The Durham Regional Police Service Board (DRPSB) has announced that John Ecker has been appointed to the board by the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario for a two-year term.
“I welcome the honour to serve the community as a member of the Police Service Board,” said Ecker. “I look forward to supporting the board’s responsibility to ensure that policing in our community earns the trust and confidence of the citizens of Durham Region.”
“Mr. Ecker has strong connections to our community and extensive leadership and governance experience that will enable him to make an impactful contribution to the Board’s deliberations and decisions,” said Board Chair Shaun Collier. “His presence will assist the board in achieving its objectives for a safe community.”
The Durham Regional Police Service Board is the civilian governing body of the DRPS. Its responsibilities include establishing objectives for policing in consultation with the Chief of the Police, setting policies for adequate and effective policing and the administration of the police service, and hiring and monitoring the performance of the Chief of Police. The board consists of seven members, three appointed by the Province of Ontario and four chosen by Regional Council.
John Ecker is a semi-retired communication, marketing, branding, and fundraising executive. Most recently, he served in successive senior roles at the Archdiocese of Toronto. He oversaw brand development and marketing for the archdiocese’s highly successful Family of Faith Campaign, and led the strategic re-positioning of the archdiocese’s Office for Refugees. He also led the archdiocese’s Indigenous healing and reconciliation activities.
In 2022 he was the Program and Production Lead for the Pope’s visit to Iqaluit, Nunavut, and received a Papal Medal from Pope Francis for his work. Previously, he was a Vice President at Indspire (the former National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation) and he has held director-level positions at the Ontario Trillium Foundation, ECHO: Improving Women’s Health in Ontario, and Toronto Board of Trade.
In 2025, the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario recognized Ecker’s service to his community, Ontario, and Canada when she presented him with the King Charles III Coronation Medal.
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