Guelph, Ontario.  The Guelph & Wellington Task Force for Poverty Elimination appointed Guelph Community Health Centre executive director David Thornley as its new co-chair.

Mr. Thornley takes over from Guelph Ward 3 Councillor June Hofland who has been involved in the Poverty Task Force since its conception in February 2009.

“I am excited by the work of the Task Force, and the spirit of partnership and collaboration it represents,” says Mr. Thornley.  “I look forward to contributing to its future success.”

Although new to the Guelph community, Mr. Thornley has a life-long commitment to the issues of social inclusion, adequate income and equitable access to services. Prior to his current role at the Guelph Community Health Centre, Mr. Thornley served as the CEO of several direct service organizations, including Knowledge Ontario. In his role as program director with the Toronto Social Planning Council, he authored more than a dozen policy and research reports that shaped public policy in the income security, housing and community health fields.

Mr. Thornley holds a Masters in Environmental Studies from York University with an emphasis on Regional Planning and Community Development.