WESTON AND CONNIE MAC ALEER
ENTREPRENEURS AND HUMANITARIANS
Weston (Wes) was born in Summerside on February 12th 1944
Connie Bateman was born in Moncton, New Brunswick February 10th, 1947
Wes and Connie are well known and successful entrepreneurs known from Prince Edward Island to as far away as the Northwest Territories. Wes attended St. Dunstan’s University and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 1966. He married Connie Bateman in 1969 and from 1969 -1989 the couple lived and worked in the Northwest Territories. They participated in the business community there as shareholders, investors, business mentors and company directors. Wes was a founding shareholder and director of Mackenzie Media Ltd, which operated a cable TV system in Yellowknife, NWT, from 1972-1995. Over that period, using its infrastructure, the company branched into delivering communication services including satellite communications which began in 1981. The company won numerous awards for outstanding customer service. In 1995 the firm was sold to Northwest Tel, the main telecommunications provider for the North West Territories.
In 1971, Wes formed Wesmac Agencies Ltd, with Connie as a company director. This enterprise provided a variety of products and services, including selling general insurance, operating a consulting and office services for Territorial organizations, and agency services for southern firms wishing to be represented in the North. The company conducted tours of the Mackenzie Valley for gas firms intending to develop a gas and oil pipeline along the Mackenzie River from the Arctic to Alberta. Through a subsidiary firm Wesmac Homes,
business activities further included selling mobile homes, provided a winter thawing service for water and sewage lines, sub-division development and construction of single family homes. In1979 Wesmac Agencies was thriving and expanded to include Raven Resources Ltd. and Goga Cho Enterprises which continued to develop in other communities. While Wes was the principal in these enterprises, Connie as company director played a vital role providing direction and behind the scenes support for these many business activities, while raising two small children in a sometimes unforgiving climate.
Wes was active in politics in Yellowknife and served for two terms on municipal council there. When he and his family returned to their Island home, he became the publisher of the Guardian and Evening Patriot, before submerging himself in Island politics. He was elected to the Legislative Assembly in November 1996 and was appointed Minister of Economic Development and Tourism. In 1998 he was appointed Minister of Community Service and Minister responsible for the Human Rights Act. He also served in the capacity of Attorney General from 1999-2000 and chaired numerous committees during his political tenure.
Wes and Connie- continued………..
Since returning to public life, Wes and Connie have continued their efforts to develop and support companies which can export their products outside the region. Their business activities include acting as investors, company directors and mentors.
As investors they formed Wesmac Holdings Ltd., and through that company investments have been made in Telos International Inc., and Zengo Inc. and support numerous other small business ventures.
Community service includes
Entrepreneur Forum - Advisory Council
Mentor programs with the Charlottetown Rotary Club
Member of the First Angels Network
Board member of Spring Board Atlantic
Board member of Stars for Life foundation
PEI Division of the Canadian Red Cross,- Volunteer fundraiser to construct an Island Disaster Management Centre.
Board member of CUMI Canada, Located in Summerside
Board member of Junior Achievement on the National and Provincial levels. Honorary Life member of Junior Achievement PEI.
* In 1998, Wes was the driving force in the establishment of the PEI Business Hall of Fame, to honor Islanders who have made outstanding contributions to business development in the Province and to provide a major fundraiser for Junior Achievement Prince Edward Island!
Wes and Connie MacAleer’s entrepreneurial spirit, business accomplishments and service to their community, make them very deserving additions to the JA PEI Business Hall of Fame
for 2013!
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