Wayne Emmerson, Acting Chair
Regional Chairman & Chief Executive Ofiicer
York Region Chairman and CEO Wayne Emmerson was elected as Chair of the Regional Municipality of York Police Services Board for the year 2023. Chair Emmerson has been Vice Chair of the Board since January 2022. Chairman Emmerson is currently serving his second term as York Region Chairman and CEO for The Regional Municipality of York. Head of Regional Council and an ex-officio member of all committees, Regional Chairman Emmerson was re-elected by members of Regional Council to serve for the 2023-2026 term.
Chairman Emmerson is a fifth-generation resident of York Region. He has nearly three decades of political experience, including his role as Mayor for the Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville for 17 years. Focused on getting results, Chairman Emmerson’s experience and leadership is well-respected across York Region and all levels of government.
During his two terms, Chairman Emmerson has been committed to ensuring York Region remains a destination of choice for residents to live, work and play and businesses want to operate in.
Chairman Emmerson is dedicated to making significant progress towards building the kind of communities we want future generations to inherit. Part of that progress has been through the historic launch of the new TTC Line 1 Subway extension into York Region, a monumental moment for York Region’s residents who welcomed the first subway network outside of the City of Toronto in 40 years.
Chairman Emmerson’s pledge to offer stronger broadband now and for the future brought on the establishment of York Net, and continues to strengthen broadband across York Region. This marks the first time the public has access to York Region’s dark fiber network.
His leadership provides a long-term outlook for York Region and aims to encourage and celebrate the efforts of residents and our local cities and towns. This includes York Region’s continued success with waste diversion programs diverting 93 per cent from landfills and setting out a course of action to best support the aging population over the next 10 to 20 years with the vital Seniors Strategy.
The sixth Chairman and CEO for The Regional Municipality of York, Chairman Emmerson serves as an ex-officio member of all Regional Committees. Additionally, he is a member of the York Regional Police Services Board, CEO of the York Region Rapid Transit Board and a member of the Board of Directors for the Federation of Canadian Municipalities.
Chairman Emmerson has also served as a Board member for a number of organizations including Markham-Stouffville Hospital, GTA Mayors’ Committee and the Greater Toronto Services Board.
Working with York Regional Police, the Toronto Region Conservation Authority, various celebrities plus other community agencies and organizations, he was instrumental in the development of York Region’s Community Safety Village, a nationally recognized interactive educational facility where children learn about fire, traffic and personal safety.
In 2012, Chairman Emmerson was honoured with the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal. This commemorative medal serves to honour his significant political contributions.
Married for more than 40 years to his wife Debra, Regional Chairman Emmerson is the proud father of two grown sons and a grandfather of one grandson.
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