In meeting this responsibility, the Board works with management to develop and approve the corporation's strategic plans, operating goals, annual budget and business plans. It participates in identifying business risk and overseeing the implementation of appropriate systems to achieve a balance between the risks incurred and potential returns.
The Board is appointed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council. The board consists of 12 external directors.
ARLENE WIKS (Chair)
Retired banking executive
Regina, Sask.
Arlene Wiks recently retired from the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC) where she spent 35 years in a variety of roles. In her last position at CIBC, she held the position of Associate Vice-President, Small Business and Retail Banking, and was responsible for branches in Regina and Saskatoon.
Ms. Wiks holds a Certified Financial Planner Designation from the Canadian Institute of Financial Planners as well as an Administration Certificate from the University of Saskatchewan.
She has served on several boards over the years, including Director of the Saskatoon and District Chamber of Commerce, Royal University Hospital Foundation and Junior Achievement. She has also served as the Saskatchewan Chair for the “Run for the Cure” campaign.
Ms. Wiks has successfully completed the Directors College accredited corporate director development program and holds a Chartered Director (C.Dir.) designation.
RICHARD M. (RICK) WATSON (Vice-Chair)
President, Watson Tractor & Equipment Ltd.
Regina, Sask.
Mr. Watson has been a member of the SGI Board of Directors since 2008. He has been a member of the Investment Committee and presently sits on the Audit and Finance, Governance and Human Resources, and the Ad Hoc Strategic Planning Committees. He was appointed Vice Chair of the Board in 2011.
Mr. Watson has been involved in the John Deere Ag and Turf Equipment business since 1965. This family business first opened in Weyburn, followed by Regina in 1978. In 2006 both locations merged into a larger partnership and Mr. Watson passed the “hands on” responsibilities to family and other partner managers. The partnership operates as South Country Equipment Ltd., and with further acquisitions, now has eight locations in southern Saskatchewan. Mr. Watson continues to manage the assets of Watson Tractor & Equipment Ltd., now primarily a holder of commercial real estate, as well as family farmland and other investments.
Mr. Watson also serves on the Board of Security Resource Group Inc. and is a member of the Independent Advisory Committee to the Assiniboia Farmland Corporation. He participates in the CEO Advisory Circle at the University of Regina’s Paul J. Hill School of Business, and is a member of both the Regina and Saskatchewan Chambers of Commerce. Mr. Watson is based in Regina.
BRYNN BOBACK-LANE
President & CEO, Children's Hospital Foundation of Saskatchewan
Saskatoon, Sask.
Brynn was recently appointed to the SGI Board of Directors in 2012. Since 1999, Ms. Boback-Lane has been the President and CEO of the Children's Hospital Foundation of Saskatchewan and is working with the Ministry of Health and provincial health regions in the creation of the new Children's Hospital of Saskatchewan. Brynn continues to lead a provincial team in advocating and fundraising for the new children's hospital project with focused expertise in marketing, public relations and philanthropy.
Brynn currently sits as a member of the Canadian Association of Pediatric Hospitals of Canada, Canadian Advisory Committee for the Children's Miracle Network and Canadian Children's Hospital Foundation Executives.
Ms. Boback-Lane was recognized by Saskatchewan Business Magazine as one of Saskatchewan's Women of Influence and received an honour from her home town of Prince Albert and the public school system, where she was inducted into their wall of fame for her contributions to provincial education and health care initiatives.
Brynn lives in Saskatoon with her husband Mark and their two children, Tess and Ella. They love spending time at the lake and cherish the friendships that they have made throughout the province.
MERIN D. COUTTS
CEO, Sask Made Marketplace
Saskatoon, Sask.
Mrs. Coutts joined the SGI Board of Directors in 2004. She has served on the Audit and Finance Committee and the Investment Committee. Since 2007 she has chaired the Governance and Human Resources Committee and was appointed Chair of the Ad Hoc Strategic Planning Committee in 2011.
Mrs. Coutts is a Certified Management Accountant and a Chartered Director. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce (honours) from the University of Saskatchewan. Mrs. Coutts has held senior positions in the broadcast and telecommunications industries in Saskatchewan for the past decade. She was Director of Marketing and Community Relations for CTV, followed by Sales Manager and most recently Regional Manager for Shaw Communications Inc. She is now an Independent Management Consultant specializing in transition, operations and talent management strategies. Mrs. Coutts is based in Saskatoon.
