Appointee Biographies

GORDON HAUGH

Gordon Haugh was an independent corporate communications consultant with clients in both the government and the private sector. Gordon was previously Manager of Public Affairs for The (then) Canadian Manufacturers’ Association, Executive Director of Communications for the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB), Communications Advisor to the Commissioner of the Inquiry into the Air Ontario Crash at Dryden, Ontario and a senior consultant with Great Plains Communications (GPC). Within government, he has been Chief of Staff to several ministers and Communications Advisor to others. Gordon is the Chair of the Board for Community Living South Muskoka, is a former President and Director of the Gravenhurst Curling Club, is a Trustee of the Stan Darling Environmental Education Fund, and is a Senator of Junior Chamber International. Gordon and his wife, Shelley, live in Gravenhurst, on the shores of Kahshe Lake.

BRIAN JOHN BRONSON

Brian Bronson is a longtime resident of Kirkland Lake as well as a long-time educator. From teacher to vice-principal, to principal and administrator Brian did it all. After more than 33 years in education, Brian retired and has been very active in his community. He was the president of the Kirkland Lake Rotary Club, initiated a volunteer photography community enhancement project, organized Kirkland Lake 100th anniversary celebrations, and supported events to celebrate diversity and community leaders. Brian remains active in Kirkland Lake photo club, Kirkland Lake Multi-Cultural Group, Kirkland Lake Economic Development and Tourism Committee, and is vice-chair of the Blanche River Health Foundation.

JAMIE HOPKINS

Jamie Hopkins is Managing Director of SVL Holdings, Chief Executive Officer of Santa’s Village in Bracebridge ON, Atlantic Splash Adventure in Halifax, NS and the Santa’s Whispering Pines and the Muskoka Ridge campgrounds in Bracebridge. Some of the previous professional associations Jamie has been involved with have been, Past president of Muskoka Tourism, Vice Chair Town and Country Committee of Ontario Tourism Marketing Partnership Corps, Past Chair of South Muskoka Curling and Golf Club, Past president of Ontario Recreation Facilities Association, Board member of Attractions Ontario. Jamie is also an avid golfer, recreational guitar player, adventure traveler and a recent grandparent.

LARRY SAUNDERS

Larry Saunders retired from Bank of Montreal in 2009. He has been a resident of Huntsville since 2007. Larry is presently with Board of Algonquin Family Health Team and with Board of Beta Theta Pi Foundation of Canada. He is a previous volunteer with Board of Directors of North Simcoe Muskoka Local Health Integration Network, and with Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare, and with York Central Hospital Foundation, and with Appeals Committee of Ontario Hockey Federation and Richmond Hill Minor Hockey.

TIM WITHEY

Tim Withey was first elected to the Huntsville Hospital Board in 1994 and served until his election to Huntsville Town Council in 2010, where he was appointed Chair of Community Services. Over the years, Tim has contributed to numerous boards, including Algonquin Health Services, Huntsville Hospice, Fairvern Nursing Home, Crimestoppers, the Chamber of Commerce, and he served as Vice‑Chair of Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare. He also completed six years on the Muskoka, Nipissing, Parry Sound and Timiskaming District Health Council, as well as three years as a Director on the NSM LHIN. Reelected to council in 2018, Tim served as both a Town of Huntsville Councillor and a District of Muskoka Councillor. During this term, he chaired the Town’s Corporate Services Committee and sat on the District’s Health Committee. Tim currently sits on the Board of Rosseau Lake College, serves as a Director on the Board of the Algonquin Forestry Authority, and is a member of the Regional OPP Board for Muskoka. He is also the President of APRA, the leaseholder association for Algonquin Park.

KIRK KELUSKY

Kirk Kelusky is a retired Police Inspector with over 35 years of service with the North Bay Police Service. He assumed progressive and varying responsibilities in all areas of criminal investigations, professional standards, operations management, critical incident response and command, and management at a senior level. He was well regarded professionally and in the community. Kirk holds a Bachelor Degree in Economics from Nipissing University, has completed the Rotman School of Management Executive Police Leadership Forum, along with numerous professional development courses in operations, management and leadership. With experience in governance, Kirk has served as a Vice-Chair Canadore College Board of Governors, Chair of the Board of Directors for the Canadore Foundation overseeing financial endowments and bursaries, is a director of One Kids Place a children's treatment centre and is a municipal appointee to the Lake Nosbosning OPP Detachment Board.

CHARLES COOPER

Charles Cooper is a veteran of the Information and Communications Technology Industry with over 25 years of experience nurturing startup organizations in policy based networks, encryption technology and cloud sourced applications. Charles has semi-retired to the cottage and now owns Muskoka Hydrovac ltd. A non-destructive excavation business. Charles is a seasoned leader within the competitive telecommunications carrier market and has crafted many strategic roadmaps which contributed to numerous successful acquisitions including Call Net (by Sprint Canada), Group Telecom (by Bell Canada) and Atria Networks (by Rogers Communications). These acquisitions exceeded a billion dollars in value. Outside the office, Charles is an active volunteer within the community participating on many advisory and governance boards. Most recently, he was the Chairman of the Board for Peel Senior Link, a local health services provider, which delivers “Support for Daily Living” program to over 1000 seniors. Under his six-year leadership, PSL grew funding by 350% and achieved accreditation Canada certification for corporate governance. He as also been a member of the Advisory Board for the Information and Communication Technology program at Sheridan College. Once a month he mentors’ entrepreneurs with local startups as the Industry Chair for Communitech’s Product Management Peer to Peer group in Waterloo. Lately he has co-founded and first funder of the Dwight Winter Pantry, a seasonal food bank in Dwight Ontario. Throughout the winter, Charles teaches children with disabilities, as a volunteer ski instructor with the Ontario Track 3 Association. He can most often be found relaxing by the lake with his wife and three daughters in Muskoka.

ANGELA KNIGHT VAN SCHAAYK

Angela Knight van Schaayk is President/CEO of James C. Knight Creative Insurance Planners Inc., and a group benefits consultant for Gallagher Group Benefits. Her community involvement includes serving as President and Secretary for the North Bay Rotary.