Toronto (February 27, 2023) — PortsToronto is pleased to welcome two new federal appointees to its Board of Directors, Sandra Pupatello and Thomas Ruth. The appointments of Ms. Pupatello and Mr. Ruth were made pursuant to the federal government’s open, transparent and merit-based selection process for Governor in Council appointments. They will each hold office for a term of three years.
 
PortsToronto is accountable to the federal government through Transport Canada, and is guided by a nine-member Board of Directors composed of individuals appointed by all levels of government – federal, provincial and municipal. Six members of the board are appointed by the Minister of Transport in consultation with committees representing four identified user groups – commercial, recreation, airport and port operations. All individuals nominated by the Minister of Transport are appointed by the Governor in Council.
 
“We are happy to have Ms. Pupatello and Mr. Ruth join PortsToronto’s Board of Directors and look forward to the experience and expertise they will bring in providing strategic counsel and direction,” said Amanda Walton, Board Chair, PortsToronto. “The next few years will be critical to PortsToronto and its businesses, including the renowned Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport. These two additions to our Board will contribute to the mix of skills and knowledge needed to achieve the goals we have set out for the organization in the years ahead.”
 
Sandra Pupatello
Ms. Pupatello is the President of Canadian International Avenues Inc., a management consulting firm she founded following a distinguished career in the public sector. There she served as an Ontario Cabinet Minister for eight years, six as the Minister of Economic Development and Trade. She was a member of the Ontario Legislature for 16 years.
 
She holds her ICD.D certificate, and is a corporate director of Martinrea International Inc.  She has chaired Hydro One, the Pearson Centre, and served on the Boards of the Asia Pacific Foundation and Ontario Global 100. She recently co-founded Reshoring Canada, a non-profit promoting Canadian business and is a Board Member of St. Elizabeth Healthcare’s Foundation.
 
She has been recognized for her leadership in business, politics and community service with awards such as the Women's Executive Network’s (WXN) 2014 Top 100 Canada’s Most Powerful Women, Businesswoman of the Year by the ICCO in Toronto, Canada, and the 2016 Innovation and Global Growth Award by the Bank of Montreal, one of Canada’s largest banks.
 
Thomas Ruth
Mr. Ruth has extensive experience in airport and airline operations, having held senior executive positions throughout North America in the multi-modal cargo and logistics industries, including President and Chief Executive Officer of Edmonton International Airport and Halifax International Airport, President and Chief Executive Officer of Oceanex, and President of Canadian North Airline. Mr. Ruth has previously held Board positions on the Airports Council International (ACI) World Governing Board, the Airports Council International – North America (ACI-NA) Board of Directors, and chair of the Canadian Airports Council (CAC).  He also supports regional community organizations as a member of the board for Explore Edmonton and the Telus Edmonton Community Foundation. Additionally, Mr. Ruth was just appointed as an executive director of Airlink, an international non-profit organization that provides logistic and humanitarian support for global disasters.
 
For more information on PortsToronto and its Board of Directors please visit www.portstoronto.com.
 
About PortsToronto
For more than 100 years PortsToronto has worked with its partners at the federal, provincial and municipal levels to enhance the economic growth of the City of Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area. PortsToronto owns and operates Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, which welcomed approximately 2.8 million passengers in 2019; the Outer Harbour Marina, one of Canada's largest freshwater marinas; and the marine Port of Toronto that includes businesses in a variety of sectors including marine shipping, cargo services, media production and passenger cruises. PortsToronto is committed to fostering strong, healthy and sustainable communities and has invested more than $14 million since 2009 in charitable initiatives and environmental programs that benefit communities along Toronto's waterfront and beyond. PortsToronto operates in accordance with the Canada Marine Act and is guided by a board with representation from all three levels of government.
   
Media Contact:
Jessica Pellerin
Manager, Media Relations and Public Affairs
PortsToronto
Cell: (647) 298-0585
E-mail: jpellerin@portstoronto.com