Ontario’s Niagara Parks Commission Appoints New General Manager

A Submission from the Niagara Parks Commission

(Niagara At Large is posting this release from the Niagara Parks Commission, the provincial body responsible for protecting and preserving lands along the Canadian shores of the Niagara River, from Fort Erie, through Niagara Falls to Niagara-on-the-Lake. The release speaks to the appointment of John Lohuis as the NPC’s new general manager. He replaces Fay Booker, who held the position until March of 2012.) 

NIAGARA FALLS, ONTARIO, June 22  – John Lohuis, former Director of Recreation and Parks for the City of Mississauga, has been appointed General Manager of the Niagara Parks Commission, Chair Janice Thomson announced today.

The Niagara Parks Commission’s new general manager John Lohuis

“John’s strong background in all areas of Parks management and development is an excellent fit for the NPC and his proven, disciplined approach to meeting customer needs within a structured budget will help achieve the organization’s goals,” Thomson said. 

As General Manager of the Niagara Parks Commission, Lohuis will work with the Commission to provide leadership and strategic business direction that maintains profitable growth, inspires and engages management and staff in pursuit of Commission goals, and builds effective relationships with employees, community and business.

Lohuis’ appointment comes after the Commission launched an international search in April to fill the position, attracting qualified candidates from across North America. 

During his 35-year career, Lohuis has served as Director of Parks and Recreation for the Township of Delhi, Town of Aurora, the cities of Windsor and London, and most recently, for 12 years at the City of Mississauga. For the past year, he has been adjunct lecturer at the University of Waterloo’s Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies in the Faculty of Applied Health Sciences.

During his tenure at Mississauga, Lohuis was responsible for overseeing more than 500 full-time and 2,000 part-time employees, 4,000 acres of land, and 30 major facilities, as well as developing strategic plans for all of the city’s business areas and managing the city’s tourism and environmental portfolios. He oversaw the launch of the Arts and Culture Plan for the city and the $40 million reconstruction of Mississauga Civic Square. He also established the Mississauga West Toronto Tourism office, which works with the cities of Brampton and Toronto to market the three cities as a tourism destination.

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