Welcome to the MPHRC

Harold DeCourcey, Chairman
A native of Fredericton, NB, and a retired civil servant, Mr. DeCourcey was appointed to the Commission in May 2010.

Mr. DeCourcey has been associated with the harness racing industry in NB and the Maritimes for several years. He is a former horse owner, served on the Board of Directors of Fredericton Exhibition (Racing Committee), Fredericton Horsemen's Association and is a past member of the NB Harness Racing Commission.

Mr. DeCourcey is no stranger to the Maritime Commission having served on the Maritime Provinces Harness Racing Task Force which resulted in legislation creating the MPHRC. Following the establishment of the Maritime Commission, Harold was the NB appointee to the Commission's Appeal Board, and acted as Chair for 5 years.

David Lewis, NS Commissioner
Mr. Lewis is from Sydney Mines, Nova Scotia. Mr. Lewis was appointed to the Commission April1, 2010.

Mr. Lewis has been involved in harness racing since 1978, as a groom and trainer. He also worked for several years as a farrier. Over the past 4 years Mr. Lewis has been involved with Northside Downs in Sydney, Nova Scotia, working as a Photo Finish Operator and Timer.

Mr. Lewis owned and operated a restaurant, lounge and bakery for 25 years in Sydney Mines. He served on the Board of Directors of the Northside & District Minor Hockey, Sydney Mines & District Community Center, Sydney Mines Community Police Office, Cape Breton Crime Stoppers.

Mr. Fred Paynter was appointed to the Commission November 30, 2010. Mr. Paynter is a resident of Stanley Bridge, PEI.

Mr. Paynter is employed at Kensington Agricultural Services Ltd. as Parts Manager, a position he has held for the past 25 years. He has been an owner and trainer of horses since 1988. For the past six years, he has served on the Board of Directors of PEIHOA.

Robert Clare Wilson is from Woodstock, New Brunswick. He was appointed to the Commission April 1, 2011.

Mr. Wilson is the son of prominent Woodstock horseman H. Clare Wilson, and Phyllis (Foster) Wilson. He is married to the former Shirley Ann McGuire and they have one son, Jason Clare.

Bob was educated in the Woodstock school system and later at the University of New Brunswick (Business Administration) in Fredericton before returning to Woodstock and joining the family business, which included franchises with International Harvester farm equipment and trucks; Volkswagen and Lincoln-Mercury automobiles.

Bob joined Warren Maritimes Ltd. in 1989 as an Estimator and the following year was made Manager of Grove Construction (1986) Ltd, a subsidiary of Warren's located in Saint John. In 1992 Bob was made District Superintendant for Warren's in southern New Brunswick, an area from the Maine border to Moncton.

In 1994 Bob left Warren's to begin a career in the Financial Services industry, first in Fredericton and later in his hometown of Woodstock, where he currently has a successful Financial Services business specializing in retirement and estate planning.

Throughout his life he has remained connected to the harness racing industry as a member of the Woodstock Driving Club, the USTA, the Maritime Breeders Association and Standardbred Canada.

He has volunteered on several Boards such as the Woodstock Golf and Curling Club; the Woodstock Driving Club; Woodstock PC Association; Scouts Canada as District Chair and the Woodstock Housing Commission, a non profit company run by Woodstock Masonic Lodge # 11.

Mr. James (Jim) Cameron is from New Glasgow, Nova Scotia. Mr. Cameron was appointed to the Commission April 1, 2011.

Born and raised in Inverness, Mr. Cameron worked in the Pulp and Paper Industry retiring from Scott Paper in 1994.

Mr. Cameron was active in the Labour Movement having served two terms as Area Vice President of the Nova Scotia Federation of Labour and served two terms as President of the New Glasgow Labour Council. Mr. Cameron also served nine years on the Employment Insurance Appeal Board.

Mr. Cameron's interests include family, horse racing and sports.