The Nova Scotia Gaming Foundation is pleased to announce the government appointment of three new board members and the reappointment of a fourth. Set to begin a three-year tenure are: Jerome Aucoin of Sydney; Janice Fraser of New Glasgow; and Deborah Bucci of Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. Tracy Schrans of Boutlier’s Point has been appointed for a second term. The new appointees will join Jim MacCormack (Chair) and Dave Whiting (member), bringing the Nova Scotia Gaming Foundation Board of Directors to a total of six. The newly augmented Board is set to meet on Friday, June 6, 2008 in Halifax.
Jerome Aucoin is a Clinical Therapist and Problem Gambling Specialist with Addiction Services at the Cape Breton District Health Authority. He brings to the Board more than 20 years of experience in the development of programs and services aimed at the prevention and treatment of problem gambling, both in Cape Breton and across the province. Jerome is dedicated to making gambling safer for the people of Nova Scotia.
Janice Fraser is Manager of Community-Based Services, Addiction Services, at the Pictou County Health Authority. Previously a Clinical Therapist and Problem Gambling Specialist, she currently serves on the provincial Gambling Task Force and has served on the provincial Gambling Initiative Group and the provincial committee for Best Practices for Problem Gambling. Janice has a long-standing interest in a broad-based approach to addiction and to social problems.
Deborah Bucci is a career educator and coach having taught full and part time in the HRM for the last 38 years. From her home base at Bicentennial School she also has taught night classes at the Dartmouth High School Adult Continuing Education Program and, in particular, developed improved skills courses for the business sector. She brings to the Foundation a wealth of experience as a communicator and problem solver.
Tracy Schrans is a Principal and President of Focal Research Consultants in Halifax. Since 1988, Tracy has been conducting gambling research in public policy, community health, regulatory and commercial gaming sectors with international recognition in gambling behaviour and measurement, applied consumer research, prevalence and, responsible gambling. Tracy has worked on some of the most challenging and innovative population and field research in the area of gambling with specific expertise in electronic gambling machines (slots, egms, VLT’s).
Jim MacCormack of Ben Eoin, Cape Breton is Chair of the Board of Directors. Jim holds a Masters in Social Work and is retired from a distinguished, 40-year career as a public servant for both the Province of Nova Scotia and Cape Breton Regional Municipality. He has extensive volunteer experience and has served and chaired numerous boards throughout his lifetime. Jim joined the NSGF Board in August 2005.
Dave Whiting is the Port Manager of the Port of Yarmouth and General Manager of the Yarmouth Development Corporation. A retired member of the RCMP, Dave also sits on the Board of Governors of the Nova Scotia Museum, is the founding Chair of the Independent Marine Ports Association of Canada, and sits on the executive committee of the North Atlantic Ports Association and the Maritime Seacoast Advisory Board. Dave has served the Nova Scotia Gaming Foundation since August, 2005.
The Nova Scotia Gaming Foundation is an arms-length, government, not-for-profit organization that provides funding and support for community and research projects aimed at problem gambling.
