Mike Abram is the new president of Calgary-based Star Choice Communications, a division of Shaw Ventures and part of the Shaw Communications family, which provides services to about 2.9 million customers.

Abram had been president of Shaw Ventures since February 2000.

As well, Brad Shaw has been named senior vice-
president of operations for Shaw Cablesystems. Shaw,
previously senior VP of operations for Star Choice, joined the company in 1985. He replaces Bill MacDonald, who will retire Nov. 30 after 21 years with the company.

The department of public affairs and development at Calgarys Mount Royal College has undergone a reorganization.

Executive director Hunter Wight has been named vice-president of the departments new external relations division. Wight has been with the college for 16 years. He is a founding member of the Mount Royal College Foundation board of directors, a member of the Association of Fund-raising Professionals and a past director of the Canadian Council for the Advancement of Education.

Meanwhile, Mike Walters has been appointed executive director of the MRC Foundation, which was established in 1991 as the colleges fund-raising arm. Former associate director Kim Kadatz is now the director of development.

Colin MacDonald has been appointed national chair and public policy adviser of a new national government
relations group for law firm Borden Ladner Gervais LLP (BLG). The group was formed to keep clients abreast of public policy issues and assist client participation in the lawmaking process.

MacDonald is a partner at BLG in Calgary.

The Edmonton-area chapter of the Association of Fund-raising Professionals
recently elected a new slate of executive officers for 2003/
2004. The executive includes:

* Vincent Duckworth (president), executive director, development and alumni affairs in the faculty of
medicine and dentistry at the University of Alberta.

* Julie Hamilton (president elect), senior development officer, external relations, University of Alberta.

* D. John McKenzie (vice-president), director of development, Bosco Homes.

* Leona Yez (treasurer), director of communications, Edmonton Community Foundation.

* Andrea Morris (secretary), senior development officer, University of Alberta.

* Darcie Acton (communications), development co-ordinator, Northern Lakes College.

n Jason Christensen-Demers (golf tournament chair), annual giving co-ordinator, NAIT Office of Strategic Partnerships.

* Andrew Otway (professional development), executive director, Royal Alexandra Foundation.

* Hans Pilz (membership), volunteer program co-ordinator and fund development, Allen Gray Continuing Care Centre.

* Debra Rigsby (programming), major gifts and planned giving, MS Society of Canada.

* Dave Williams (Philanthropy Day chair), planned giving manager, NAIT Office of Strategic Development.

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