SPC Members

Michael Traynor -- SPC Chair

"Born and raised in Grey County l was educated locally and obtained my post secondary education from the University of Western Ontario. I chose the field of education as my career working as a researcher, professor, coordinator, chairman, principal and director of academic studies. I retired after a rewarding thirty-two year career at Georgian College of Applied Arts and Technology.

Currently l am working as a consultant as Senior Lead for Inter Generational Programs across Ontario. I also have over six years municipal politics experience. In the Fall of 2006, I was elected as a councillor for the Municipality of Meaford and in May 2008 became Deputy Mayor.

My wife, Jerrie, and l live in the "Irish Block" on the original homestead farm outside of Owen Sound. We enjoy our family, our heritage and working together on various community initiatives both locally and provincially."

Dr. David Biesenthal -- Agricultural Representative

Dr. Biesenthal was a veterinarian for over three decades with an equine specialization for most of that time. He is involved in a cash crop enterprise on both owned and rented land. For the past few years, Dr .Biesenthal has been speaking to farm groups across the country about the Environmental Farm Plan and its importance in the protection of soil and water resources. He is a sitting member of the Provincial Nutrient Management Advisory Committee.

Lou D'Allesandro -- Health Representative

Mr. D'Alessandro has been very involved in the health sector.  As a certified public health inspector, Mr. D'Alessandro also holds certification as a Water Quality Analyst (class 1), Chief Building Official (part 8 septic systems, OBC) and small systems operator's certificate. He has been on the board of directors at the Walkerton Clean Water Centre since its inception and chairs the Research and Advisory Committee at the WCWC.

Bruce Davidson -- Public Representative

Bruce Davidson is co-founder and vice-chair of the Concerned Walkerton Citizens, an organization which formed after the Walkerton water tragedy in 2000. Mr. Davidson was heavily involved during the Walkerton Inquiry and made presentations during the development of the Clean Water Act legislation. Presently, Mr. Davidson serves on the Canadian Environmental Law Association board, Brockton Environmental Committee, Hanover Brockton Landfill Committee and the Water Guardians Network.

Carolyn Day -- Public Representative

Ms. Day is a member and past-president (Ontario) of the Canadian Federation of University Women. As well, she is the Special Appointee: Water Issues for the CFUW Ontario Council. In this capacity she has written numerous briefs and attended meetings on Drinking Water Source Protection. She currently serves on the Great Lakes Charter Annex Advisory Panel under the Ministry of Natural Resources.

Robert Emerson -- Agricultural Representative

Mr .Emerson is well-known in the agricultural community for his involvement as a director and former President of the Bruce County Federation of Agriculture and director of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture. He has always been a full-time farmer and runs a purebred Charolais cow-calf herd and cash crops on his farm. Mr. Emerson is also a committee member on the Pine River Watershed Initiative.

INDUSTRIAL
sector

Carolyn Parker -- Industrial Representative

Mark Kraemer -- Commercial Representative

Mr. Kraemer has considerable experience in the commercial sector. He has served on the board of numerous community groups, including the Rotary Club, agricultural society and Chamber of Commerce. For the past seven years he has been the Chair of Westario Power and presently he sits as a director of Meridian Credit Union. During his long political career, Mark Kraemer spent eight years as Mayor of Saugeen Shores and a member of Bruce County Council, was Bruce County Warden for two years, served on the Grey Bruce Health Unit, and still sits as a member of the Police Services Board.

Brent Lanktree -- Agricultural Representative

Brent Lanktree has been a beef/calf and cash crop grain farmer for more than thirty years. He was born and raised on the farm that he now operates. Mr. Lanktree has taken part in the Environmental Farm Plan and installed exclusion fencing and a solar-powered water pump for cattle on his farm. He is an active member of the Blue Mountain Watershed Trust serving on the board of directors for the past ten years, five of those as Chair.

Les MacKinnon -- Environmental Representative

Les MacKinnon is an environmental services consultant. He has served as an Environmental Health Officer for several local municipalities and presently acts in this capacity for the Municipality of West Grey. He was a member of the technical committees for both the Grey County Septage Plan and the Ministry of the Environment’s Composting Sewage/Bio-solids/Septage Study.

Kathie Hughes -- Municipal Representative (Group 1)

Les Nichols -- Municipal Representative (Group 3)

Les Nichols is a councillor for the Municipality of South Bruce. As well, he is a farmer, serves on the board of the Bruce County chapter of the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association and works in agri-business. Mr. Nichols also sits on a local physician recruitment committee and the International Plowing Match Committee.

Dale Thompson -- Environmental Representative

Dale Thompson is an active member of the Bruce Peninsula Environment Group and has a strong interest in environmental issues. Throughout his career, Mr. Thompson was involved in the pork and dairy industries, as well as marketing livestock products. He has served on the Ontario Pork Congress for twenty years, including a term as president, has volunteered with the Tobermory Chamber of Commerce and is active on the Hobson’s Harbour Residents’ Association.

Bill Twaddle -- Municipal Representative (Group 5)

Mr. Twaddle has been a councillor for the City of Owen Sound for several years. He has served on various committees, such as the Owen Sound Police Services Board, Environment Committee and Operations Advisory Committee. As well, he has been Chair of the Health Unit and a Councillor on Grey County Council

Mitch Twolan -- Municipal Representative (Group 2)

Mitch Twolan has been Mayor of the Township of Huron-Kinloss since 2004. He serves on Bruce County Council and recently held the position of Warden of Bruce County for a one-year term. As well, he was involved in the formation of the Pine River Watershed Initiative and formerly served as a director of the Saugeen Valley Conservation Authority. During his time with Huron-Kinloss, Mr. Twolan has helped to implement water quality testing and septic re-inspection programs. Many people will also recognize him as a realtor in the Point Clark area.