Gail Nyberg retiring as Executive Director of Daily Bread Food Bank
TORONTO, April 21, 2017 /CNW/ - After 12 years as Executive Director of Daily Bread Food Bank, Canada's largest food bank and food distribution hub, Gail Nyberg announced her retirement, effective in early 2018. She will continue to serve until a successor is named and the transition is complete.
"It's always a bit bittersweet to say goodbye but my overriding feeling is one of pride," said Nyberg. "In the 10-plus years I've been at Daily Bread, we have become an innovator in the way we provide service, with our research, with our nutritional KPIs – and that's just the beginning. It feels good to be retiring with Daily Bread in a strong position with a staff that has the guts and brains to keep that mission moving forward."
Nyberg joined Daily Bread in 2005 after a career as a school board trustee with the East York School Board, and then as the board chair for the newly created Toronto District School Board, one of the largest school boards in North America. She became known for pushing for increased supports for newcomer children and adult learners, and for going toe-to-toe with the provincial government when it demanded a series of cuts. After leaving the TDSB, she continued her activism on behalf of families, seniors, and the working poor by joining the Federation of Metro Tenants Associations prior to Daily Bread.
One of Canada's largest food relief agencies, Daily Bread Food Bank is a distribution hub for millions of pounds of food, supporting more than 130 member agencies and some 200 food programs. In 2016 Daily Bread reported more than 745,400 visits to its member agencies' food banks, and is an integral part of food programs that serve more than 2.6 million meals every year to adults and children in need.
Nyberg also led the food bank in its call for changes to social assistance programs for families. Daily Bread was instrumental in getting the provincial government to implement an Ontario Child Benefit, which along with other initiatives helped lift nearly 50,000 children and families out of poverty.
"On behalf of the board of directors, and the people of Toronto, I want to say a huge, heartfelt thank-you to Gail for her strength, savvy leadership, and dedication to social change," said Al Shulman, board chair for Daily Bread Food Bank. "Under Gail's leadership, Daily Bread became a key player in public policy, addressing the causes of hunger while helping people put food in their cupboards today – that's an incredible legacy and a strong way forward."
Daily Bread's board has retained Caldwell Partners, a nationally recognized executive recruiting firm, to advise the board on potential candidates.
SOURCE Daily Bread Food Bank
Benita Aalto, Senior Manager, Communications, T: 416-203-0050 ext. 238, M: 416-450-2196, E: [email protected]
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