Board of Directors
Our Board of Directors plays a vital role in the success of The Couchiching Conservancy
Together, they provide strategic direction and oversight on important issues and ensure that our work is on track and moving in the right direction. We are grateful to the entire Board, for all of their efforts and passion for the work that we do.
If you would like to get in touch with one of our Board Members, please contact Meg Whitton and she can re-direct your request.
Email: nature@couchconservancy.ca
Phone: 705-326-1620
Councils & Committees:
President:
Jane Bonsteel
Jane moved to Orillia in 2016 and is retired after a career in drinking water treatment. She volunteers with The Couchiching Conservancy as a Water Quality Monitor and occasionally as an Ambassador. She participates in the Sundial Creek working group which is collaborating with the City to restore one of Orillia’s last cold water creeks. Jane is a also member of the City’s Environmental Advisory Committee. Her favourite places to be are out-of-doors, paddling canoes and kayaks, cross-country skiing or biking.
Past President:
Kathy Hunt
Kathy is a freelance marketing communications specialist, happily semi-retired, following a career in public relations and marketing. She enjoyed the opportunities her freelance career provided, especially with not-for-profit and public sector organizations. Most recently she worked with Lakehead University during the opening and development of its new campus in Orillia.
She has been involved with The Couchiching Conservancy over the years, originally as a corporate member with her freelance business, KH Communications. She worked with the organization to help develop and produce the organization's first newsletter, as well as promotional materials for special events and public awareness.
Kathy moved to Orillia with her family, husband Lance and three children, 30 years ago and loves the area, especially the opportunities for outdoor recreation. Her favourite pastime is exploring local trails, parks and waterways, preferably by canoe, kayak, rowboat, on skis or by bicycle.
Always interested in promoting the benefits of the Orillia lifestyle, Kathy has volunteered with local festivals, the Orillia Community Development Corporation, the Terry Fox Run, and most recently as a member of the Games Organizing Committee for the 2018 Ontario Winter Games.
Director:
Bob Sullivan
Bob is a dentist who has practiced in Orillia for 30 years. As a member of The Couchiching Conservancy for years, a past president and part of numerous teams and committees, his planning and management skills have been invaluable on the Board. Bob currently chairs the Heartwood Committee and serves on The Couchiching Conservancy's Investment Committee. He loves snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, canoeing, hiking and kayaking, and is a keen supporter of conserving land for future generations. He and his partner Wendy have three daughters and live in Severn Township.
Director:
Dale Leadbeater
Dale A. Leadbeater, B. Sc., B. Ed., R.P. Bio., P. Biol., graduated from the University of Toronto, then worked in the Botany Department where she administered the Green Plant Herbarium. A field associate of the Royal Ontario Museum and life member of the Field Botanists of Ontario, she has presented talks on many natural heritage topics, organized conferences and led outings as well as teaching Ecological Land Classification. An enthusiastic supporter of Land Trusts, Dale has worked with The Couchiching Conservancy as an event leader, Advisory Council member and volunteer. Dale lives on a 200-acre Conservation Easement near Kirkfield.
Director:
Tom Wilson
Tom has lived at least 2 months of every year of his 70 years on the shores of Lake Simcoe, moving there permanently in 2000 the day after he married Judy. He enjoyed an exhilarating career with General Motors and Peregrine, navigating through the Skilled Trades to Supervisory roles to Advanced Engineering and retiring as a Maintenance Supervisor after 30 years.
He's Involved in a number of community activities over the years including volunteering with the Beaverton Garden Club Board, Durham COPE Support, Carden Field Naturalists (12 years as President, now Past President), Couchiching Conservancy Community Science programs, Nature Festival volunteer, current Stewardship volunteer, and ongoing Couchiching Conservancy member for many years.
Tom enjoys wandering the Carden Alvar Properties to hiking the wilds of Gravenhurst with his 2 granddaughters, to meandering the trails the Wildernisk Farm in Fergus with his other 3 grandchildren. Tom and his wife Judy are spending more time learning and embracing Indigenous history and culture through events, literature, and participating in knowledge sharing community reconciliation groups in the area. Tom recently completed the 904 kms Bruce Trail with a group of friends in just 17 years.
