Fort McMurray community leader joins Capacity Canada board

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Jeanette Bancarz of Fort McMurray, Alta., joined the Capacity board as of the organization’s annual general meeting June 14 in Waterloo Region, Ont. Bancarz is a community branch manager for ATB Financial, responsible for two branches in Fort McMurray.

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Jeanette Bancarz of Fort McMurray has joined the Capacity Canada board of directors.

For three years, she has been chair of FuseSocial, an agency that provides a range of supportive services to charitable not-for-profit organizations in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo. Fort McMurray is part of that region. She will be past-chair at the end of June.

“I have learned so much from Jeanette and her community leadership skills in Fort McMurray,” said Steve Farlow, past chair of Capacity Canada. Farlow also serves in a mentoring role as board chair in residence with FuseSocial. “She is such a positive addition to our Capacity Canada board.”

The Capacity appointment is a good fit for her interests, Bancarz said. Capacity Canada and FuseSocial have worked together in Fort McMurray to help boards of not-for-profits improve governance practices and decision-making.

Jeanette Bancarz (left) takes part in a panel discussion at a Capacity Canada-FuseSocial board governance boot camp in November 2015. Bancarz has joined the Capacity board.
Jeanette Bancarz (left) takes part in a panel discussion at a Capacity Canada-FuseSocial board governance boot camp in November 2015. Bancarz has joined the Capacity board.

“This is the next wave in building strong communities, and community is my passion,” Bancarz said. “To be part of what Capacity Canada is doing can elevate what (FuseSocial) is doing as well.”

Capacity Canada began as Capacity Waterloo Region in 2009 to gather mentors, build networks and offer programs that strengthen charitable not-for-profits. The organization changed its name in 2014 as demand for its services started to come from communities outside Waterloo Region.

Bancarz joins Farlow, Terry Reidel, Joanna Lohrenz and Joe Sehl on the Capacity board.

Lohrenz, a Manulife vice-president who has been a Capacity director since 2012, is the new chair.

“Our board is made up of people with different business backgrounds and board experiences who have thoughtful and engaging perspectives on social innovation,” Lohrenz said. “We love what Capacity Canada does to help develop resilient, well-led organizations.”