Lesley Lavender is the new chief executive officer of the Federation of Ontario Cottagers’ Associations (FOCA).
Lavender replaces Terry Rees, who announced last November he would be leaving the Peterborough-based organization in March after 20 years at CEO to pursue other interests.
Established in 1963 and incorporated in 1974, today FOCA represents 525 lake and road associations in rural communities across Ontario and speaks for the interests of 250,000 seasonal and year-round waterfront property owners, including issues related to sustainable communities, public safety, and environmental protection.
For the past five years, Lavender has been CEO of the Prince Edward County Chamber of Commerce, a non-profit association that represents more than 275 businesses of all sizes and industries, primarily in the Municipality of Prince Edward and throughout the Bay of Quinte region.
“Hiring someone with Lesley’s experienced leadership is a clear example of FOCA’s determination to generate momentum and positive impact for our member associations,” says Ian Crawford, FOCA past president and chair of the CEO hiring committee, in a media release.
“We held an extensive search that yielded candidates from across Canada. We were very impressed with the high quality of the people we met, but Lesley stood out for her experience and proven ability to create and expand relationships with members, media, and partners.”
According to the media release, in her role at the Prince Edward County Chamber of Commerce, Lavender “represents a small community with a vast geographical spread that mirrored the unique composition of waterfront communities throughout Ontario” and understands the challenges and expectations in a community that accommodates both visitors and seasonal residents alongside long-term inhabitants.
“This understanding fuels my passion to delve deeper into similar dynamics across our province, with an unwavering commitment to expanding my knowledge and sharing my skill set,” Lavender says. “My aim is to foster a collective appreciation for water and the environment, catalyzing a shared commitment to their preservation.”
Lavender will assume the role of FOCA’s CEO on April 1.
“The board thanks outgoing CEO Terry Rees for his leadership over the past 20 years with FOCA,” reads the media release. “Terry was responsible for significant growth in membership and building the profile of the organization over his tenure.”