HOWARD CROFTS, FCA
Senior Vice President, Assurance Services, MNP LLP
Regina, Sask.
Mr. Crofts was appointed to the SGI Board of Directors in 2008, has served on the Governance and Human Resources Committee and currently serves as the Chair of the Audit and Finance Committee, a member of the Risk Committee and Ad Hoc Strategic Planning Committee. Mr. Crofts is a Chartered Accountant and holds a Bachelor of Administration from the University of Saskatchewan. He has spent his professional career providing assurance, tax and business advisory services to clients in a variety of industries including insurance, telecommunications, transportation, real estate and construction, aviation, professional services, manufacturing, oil and gas, health care and retail.
Mr. Crofts joined MNP LLP in 2002, and assumed the position of Regional Managing Partner for the firm’s South Saskatchewan Region in 2004 before assuming his current role as national Assurance Services leader in 2009. Mr. Crofts has served on numerous community and not-for-profit boards, currently is Chair of the Board of Group Medical Services and is a member of the boards of directors of Latitude AeroMedical Works Inc., Raven Oil Corporation and Regina Inner City Family Foundation. Mr. Crofts is based in Regina.
G. DWIGHT DUNN
President and Co-Owner, Dunn Realty & Insurance
Wolseley, Sask.
Mr. Dunn was appointed to the SGI Board of Directors in 2008, has served on the Governance and Human Resources Committee and is currently a member of the Investment Committee. He holds a Bachelor of Education from the University of Saskatchewan, and Canadian Accredited Insurance Broker and Canadian Certified Insurance Broker designations.
Mr. Dunn was a school teacher with CUSO for two years in Zambia, taught school in Saskatchewan for a number of years, and owned and operated the family farm prior to becoming president and co-owner of Dunn Realty and Insurance with his wife, Madeline. Mr. Dunn is a past-president of the Insurance Brokers’ Association of Saskatchewan, past chairman of the General Insurance Council and was recipient in 2005 of the Jack Byers award for service to the Insurance Brokers’ Association of Saskatchewan.
Mr. Dunn has served on numerous community associations and as a director of the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce. He is based in Wolseley.
J. RICHARD KENNEDY
Partner, Brian Mallard and Associates
Saskatoon, Sask.
Mr. Kennedy was appointed to the SGI Board of Directors in 2008 and serves on the Investment Committee. He holds a Chartered Life Underwriter, CLU, and Chartered Financial Consultant, CH.F.C., designation from Advocis. He has been a licensed insurance and investment professional for 32 years.
Mr. Kennedy is a board member of the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada Pension Plan. He is also Past President of the Central Saskatchewan Association of Insurance and Investment Advisors. Mr. Kennedy has also served for many other local not-for-profit entities, such as the United Way, Red Cross and his local church board.
Mr. Kennedy joined Brian Mallard and Associates as an insurance and investment advisor in 2010 after building a large Resource Centre for the preceding 20 years as the Regional Director at Great-West Life. He is based in Saskatoon.
TYRONE KLEWCHUK
President, TIK Enterprises and Quatra Holdings
Yorkton, Sask.
Mr. Klewchuk was appointed to the SGI Board of Directors in 2008 and serves on the Governance and Human Resources Committee. Mr. Klewchuk is a University of North Dakota graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree and also a graduate from Oklahoma State University with a Master of Science degree in trade and technology.
Mr. Klewchuk has taught high school and middle years technical, math and science. He also has extensive experience in the building trades. Mr. Klewchuk is currently the president of TIK Enterprises, a business that inspects homes, multi-residential and commercial buildings, along with real estate in Quatra Holdings.
Mr. Klewchuk has volunteered his services to the Multiple Sclerosis Association and Yorkton Housing Authority. He has served on many other local boards in varying capacities of president to treasurer and other positions. In addition he is past president of a venture capital corporation. Mr. Klewchuk is based in Yorkton.
RICK ORR, AMP
Mortgage Broker
Prince Albert, Sask.
Mr. Orr was appointed to the SGI Board of Directors in 2008. Currently he serves as a member of the Risk Committee. He is a past member of the Governance and Human Resources Committee. Mr. Orr has completed all five modules of the Chartered Director program.
Mr. Orr has worked for the last 12 years as a mortgage broker in Prince Albert with his wife, Kathy. He is member of the Canadian Association of Accredited Mortgage Professionals (CAAMP) and has worked within the mortgage industry on government regulations and was a founding member of CIMBL (later changed to CAAMP), the only professional mortgage industry association in Canada. He is currently a sitting member of CAAMP’s Saskatchewan Brokers Council. Mr. Orr has attained the designation of Accredited Mortgage Professional.
