Board of Directors

COMMUNITY LIVING HURONIA was chartered in 1960 and incorporated as a non-profit organization in 1966. It is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors, with a mandate to provide supports to people with exceptionalities and their families.

The various programs and services provided by the Association are funded through the Ministry of Community and Social Services, Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, fundraising efforts of the agency, charitable donations and bequests.

Community Living Huronia strives to ensure the availability of supports that address the needs of the individuals and their families, in partnership with community resources.

Our organization is committed to continuing to evolved towards a stronger focus on the individual and his or her desires as well as needs through Person Centered Planning approach.

As well, while group based care and service will remain a feature of our philosophy, we will endeavour to support people in a more individualized and inclusive fashion wherever possible and affordable.

Lisa Belcourt President	Lisa became President of the Board of Community Living Huronia in October 2011. Born and raised in the Midland area, Lisa obtained an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree in English from York University. She attended Osgoode Hall Law School and was called to the Bar in 1999. She returned to work at Ferguson Barristers LLP. Lisa has appeared in all levels of the Ontario Courts and has extensive experience appearing before administrative tribunals. Lisa is an active member of the community. She was a director of the board of the Simcoe County Association for the Physically Disabled for six years and served as the Chairperson of that Board for two of those years. She has been a member of the Board of Community Living Huronia since 2005 and sits as a community member on the Tiny Township Accessibility Advisory Community. She has also been involved in Southern Georgian Bay Physician Recruitment efforts. In 2003, Lisa spearheaded the Ferguson Barristers Pro-Bono Legal Clinic for the Canadian Paraplegic Association and its consumers, which over recent years has expanded to include the Sault Ste Marie, Sudbury, Muskoka and Barrie areas. In August 2007, Lisa was the proud recipient of the Canadian Bar Association Young Lawyers Pro Bono Award for her work with the Canadian Paraplegic Association. Lisa is married and has two children.

Doug Schmidt Past President	Doug Schmidt originally joined the Board of Directors in 2006 and has served as the Board President from October 2008 to September 2011. Doug was born and raised in Waterloo, Ontario, and moved to the area with his wife, Tineke, in 1998 as a result of a transfer to Midland with CIBC. After serving in various Management and Small Business Account Manager positions with the Bank, he recently retired from CIBC this past May after 38+ years of service, and now resides in Wyevale. He is thoroughly looking forward to enjoying his retirement in the area, and plans to take full advantage of the fishing and boating opportunities that Georgian Bay and the surrounding area provides. These activities will however, be regularly and willingly postponed, for the formal “spoiling” of a new granddaughter, who has become a new focus for the proud grandparents. Doug and Tineke have two grown sons who reside in the Toronto and Woodstock areas.

Dave Sibley	Dave Sibley is a senior forensic analyst and an expert forensic identification witness with the Ontario Provincial Police. He works out of OPP headquarters in Orillia . Dave is a graduate of Midland Secondary School , attended Centennial College in Scarborough and is a graduate of the RCMP College ’s forensic program. Dave is also a teacher at the Ontario Police College and has assisted in training police personnel from across the world. Dave returned to Midland in 1995. He is an avid baseball player, golfer and curler, and has volunteered as a coach for the local Special Olympics Curling Teams. He is currently a board member of the Midland Curling Club. Dave has one son, Aaron, who is an active, fun-loving child with cerebral palsy and has benefited greatly from Community Living Huronia’s Resource Teacher Program. Today Aaron is enrolled at Huron Park Public School. Dave was appointed to the CLH Board of Directors in 2006.

Susan Lyons	Dr. Susan Lyons is certified to practice Chiropractic in Canada, Australia, and the United States. Dr. Lyons left her full - time chiropractic practice in Australia where she had been practicing for over 4 years to set up a very successful multi disciplinary health centre called Health Works Chiropractic & Wellness Centre in Midland, Ontario. Currently the Centre offers Chiropractic, Massage, Counselling, Acupuncture, Nutritional Consulting, Fitness Classes, Reflexology, and a full line of Spa Treatments & Esthetics. Her family and friends in Tay Township welcome Dr. Lyons back to the community. Dr. Lyons has her Doctor of Chiropractic, Bachelor of Science in Human Biology, Honours Bachelor of Kinesiology, and is highly regarded amongst her peers in her profession. Dr. Lyons has also had formal training at McMaster University in Business Commerce, and has had many years of practice experience, both managing, and treating patients in a full time practice. As well, Dr. Lyons had trained as a Certified Fitness Appraiser with the Canadian Society of Exercise Physiology and has been involved with fitness, training and treatment of many different athletic groups. Throughout her years of university training, Dr. Lyons gained experienced in assessment / fitness programs geared towards the Special Needs community.

