The Board of Directors

Halifax, Nova Scotia
Director since 2015
Counsel, Stewart McKelvey
Chair of Empire Company Limited

James M. Dickson is the Chair of Empire Company Limited. He is a professional engineer and a lawyer. 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. Mr. Dickson is a trustee of Crombie REIT and a director of SeaFort Capital. He served as lead director of Clearwater Seafoods Incorporated, is a past Chair of the Board of Regents of Mount Allison University and a past Chair of the IWK Health Centre Foundation. Mr. Dickson is a graduate of Mount Allison University, the Technical University of Nova Scotia and the University of Calgary.

Toronto, Ontario
Director Since 2021
Corporate Director

Michelle Banik is a corporate director with a distinguished career in the Human Resources profession spanning a diverse portfolio of companies. Ms. Banik held the roles Chief People Officer and Senior Vice President (Global Head of Human Resources) of OMERS from 2015 until December 2019. Prior to that, from 2013 until 2015, she was the Vice President, Human Resources at OMERS. She previously served as a senior executive in a human resources capacity at TMX, where she was Director of Human Resources. Ms. Banik is currently on the Board of Governors for Western University, and the National Board of Directors for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada. She is also a member of the Advisory Council at the School for Advanced Studies in the Arts and Humanities (SASAH) at Western University. Ms. Banik holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Western University, a Certified Human Resources Executive designation and a Chartered Director designation from the DeGroote School of Business.

Toronto, Ontario
Director since 2013
Interim President & CEO and Chief Financial Officer, Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment

Cynthia Devine is the Interim President & CEO and Chief Financial Officer of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, a professional sports and entertainment company. Previously, Ms. Devine was the Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer of RioCan Real Estate Investment Trust from March 2015 until April 2017. Prior to that, from 2003 until 2014, she was the Chief Financial Officer of Tim Hortons Inc. She previously served as a senior executive in a financial capacity at Maple Leaf Foods and Pepsi-Cola Canada, where she was Chief Financial Officer. She serves as a director of Royal Bank of Canada and previously served as a director of ING Direct Canada. Ms. Devine holds an Honours Business Administration degree from the Richard Ivey School of Business at the University of Western Ontario and is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario.

Vancouver, British Columbia
Director since 2018
EVP & Special Advisor to the CEO, Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers Inc.

Sharon Driscoll is a corporate director with more than 30 years of finance and strategic business leadership experience, including her roles as Chief Financial Officer, Co-Chief Executive Officer and Executive Vice President and Advisor at RB Global Inc., from which she retired in September 2023.

Previously, she held other senior executive positions including, Chief Financial Officer at Katz Group Canada Limited, Chief Financial Officer at Sears Canada Limited and executive finance leadership roles at Loblaw Companies Limited.

Ms. Driscoll also serves as a director of Imperial Oil Limited. Ms. Driscoll holds a Bachelor of Commerce with Honours degree from Queen’s University and is a member of the Institutes of Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario and British Columbia. 

Fennville, Michigan, USA
Director since 2016
Corporate Director

Gregory Josefowicz is a corporate director. He is a seasoned retailer with over 40 years of business experience. Mr. Josefowicz was Chairman, President & Chief Executive Officer of Borders Group Inc. from 1999 until his retirement in 2006. Prior to that, he held progressively senior roles over a 30-year career at Jewel-Osco, ending as President until the acquisition by Albertsons in 1999. Mr. Josefowicz serves as Chairman of KeHE Distributors, LLC and as a director of United States Cellular Corporation. He previously served as the lead director of Roundy’s Inc. and Winn-Dixie Stores, and as a director of Pet Smart, Inc., Tops Markets, Inc., True Value Company and SpartanNash. Mr. Josefowicz holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Marketing from Michigan State University and a Master of Business degree in Finance from Northwestern University, Kellogg School of Management.

Toronto, Ontario
Director Since 2015
Corporate Director

William Linton is a corporate director with more than 30 years of business experience including his role as Executive Vice President, Finance & Chief Financial Officer at Rogers Communications Inc., from which he retired in 2012. Previously, he held other senior executive positions including President & Chief Executive Officer of Call-Net Enterprises Inc., Chair & Chief Executive Officer of Prior Data Sciences Inc. and Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of SHL Systemhouse Inc. Mr. Linton serves as Chair of TSX Trust Company, and as a director of TMX Group Limited and Deveron Corp. as well as a number of private companies. Mr. Linton holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Saint Mary’s University and is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario.

Toronto, Ontario
Director Since 2017
President & Chief Executive Officer, Empire Company Limited and Sobeys Inc.

Michael Medline was appointed President & Chief Executive Officer of Empire Company Limited and Sobeys Inc. in January 2017. Mr. Medline is a proven leader with a strong track record of success in Canadian retail. He has held senior retail leadership positions at Canadian Tire Corporation (CTC), including President & Chief Executive Officer of CTC. He began his career working with the Ontario Securities Commission, followed by two years practicing law with McCarthy Tétrault. He was Corporate Counsel for PepsiCo Canada before moving to Abitibi Consolidated Inc. where he held a variety of roles including Senior Vice President, Strategy and Corporate Development. 

