Bob Gale is the new chair of the Niagara Parks Commission board of directors.

Gale, who is serving his third term representing Niagara Falls on regional council, is taking over the role from April Jeffs.

The former Wainfleet mayor had been on the board since 2019 and served as vice-chair before becoming chair in January 2022.

“I am grateful for the faith that Premier Ford and Minister Lumsden have placed in me as I take on this new role as Chair of the Niagara Parks Commission,” said Gale, adding that Jeffs led the board at a time when there was “so much great work coming out of the commission.”

Gale is no stranger to serving on public boards. He was a member of the Niagara Regional Police Service board from 2014 to 2022 and was chair from 2014 to 2018. 

He has served on numerous other boards including as an honourary member of the Boys and Girls Club of Niagara Board, the Niagara YMCA and the Greater Niagara General Hospital Foundation board among others.

He previously served on the Niagara Parks Commission from 2006 through 2009 and was credited with saving the province more than $300 million through enhancements to procurement procedures.

Gale has also been a police officer and he took over the family’s oil business, including home heating and gas bars across Niagara, from 1980 to 2014, when he entered municipal politics.

A recognized philanthropist, Gale has spearheaded his family’s involvement in many endeavours to benefit the local community, including the renovation of the Greater Niagara General Hospital emergency room, the construction of the Gale Centre multipad arena in Niagara Falls and the first and largest private donation to help fund an expansion of that city’s history museum.