Rick Ekstein

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Rick Ekstein was the CEO of Weston Forest Products, and the Weston Forest Group of Companies, conducting business in over 40 countries on 4 continents.  Weston companies have repeatedly won awards including “Canada’s Best Managed Companies”, “Profit 500’s Fastest Growing Companies” and “Waterstone Canada’s Most Admired Corporate Cultures.”

Rick is incredibly active as a creative disrupter that challenges the status quo.  His contributions are deep and include:  co-founding the Together We Stand Military Families Foundation to honour and thank Canadian military families for their service; in addition to Brookside, Rick sits on the corporate Boards of Elevate Financial, Weston Wood Solutions, Element5 Co., and The Logic; and he also sits on the International Economic Policy and National Policy Councils of the C.D. Howe Institute, the Canadian Jewish Political Affairs Committee, The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, the Regimental Council of The Queen’s York Rangers and the Association for Lumber Remanufacturers of Ontario, which he also founded.

Rick is a past Board Member of the National Hardwood Lumber Association, a former Chair of the North American Wholesale Lumber Association, and founder and former Chairman of the Canadian Lumber Remanufacturers Association. 

Active in Conservative politics, Rick has served on the Conference Planning Committee of The Manning Centre and has chaired each of the Honorable Peter Kent’s campaigns. 

Rick is married to his high school sweetheart Lillian, has two daughters and two wonderful granddaughters.