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Appointee Biographies

Algonquin Forestry Authority

GORDON CLARK

Gord Clark is a former Manager with both the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry and the Ministry of Labour in the Northern and Eastern Regions, and Manager in a central government secretariat in Toronto. Following his retirement from the OPS he engaged in consultancy work for the Ministries of Labour and Environment. He holds a diploma in Forestry from Sir Sanford Fleming College. He was appointed to the Algonquin Forestry Authority Board of Directors in 2016, served as Chair of the Governance Committee, appointed as Vice-Chair in 2020, and appointed as Chair in March 2023.

SARAH BROS

Sarah Bros has been serving as a member (part-time) since 2013. She is a Partner at Merin Forest Management, and a former Management Forester for Buchanan Forest Products Ltd. Her community involvement has included serving as Council Member for the Ontario Professional Foresters Association

ROBERT CRAFTCHICK

Robert Craftchick has worked in both private and public sector aspects of the forestry industry. His Honours Bachelor of Science Degree in Forestry from Lakehead University is complemented by diplomas from Trent University (Small Business Management & Native Economic Development) and Sault College of Applied Arts (Aboriginal Resource Technician). Since 2005, Mr. Craftchick has been the duly elected Algonquin Negotiation Representative for Whitney and Area Algonquins. Proudly representing the Algonquins of Ontario in the forestry sector by participating in the Aboriginal Resource Group, the wood supply competitive process, and the forestry tenure and pricing process, Mr. Craftchick takes great pride in being actively involved in his community.

LEO HALL

Leo Hall is the President of Opeongo Forestry Service, a private land forestry business in the Ottawa Valley, with a personal passion for sustainable forestry. Mr. Hall also serves on the Board of Directors for both Hospice Renfrew and Renfrew Power Generation. An avid outdoors person, Mr. Hall and his family enjoy regular visits to Algonquin Park for canoeing, hiking and skiing. Mr. Hall has a Master of Business Administration degree from the Richard Ivey School of Business, and a Bachelor of Applied Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Queen’s University.

ROBERT HOWE

Robert Howe is a lawyer and counsel to the firm of Bradley law Professional Corporation with offices in Pembroke, Barry’s Bay and Deep River in Renfrew County. He currently is Chair of the Governance Committee for the Algonquin Forestry Authority Board of Directors as well as a member of the Board of Directors of the Renfrew County Legal Clinic. His community involvement has included terms as the President of the Madawaska Valley Association for Community Living and Co-operative Policing Killaloe & Area. He regularly advises other “non-profits” in Renfrew County, among them being St. Francis Valley Healthcare Foundation, Ottawa Valley Cycling and Active Transportation Alliance and The Stone Fence Theatre.

DAMION KETCHUM

Damion Ketchum is a strategic finance leader with more than 20 years of experience in both the private and not-for-profit sector. He currently is the Chair of the Audit and Finance Committee for both Algonquin Forestry Authority, sits on the Audit Committee for Rugby Ontario, and is the Treasurer for Fletcher’s Fields. Having previously held senior level positions at President’s Choice Financial, BMO and CIBC. He currently leads fiscal planning and reporting for Legal Aid Ontario. Mr. Ketchum is a Chartered Professional Accountant with a Master of Business Administration degree from the Richard Ivey School of Business and an Engineering degree from Alfred State.

TIM WITHEY

With a degree in Environmental Studies and Business Administration from Trent University, Tim Withey is the President, Founder and Principal Broker of Withey Insurance Brokers, Inc. located in Huntsville where he is also currently a member of the Board of Directors of Rosseau Lake College. Since 1994, Mr. Withey has demonstrated his commitment to serving the public interest in a series of elected and appointed positions, including the Huntsville Hospital Board, Huntsville Town Council, District of Muskoka Council, and the Boards of Huntsville Health Services, the Muskoka, Nipissing, Parry Sound and Timiskaming District Health Council, the North Simcoe Muskoka Local Health Integration Network, Huntsville Hospice, Fairvern Nursing Home, Crimestoppers, the Chamber of Commerce, and Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare, where he served as the Vice-Chair. A longtime supporter of Algonquin Park, Mr. Withey currently resides in Huntsville with his family.

BRIAN SARGINSON

Brian Sarginson is retired and lives in Callander, Ontario. He spent his career in the forest industry across Ontario and North America. From 1977 to 1984, he managed forest operations across Ontario for Martin Lumber, assuming the role of President and CEO from 1984 to 1989. Brian worked closely with AFA staff during these years since five of Martin’s mills received wood from Algonquin Park. He transitioned to the composite industry as Wood Procurement Director North America for Flakeboard Company (now Arauco) until 2019. In his retirement, Brian enjoys downhill skiing, golfing, hunting, and fishing.