New Elk Valley Coal chief takes on dual role

Boyd Payne has assumed the position of president and chief executive officer of the Elk Valley Coal Partnership.

Payne is also expected to become president of the Fording Canadian Coal Trust (TSX: FDG.UN, NYSE: FDG) following a period of transition. Jim Popowich will continue to serve as president of the trust during this transition.

Payne was most recently vice-president of marketing for BHP Billiton in Singapore. Prior to joining BHP Billiton, he was VP of marketing for Fording Coal Ltd.

Elk Valley Coal is the world's second-largest exporter of metallurgical coal. It is jointly owned by Fording Canadian Coal Trust, an open-ended mutual fund trust with head office in Calgary, and Teck Cominco (TSX:TCK.A, TCK.B, NYSE:TCK), a diversified mining company headquartered in Vancouver.

Edward Wright has accepted the position of chief executive officer of CRH Medical Corp. (TSXV:CRM) starting Sept 18. Wright replaces founder Marc Morin, who is stepping down for a CEO with an operational background.

Wright joins CRH Medical from Cartier North America, where he held the post of executive vice-president of retail for North America.

CRH specializes in the provision of colorectal health services. Its head office is in North Vancouver.

Chemokine Therapeutics Corp. (TSX:CTI) is losing its chief financial officer.

David Karp has resigned to pursue another business opportunity but will continue to serve the company in his current position until Sept. 8.

Chemokine Therapeutics is a biotechnology company developing chemokine-based therapies to treat cancer, blood disorders and vascular diseases. Its head office is in Vancouver.

The Northern British Columbia Tourism Association has hired an acting CEO.

Anthony Everett is filling in for Dawn-Lisa Sethen, who is on maternity leave until March 2007.

Everett brings with him 17 years of experience in the tourism industry, most recently as account director for Tartan Public Relations.

The NBCTA is based in Prince George.

Minco Silver Corp. (TSX:MSV) has appointed Matthew Kavanagh as CFO. Kavanagh is currently the CFO of Minco Mining & Metals Corp.

Kavanagh, a CA, replaces Simon Anderson, who has resigned.

Vancouver-based Minco Silver is focused on the acquisition and development of silver-dominant projects in China.

Granville Pacific Capital Corp. (TSXV:GE) says Andre Van Ryk, CA, is replacing Hendrik (Hank) Van Ryk Sr. as CFO. Prior to joining Granville, Andre Van Ryk worked in public accounting firms in Vancouver.

Granville is in the business of acquiring and operating senior citizens' lodging and care facilities and mental-health facilities. Its head office is in Surrey.

Donald Falconer has joined Aurora Energy Resources Inc. (TSX: AXU) as VP of corporate development.

Falconer retired in June from SXR Uranium One Inc. where he was VP of marketing and investor relations.

Aurora is a uranium explorer and developer focused on the Central Mineral Belt in coastal Labrador. Its head office is in Vancouver.

Milton Woensdregt is replacing Howard Hum as CFO of Great Canadian Gaming Corp. (TSX:GCD). After the transition, Hum will assume a senior role within the operations department.

Woensdregt, a CA, brings 27 years of senior accounting and management experience, most recently as the interim CFO for the Provincial Health Services Authority.

Richmond-based Great Canadian is a gaming and entertainment operator with facilities in British Columbia, Ontario, Nova Scotia and Washington state.

CanWest MediaWorks Publications Inc. has appointed sales executive Kevin Bent as president and publisher of Pacific Newspaper Group Inc., which operates the Vancouver Sun and Province newspapers.

Bent had been CanWest's senior vice-president of sales and marketing.

CanWest MediaWorks operates 10 big-city daily papers. The company is 74 per cent owned by CanWest Global Communications Corp. (TSX:CGS.SV) and 26 per cent by the CanWest MediaWorks Income Fund (TSX:CWM.UN).

April Hashimoto is the new CFO at Vancouver-based gold exploration firm Pacific Rim Mining (TSX:PMU; AMEX:PMU).

Hashimoto replaces John Norman, who is retiring after a long career in the mining industry.

Most recently, Hashimoto held the position of CFO of strategic development and project development for Placer Dome Inc.

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