The Ontario Trillium Foundation is pleased to introduce 11 new Grant Review Team (GRT) Chairs. They each bring unique skills and perspectives to their new positions.

Chairs lead teams that review local requests for funding. They develop recommendations for grants, review and approve staff recommendations on declines of grant requests, participate in the Foundation’s communication activities at the local level and identify funding priorities that meet local needs and opportunities. As stewards of public funds, they are accountable to Ontario’s government and public.

We welcome the following new appointments:

Algoma, Cochrane, Manitoulin, Sudbury Mr. Clayton Shawana
Wikwemikong

Clayton Shawana works as a First Nations estates trustee for Wikwemikong Unceded Indian Reserve. He also worked as Executive Director for Mnindoo Mnising Area Management Board and as a general manager and economic development officer for the Wikwemikong Development Commission. Mr. Shawana is a past member of the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation and the Mining Act Advisory Board. He received a Canada 125 Medal for contributions to the well-being of his community.

Champlain Mr. Louis Riopelle
Orleans

Louis Riopelle has been involved in various committees of organizations such as the United Way, the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario and the Jasmine Heal the Children Group. He is currently employed by the City of Ottawa in a supervisory position coordinating the lottery licensing mandate. Mr. Riopelle is fluently bilingual.

Essex, Kent, Lambton Mr. Brian Gray
Harrow

Brian Gray is the owner and operator of an estate maintenance business. He is a former Councillor for Colchester South and a former Board member of Essex Region Conservation Authority. He has extensive experience with volunteer community groups. He currently serves on the Essex Parks and Recreation Committee, the Leamington and Area Physician Recruitment Committee, the John R. Park Board of Directors, the Harrow Save Our School Committee and is the Chair of the Harrow Community Health Centre Steering Committee.

Grey, Bruce, Huron, Perth Ms. Kathleen Pletsch
Seaforth

Kathleen Pletsch was an educator for 33 years. She was a member of the Local Advisory Committee of Architectural Conservation for 10 years and served on the Board of the Van Egmond Society Foundation. Ms. Pletsch is a founding member of the Children's Literacy Festival and belongs to the Executive of Goderich Quilters' Guild and its outreach program.

Halton-Peel Mr. Edwin Upenieks
Brampton

Edwin Upenieks is Partner at Lawrence, Lawrence, Stevenson LLP in Brampton. He is a Certified Specialist in Civil Litigation and has published numerous articles and co-authored a recognized legal text. He was educated at the University of Toronto and Osgoode Hall Law School. Mr. Upenieks has served as the inaugural Chair of the William Osler Health Centre Foundation (Brampton, Etobicoke and Georgetown) and as Vice-Chair for the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario and continues on the Board of Directors of the William Osler Health Centre.

Hamilton Ms. Anne Bain
Stoney Creek

Anne Bain has served as Councillor and Mayor with the City of Stoney Creek as well as Councillor with the New City of Hamilton. Ms. Bain also chaired the Hamilton Police Services Board. She was Director of Participation House and Senior's Outreach Services. She serves on the Board of the Children's Aid Society and is past President and present Director of Stoney Creek Chamber of Commerce. She is currently Chair of Stoney Creek Wraparound. Currently, she is a community development officer for five regional Children's Aid societies in a child welfare project.

Northwestern Mr. Guy O’Brien
Thunder Bay

Guy O'Brien is a retired educator, having been a teacher, vice-principal, principal, separate school inspector and director of education. His community service involvement has included being a member and past Chair of St. Joseph's General Hospital, a member and past President of the Port Arthur Rotary Club and a past member and second Vice-Chair of Lakehead University's Board of Governors. Mr. O’Brien has also served as a member of the Thunder Bay Economic Development Corporation.

Simcoe-York Ms. Patricia Raible
Creemore

Patricia Raible is active in a number of community and voluntary organizations. She is past President of the Purple Hills Arts and Heritage Society and edits From the Bookshelf in the Ontario Historical Society bulletin with her husband Chris. A retired professional librarian, she served as treasurer of the Toronto Association of Law Librarians and was manager of volunteer services for the Canadian Red Cross Society in Toronto.

Thames Valley Mr. Paul Baldwin
Aylmer

Paul Baldwin is a graduate of the St. Thomas Collegiate Institute. He studied history at Carleton University and received his Honours B. A. in 1967. A former teacher, coach and secondary school administrator, he worked for the Elgin County Board of Education for 33 years.

He has served as a Councillor and Deputy Mayor of the Town of Aylmer and
is currently Mayor of Aylmer and a member of Elgin County Council. Mr. Baldwin is a member of Trinity Anglican Church in Aylmer and a former member of the Rodney Kiwanis Club.


Toronto Mr. Alexander Waugh
Toronto

Alexander Waugh is currently an independent consultant after many years of employment by the University of Toronto. He serves on the Board of Trustees of the University Art Centre and in the past has been a member of the Honorary Degrees Committee, the Executive Committee and member of the Business Board, Governing Council, U of T. He has an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Siena, Italy.

Waterloo, Wellington, Dufferin Mr. Donald Bourgeois
Kitchener

Donald Bourgeois is a lawyer with responsibilities that involve charitable and not-for-profit law matters. He is Director of the Waterloo Regional Arts Foundation, a member of the Industrial Artifacts Project Committee, City of Kitchener, Chair of Compass Kitchener and President of J.M. Drama, which operates the Registry Theatre. Mr. Bourgeois is also Director of the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony and a former Director of the Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery.

The new Chairs join current Chairs Peter Forgrave (Durham, Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge), Stanley J. Reid (Grand River), Gail Wahamaa (Muskoka, Nipissing, Parry Sound, Timiskaming), Brian Hutchings (Niagara) and Donna Davidson (Quinte, Kingston, Rideau) in this capacity.