Paul Hamelin	Paul Hamelin began his policing career in 1975 when he joined the London City Police. In 1985 he accepted a position with the Midland Police Service in order to return to his home community. He served in all areas of the police service and was promoted through the ranks until he was appointed to the position of Chief of Police in Midland in 1995. Paul serves as a member of the Board of Directors of the Boys and Girls Clubs of North Simcoe and I addition is presently the Chair of the Board of Directors for the Midland Unit of the Boys and Girls Club. Paul has also served on the Board of Directors of the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police for ten years in various roles and he has chaired and been active on many committees within the Association. Paul Hamelin was awarded the Police Exemplary Service Medal and 30 year bar and in May of 2006 was invested as an Officer of the Police Order of Merit for Canada by the Governor General of Canada Michaelle Jean. He retired from the Midland Police Department in 2009 and is now self employed and on contract with the Ontario Police Technology Information Cooperative. He is married to his wife Brenda and has three sons. Paul Hamelin joined the CLH Board of Directors in 2007.

Chris Harding	Chris Harding is a Vice-Principal for the Simcoe County District School Board. He has taught in both the Secondary and Elementary panels for both the Simcoe County District School Board, with a majority of his career spent teaching various Special Education classes. Chris is currently the Vice-Principal at Ardagh Bluffs Public School in Barrie. He received his teacher training at the University of Western, Sydney, Australia, and has since completed his specialist in Special Education. He is also an associate Professor for York University, teaching Special Education Additional Qualification courses for teachers through their Department of Continuing Education. Chris and his wife Jana, who is also a teacher for the Simcoe County District School Board, have a wonderful daughter named Willow who has Down Syndrome, and a beautiful daughter named Ella. Chris has previously served as a board member at the Midland Curling Club and is an avid curler and hockey player.

James G. Young, O.Ont, M.D.	Dr. Young has held prominent positions during numerous national and international disasters and emergencies. He had a long career with the Ontario Government and served as Chief Coroner of Ontario for 15 years, as the first Commissioner of Emergency Management and as the Assistant Deputy Minister of Public Safety for the Solicitor General. In the later role the Centre of Forensic Sciences, Emergency Measures Ontario and the Ontario Fire Marshal reported to him. As Ontario ’s former Commissioner of Emergency Management, Dr. Young provided guidance on a number of unprecedented provincial emergencies. He led the central operation during the 1998 ice storm, which devastated eastern Ontario . He played a pivotal role in the Government of Ontario’s management of SARS and was honoured with the President’s Award from the College of Physicians and Surgeons for effective emergency coordination and public communications during the outbreak. During the August 2003 power blackout, he ensured a coordinated government response and effective communication with the public. In recognition for these efforts and his role as one of Canada ’s foremost forensic scientists, Dr. Young was honoured with the Order of Ontario in 2005.

Mary Bourgeois	Born and raised in Penetanguishene, Mary Bourgeois obtained a Business Administrative degree from the University of Saskatchewan moved back to this area in 2010. As the Manager of Human Resources with the Near North District School Board and serving some 30 years in Human Resources, she retired in 2002. During her work experience and later in her retired life, she served in numerous capacities such as: - Board member of the Elliot Lake Police Commission - Chair and member of the Canada Pension Plan Tribunal Committees - Board Member of the Lakeland Long Term Care Facility - Volunteer - Belvedere Heights Long Term Care Facility - Volunteer – Vcars - Volunteer – Georgian Nordic Ski and Canoe Club Over the last few years Mary has assisted numerous organizations with the development of Human Resources policy and practices.


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