Gail originally came from Quebec but spent summers as a child in Bowmanville with her Aunt Vivian and Uncle Howard Pickertt at the West Beach. During her working career she was a school trustee for the Toronto District School Board and eventually became the Chair Person of the TDSB and held that position for many years. She was crucial in the implementation of the school food programs during her tenure. Gail then became the Executive Director of The Daily Bread Food Bank for 13 years and was instrumental in making it the success it is today. She had met Joe Solway will at the TDSB and again worked with Joe on the annual Daily Food Bank fund raisers.
Gail moved to Bowmanville 3.5 years ago after her husband told her he wanted out of the rat race in Toronto and for Gail Bowmanville was her only choice. She has three grown sons who all live in Durham Region and are close by.
Upon retirement she assisted in creating the Feed the Need in Durham where she currently holds the position of Vice President and this is where Rotarian Eli Brooks first met Gail when they worked on the Rotary's first annual concert for FTND.
In February 2018 Gail was awarded the Order of Ontario for her vast charitable works and for the implementation of programs that have aided so many people. Most recently she was co-chair of Mayor John Tory’s communications along with fellow Rotarian Lloyd Rang’s wife. Imagine two Bowmanville ladies running the mayor of Toronto’s communications! We'll learn more about Gail’s exciting life during her Classification talk.
Eli Brooks (L) and Gail Nyberg