Board of Directors
Mae Brooks, North Perth – Board Chair
Mae Brooks’ roots are deeply entrenched in Perth County, having been born and raised in a country setting just east of Listowel. Obtaining a Bachelor of Science from the University of Waterloo and a Human Resources Diploma from Conestoga College provided the foundation for her career. Her desire to help people as well as a keen interest in business management lead to the perfect match of a Human Resources career.
Mae has a wide range of business experience having been the lead Human Resources Professional within the Not-for-Profit, Manufacturing and Distribution sectors, within Canada and the United States.
From Chairing the Labour Force Reliability in North Perth task force, to volunteering with Big Brothers Big Sisters, and volunteering for a variety of school activities and sports teams, community involvement has always been important to Mae and her family.
Mae currently resides in North Perth with her husband and two children.
Marcel van Hulle, PhD, Stratford – Board Vice Chair
Marcel van Hulle is a Senior Vice President with the Info-Tech Research Group, a London (Ontario) based research and advisory firm. In this role, Mr. van Hulle was responsible for Info-Tech’s revenue and business development with customers and business partners. Over the past 15 years, Marcel has delivered consistently substantial double-digit growth to Info-Tech and built a 4000+ account base worldwide. Under his leadership, Info-Tech was named the fastest growing Research Firm with a clear view on future developments while being the best on implementation guidance.
Marcel brings a wealth of knowledge gained during his 30-year international career with IBM, where he held various global executive positions in general management, consulting services, operations, and business development. Earlier in his career, Marcel was a Research Fellow for Agfa and a Scientific Advisor to the Belgian Prime Minister. During this time, Marcel has published dozens of scientific research papers in international magazines. Marcel obtained a Ph.D in Physics and received a Masters Degree in Education and a Bachelors Degree in Economics at the University of Ghent (Belgium).
Doug MacDougald, DMV, Stratford – Past Chair / Treasurer
Doug MacDougald, DVM is a partner in South West Ontario Veterinary Services, an Ontario practice with a swine health and management focus and a partner in Canadian Livestock Veterinarians, a national practice with a beef, poultry and swine focus.
Doug and his wife Barbara have four children and seven grandchildren and in addition to his family and professional business responsibilities Dr. MacDougald has served on various community and industry organizations. He also organizes ‘Clan MacDougald’, a family dragon boat team that has for twenty-two years supported the Stratford Rotary Dragon Boat Festival; and is a traveling volunteer with Sleeping Children Around the World, a Canadian charity that helps the poorest children of the world.
Doug has received the 2011 YMCA Peace Medal for his international humanitarian work, the 2015 Ontario Veterinary Medical Association, Outstanding Veterinarian of the Year Award, the 2015 Canadian Veterinary Medical Association, Merck Veterinary Award for the advancement of large animal medicine and herd health management and in 2020 was named a Paul Harris Fellow by The Rotary Club of Stratford.
Lucille Roch, Stratford – Secretary
Originally from Manitoba, Lucille’s career has been primarily in the public sector, except for a brief stint as Executive Director of a not-for-profit advocacy group in Manitoba. While in Winnipeg, she worked for the Government of Manitoba and the Government of Canada, primarily in the area of regional economic development. Moving to Toronto in 1991, after a two year period with the Government of Canada in Montreal, she joined the Government of Ontario and was subsequently appointed Assistant Deputy Minister in the Ministry of Community and Social Services. She also served as Assistant Deputy Minister in Citizenship, Culture and Recreation and later played a leadership in creating the Ministry of Children and Youth Services.
Appointed Deputy Minister in 2005, she led the Ministry of Culture and the Office of Francophone Affairs. In 2007, she was appointed Deputy Minister of Community and Social Services, providing leadership to approximately 6000 employees scattered across Ontario. She retained responsibility for the Office of Francophone Affairs.
After her retirement, she moved to Stratford with her husband, Warren Holmes, and has been actively involved with several not-for-profit organizations. These include the Canadian National Institute for the Blind and Vision Loss Rehabilitation Canada, the Ontario Trillium Foundation, the Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund, Covenant House of Toronto and the Stratford Summer Music Festival.
Lucille brings an extensive background in granting, governance and government. She is a strong believer in giving back to the community through volunteering and philanthropy.
