, Project Management, and a deep knowledge of the Customer Service sector. JP’s knowledge and background provide him with the skills required for his day to day role with CT where he is brokering innovation and economic development in the sustainable infrastructure sector. J.P. joined the CT team in February of 2008; and as Acting Vice President heads up CT’s Business Development, R&D Partnerships, Project Development, Industry Engagement, and Road Sector Development initiatives.
J.P. is a representative for the Saskatchewan Alliance for Sustainable and Innovative Transportation.
P: 522-6622
Email: jpmartin@communitiesoftomorrow.ca
Kim Exner
Chief Operating Officer
Kim is responsible for the administration of project agreements and funding, government compliance, human resources, finance and communications. She has over ten years experience with related responsibilities in other non-profit organizations. Prior to joining CT, Kim was the Senior Manager of Administration, Finance and Volunteers with the 2005 Canada Summer Games, the largest multi-sport event ever held in Regina.
Kim has held various volunteer positions in the community as a board member, planning committee member, event volunteer, and coach. She is a graduate from the University of Regina with a Bachelor of Administration Degree. Kim is excited to see the results of CT’s work in the years to come as the Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Infrastructure Innovation and the cluster initiative come to fruition.
P: 522-6696
Email: kexner@communitiesoftomorrow.ca
Samar Baker-Ismail
Project Development and Research Coordinator
As Project Development and Research Coordinator of CT, Samar is responsible for coordinating research activities and the evaluation process of research proposals. Samar is your first contact at CT if you have a new idea or innovation.
Samar brings a new perspective to CT. She has over 6 years of experience outside Canada in the municipal infrastructure sector and she sees the global opportunity for Saskatchewan to lead the world in municipal innovations. Samar also has 2 years of experience with the National Research Council's Centre for Sustainable Infrastructure Research where she did research on municipal infrastructure renewal. She has backgroud in planning, management and engineering. Samar graduated with a Master of Science in Environmental Systems Engineering from the University of Regina in 2008.
Samar is active within the community and serves as a volunteer at the Regina Open Door Society where she provides translation services to newcomers to help them settle in Canada.
P: 591-1577 samar.baker-ismail@communitiesoftomorrow.ca
Harlan Ritchie
Municipal Innovation Facilitator
Technical Expertise, Municipal and Industry Engagement, Business Development, Brokering Ideas/Opportunities and Innovation Champion.
Harlan has over 35 years experience in the transportation field in a municipal environment in Saskatchewan. Given his experience, Mr. Ritchie has long-term relationships with consultants, contractors, developers, municipal and other transportation agencies which is an asset to CT clients.
Harlan has always had a keen interest in and been involved with new experimental technologies, asset management systems and promoting environmentally responsible and sustainable infrastructure.
He is a member of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Saskatchewan, the Regina Engineering Society and the Canadian Technical Asphalt Association. He earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Saskatchewan in 1971.
P: 522-6690
Email: hritchie@communitiesoftomorrow.ca
Bland Brown
Technical Support & Business Development Coordinator
Bland is a professional engineer with over 40 years of experience in municipal and electrical utility management. He earned a degree in Civil Engineering with Great Distinction from the University of Saskatchewan and did post graduate studies in engineering structures at the same institution.
Bland spent the first 20 years of his professional career with SaskPower where he worked on a number of power generation projects and was Project Manager for the construction of the first generating unit at the Poplar River Power Plant. He left SaskPower to join the City of Saskatoon as City Engineer, a position he held for 6 years. He then moved to the City of Regina to take up a position in senior administration with general managerial responsibilities for environment and infrastructure operations.
Since retiring in 1999, Bland has served as Interim Executive Director for the Saskatchewan Science Centre, Interim Executive Director for Regina Downtown, Regional Contact for InfraGuide and Industry Liaison Officer for the NRC- Centre for Sustainable Infrastructure Research.
P: 949-9536
Email: bbrown@communitiesoftomorrow.ca