Board of Trustees

Michael Knowlton retired from Dundee Realty Corporation as President of Dundee REIT in May 2011 after 13 years of service. From December 1998 until May 2011 he held increasingly senior executive positions culminating in becoming President of Dundee REIT. Michael is a director of Tricon Capital Group Inc. and a trustee of Dream Industrial REIT and Dream Global REIT. Michael received his B.Sc. (Engineering) and MBA from Queen’s University, earned his CA designation in 1977 and his ICD.D designation in 2011.

Paul Beesley served as a corporate director since 2018. He was Chief Financial Officer of Hudson's Bay Company from 2014 until his retirement in 2017. Prior to joining HBC, he held the position of Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at Empire Company Limited from 1999 until 2014. Paul sits on the Board of Orlando Corporation and holds various designations including ICD.D, CPA, MBA from Saint Mary’s University and a B.Sc. from Dalhousie University in addition to having completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School.

Jane Craighead has over twenty years of international experience with public company Boards of Directors, a strong understanding of corporate governance and board effectiveness, and a deep expertise in human resources and executive compensation. Jane is currently a board member of three public companies including Crombie REIT, Wajax Corporation and Telesat Corporation. She previously served as a board member of Jarislowsky Fraser Limited, Intertape Polymer Group and Clearwater Seafoods. Her prior corporate roles include Senior Vice President Global Human Resources at Scotiabank, Global Practice Leader Rewards at Rio Tinto PLC, and Eastern Canada Business Leader for Human Capital Advisory Services at Mercer Human Resource Consulting. Previously, Jane held full-time faculty appointments at Queen’s University, Concordia University, and McGill University. Jane began her career with Ernst & Young and was a manager in audit before pursuing an academic career. Jane holds a PhD in Management from McGill University, a Bachelor of Commerce from Mount Allison University, and is a Canadian Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) and Chartered Accountant (CA).

James M. Dickson is the Chair of Empire Company Limited. He is counsel to the law firm of Stewart McKelvey, with over 30 years of experience practicing primarily in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance and securities prior to his retirement from the partnership in 2016. Jim serves as a director of Clearwater Seafoods Incorporated, Empire, and Sobeys Inc. He is the past Chair of the Board of Regents of Mount Allison University and past Chair of the IWK Health Centre Foundation. Jim holds a Certificate in Engineering from Mount Allison University, a Bachelor of Civil Engineering from the Technical University of Nova Scotia and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Calgary. He is a professional engineer and was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 2010.

Heidi Jamieson-Mills, CPA, CA, is the Director of Finance with the IWK Health Centre Foundation and is based in Pictou County, Nova Scotia. Prior to joining the IWK Foundation, Heidi was the Senior Vice President of Finance, Reporting and Treasury for Empire Company Limited. Heidi is a well-rounded finance leader with over 20 years’ experience in finance, treasury and taxation functions, strategic business planning, business transformation and integrations and is an advocate in diversity, equity, and inclusion. After graduating from Dalhousie University’s Commerce Program, Heidi completed her Chartered Accountant professional designation in 2001, receiving the Harry G. Holden Memorial Award for placing first in her class across Atlantic Canada. In 2010, Heidi’s career accomplishments led to her being named one of Atlantic Canada’s Top 50 leaders under 35. In 2020, Heidi was honoured to be named one of the Top 100 Most Powerful Women in Canada by the Women’s Executive Network. In 2022 Heidi was appointed to the Independent Advisory Board for Senate Appointments representing Nova Scotia for a one-year term. Heidi is a committed community leader and has been actively involved with various organizations that enhance healthcare and health outcomes, and support victims of domestic abuse. In past years, she has served as Treasurer with the Aberdeen Health Foundation Society and Treasurer and Vice-Chair with Tearmann Society for Abused Women.

