Kevin P. D. Smith Appointed to the Board of the Canada Foundation for Innovation

OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Dec. 18, 2007) - The Honourable Jim Prentice, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI), today appointed Dr. Kevin Smith to the Foundation's Board of Directors.

"Dr. Smith's experience working in health care and academia will allow him to offer the Board varied perspectives on hospital and university needs for research infrastructure. I am pleased to welcome him to the CFI's Board of Directors," said Minister Prentice.



Dr. Smith is currently President and Chief Executive Officer of St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, Chief Executive Officer of St. Mary's General Hospital in Kitchener and an Associate Professor at the McMaster University School of Medicine. Dr. Smith also serves on the boards of directors of several organizations, including the Association of Canadian Healthcare Organizations, the Ontario Hospital Association and the Ontario Council of Teaching Hospitals.

Dr. Smith earned his Doctorate in Philosophy at the University of Sussex in England and completed the Chief Executive Officer Program for Healthcare Leadership at the Wharton School of Business. In 2003 he was awarded the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal, which recognizes Canadians who have made outstanding and exemplary contributions to their communities or to Canada as a whole.

The CFI is an independent corporation created by the Government of Canada to fund research infrastructure. The CFI's mandate is to strengthen the capacity of Canadian universities, colleges, research hospitals, and non-profit research institutions to carry out world-class research and technology development that benefits Canadians.


CONTACT INFORMATION:
Deirdra McCracken
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Jim Prentice
Minister of Industry
613-995-9001