Director:
Lisa Neville
Lisa, now retired, worked for the federal government mainly as an aquatic biologist in various locations across the country, including British Columbia and the Northwest Territories. She holds a bachelor of science degree in marine biology from the University of Guelph and a post-baccalaureate diploma in environmental science from Capilano College.
Passionate about environmental stewardship, Lisa has volunteered with The Couchiching Conservancy in many ways since moving to the area in 2012. Currently, she serves as Board Secretary and Policy Committee Chair, as well as a salamander monitor.
Lisa enjoys tending her gardens and the 4100+ tree seedlings planted at her property in Severn. She is especially excited when moose wander through, sandhill cranes visit the wetland next door, milk snakes sun themselves in her rock garden, and the whip-poor-wills’ calls wake her at 2:00 a.m.
Director:
Si Lowry
Si is a founding member of the Couchiching Conservancy and has been a passionate advocate for conservation since its inception. An avid outdoorsman, Si enjoys backcountry canoeing, kayaking, hiking, cycling, and skiing/snowshoeing. He earned an Honours Bachelor of Science in Biology prior to completing his medical degree and went on to practice and teach Family Medicine in Orillia for 40 years.
Since 2016, Si has worked to establish Mariposa Residential Hospice, which opened in 2022. His longstanding commitment to community service also includes co-founding the Uhthoff Trail—one of Canada’s earliest rail trails—through his work with the Orillia Naturalist Club.
Si’s environmental leadership extends to watershed restoration. From 1992 to 1996, he led the restoration of Silver Creek in Severn in collaboration with the Orillia Naturalist Club, Trout Unlimited Canada, and the Orillia Snowmobile Club, successfully rehabilitating aquatic habitat for brook trout and other species following years of upstream development impacts.
He has been recognized for his contributions with the Ontario Governor General’s Award for Conservation and the Environment (1993), the Ontario Municipal Recreation Award (1994) for significantly enhancing community quality of life, and a Certificate of Appreciation from Scouts Canada for his involvement in the Trees for Canada planting program (1992).
In addition, Si co-authored Health Effects of Incineration of Municipal Garbage for the Orillia Medical Society, contributing to a successful community campaign (1990–1994) opposing the proposed construction of a municipal waste incineration facility in Orillia.
Director:
Norm Sinclair
Norm is a retired rehabilitation professional with more than 30 years of experience supporting individuals recovering from spinal cord and acquired brain injuries. After completing his Master of Social Work at McMaster University, Norm built a distinguished career with the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB), where he specialized in rehabilitation services for injured workers across Ontario.
A lifelong resident of Orillia, Norm returned to the community in 1986 to raise his family and continue his professional work. Throughout his career, he developed deep expertise in client advocacy, case management, interdisciplinary collaboration, and community-based rehabilitation services.
In addition to his professional accomplishments, Norm has demonstrated a strong commitment to community service and governance. He has served as a volunteer and board member with The Sharing Place Food Centre, Ontario Brain Injury Association, Orillia Minor Hockey and Orillia Youth Soccer. He has also contributed his time to adaptive sport through the Canadian Adaptive Snowsports program.
Director:
Susan Crowe
Susan is a local community member & retired business leader who brings a ‘business’ perspective & relevant skills to the Director role particularly in the areas of leadership, strategic planning, financial governance & relationship building. Her volunteer roles at The Couchiching Conservancy as a Monarch Monitor and Passport to Nature Committee member have been very rewarding & have provided a better understanding of the inner workings of the organization, its people & culture & the underlying passion & dedication that runs throughout. Susan holds a Masters of Business Administration degree from Athabasca University & a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Toronto & as a self-described lifelong learner is a voracious reader of many wide ranging topics. In addition to her equestrian related activities, Susan loves all of the outdoor recreational opportunities available in the local area and enjoys hiking, kayaking, camping, cross country skiing and spending quiet time working in her gardens learning more about native plants and trying to attract more bees and butterflies.