Heather Grey-Wolf is the Chief Development Officer of Infrastructure Ontario, a position she has held since 2021. As CDO, Heather leads IO’s $45 billion Development program. Her portfolio consists of 71 sites across three business lines, including transit-oriented communities, social purpose projects, and landmark projects. Since joining IO, Heather has built a team of development professionals and a portfolio of 100,000 housing units in 110 million square feet of mixed-used real estate. Heather’s expertise is a unique blend of development leadership in both the public and private sectors. She has over 20 years of progressive experience in the real estate and development industry across Canada. Heather is passionate about leading development projects at scale, building team culture, and driving results. Heather has an MBA from the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto, a B.Arch and B.Sc from McGill University, and is a licensed architect with the Ontario Association of Architects.

Jason Shannon is President of the Shannex group of companies, one of Canada’s leading senior living companies serving over 5,000 residents in over 70 residences across the Maritimes and Ontario.  Under his leadership, Shannex, a private family-owned company, has designed and built over 5 million square feet of state-of-the-art facilities across the seniors living continuum.  Jason is a hands-on leader who remains closely connected to operational realities while guiding organizational strategy and development activities.  Jason’s passion for driving innovation and quality has led to real change that has improved the lives of seniors at every stage of living, including home care, retirement living and long-term care. Jason is a graduate of Dalhousie University with a Bachelor of Commerce (1994) and an L.L.B (1997). He is a member and chairs several public, and private company boards that service the real estate, technology, and health care fields. Over the years he has also volunteered on many educational, and not-for-profit boards that focus on seniors aging well. 

Paul D. Sobey retired as President and Chief Executive Officer of Empire Company Limited in 2013 after 32 years with the company. He received his Bachelor of Commerce from Dalhousie University, attended Harvard University Business School, Advanced Management Program and is a Chartered Accountant. Paul became a Fellow Chartered Accountant of Nova Scotia in 2006. In addition to sitting on Crombie's board as an independent trustee, Paul sits on the boards of Empire and Sobeys Inc. Paul previously served as the Audit Committee Chair and a member of the board of directors for the Bank of Nova Scotia. Paul was the Chancellor of Saint Mary’s University in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Michael Vels is the former Chief Development Officer of Empire Company Limited and Sobeys Inc., where he was responsible for leading Empire's real estate, technology, strategic sourcing, enterprise project management and mergers, and acquisitions activities. Michael was previously Chief Financial Officer of Empire from 2017-2021. Prior to Sobeys, Michael was Chief Financial Officer of Hydro One, where he led that organization's Initial Public Offering in 2015. From 2004-2014, Michael served as Chief Financial Officer for Maple Leaf Foods, leading the company's finance, mergers and acquisitions, information technology and communications functions. In 2014, he was named Chief Transition Officer, leading the restructuring of senior management and back-office functions. Michael serves as Treasurer of Canada's National Ballet School. He was educated and earned his Chartered Accountant designation in South Africa and prior to joining Maple Leaf Foods, worked in public accounting and mergers and acquisitions in South Africa and the United Kingdom. He has also earned his ICD.D designation. 

Karen Weaver is currently the President of the Timberlane Group, a family enterprise based in Toronto, whose business is in residential and commercial development in Canada and the United States.  Karen retired as President and CEO of MCAN Mortgage Corporation, having been appointed in May 2019. Prior to that, Karen was Interim CEO of MCAN Mortgage Corporation since October 2018 and a Director of MCAN Mortgage Corporation since 2011. Karen was the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of D+H Corporation from 2014 to 2017 and the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of First Capital Realty, Inc from 2004 to 2014. She served as the Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President at Brookfield Property Corporation from 2000 to 2003. Karen was a Trustee of Northwest Healthcare Properties REIT until 2021 and member of the Board of Directors for MCAP Commercial LP. Karen holds a BBA from Old Dominion University and an ICD.D designation from the Institute of Corporate Directors and is a licensed public accountant, retired, from Washington State, USA and has the FEA Designation.