Richard Wyma New ERCA GM

Monday, Feb. 1, 2010

Essex - Mr. Richard Wyma becomes the new General Manager of the Essex Region Conservation Authority today.

"Mr. Wyma brings with him more than twenty years of experience in natural resource management," stated ERCA Chair Anthony Leardi. "The staff and Board look forward to working with him as he takes on this leadership role."

Over the span of his career, Mr. Wyma has focused on parks and conservation, land use and environmental planning, and sustainable development. For the past dozen years, he has served as the Manager of Parks and Conservation Areas for the Government of Nunavut. Some of his accomplishments have included the management and planning of parks and conservation areas within Canada's most southern and northern regions, negotiating land claim obligations related to protected areas and land use planning, and developing a new park program for Nunavut. He has participated on a number of federal-provincial-territorial parks and conservation committees, including the Canadian Heritage Rivers and the Canadian Council of Ecological Areas. He is also a founding director of the Nunavut Association of Landscape Architects. Prior to his initiation as the first employee of Nunavut Parks, he served as ERCA's Land Management Supervisor. Since December 1, Mr. Wyma has been transitioning into this new position.

"I am very excited for the opportunity to work towards creating a future of sustainability for the Essex Region," said Wyma. "Having been raised in this area, it is exciting to see the progress that has been made and I look forward to continuing to advance the critical work of the Conservation Authority and the Foundation."

Richard and his wife Fe and have recently relocated from Frobisher Bay, Iqaluit back to the Essex Region.