Appointee Biographies

MARK RYCKMAN

Mark Ryckman, of Peterborough, is a Manager of Policy with the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters. Mark was a Provincial Population Ecologist at Manitoba Conservation from 2008 to 2012. Mark’s community involvement has included volunteering with the Kawartha Land Trust.

STEVE CHENIER

Steve Chenier is a Self-employed Owner, Silviculture Contractor, Camp Manager, and a General Contractor and Trapper. He is a Councilor for Mattawa Algonquin First Nation. His community involvement has included serving as Trapping and Silviculture Representative for Local Citizen Committee (Forestry).

LINDSEY COUILLARD

Lindsey Couillard retired in 2023 following a 40-year career with the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) throughout northern Ontario including Thunder Bay, Sault Ste. Marie, Chapleau, Kirkland Lake, Moosonee, Cochrane and South Porcupine. Lindsey was a Conservation Officer for almost 30 years retiring as the Staff Superintendent/Manager of the Intelligence and Investigation Service. Lindsey's wildlife management experience with the MNR included flying aerial moose and caribou surveys, polar bear denning surveys and assisting with a provincial black bear telemetry study. Lindsey is now the owner/operator of a tourism business providing guided black bear hunts near Matheson, Ontario. Lindsey is a lifelong angler and hunter with experience hunting big game, small game, wild turkey and waterfowl and is also an active licenced trapper. Lindsey is an advocate for conservation and management techniques that support healthy big game populations now and for future generations.

GLENN RIVARD

Glenn Rivard is retired from Hydro One Forestry. In this position Glenn travelled extensively throughout northwestern Ontario. In addition, he has spent much of his life as a hunter, trapper and angler in Ontario. His experience has provided him the opportunity to observe changes to the landscape and how hunters utilize it over time. He is a director with the Northwest fur trappers Association and devotes considerable time to stewardship projects on his own property. He has an extensive history serving on various MNRF and stakeholder advisory committees related to big game management.

KYLE POLESKY

Kyle Polesky is the Owner and Operator of 2 Resource Based Tourist Outfitter Businesses. One is a drive-in the other is a Fly-in. Born and bred in Northern Ontario, his passion for the outdoors came as no accident. With over 20 years of experience as an Outfitter and Guide in Ontario, Kyle is also involved in the Advocacy side of Tourism. Over the past several years, Kyle has served as member on the NOTO board and is currently President of the organization. He also sits alongside of a great team of peers with Destination Ontario on the Northern Marketing Committee. It is rare, but in his spare time you can find him casting A Fly for anything that swims.

CHRIS EVERETT

Chris Everett, of Johnstown, is a Chapter Services and Advocacy Specialist at SCI Canada. She is also former Chief of Staff for the House of Commons.