Jim Dinning, Chairman

Since 2004, Mr. Dinning has been Chair of Western Financial Group, a leading western Canadian financial services company. Mr. Dinning was Executive Vice President of TransAlta Corporation (power generation and wholesale marketing company) from 1997 to 2004. Mr. Dinning served as Member of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Alberta from 1986 to 1997 and held several key positions including Provincial Treasurer. Mr. Dinning is the recipient of the Distinguished Service Award from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Alberta (1997), an Honorary LLD from the University of Calgary (2002), and in 2010 was appointed as Chancellor of the Board of Governors of the University of Calgary. Mr. Dinning is a director of Russel Metals Inc., Oncolytics Biotech Inc., and Parkland Fuel Corporation. Mr. Dinning is also Chair of the Canada West Foundation, and in previous years has served as a director of numerous other private and public companies. In 2007, Mr. Dinning completed the Directors Education Program of the Institute of Corporate Directors.

Irving Kipnes, Director

Mr. Kipnes founded Liquor Depot (one of the original companies involved in the formation of Liquor Stores Fund) in 1993, and served as its Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer throughout its eleven year history. Mr. Kipnes is also the President and Managing Director of Delcon Development Group, a group of private companies actively involved in the development of shopping centres and real estate subdivisions, which he founded in 1962. From 1982 to 1987, Mr. Kipnes was the largest shareholder, Co Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of North West Trust Company. Mr. Kipnes has also served on the board of directors of Alberta Liquor Store Association, since its inception and was its first elected President. Mr. Kipnes is active in many charitable endeavors and has served on the boards of directors of several charitable and community organizations including the University Hospital Foundation, co-Chair of the University Hospital Foundation Campaign for Prostate Health, the Campaign Cabinet of the Alberta Heart Institute, the Campaign Cabinet of the Capital Care Foundation (for relocation of the Mewburn Veteran's Centre which established the Dianne and Irving Kipnes Centre for Veterans) and Development Chair to develop a Jewish seniors residence in Edmonton. Mr. Kipnes graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering (honours) in 1959 and he worked as an Engineer for Imperial Oil until May 1963. In 2009, Mr. Kipnes was the recipient of an Honorary LLD from the University of Alberta. Mr. Kipnes has served as Executive Chairman of Liquor Stores since September 2008, and is also the former Chief Executive Officer of Liquor Stores Fund.

Henry Bereznicki, Director

Mr. Bereznicki founded Liquor World (one of the original companies involved in the formation of Liquor Stores Fund) in 1993, and served as its President and Chief Executive Officer throughout its eleven year history. Mr. Bereznicki has been a partner in North American Development Group (a private real estate developer) and its predecessors since 1987 and has held the position of President, Western Region of Centrecorp and predecessors for the past eleven years. Centrecorp is a Canadian and U.S. based real estate investment and services company, active in the development, acquisition, management and leasing of shopping centres across Canada and, through wholly owned United States Subsidiaries, in the United States. Mr. Bereznicki is responsible for Centrecorp's activities across the four western Canadian provinces as well as Arizona and Colorado. Mr. Bereznicki served on the board of directors of Alberta Liquor Store Association for a period of five years from inception and is involved as a member and former executive in the Alberta Chapter of the Young President's Organization. Mr. Bereznicki holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering, with distinction, from the University of Alberta as well as a Masters Degree in Business Administration (MBA) from Harvard University. Mr. Bereznicki has served as Board Chairman of Liquor Stores since 2004.

R. John Butler, Q.C., Director

Mr. Butler is counsel to Bryan & Company, a law firm. Mr. Butler is a member of the board of directors of TELUS Corporation and is currently Chair of the Canadian Football League Board of Governors. Mr. Butler holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Alberta.

Gary Collins, Director

Mr. Collins is the Senior Vice President of Belkorp Industries Inc. and serves as a Director of Rogers Sugar Inc. Mr. Collins is also a member of the Board of Chorus Aviation Inc. (formerly Jazz Air Income Corporation). Mr. Collins was President and CEO of Harmony Airways from December 2004 to December 2006. Previously Mr. Collins spent 13 years as a Member of the British Columbia Legislative Assembly, including serving as British Columbia’s Minister of Finance from 2001 to 2005.

Robert S. Green, Director

Mr. Green is the President of North American Development Group, a company which he joined in 1985, after specializing in the practice of commercial real estate law with a major Canadian law firm. Mr. Green has over 25 years of experience in managing, leasing, developing and acquiring retail properties throughout North America. Mr. Green was formerly a member of the board of directors and investment committee of Centrefund Realty Corporation and Sterling Centrecorp Inc., both public real estate companies listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange. Mr. Green is also a founding partner and President of Centrecorp Management Services, a retail/commercial real estate service provider with operations in both Canada and the United States. Mr. Green is a graduate of, and obtained an LLB from, the University of Toronto Law School.

David B. Margolus, Q.C., Director

Mr. Margolus is counsel to, a partner of, and former Managing Partner (for 13 years) of Witten LLP, with a legal practice focused primarily in the areas of corporate, commercial and real estate. Mr. Margolus is a trustee of XS Cargo Income Fund and a director of its general partner. Mr. Margolus is also a director of The Edmonton Airport Authority and has served as legal counsel to Alberta Liquor Store Association since its inception in 1994.

Richard J. Crook, Director, President & Chief Executive Officer

In addition to his present role, Mr. Crook has held the following positions within Liquor Stores: Chief Operating Officer, Executive Vice President and President. Prior to that, Mr. Crook was the Senior Vice President and General Manager of the Liquor Depot Corporation and also spent twelve years in sales and marketing with large international producers of wine and spirits. Mr. Crook also serves on the board of directors of the University Hospital Foundation.

Patrick J. de Grace, C.A., Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Mr. de Grace joined Liquor Stores on January 1, 2006. Prior to that, Mr. de Grace was an independent consultant. From 1991 to August 2001, Mr. de Grace held finance roles of increasing responsibility in the national retail grocery industry. Mr. de Grace received his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Alberta in 1973 and his Chartered Accountant designation in 1980.

Scott A. Morrow, Chief Operating Officer

Mr. Morrow joined Liquor Stores as Chief Operating Officer in February 2010. Prior to that, Mr. Morrow held positions of increasing responsibility with two leading national drug-store chains over the past twenty-three (23) years (of which thirteen (13) years were spent in senior management), including his most recent position as Vice-President of Western Operations for The Katz Group Canada Ltd from 2004 until February 2010. Mr. Morrow is a director of the Alberta Liquor Store Association. Mr. Morrow received his Bachelor of Management Degree from the University of Lethbridge in 1994. 

Craig D. Corbett, Vice President Legal, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary

Mr. Corbett joined Liquor Stores in May 2008. Prior to that, Mr. Corbett was a corporate lawyer in private practice. From 2003 until 2006 Mr. Corbett practiced law with the national firm of Stikeman Elliott LLP (Calgary and United Kingdom offices), specializing in securities and mergers & acquisitions, and from 2006 until May 2008 he was a member of the business law group of Reynolds Mirth Richards & Farmer LLP (Edmonton). Mr. Corbett holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Alberta.