Mr. Garry McDonald was, until his retirement in 2012, the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Sarnia Lambton Chamber of Commerce where, under his leadership, the chamber increased business membership by 60% to over 1,000 businesses. In this role, Mr. McDonald liaised directly with government representatives from all three levels of government on border, transportation, trade and energy matters. Prior to his time at the Sarnia Lambton Chamber of Commerce, Mr. McDonald worked as the Senior Director, Revenue Facilities at the St. Clair Parkway Commission overseeing the successful operations of the revenue generating facilities division.
In addition to serving on the Canadian Snowbird Association board as President, Mr. McDonald is Board of Director Chairman of the Bluewater Power Group of Companies in Sarnia-Lambton Ontario. Further, he is a director with Rail Advocacy in Lambton.
Mr. McDonald’s previous board experience includes serving on the Sarnia Hospital Commission Board and the South West Ontario Travel Association (SWOTA). He was a founding director and vice-chair of Tourism Sarnia Lambton and a director with the Chamber of Commerce Executives of Ontario and Canada and the Sarnia Lambton Workforce Development Board. He also served as a director and vice-chair of the Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership.
Garry and his wife Mary Ellen, a retired healthcare professional, business owner and author, reside in Camlachie, Ontario and spend their winters in North Fort Myers, Florida.