Jim Whelan
Industry Liaison Principal
Jim is well known as the voice and president of the Ontario Harness Horse Association. He was also a founding Director of Standardbred Canada and has served on the executive and chaired various committees for 11 years.
Jim is a proud advocate of the equine agricultural industry and has established positive international connections around the globe.
About
Jim Whelan is an accomplished horseman and businessman. As an award winning owner, breeder, trainer and driver he boasts more than 2500 wins and over $10 million in purses.
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In 2005, Whelan was voted Man of the Year by Harness Horseman International. In 2013, he was a Queen’s Diamond Jubilee recipient in recognition of his steadfast support of the equine agricultural industry. In 2021, under his leadership, the Ontario Harness Horseman’s Association, in cooperation with, and with support from the Ontario government through the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development created the Ontario Equine Education and Employment Program, a program designed to address the critical labour shortage and education in the equine agricultural industry.
Husband, father and grandfather, Jim Whelan is passionately dedicated to the industry. His professional and skilled advocacy has touched the lives of thousands of horse people around the world. EAST is the next logical step for a leader who truly believes that skilled, logical and business-centred advocacy is the equine agricultural industry’s best bet for a sustainable future.
Jean-Marc Mackenzie
Chief Counsel & Legal Advisor
For more than two decades, Jean-Marc has been the trusted legal advisor of choice for a diverse spectrum of stakeholders across Canada's equine industry, including top owners, trainers, drivers, horse associations, racetrack operators, regulating authorities, and government officials.
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​As a Member of the Bar of Ontario, Jean-Marc holds a Law Degree and Master of Health Service Administration from Dalhousie University, in addition to a Master's in Education/Positive Psychology from the University of Missouri.
About
Jean-Marc MacKenzie embodies an unparalleled fusion of experience and expertise, in his role as Chief Counsel and Advisor. Jean-Marc distinctive and remarkable journey has traversed from playing professional hockey, practicing at a top-tier legal practice, executive leadership roles at both publicly and privately traded companies, and visionary healthcare market leadership, uniquely positioning him to provide an incomparable wealth of knowledge and strategic foresight to EAST clients.
His distinguished tenure as an educator includes teaching "Lawyer as Negotiator" at the esteemed Osgoode Hall Law School. Jean-Marc’s impact also extends to various boardrooms, spanning private and publicly traded companies, in addition to his dedicated volunteer work sitting on several Charity Boards focused on affordable housing, animal welfare, athletics, performing arts, and mental health.
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Bob Eaton
Communications Support, Strategies & Research
Bob Eaton has spent a lifetime achieving positive results in the advocacy business. His passion for social justice, fairness, equality, and equity are his guiding principles. As a defender of rights, and a celebrated negotiator, Eaton is a firm believer in due process, transparency, accountability, natural justice, and constitutional protections.
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Experienced, knowledgeable and focused, Bob Eaton has the skill set that achieves just outcomes for his clientele.
About
Bob Eaton has spent a lifetime achieving positive results in the advocacy business. Coinciding with and following an outstanding 30-year career in corrections, in both institutional and community supervision, Bob was a tireless worker advocate in the trade union movement, protecting and promoting worker rights. His passion for social justice, fairness, equality, and equity are his guiding principles. As a defender of rights, and a celebrated negotiator, Eaton is a firm believer in due process, transparency, accountability, natural justice, and constitutional protections.
Renowned for his knowledge of organizational structures and the necessary policies, procedures, and guidelines that must govern them, Bob’s expertise has supported multiple organizations to modernize and re-structure to better meet their mandates.
As a young person growing up in Windsor Ontario, Bob was an active industry participant, as a licensed owner, caretaker, trainer, and driver. He recently re- engaged in the business as an active owner. During his second go round in the industry, Bob has applied his analytical expertise in identifying structures and processes that work for all parts and all people of the harness racing sector.
Experienced, knowledgeable and focused, Bob Eaton has the skill set that achieves just outcomes for his clientele.