Judy Wasylycia-Leis

Judy Wasylycia-Leis was named Chair of the Board of Directors of the Public Services Foundation of Canada in June, 2011, and appointed Commissioner to the Commission on Quality Public Services and Tax Fairness in December, 2011.

Ms Wasylycia-Leis is a respected former Member of Parliament who represented the riding of Winnipeg North (known earlier as Winnipeg North Centre) in the House of Commons between 1997 and 2010. She had earlier served as a Member of the Legislative Assembly in Manitoba representing the riding of St. John’s between 1986 and 1993. During that period (1986-1988) Ms Wasylycia-Leis served as Minister of Culture, Heritage and Recreation in the Cabinet of Premier Howard Pawley. In 2010 Ms. Wasylycia-Leis contested the election for Mayor of Winnipeg, placing second.

Born in Winterbourne, Ont., near Kitchener, Ms Wasylycia-Leis graduated from the University of Waterloo and later earned a Master’s degree in political science from Carleton University in Ottawa.

Since stepping down from elected public service Ms Wasylycia-Leis has been active as a volunteer and board member for several non-governmental organizations in Canada and the Middle East, including Heifer Canada, Community Ventures, Northend Stella Community Ministry in Winnipeg, and the U.S.-based National Democratic Institute where she has worked in Jordan to promote democracy-building.