CFY Welcomes New Board Chair and Co-Chair

Choices for Youth (CFY) hosted the Annual General Meeting (AGM) for our 2023-2024 fiscal year on December 2, 2024. One highlight from this event was the announcement of the departure of Geoff Davis as Chair of CFY’s Board of Directors following a maximum term of six years.  

We are deeply grateful to Geoff for his immeasurable contributions to CFY over the years and his invaluable leadership and strategic oversight, including recent contributions to the development of 19 units of supportive housing for young moms and their children, the development of our Social Enterprise and Innovation Hub, and the development of our first five-year strategic plan. Thankfully Geoff will remain on the CFY Board of Directors as Member Emeritus. 

As CFY enters a new era, we are thrilled to introduce Bruce Belbin as our new Board Chair Bruce brings a wealth of experience in post-secondary education, with a passion for team development. Committed to effective, strategic, efficient business services, public policy development and delivery, Bruce applies e evidence-based, data-driven decision-making with a balance of intuition and common sense. As Director of Student Residences & Ancillary Operations at Memorial University, Bruce has a proven track record of overseeing the development and management of 1700 student housing options in St. John’s. Bruce has extensive experience in other senior policy and leadership roles, including as former Deputy Minister of Post-secondary Education with the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, and the former Associate Vice President of the North Alberta Institute of Technology.   

New CFY Board Chair Bruce Belbin

Sean Ryan joins Bruce as the new CFY Board Vice Chair. Sean’s extensive background in law enforcement, including over 25 years in senior leadership roles, brings strong leadership and unique perspectives and life experiences to the table. As Vice President of Regulatory Services at Newfoundland Labrador Liquor Corporation, he has been instrumental in various initiatives, including the Cannabis Implementation Team. Sean has been invested by the Governor General as a Member of the Order of Merit (M.O.M.) of the Police Forces of Canada, honouring his leadership and exceptional service, on behalf of then monarch Queen Elizabeth II.

We are excited to have Bruce and Sean at the helm of the CFY Board of Directors and look forward to their contributions as we continue to support and empower youth in our community.

Written by Chris Morris