Lawni LaBelle-Paynter

Social Worker
Lakehead Nurse Practitioner Led Clinic

Lawni has over 20 years of experience in the health care sector. She brings extensive knowledge in the areas of mental health and addictions, primary care, acute care, chronic care, long term care, palliative care and home and community care support services.

Lawni possesses skills in the area of home care management, counselling therapy, chronic disease management, community development, case management, program development, implementation, evaluation and risk management.

Kari Chiappetta

Owner – Kari Chiappetta Consulting Inc.

Kari was born and raised in Thunder Bay and loves the people and the sense of community in our city. She wants to give back to the community to help make it the best place for her children and future grandchildren to call home. Kari joined the Board of Directors at Thunder Bay Counselling as a way to build a stronger community. She believes strongly in the Vision, Mission, and Values of the organization and believes her skills and experience tie in well to work of the board at TBC.

Carlina Marchese

Research Coordinator & Research Manager – Lakehead University

Carlina is a member of the Audit & Finance Committee. She recently completed her Master of Health Sciences, and is now a Research Coordinator and Research Manager at the Centre for Education and Research on Aging and Health.

Rose Bakke

Director of Family Services, Children’s Aid Society of the District of Thunder Bay

Rose has worked in various capacities in the field of child welfare for over 30 years. She is currently the Director of Family Services at the Children’s Aid Society of the District of Thunder Bay. Rose is born and raised in Thunder Bay and has a strong commitment to community and district. She has previous Board experience and a strong belief in volunteer work.

Kari Wesley

Well-Being Ambassador & Brand Manager, TD Bank

Kari has over 20 years of experience in Financial Planning and Financial Services. She is a Professional Executive Coach specializing in Leadership Development and Performance Coaching. Kari is passionate about work/life balance and volunteers as a National Well-Being Ambassador with TD.

Becca Stephenson

Becca (she/her) is a Human Resources Officer at the Thunder Bay Catholic District School Board. Becca is a Certified Human Resources Professional (CHRP) and has been a member of the Board since 2019.

Aimee Jaun

Associate Vice Provost, Lakehead University

Aimee Jaun is the Associate Vice-Provost, Students at Lakehead University. She comes to the Board with diverse experiences that include post-secondary education, mental health and addiction, public health, management consulting, training and development, and organization development.

Renée Monsma

Chair

Manager of Infant & Child Services – Children’s Centre Thunder Bay

Renée has over 20 years experience in the mental health sector and is the Manager of Infant & Child Services Children’s Centre Thunder Bay. Renée has served on the board of directors for the past 3 years and holds the position of Chair of the board. Renee is also a member of the strategic planning committee.

Jeff Moorley

MEMBER AT LARGE

Lawyer at White MacGillivray Lester LLP

Jeff is in his second term as a director, having been elected to the Board in 2015 and re-elected in 2018. Since 2015 he has chaired the Board’s Nominating and By-law Committee which oversees the recruitment of new Board members and the legal rules governing the Board.

Melissa Beaucage

Student – Lakehead University

Melissa is currently a student enrolled at Lakehead University in the Specialized Psychology program who brings a youth perspective to the board. She has chaired the Strategic Planning Committee in 2018-2019 and participated in Family Service Day at Queens Park in 2019.

Tuomas Minor

Corporate Management Professional

Tuomas is a Professional Engineer working in the local telecommunication sector. He brings extensive experience in Corporate Leadership and specializes in strategic planning, program development, and data analysis.

Katherine Couzelis

Forest Technician, Owner of WAYfinder Trails & Recreation

Katherine obtained her Aboriginal Canadian Relations Certificate while studying Natural Resource Management at Confederation College. She was elected as a board member in September 2020 and is part of the Audit Committee.

Gustavo Petterle

Director of Organizational Health, NorWest Community Health Centre

Gustavo is Director of Organizational Health at the NorWest Community Health Centre. He has extensive experience in health policy development and health care administration with special interest in quality improvement and its relation with corporate planning.

