FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 29, 2024
For further information contact:
Niagara Falls Bridge Commission
905-354-5641 or 716-285-6322
NIAGARA FALLS BRIDGE COMMISSION ANNOUNCES APPOINTMENT Laryssa Waler Hetmanczuk appointed by Premier Ford
LEWISTON, NEW YORK – The Commissioners of the Niagara Falls Bridge Commission (NFBC) are pleased to announce the appointment of Ms. Laryssa Waler Hetmanczuk to the Board of Commissioners. She was appointed to the Commission by the Premier of the Province of Ontario, Doug Ford.
Laryssa Waler Hetmanczuk has worked in the public affairs and public relations industry for almost 20 years. She currently works in Toronto as a consultant.
Laryssa served in a leadership communications role for the Government of Ontario. Laryssa started her career in Ottawa, working at Health Canada and Industry Canada in communications. In addition to her experience in government, Laryssa spent several years at the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation as a policy advisor. Recently Laryssa led the Canadian, Indigenous and international media for the 2022 Papal visit to Canada, that was focused on Indigenous reconciliation. A native of Niagara, she holds a degree from the University of Toronto, and a graduate certificate in Public Relations from Humber College. She is fluent in English, Ukrainian and French.
The present Board of Commissioners includes Chairperson Kathleen Neville (NY), Vice Chairperson Lindsay DiCosimo Merani (ON), Frank Soda (NY), April Jeffs (ON), Dick Palladino (NY), and Murna Dalton (ON).
About the Niagara Falls Bridge Commission:
The Niagara Falls Bridge Commission is a unique, bi-national body. Canada and the U.S. are equally represented on the NFBC through the bi-national appointment of an eight-member Board of Commissioners. A Joint Resolution of the 1938 U.S. Congressional Third Session created the framework for the NFBC. In 1939, the Province of Ontario, Canada licensed the NFBC under The Extra Provincial Corporations Act and amended the Highway Improvement Act to authorize the appropriation of land in Ontario for transfer to the NFBC. Initially established to finance, construct and operate the Rainbow Bridge, the Commission proved efficient and effective at its mission. The NFBC’s powers and authority were thereafter expanded through amendments to the Joint Resolution in the U.S., and by the Rainbow Bridge Amendment Act of 1959 and the Queenston Bridge Act of 1959 in Canada. Together, these enactments empowered the NFBC to assume responsibilities for the Whirlpool Rapids (Lower) and Lewiston-Queenston Bridges. Today, in addition to owning and operating three international bridges, the NFBC builds and maintains facilities for Customs and Immigration functions on both sides of the international border. The NFBC is self-supportive, largely through user fees (tolls) and private-sector tenant leases. NFBC is authorized to conduct international commercial financial transactions and empowered to issue tax-exempt bonds in the United States.