Hon. Carolyn Bertram, Minister of Communities, Cultural Affairs and Labour announced today that Nancy Guptill has been appointed as Chair of the Workers Compensation Board, effective January 1, 2008.
“Nancy has served our province in various capacities throughout her career and with many volunteer organizations,” said Minister Bertram. “She sat as a member of Executive Council and as Speaker of the Legislative Assembly. I am confident that she will continue to serve the people of Prince Edward Island with fairness and dignity as Chair of the Workers Compensation Board of Directors.”
Ms. Guptill represented the people of Summerside in the Legislative Assembly from 1987 to 1999. During that time, she worked as a constituency representative, Minister of Tourism and Parks, Minister of Labour and the Status of Women, Minister responsible for Human Rights in Prince Edward Island and a member of several Standing Committees of the Legislative Assembly including Education, Policy Board, and Community and Cultural Affairs. She has represented PEI in international and commonwealth democratic organizations.
In 1996, Ms. Guptill was named Grand Officier de l'Ordre de la Pléiade, Ordre de la Francophonie et du dialogue des cultures.
“I am pleased to welcome Nancy Guptill as Chair of the Workers Compensation Board,” said Minister Bertram, who is the Minister Responsible for the Workers Compensation Board. “Nancy has repeatedly proven her dedication to the people of our province, and I know she will serve as Chair with that same commitment.”
The Chair is responsible to assure the integrity of the Board, to represent the Workers Compensation Board to outside parties through participation on external committees and boards, to ensure the Minister is informed of the corporation’s business, and to assume overall accountablity for the Workers Compensation Board.
BACKGROUND:
Nancy Guptill has been involved in municipal and provincial public service since 1982. She was the successful candidate in four provincial elections and two municipal elections and has served as Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, Chair of the Legislative Management Committee, Minister of Tourism and Parks, Minister of Labour and the Status of Women, Minister responsible for Human Rights in Prince Edward Island, and a member of several Standing Committees of the Legislative Assembly including Privileges, Rules and Private Bills, Social Development, and the Constitution of Canada.
She has been a member of Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and President and Chair, Women’s Commonwealth Parliamentary Group, member of the Greater Summerside Chamber of Commerce, Member of Summerside and Area Regional Planning Board, and Chair of the PEI Legislature Terrorism Investigation.
She represented Prince Edward Island on the Canadian Region Parliamentary Association and the CPA Small Countries Association, as a Democracy Transition Advisor at the personal invitation of Nelson Mandela and the South African Government. She was responsible for Prince Edward Island joining the Assembly of French-speaking Parliamentarians (APF). She was made Honorary President of the Prince Edward Island section of the APF.
Ms. Guptill has served as a Board Member for the Advisory Committee Women in Politics, Board Member for the Council of Association of Nurses of Prince Edward Island, and as the Summerside Coordinator for the Heart and Stroke Foundation fundraiser.
She lives in Summerside with her husband. They have three adult children.