AIMA Canada, the Canadian national group of the global Alternative Investment Management Association (AIMA), has established two new regional committees in Alberta and British Columbia. This move follows the 2010 creation of a regional committee in Québec and reflects the growth of the alternative investment industry across Canada and AIMA Canada's growing national footprint.

Established in 2003 as the voice of the hedge fund industry in Canada, AIMA Canada has approximately 100 corporate members involving over 250 individuals, including hedge fund managers, fund of hedge funds managers, prime brokers, legal and accounting firms, institutional investors and fund administrators.  Its objectives include promoting transparency, education and sound practices, as well as liaising with regulatory authorities.  AIMA Canada is governed by a national Executive Committee and five subject-matter sub committees led by prominent members of the Canadian hedge fund community.

AIMA Canada committees are comprised of volunteers working for AIMA Canada member companies.  The leadership teams of the regional committees will include:

Alberta:
 Co-Chair: Leslie Vickers, Controller, Grafton Asset Management
Co-Chair: Basil D'Souza, Director, Auspice Capital Advisors
Secretary: Peter Harris, Senior Manager, Audit and Assurance Group, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

British Columbia:
 Co-Chair: Jonathan Lotz, Partner, Heenan Blaikie LLP
Co-Chair: Roland Wood, Sales Manager, Fiera Capital Corporation

Québec:
 Co-Chair: Claude Perron, Chairman, Crystalline Management Inc.
Co-Chair: Stéphane Amara, Head of Deutsche Asset & Wealth Management Canada
Secretary: Lynda Briant, former COO, AIMA Canada

AIMA Canada Chair Gary Ostoich, President of Spartan Fund Management, says: "We are delighted to welcome this group of distinguished industry leaders to our national organization. The creation of these new regional committees represents the next logical step in the development and growth of AIMA Canada as a national entity and further enhances our contribution to the industry and our growing membership."

The mandate of the newly-formed regional committees includes: providing a forum for issues affecting regional hedge fund managers and associated service providers; assuring that the association's mandates are carried out regionally; and working with the various subject-matter committees to coordinate events tailored to local markets.