Mr. Orr has been involved in the Prince Albert community for 20 years and has been an active member of local Chamber of Commerce boards, committees and executive. He is past president of Prince Albert Crime Stoppers, Prince Albert Lion’s Club and has worked on the Saskatchewan Penitentiary Citizens Advisory Board, Fire Services Committee. Mr. Orr has been an active community volunteer including working for various provincial activities such as visits of the Royal Family, Briars, Tournaments of Hearts, Saskatoon Sports Hall of Fame and many other provincial and local events.
DENIS PERRAULT
President, Paradise Business Consulting and Paradise Properties
Swift Current, Sask.
Mr. Perrault was appointed to the SGI Board in 2011 and serves on the Audit and Finance Committee. He is a University of Saskatchewan graduate with a Bachelor of Commerce degree, a Chartered Accountant and, in 2011, obtained his Chartered Director designation.
Mr. Perrault is President of his companies, Paradise Business Consulting and Paradise Properties. He has extensive experience in management and corporate financial affairs including audits, budgeting, strategic planning and human resource management. As a Chartered Accountant and business professional he has had the opportunity to work throughout the City of Swift Current, the Province of Saskatchewan and for four years in Bermuda. He has been a part of many organizations through both audit and advisory roles and has gained significant business knowledge. This has included working with not-for-profit organizations, rural municipalities, Aboriginal bands, small businesses, corporate farms and, in Bermuda, publicly traded companies. While in Bermuda, Mr. Perrault worked with many reinsurance/insurance companies as an auditor and for two years as a reinsurance accountant with Aspen Re, a publicly traded reinsurer.
Currently, Mr. Perrault is an elected City of Swift Current Councillor and he serves on many local boards. He is also an Ambassador and active member of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and the SW Type 1 Sharps.
RICHARD H. SMITH
Senior Vice President, Henderson Insurance Inc.
Moose Jaw, Sask.
Mr. Smith was appointed to the Board of Directors in 2008. He sits on the Audit and Finance Committee, the Ad Hoc Strategic Planning Committee and chairs the Risk Committee. Mr. Smith holds a Certificate in Risk Management from the University of Toronto and is currently enrolled in the RIMS Fellow Program through the Risk Management Society. He has obtained his Canadian Certified Insurance Broker and Canadian Accredited Insurance Broker designations, and has been a licensed broker for 33 years. Mr. Smith also recently obtained his Chartered Director designation.
Mr. Smith is a Director of Western Agricultural Insurance Corporation and is the Chairman of the Canadian Home Builders Association (Saskatchewan). He is Past President of the Saskatoon & Region Home Builders Association and Past Vice President of the Insurance Brokers’ Association of Saskatchewan. Mr. Smith is an Associate Member of the Saskatchewan Risk and Insurance Management Society and an Associate Member of the Risk Management Society, New York.
Mr. Smith joined Henderson Insurance in 1990 and is Senior Vice President and part owner of the business. Priorto joining Henderson Insurance, he worked for a large national insurance company in a variety of roles, including Marketing Representative, Senior Marketing Representative and Marketing Manager. Mr. Smith is based in Moose Jaw.
JEFF A. STERZUK
Vice President, Development & External Relations, Impact Society
Calgary, Alta.
Mr. Sterzuk was appointed to the Board of SGI in 2008. He is Chair of the Investment Committee. Mr. Sterzuk has completed the Chartered Director program through the Directors College. He completed the Securities Course and Conducts and Practices program in 2000, and the Certified Financial Planner designation in 1998. Mr. Sterzuk holds a Bachelor of Arts (Public Administration) from the University of Saskatchewan, which he completed in 1989.
Mr. Sterzuk has served on several not-for-profit boards throughout his career, including the Regina and Abbotsford Symphony Orchestras, the Regina and Abbotsford Executive Associations and many church and other charity governance and fundraising committees.
Mr. Sterzuk joined Impact Society in 2007 and is currently Vice President, Development & External Relations. Prior to Impact Society he spent 15 years working in the financial services industry with Investors Group and RBC Dominion Securities where he most recently served as Regional Director for the Calgary-Lethbridge Region for Investors Group until 2007. Mr. Sterzuk is based in Calgary.
