Grimsby accountant Jen Lawson has been appointed to the Niagara Police Services Board.
Lawson was appointed by the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario for a three-year term which started Nov. 20. She fills the position previously held by former board member Ken Gansel, who served for more than eight years.
“I am honored to have been appointed to the Niagara Police Services Board,” said Lawson. “I anticipate the role will be complex and challenging, and I look forward to offering my contribution to ensure that our communities have the policing services they need.”
Lawson is a Chartered Professional Accountant with more than 20 years of accounting experience, working in both the public and private sectors covering manufacturing, family entertainment, hospital, university, regional and provincial governments.
Lawson was born in Hamilton and moved to the Niagara Region in 2002 where she has been an active member of the community, running for municipal council in 2010.
She is known for her extended community involvement including as a volunteer in local baseball, the Air Cadets, and other community work.
Chair Bill Steele said, “Ms. Lawson’s public and private sector accounting experience will serve her and this Board well in the many challenges we currently face. Her appointment will strengthen and add diversity to our Board and assist with her new responsibilities. We all look forward to her input and a new perspective that Jen will bring to assist in the resolution of issues before this Board.”
The Niagara Police Services Board is the civilian body governing the Niagara Regional Police Service and is comprised of seven members. By statute, three are members of the Regional Council of Niagara, three are citizens of Niagara appointed by the provincial government, and one member is a citizen appointment made by the Regional Council of Niagara.
It is responsible for the provision of adequate and effective police services for 12 municipalities, totaling some 480,000 residents and an estimated 15,000,000 visitors annually.