Former Premier Paul Davis is taking over as the new executive director of the Gathering Place, effective Monday.

The chair of the board of directors, Sister Elizabeth Davis, made the announcement on Wednesday.

Former executive director Joanne Thompson resigned last year to run for the federal Liberals in St. John’s East. Kim Grant has been serving in the role on an interim basis for the last five months, and according to a release issued on Wednesday will continue to work with Paul Davis as associate executive director.

The Gathering Place, a community centre for some of the most vulnerable, was founded by the Sisters of Mercy and the Presentation Sisters in 1994. The registered charity provides food, clothing, medical and dental help as well as counselling services.

Davis is a former RNC officer, CBS town councillor and served as Premier from 2014 until 2015 when he was defeated by the Liberals led by Dwight Ball. He served in a number of government portfolios under Kathy Dunderdale before taking over the PC Leadership and was Leader of the Official Opposition before resigning from politics in 2018.

Another former PC Premier, Kathy Dunderdale, was hired by the Gathering Place as a volunteer co-ordinator in 2016.