Gary is a proud member of the Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation, within Treaty 6 & 10 territory. He earned both a Bachelor’s (1991) and a Master’s (2004) in Education from the University of Saskatchewan and was honoured as one of the university’s “100 Alumni of Influence.” He received his Industrial Mechanics diploma in 1984 from Saskatchewan Polytechnic and in 2005, he received an honorary diploma in Entrepreneurship and Small Business from Saskatchewan Polytechnic.
Currently serving as CEO of the Peter Ballantyne Group of Companies (PBGOC) since mid 2021, Merasty leads the investment arm of the Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation. Prior to this, he was Executive Vice President & Chief Development Officer at The North West Company (2018–2021), having previously served seven years on its board Before that, he was Vice President of Corporate Responsibility at Cameco Corporation (2008–2013). Gary’s earlier roles include two terms as Grand Chief of the Prince Albert Grand Council (1999–2005) and a term as Liberal MP for Desnethé–Missinippi–Churchill River (2006–2007).
In the private and public sectors, he has contributed his leadership to the boards of Bird Construction (since 2022), Chemtrade Logistics Income Fund (since 2024), The North West Company, Canada West Foundation, Enterprise Saskatchewan, Children’s Hospital Foundation of Saskatchewan, Meadow Lake Tribal Council RDI, Saskatoon Airport Authority, Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Corporation, West Wind Aviation, Northern Career Quest, Sustainable Development Technology Canada, the Institute for Research on Public Policy.
Saskatchewan Polytechnic serves students through applied learning opportunities on Treaty 4 and Treaty 6 Territories and the homeland of the Métis.
