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Panel Members

Rail Freight Service Review

Related Information

Walter Paszkowski (Chair)

Walter Paszkowski has had long and distinguished political and agri-business careers and has provided a significant contribution to his community, county and the province of Alberta.

Mr. Paszkowski’s political career began as a school trustee, progressing to municipal councillor, to Mayor of Sexsmith and finally to member of the Alberta Legislature in 1989.  Mr. Paszkowski served in the Alberta legislature until his retirement from provincial politics in March 2001.

During his political career, Mr. Paszkowski served as Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development and Minister responsible for the Land Compensation Board (1993-1997), Minister of Transportation and Utilities and Minister responsible for Public Safety Services (1997-1999) and Minister of Municipal Affairs (1999-2001). During this time, Mr. Paszkowski led or was involved in a number of international missions to promote trade with Canada.

Mr. Paszkowski has been involved in a vast number of agri-business and community interests. Of particular note was his contribution to the development and growth of the canola industry by serving as a Director and a Chair of the Canola Council of Canada, Director and President of the Alberta Canola Growers, and founding Director of the Northern Alberta Rapeseed Crushing Plant and Northern Lite Canola Ltd.

Mr. Paszkowski established an Economic Development Office for the County of Grande Prairie and serves as the County’s Economic Development Officer.

Mr. Paszkowski is a Director of the Prince Rupert Port Authority where he chairs the Audit Committee and serves on the Human Resources Committee.

Among his numerous awards and recognitions, Mr. Paszkowski received a lifetime member and achievement award from the Canola Council of Canada, was awarded Canada’s 125th Anniversary Medal as well as the Alberta Centennial Medal, and was recognized as one of the “50 Most Influential Albertans in 2006.”

Mr. Paszkowski, in partnership with his son, is owner and operator of a family seed farm and retail seed outlet in Sexsmith, Alberta.



David Edison

David Edison has had 40 years of experience in rail operations and senior management with Canadian National Railway. During his career, Mr. Edison held progressively senior positions with the company in Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, Manitoba and Alberta. Mr. Edison served as Vice President, Pacific Division, headquartered in Vancouver, overseeing Canadian National Railway’s operations and sales activities in British Columbia and Alberta, including the ports of Vancouver and Prince Rupert.

Mr. Edison was appointed Vice-President, Corporate, in July 2003 and led 
Canadian National Railway’s consolidation and integration of the Canadian National Railway and BC Rail partnership. These responsibilities included train service adjustment, realignment of rail yards in North Vancouver, Squamish and Prince George, reconnection of Canadian National’s Hythe-Dawson Creek line and workforce planning.

Prior to his retirement in late 2004, Mr. Edison was active on the boards of the
Western Transportation Advisory Council, the Greater Vancouver Gateway Council and the Business Council of British Columbia.

Mr. Edison resides in Surrey, British Columbia.



William H. (Bill) LeGrow

William H. (Bill) LeGrow has significant industry experience in the rail freight industry spanning a 37 year career that included progressively senior positions with both Canadian National Railway and with West Fraser Mills Ltd. Most recently, Mr. LeGrow served as Vice-President of Transportation and Energy with West Fraser Mills Ltd., a position he held from 1999 until his retirement in 2008.

Mr. LeGrow has significant experience in both shipper and railway freight transportation environments. He has been involved in rate negotiations, regulatory reviews as an industry and a shipper association representative and in initiating and leading regulatory challenges as a shipper, under provisions of the Canada Transportation Act.

In the mid-80s, through several softwood lumber trade challenges and related disputes, Mr. LeGrow was an active industry participant providing technical advice on implementation, documentation and United States customs procedures, serving on several technical committees and providing policy advice to both the British Columbia and the federal governments.

Mr. LeGrow has extensive experience in regulatory filing procedures and hearings before the British Columbia Utilities Commission representing both West Fraser and as a representative of the Joint Industry Electricity Steering Committee of electrical consumers in British Columbia.

Mr. LeGrow resides in Coquitlam, British Columbia.

Date modified:
2010-10-05