Sylvia Chrominska, Stratford
Sylvia is a retired financial services executive and a respected human resources professional committed to building an engaged, adaptive, and high performing global workforce.
Sylvia is experienced in initiating and implementing transformational change with a solid financial background in corporate credit, strong analytical skills, and expertise in relationship building, strategic influencing and cross-cultural leadership.
Sylvia has held numerous Board positions in the private sector currently member of the Board with the CPP Investment and a member of the Board with Wajax, Inc. Active in Board leadership with various charities, locally Sylvia is a past Chair of the Stratford Shakespearean Festival Board of Governors.
Dan Mathieson, Stratford
Dan Mathieson served 27+ years on Stratford City Council, including 5 terms as Mayor of the City of Stratford, and during his tenure he was a member of numerous boards and committees. He is the Past Chair of the Ontario Crown Corporation the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC), and currently serves as a Board Member of Hampton Financial Corporation, a publicly traded corporation on the TSX Venture Exchange. Dan is presently serving as an Executive in Residence for the Ivey School of Business, Western University.
Dan was awarded the Alumni Award of Excellence from the Master of Public Administration at Western University, and named the 2016 Western University, Public Administration Distinguished Lecturer in Residence. He has received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, as well as the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal.
Dan holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of Guelph and a Master of Public Administration Degree from the University of Western Ontario. He is also a graduate of the ICD.D Certification Program from the Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto.
A strong supporter of the Stratford Perth Community Foundation since its inception, Dan is proud to join the Board of this vitally important community organization.
Dan lives in Stratford with his wife Carolyn and their two adult children.
Lisa McClelland, St. Marys
Lisa was raised on the Richardson homestead, a cash crop, laying hen and broiler farm, located outside St. Paul’s. She credits her character and work ethic on her experiences growing up and the values her parents instilled in her at a young age.
Lisa graduated from Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo with a Bachelor of Arts-Major in French and Minor in Business. After university and a year abroad, Lisa began her career in the aftermarket automotive industry with NAPA Auto Parts, and currently holds the position of Manager of Associate Network for the Ontario region. NAPA Auto Parts is a strong brand and a leader in their industry and she enjoys working with many independent store and shop owners.
Lisa, with her husband John and two children, have lived in various cities across Canada but have called St. Marys their home for the past 17 years. Both Lisa and John have strong ties to Perth County and they are proud to live in such a vibrant, passionate community that cares deeply about one another. Lisa appreciates being involved with the Community Foundation as she sees the value and the difference that a foundation can make for our entire community.
Kent Meston, MCPM, Stratford
Kent Meston grew up in Southwestern Ontario but spent the last 35 years in Vancouver where he and his wife raised their two daughters. Recently they moved to Stratford to be closer to their family in Kitchener and London. Kent is the President of his own business and information technology consulting company, leading complex business, and IT projects for various clients. Most recently Kent was the Director of Information Technology for five years at the Vancouver International Airport and prior to that he was previously the Director of Information Technology at the British Columbia Lottery Corporation for 18 years.
In 2008 Kent earned a Masters Certification in Project Management through the University of Victoria and through his various technology and business leadership roles, Kent gained extensive experience in project management, risk management, operations, technology delivery, human resources, and general business management.
Kent and his wife Barbara are avid golfers and enjoy going to the theatre. A strong believer in giving back to the community where he lives, Kent is proud of the opportunity to serve on the Board of the Stratford Perth Community Foundation.
Roy Norton PhD, Stratford
Originally from Ottawa, Roy purchased a condo in Stratford in 2014, moving here in 2019 on retirement from the Canadian Foreign Service. His diplomatic postings were to Washington (including as Minister, Congressional Relations & Public Affairs), and as Consul General in each of Detroit and Chicago. His final government assignment was as Chief of Protocol of Canada.
From 2000-2006 Roy worked in the Ontario Public Service in two Assistant Deputy Minister capacities (ADM International Relations; ADM Export Development/President & CEO of Ontario Exports Inc.). He now teaches in the Master of Public Service Program at the University of Waterloo and is a (resident) Fellow at the Balsillie School of International Affairs, a Fellow of the Canadian Global Affairs Institute, and a Global Fellow at the Woodrow Wilson Center in Washington, D.C. He holds a Ph.D. from the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (in Washington, D.C.), and Masters’ degrees from Johns Hopkins, Harvard, and Carleton University.
