Board of Trustees


J. Michael Knowlton
Chair
Paul Beesley

Donald Clow

Jane Craighead

Jim M. Dickson

John C. Eby

Barbara Palk

Jason P. Shannon

Jana Sobey

Paul D. Sobey

Karen Weaver

Michael Vels
Michael Vels is the Chief Development Officer of Empire Limited and Sobeys Inc., where he is 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.