R Steve introduced Bruce:
Bruce received an honours degree in Economics from the Royal Military College of Canada in 1975. He is also a Certified Management Accountant, a Certified Financial Planner, and holds a Municipal Administration Certificate from the Association of Municipal Clerks and Treasurers of Ontario.
Bruce served as a commissioned officer in the Canadian Armed Forces from 1975 to 1980, when he left to pursue management opportunities in the private sector. He has held middle and senior management positions with a number of firms, including the Steel Company of Canada, Vagden Mills Limited, CAE Fiberglass, and Wilson Sports Canada. In 2005, he assumed the role of CAO for the Municipality of Brighton, a position he held for three years. . In 2013, he recently retired from his position as Executive Director of Trenval Business Development Corporation.
His volunteer activities in the past have included Chairman of the Quinte District Manufacturers Association, Treasurer of the Quinte Economic Development Commission, a Governor of Loyalist College, serving as it Chairman in 2004/05, and a member of the Board of Northumberland United Way. He was the Treasurer of the Brighton Health Services Centre from 2003 to 2017, and has continued in that capacity with the Brian Todd Memorial Community Fund. Bruce was also the Treasurer of the Codrington Community Association for seven years. More recently, he assumed the role of Treasurer for the local community group that sponsored a Syrian refugee family to Brighton.
Bruce was a member of the Brighton Rotary Club from 1998 to 2007.
Bruce and his wife Sheila have lived in Brighton since 1998. They have two married daughters and four grandchildren.
Steve has always appreciated Bruce's quick smile and enthusiasm. But notes it appears that neither Rotary, the Town or anyone has been able to hang onto Bruce for very long. Exception is Sheila.
Bruce was with us this morning to share with us the Brian Todd Memorial Community Fund (BTMCF). It is a registered charity that evolved from the sale of the Brighton Health Services Centre to the Municipality of Brighton in 2017.
Bruce noted it has been 7 years since the passing of Brian Todd. It has been 18 years since the Brighton Health Services Centre got started.
The BTMCF is in transition from the Brighton Health Services Centre. They focus on health and community grants. Their sole purpose is providing grants. He believes their best days are ahead. They are in the process of reviewing policies and their administration and documentation. They want the BTMCF to be a legacy fund for ever, to be the preferred choice of charity for locals.
They are volunteers so costs are minimal, a PO Box, some stationary and annual audit.
Web site is new: BTMCF.net
Bruce gave us a run down of the funds they have directed to the community since 2008. Totaling $378,915 to 96 projects in the past 10 years. 38 separate agencies have benefited. They are improving lives every day.
R Murray thanked Bruce for all he does and specially for the BTMCF.