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Appointee Biographies

Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation

KIM CORNELL

became managing partner in Cornell farms in 1984. Cornell has served on various local, provincial and national agricultural boards over the years. He was also a graduate of the Advanced Agricultural Leadership Program, Class 2 and has been a beef cattle judge at various provincial and national breed shows.

LAURIE MARCIL

Laurie Marcil was appointed to the role of Executive Director of Nature & Outdoor Tourism Ontario in 2014. Beginning in 1991 as the bookkeeper, she soon took on additional responsibilities as Marketing Coordinator, Office Manager and Membership Services Manager. Laurie’s community involvement includes serving as a member of the Liquid Fuels Advisory Council of the Technical Standards & Safety Authority, and as a member of the Canadian Federation of Outfitter Associations as well as a Ferris Lions Club member in North Bay.

DAVID SINCLAIR

In 2019 David Sinclair retired as President and CEO of Kenora Hydro subsequent to the successful merger with Thunder Bay Hydro. During his tenure at Kenora Hydro he was responsible for the overall operation of the utility including strategic planning, policy development, rate setting, negotiations, and financial planning. Mr. Sinclair has chaired the boards of several energy sector bodies. As Chair of the Municipal Electric Association, he led the structural change to become the Electricity Distributors Association. During this period, he also chaired the Municipal Electric Association Reciprocal Insurance Exchange (MEARIE), which provides insurance solutions to Ontario’s local distribution companies (LDCs). Mr. Sinclair is a director of the Independent Electricity System Operator and serves as Chair of the Audit Committee. The IESO manages Ontario’s power system to ensure reliability through the balancing of electricity supply and demand on a real time basis. Mr. Sinclair holds the ICD.D designation from the Institute of Corporate Directors.

FRED SLADE

FRED SLADE is currently an owner/operator of a public accounting office. His community involvement includes serving as board member, President and treasurer for several charities and organizations including the Rotary Club of Sudbury, The Salvation Army Advisory Board, the Pregnancy Care Centre and Infant Food Bank and the Health Sciences North Finance Committee. He attended the University of Waterloo and has his CPA designation from the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants.

BILL SPINNEY

William Donald Spinney is a retired General Manager for a local non-profit Community Futures Office. He is the former Chair of the Deposit Insurance Corporation of Ontario (DICO) and the Ontario Association of Community Futures. His community involvement includes serving as a Director and Past President of the Parry Sound Area Chamber of Commerce and is currently a director and Treasurer for the Parry Sound Golf & Country Club.

KIMBERLY BALLANCE

Kimberly Ballance is the Clerk Treasurer Administrator for The Corporation of the Township of Ear Falls, and the Owner/President of Dutchie’s General Store Inc. Her community involvement includes serving as Video Sub-Committee member for the Ontario Municipal Administrators Association.

TONIA BLENKARN

Tonia Blenkarn is the Co-Owner of Flat Rick Holdings Inc., Desmasdon's Boat Works, Desmasdon’s Construction & Beacon Marine. Her community involvement includes serving as a Youth Leader for The Meeting House Parry Sound.

MICHAEL FOX

Michael Fox is a facilitator who has worked with Aboriginal communities. In his previous employment, he assisted northern Ontario First Nations with economic development initiatives within the main natural resource development sectors of Ontario. He has facilitated joint ventures between First Nations and industry. Mr. Fox obtained a post-secondary education in business and a degree in political science. He is a board member of the Canadian Council of Aboriginal Business.

BERNIE KAMPHOF

Bernie Kamphof has been an active member of the local farming community for over twenty-five years. He has served on many boards and committees including the Thunder Bay District Soil and Crop Improvement Association, Thunder Bay Cooperative Farm Supplies, Thunder Bay Dairy Producers, and the Thunder Bay Federation of Agriculture. He is currently a member of the Lakehead Source Water Protection Committee and is the Vice Chair of the Thunder Bay Agricultural Research Association. In addition to his agricultural involvement Bernie has been a Councilor for the Municipality of Oliver Paipoonge since 2010. He has also been a member of the Thunder Bay District Board of Health, is a member of the Thunder Bay District Municipal League Board and currently is the Chair of the Lakehead Rural Planning Board.

DON MITCHELL

Donald Mitchell is a former Vice president for Algoma Insurance Limited, and a former sales manager for Downtown Insurance and Realty Limited. His community involvement includes serving as Vice-President and President of the Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce.

LUCY BELANGER

Lucy Belanger is an active and key member of Management team with Equipment World Inc since 1988. She currently holds position as Comptroller & Operations Manager, overseeing all corporate financial and operational matters. She is active within the community past and present, volunteering with many charities including, Canadian Cancer Society Thunder Bay, Heart & Stroke Foundation Thunder Bay, Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce, Shelter House Committee for fundraiser events, and the Thunder Bay Separate School Parent Advisory Committee. Lucy has held positions as Treasurer for Youth Employment Services as well as the Thunder Bay Business Woman's Network. She currently sits on the Board with NOHFC.

SUE PRODANIUK

Susan Prodaniuk is President of Sue Prodaniuk Advertising/PR Consultant Inc., and a former Executive Director of Communications, Fundraising and Strategic Enrolment Management for the Confederation College. Her community involvement includes as an Executive Member for Ambassadors NW, City of Thunder Bay, Flood Advisory Committee, Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce Board Member, and Big Thunder National Ski Training Centre.

E. JAMES T. HOOK, Q.C.

E James T. Hook was raised in the tourist business, where my parents owned and operated a large fly-in American Plan Tourist Resort. Following my graduation and call to the Ontario Bar I was engaged in the practice of law for 44 years in the District of Kenora, until my retirement in 2016. Initially I had an extensive criminal defence practice prior to being retained on a part time basis as an Assistant Part Time Crown Attorney. My legal practice gradually evolved into one involving representing clients in civil matters such as residential and commercial real estate, financing, estate planning, and corporate and commercial matters, including numerous tourist resorts. I retain a keen interest in business matters generally and the tourist industry in particular in Northern Ontario. I also served from 1996 to 2003 on the Board of NOHFC, and chaired a Committee charged with considering proposals across Northern Ontario for destination attractions.

PETER CHIRICO

Peter Chirico has been elected as Mayor of the City of North Bay in the 2022 Municipal election.