CIDC - Canadian International Demining Corps

About CIDC

CANADIAN INTERNATIONAL DEMINING CORPS LTD. Funded by contributions from members, government agencies, charitable foundations and the general public. Affiliations include Mines Action Canada, Canadian Landmine Foundation, and Adopt-a-Minefield.

CIDC - Canada’s leading landmine clearance organizationa charitable organization. Formed in 1996. Headquartered in Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada. To support advocacy for the Ottawa Convention and to provide humanitarian mine-action services. In cooperation with government agencies, the United Nations, NATO and other NGO's, CIDC is working to integrate counter-mine measures with sustainable development and community econstruction initiatives in areas suffering the aftermath of war in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Eastern Europe, and Latin America. Mine-action programs to date have focused on survey, detection, clearance, technical assessments and demining equipment procurement services. Geographically they cover Belarus, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Ecuador, Jordan, Kosovo, Macedonia, Mozambique, Peru, South Lebanon, Taiwan and Thailand; and they include substantial programs such as: Mined-area impact survey in Mozambique (a national survey to locate, map and assess socio-economic impacts of mined areas throughout the country, as part of a global survey initiative undertaken by the UN). Mine detection dog programs in Bosnia, Croatia and Lebanon serving NGO demining organizations, Civil Protection authorities, CROMAC, NATO / SFOR, Entity Armies, NDO and others (including CIDC's own mine detection dog division, Canine Countermine).	Emergency response demining and clearance of unexploded ordnance in Kosovo. Annual programming costs run up to $3 million with funding provided primarily by Canadian and European government agencies. Generous financial contributions have also been received from private sector donors ranging from multi-national corporations to student groups and concerned individuals. CIDC also participates with the Canadian Landmine Foundation in its Canine Demine fundraising program. CIDC is a member of the Mines Action Canada and Cooperation Canada Mozambique coalitions, and the ICBL Mine Action Working Group. It has established strategic programming alliances with Paul F. Wilkinson & Associates Inc. of Montreal, the Mines Advisory Group of the U.K., and Human Survival & Development of Pakistan. In addition to serving the humanitarian mine action needs of a number of prominent international NGOs, major institutional clients include NATO/SFOR, CROMAC and TMAC. CIDC maintains offices in Canada, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia, Mozambique and the U.K.

Volunteer Board of Directors: - Irving Schwartz O.C. (Chair) - Dr. Jacquelyn Thayer-Scott O.C. - Margo Schwartz - Malcolm MacDonald - James Gogan - Dr. Edwin MacLellan - Hugh Landry	Management: - David Horton – Executive Director - Alex MacClure – Manager, Finance and Administration - Oliver Mitrevski – Operations Director

Mr. Irving Schwartz Chairperson Irving Schwartz is founder and CEO of Schwartz and Company Limited, a successful furniture and retail business based in Sydney and a committed philanthropist.
Described as the quintessential entrepreneur, Schwartz's business instincts and willingness to take risks have resulted in an impressive record of personal and corporate success. Following in the entrepreneurial footsteps of his parents, Irving Schwartz has led more than 30 companies during his career. After completing grade 11, Schwartz left high school to attend courses at Mount Allison University and New York University. Upon his return to Cape Breton, he became a manager in his parents' New Waterford general merchandising store. In 1955, at the age of 26, Schwartz became the President and General Manager of Schwartz and Company. Over the next 30 years, he streamlined the business, focusing on furniture and appliances, and grew the company to include five outlets across Atlantic Canada. Schwartz was also busy investing in local and national endeavours. He opened his first nursing home in Sydney and amalgamated with a Calgary company to form VillaCentres Limited. Together they built nine nursing homes across the country. In 1970, Schwartz helped develop an oyster farm at the Eskasoni Reserve. Four years later, he managed a trout farm for the Cape Breton Development Corporation. In 1979, Irving Schwartz formed, Seaside Cable TV Ltd. which was renamed to Seaside Communications. Known for his honesty and concern for the well-being of others, Schwartz's proudest achievements stem from his family life and his extensive humanitarian and community service. Starting as an active member of the New Waterford Volunteer Fire Department for 12 years, Irving has also served as President of the Children's Aid Society, President of the Lions' Club, Chairman of the University College of Cape Breton, co-founder of Junior Achievement in Cape Breton, Director of the National Theatre School of Canada, advisory board member of the Dalhousie School of Business, and Chairman of the Cape Breton Chapter of the Hebrew University.	Irving founded the Canadian International Demining Corps (CIDC), a charitable, non-government organization supportive of an international ban on the production, stockpiling and deployment of anti-personnel landmines. Headquarted in Sydney, Nova Scotia. It has provided humanitarian mine action services in Bosnia, Mozambique, Kosovo and Jordan. Today, Irving continues to preside over a diverse group of Cape Breton companies and investments. He is an active member of the business and arts communities as Director of the Canadian Cable Small Systems Association, board member of the National Capital Commission, Nova Scotia Community College, and of Ocean Nutrition Canada, Ltd. Irving Schwartz is married to Diana Usher and has four children, Margo, Joanne, David and Stephanie. Iriving Schwartz is a Member of the Order of Canada and a Commissioner of the National Capital Commission. (1998) Inducted into the Nova Scotia Business Hall of Fame on June 11, 2003.

CIDC P.O. Box 86 Sydney, Nova Scotia Canada B1P 6G9	Telephone: (902)539-2802 Fax: (902)539-3224 board@minesactioncanada.org cidc@cidc.ws