Becca Stephenson

Human Resources Officer at the Children’s Aid Society

Becca is a Human Resources Officer at the Children’s Aid Society of the District of Thunder Bay. Becca is a Certified Human Resources Professional (CHRP), with extensive experience in the areas of recruitment and selection, policy development and implementation, research, data analysis and anti-oppressive practice.

Terra Lofts

Director, Programs and Services Children’s Centre Thunder Bay

Terra is a Director, Programs & Services at Children’s Centre Thunder Bay. She has 20 years’ experience in the developmental and children’s mental health field. She has extensive experience in program development, program implementation, and system planning.

Terra was elected to the Board in September 2018. She was a member of the Nominating and By-Law Committee for 2018-19. Terra is a recent graduate of University of Toronto, Rotman School of Management Executive Programs, Public Sector Leadership Institute. Terra has a strong passion for Children’s Mental Health.

Emily Morris

Lawyer

Emily is a member of the Nominating and By-Law Committee and has been actively involved in review the agency’s By-Laws. Emily is a lawyer with Courtis, Desmoulin Law Office.

Heather Gray

Director

Heather joined the Board in 2018. She brings extensive experience in the health care sector in planning, education, clinical practice and administration.

Prior to her recent retirement, Heather was the Director of Health System Design and Development at the North West Local Health Integration Network (LHIN). During her tenure at the North West LHIN Heather provided oversight to the following portfolios: seniors, chronic disease management, emergency planning, mental health and addictions, alternate level of care (ALC), and First Nations health. She has extensive health care experience throughout Northwestern Ontario in clinical practice, education, administration and planning. Heather has a special interest in mental health and addictions services.

Smart Saver

Darcy McWhirter

Secretary

Supervisor – Concurrent Rehabilitation Services

SJCG – Sister Margaret Smith Centre

Darcy joined the Board in 2012 and has been Secretary since June 2015. She has extensive Committee experience having served on the Nominating and Bylaw Committee, the Retreat Planning Committee, the Strategic Planning Committee and the Executive Director Performance Review Committee. Darcy currently sits on the Audit Committee.

Darren Lillington

Regional Service Coordinator, Indigenous Lead

Spinal Cord Injury Ontario

Darren is a member of the Thunder Bay Municipal Accessibility Advisory Committee and the Thunder Bay Accessible Sport Council. He is an active member of our Board and has been involved in numerous committees including 50th Anniversary Committee, Compensation Policy Development, Executive Director’s Performance Review and supported the Board to prepare for accreditation in 2015. He has been an eager participant in the United Way Billboard Rescue. Darren is in his second term on the Board.

Carol Cline

Manager of Upgrading

Confederation College

Carol started her first term with the Board in June 2015. She has 25 years of experience in the Mental Health field, most recently in the past 10 years specializing in the area of Domestic Violence. She is currently a member of the 50th Anniversary Committee and the Retreat Planning Committee.

Christina Brassard

Social Worker, Supervisor

Children’s Centre Thunder Bay

Christina joined the Board in 2015. She is currently a member of the Nominating and By Law Committee and has been an active participant in the United Way Billboard Rescue.

Lori Golab

Retired Principal

Lakehead Public Schools

Lori has been an active member of the Board since 2011. She has supported many agency events and has served on numerous committees including the Executive Director’s Performance Appraisal and Compensation Committee, Audit Committee, Nominating and Bylaw Committee, AGM Planning and most recently the 50th Anniversary Committee. Lori is a member of the Board of Directors of Family Service Ontario.

Lynda Roberts

Director of Health Promotion

Thunder Bay District Health Unit

Lynda began her first term on the Board in 2015. She is a member of the Nominating and Bylaw Committee and is chair of the Compensation Policy Development Committee.

Tony DeAgazio

Director of Corporate & Human Resources

The Children’s Aid Society of the District of Thunder Bay

Tony was elected by the Board in October 2016. He is President of YES Employment Services, with Corporate Services Consultation – Indigenous Child Well-Being Societies and a Human Resources instructor for College and University.

Board Members