Mr. Medline serves on the Board of Directors for Scotiabank, the Board of Trustees for SickKids, the Board of Governors for Huron University College at Western University, the Board of Directors for The BlackNorth Initiative and The Sobey Foundation. He is past Chair of the Retail Council of Canada as well as The Grocery Foundation, and was formerly on the Board of Governors for Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame and Board of Directors for SickKids Foundation.

Mr. Medline holds an MBA from Raymond A. Mason School of Business, William & Mary; an LL.B. from the University of Toronto; and a BA from Huron University College at Western University. 

New York, New York, USA
Director since 2017
Chief Marketing Officer and EVP of Content and Membership, National Retail Federation (U.S.)

Martine Reardon is Chief Marketing Officer and Executive Vice President of Content and Membership at the National Retail Federation (U.S)., the world’s largest retail trade association. She has over 30 years of retail marketing experience and previously held progressively senior roles at Macy’s Inc., including her most recent role as Chief Marketing Officer from which she retired in 2016. Ms. Reardon is the interim CEO of Crane Stationery. She serves on the advisory boards of Collette Travel and Mohawk Fine Papers Inc. In 2015, Ms. Reardon was ranked in the top ten of the “50 Most Influential CMOs in the World” by Forbes. Ms. Reardon holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management from St. Francis College.

Pictou County, Nova Scotia
Director Since 2007
Corporate Director

Frank C. Sobey is a corporate director and a member of the Trebek Council. Mr. Sobey was Vice President, Real Estate of Empire Company Limited until his retirement in 2014 after 36 years with the Company. Mr. Sobey also served as a trustee and Chairman of Crombie REIT from 2006 to 2019, as Chairman of the Dalhousie Medical Research Foundation, as well as a board member of the Canadian-U.S. Fulbright Program. Mr. Sobey graduated from Harvard University Business School’s Advanced Management Program and earned the ICD.D designation. He holds an honorary degree from Dalhousie University.

Pictou County, Nova Scotia
Director Since 1979
Corporate Director

John R. Sobey is a corporate director. Mr. Sobey was President and Chief Operating Officer of Sobeys until his retirement in 2001 after 34 years with Sobeys. He previously served as a director of Atlantic Shopping Centers, Food Marketing Institute FMI, Hannaford Bros., Jace Holdings Limited and Medavie Inc. Mr. Sobey graduated from Harvard University Business School’s Advanced Management Program.

Halifax, Nova Scotia
Director Since 2001
Corporate Director

Karl R. Sobey is a corporate director and President of Caribou River Investments Limited and JAFA Investments Limited. He was President of the Atlantic Division of Sobeys until his retirement in 2001 after 27 years with Sobeys. He graduated from the Advanced Management Program at the Richard Ivey School of Business, University of Western Ontario.

Pictou County, Nova Scotia
Director Since 1993
Corporate Director

Paul D. Sobey is a corporate director. Mr. Sobey was the President & Chief Executive Officer of Empire Company Limited from 1998 until his retirement in 2013 after 31 years with the Company. He serves as a trustee of Crombie REIT. Mr. Sobey previously served as a director of the Bank of Nova Scotia, the Chairman of Wajax Income Fund (now Wajax Corporation), a director of Emera Inc., and a member of the Board of Governors and Chancellor of Saint Mary’s University. Mr. Sobey holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Dalhousie University and graduated from Harvard University Business School’s Advanced Management Program. He received an honorary Doctorate of Commerce from Saint Mary’s University and is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Professional Accountants of Nova Scotia. In 2013, Mr. Sobey received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.

Stellarton, Nova Scotia
Director Since 1998
Corporate Director

Rob G.C. Sobey is a corporate director. Mr. Sobey was the President & Chief Executive Officer of Lawton’s Drug Stores Limited from 2006 until his retirement in 2014 after 25 years with Sobeys. He serves as a director of SeaFort Capital and the Institute of Corporate Directors. Mr. Sobey is Chair of the Sobey Art Foundation and the DRS Foundation, a member of the Queen’s Smith School of Business Advisory Board, serves on several foundation and not-for-profit boards, and is an Honorary Colonel of the Canadian Army. He holds an undergraduate from Queen’s University, an MBA from Babson College and the ICD.D designation.

Verdun, Québec
Director since 2012
Corporate Director

Martine Turcotte is a corporate director with more than 30 years of strategic, legal and regulatory experience at Bell related companies, including her most recent role as Vice Chair, Québec of BCE Inc. and Bell Canada, from which she retired in January 2020. She serves as a director of CIBC, is Chair of the board of directors of l’Institut des administrateurs de sociétés (Institute of Corporate Directors – Québec) and is a member of the McGill University Bicentennial Campaign Cabinet Executive Committee. Effective June 1, 2020, Ms. Turcotte was appointed Chair of the Judicial Compensation and Benefits Commission. Ms. Turcotte previously was a director of Bell Aliant Inc. Ms. Turcotte holds a Master of Business Administration degree from the London Business School and Bachelor of Civil Law and Common Law degrees from McGill University.