Niagara Falls, ON – April Jeffs has been appointed as the new Chair of The Niagara Parks Commission by the Ontario Minister of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries, the Honourable Lisa MacLeod. First appointed as Vice Chair of the Commission in January, 2019, April becomes Chair of the 12-person, provincially appointed Commission, taking on the helm following the passing of former Chair Sandie Bellows last fall.
April has an acute awareness of the work that goes in to delivering Niagara Parks’ mandate of supporting tourism and business as well as environmental and cultural stewardship, having completed a certificate in Tourism at Niagara College and working in the tourism and hospitality industry for several years before raising her family. An entrepreneur, April founded her wedding photography business, operating the company for the past 20 years.
In addition to her business background, April has a long commitment to public service, including being elected as Mayor of the Township of Wainfleet and serving as a Niagara Regional Councillor. April was Co Chair of the Public Health and Social Services Committee and Vice Chair of the Budget Committee while on Regional Council. She ran in both the 2018 provincial election and the 2019 federal election as a candidate for Niagara Centre. April currently serves on several boards including the Welland Heritage Council and Multicultural Centre, Goodwill Niagara and the Port Colborne/Wainfleet Chamber of Commerce.
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“I very much look forward to serving the Province of Ontario in this important role and working with my fellow Commissioners to advance the work of The Niagara Parks Commission, stated Jeffs. I would like to thank Minister Lisa MacLeod for entrusting me to deliver on the Commission’s mandate. We have much to contribute to tourism recovery and economic development in Niagara and in Ontario. Working collaboratively with community and stakeholders, we will continue to offer world-class guest experiences, while preserving and protecting our unique geography and heritage along the Niagara River corridor.”
“I am pleased to welcome April Jeffs as the new Chair of the Niagara Parks Commission,” said Minister Lisa MacLeod. “Her background in public service, tourism, and experience as Vice-Chair of the NPC through the pandemic, under the leadership of my dear late friend Sandie Bellows, will prove invaluable as the historic agency continues to move forward and enhance the tourism experience for one of this country’s greatest visitor destinations.”
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