WPS Board Members

CHAIR:

Mayor, Drew Dilkens is a lifelong resident of the City of Windsor. He holds business and law degrees from the University of Windsor (called to the bar in 2012) and an M.B.A. from Wayne State University. He received his Doctorate of Business Administration from the International School of Management in Paris, France with a focus on municipal amalgamation in Ontario. He obtained the Chartered Director (C.Dir.) designation from The Directors College (2021), and also holds the professional designation of a Certified Human Resources Leader, along with training certificates from the Canadian Foreign Service Institute, Canadian Securities Institute and Federal Bureau of Investigations in the United States.

He was elected Mayor of the City of Windsor on October 27, 2014. He was re-elected on October 22, 2018, for his second term. He was re-elected on October 24, 2022, for his third term. Mayor Dilkens is committed to a program of fiscal discipline and economic diversification. Since being elected, he has continued to focus on improving the city’s infrastructure – including roads and sewers, holding the line on taxes, supporting economic development that creates jobs and attracts investments, and positioning Windsor as a destination of choice for those looking to build homes, careers and families. 


VICE CHAIR: 

Councillor Jo-Anne Gignac is a lifelong resident of the Riverside area. Jo-Anne was first elected to City Council in 2003.

Jo-Anne has also been involved with a number of Community organizations, including the Children's Achievement Centre, Windsor Catholic Family Services, Habitat for Humanity, May Court Club of Windsor and the Farrow Miracle Park.

Councillor Gignac’s continuing priorities are to attract diversified investment in Windsor to create jobs; continuing the City of Windsor’s fiscal focus on reducing costs and taxes; promoting safe and clean neighbourhoods; and investing in improved sewers and roads. She is committed to working tirelessly with residents and business, making the tough decisions to achieve an attractive, vibrant community at the forefront of social and economic innovation.

 

MEMBERS:

Sophia Chisholm is a lifelong resident of Windsor.  Sophia is a certified professional accountant (CPA, CA) with a Bachelor of Commerce Honours Business Administration degree from the University of Windsor. Sophia brings financial expertise and community direction to the Board as a leader in financial management, business strategy, and employee development, with experience in both the private and public sector.

Sophia is currently the Senior Vice-President, Finance at Windsor Family Credit Union (WFCU) where she oversees the credit union’s financial operations.  Prior to her current position, she held executive finance and administrative positions in various industry sectors including manufacturing, retail automotive, and professional public accounting.

Sophia has demonstrated community and governance leadership as a current board member of the Windsor Port Authority, and as a former Member of the Windsor Police Services Board (2016-2018), the Windsor Essex Children’s Aid Foundation (Board Vice-President), Essex Golf and Country Club (Finance Committee), and Association for Persons with Physical Disabilities (past-Treasurer). She was named a Heart & Stroke Red Dress Honoree for her dedication to community involvement and has launched several charitable initiatives involving children and food/toy drives.  She has volunteered for numerous non-profit organizations and events throughout the community, in both a personal and professional philanthropic capacity.

Sophia is passionate about the safety and standing of Windsor, where she lives with her husband and two daughters.  As a staunch supporter of Windsor-Essex, Sophia believes that volunteerism and direct involvement are essential elements to the community’s culture.

 

Mr. Robert de Verteuil lives in Downtown Windsor with his wife and three children. After serving in the Canadian Armed Forces and attending the University of Toronto, Mr. de Verteuil spent twenty years in the automotive industry in IT and systems engineering. He specializes in Lean methodologies and worked in Canada, the USA, the UK, and India for many of the largest automakers and suppliers in the world. He is now an IT consultant with Newvic Technologies, specializing in cybersecurity.

The son of immigrants from Trinidad and Tobago, Mr. de Verteuil is dedicated to volunteering and community involvement, and has served on many boards, committees, clubs and organizations over the years. In his spare time, he enjoys cooking, listening to music and enjoying the outdoor activities with his family.


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