VICTORIA - Four new members of the BC Progress Board have been appointed, the government announced today.

The new appointees are:

• Harry McWatters
• David R. Podmore
• Jim Shepherd
• David A. Thompson

Since its inception in July 2001, the BC Progress Board has created a system of benchmarking to track BC's progress against a number of economic, social and environmental indicators. It has published its results in five benchmarking reports, all of which can be located on the board's website at: http://www.bcprogressboard.com/ online. In addition, the board has produced two special reports – one on BC's regional economies and the other on the provincial education system – both also available on the website.

In announcing the new appointments, the government thanked outgoing members Lawrence Bates, Norman Keevil and Jim Pattison.

Biographies of the 18 members of the progress board are attached.