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This article was published 19/04/2017 (2240 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

David Asper has been tapped to become the next chairman of the Winnipeg Police Board.

Mayor Brian Bowman announced Asper as his pick to replace Coun. Jeff Browaty, who resigned under pressure from the local indigenous community over his perceived attitudes towards indigenous people.

Along with Asper, Bowman also wants to fill another board vacancy with Brian Scharfstein, owner of Canadian Footwear.

Both appointments have to be ratified by council.

Asper is currently chairman of the Asper Foundation and chairman and co-founder of Amenity Health Care. Formerly, he served as chairs of the Winnipeg Football Club, the Winnipeg Folk Festival and as the first citizen chairman of CentreVenture.

Scharfstein is a pedorthist, and principal owner of Canadian Footwear and the FootHealth Centre in Winnipeg and Calgary. He is also former chairman of the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce.

“David and Brian are both strong community leaders who are very committed to our community and city,” Bowman said in a release issued by his office. “I believe their combined leadership, community and business experience will be an asset to the board and I am pleased they have agreed to be recommended for appointment.”

Bowman’s office said Asper and Scharfstein’s appointments will be subject to successfully passing background security checks which is required of all police board appointments. If approved by council, Asper and Scharfstein’s appointments will be effective immediately with their term expiring on Dec. 31, 2018.

The Winnipeg Police Board is comprised of a maximum of seven members including two appointments made by the province of Manitoba, and five appointments, including the chairman and vice-chairman, appointed by city council.

According to the Winnipeg Police Board bylaw, council is required to appoint the mayor or his designate as chairman, a member of council and three citizen appointees.

Current members of the Winnipeg Police Board include Councillor Ross Eadie, Barry Tuckett (vice-chair), Mary Jane Loustel, Larry Licharson and Alicja Szarkiewicz.

Licharson and Szarkiewicz were appointed by the province.

aldo.santin@freepress.mb.ca