Roy volunteers as a member of the City of Stratford’s Investment Attraction Committee and as a Presiding Officer for Canadian Citizenship ceremonies. He’s an enthusiast for the region’s extensive cultural offerings, for local dining, for many sports (but especially baseball), and for Golden Retrievers
Brent Shackleton, Perth South
Brent is the Broker of Record, Auctioneer and Owner of Shackleton’s Real Estate & Auction located in Perth South. He holds a degree in Economics and has a CRA designation.
Brent has been involved in numerous local and provincial organizations, most recently as a Director for The Local Community Food Centre and as Past President of the Rotary Club of Stratford. He is the recipient of a Paul Harris Fellow, the highest honour the Rotary Club can bestow upon a person and represents a combination of fellowship and extraordinary service to the community.
Brent resides on his family farm with his wife Teri and their three children.
Rob Steinbach CPA CA, West Perth
Rob Steinbach, a graduate of Fanshawe College accounting program, has 30 years of experience in public accounting in London, Stratford, and Perth County. Most recently as Principal of McCutchen & Pearce Professional Corporation.
Rob was born and raised in Mitchell, where he continues to reside with his wife and two sons. He has been an avid community volunteer for many years, giving his time to coach local hockey and baseball teams and has been a part of a few All-Ontario Championship teams. But his true passion is golf, and he has been on the Board of Directors for the Mitchell Golf and Country Club for over 20 years.
Not only is Rob exceptional in providing tax advice to farm clients but takes that passion to the field and can be found in a harvester in the fall.
Paul West, Stratford
Paul West provides strategic advice, leadership and stakeholder engagement in the emerging digital economy. His insights focus on stewardship, diversity and community driven solutions. He has held career leadership roles with GE, Bell Aliant, Motorola, Rhyzome Networks and various early-stage technology companies.
He has received global recognition for his work with Rhyzome Networks and the City of Stratford for placing Stratford in the Intelligent Community Forum Global Top 7 from 2011-2013. Among his accolades, he is a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.
Paul is an active volunteer having been involved with Innovate Cities, Camp Hermosa, Junior Achievement Southwestern Ontario, Knox Stratford, Stratford Summer Music and various private companies.
Paul and his family have resided in Stratford since 1987.
Honorary Chair
Tim MacDonald, C.M., Stratford
Tim MacDonald is a businessperson and philanthropist. After studying English and Political Science at Carleton University, Tim joined Ideal Supply in 1981, a Listowel, Ontario based wholesale distribution business owned by his family. He was appointed president in 1995, CEO in 2001, and retired from the company in June 2021.
Under his leadership Ideal Supply grew to 31 locations, 525 employees and was recognized for nine consecutive years as one of “Canada’s Best Managed Companies”. Tim and his siblings sold Ideal Supply to Groupe Deschenes Inc in 2016.
Tim has served on and Chaired several Boards, including the Listowel Chamber of Commerce (President), the Electro-Federation Canada (Chair), the Stratford Festival, TigerTel Communications (Chair), the Young President’s Organization (Chair), the Stratford Perth Community Foundation (Chair), and currently the Atlantic Salmon Federation.
He has received an Honorary Doctor of Laws (2005), the Queens Diamond Jubilee Medal (2012), named a Rotary Paul Harris Fellow (2018), the Stratford Business Leader of the Year (2019), and has been appointed to the Order of Canada (2019).
In 2011 Tim and Jim Balsillie co-founded the Arctic Research Foundation which supported Parks Canada in their successful search for the lost Franklin Ships. Today ARF leads numerous projects in Canada’s north from five vessels enabling universities, government agencies, and northern communities to study and adapt to a changing world (ArcticFocus.org).
A lifelong supporter of local conservation projects, in 2019 Tim initiated the Middle Maitland Restoration Fund, managed by the Stratford Perth Community Foundation, to support the work of Maitland Conservation in their work to restore the river, its banks, and the streams that flow into it.
Tim has hiked in every province of Canada, fished rivers and lakes from Coast to Coast to Coast and spends any available time in the outdoors enjoying nature.
Since the Stratford Perth Community Foundation’s founding, Tim has believed it is the most effective vehicle for philanthropy in our region and has initiated and supported several funds.
He and his wife Alexandra live in Stratford.