The Kawartha-Haliburton Children’s Aid Society is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors elected from the community at large. The Board of Directors reserves one (1) seat for a representative from Hiawatha First Nation and one (1) for Curve Lake First Nation.
The regular meetings of the Board of Directors are held on the second Wednesday of each month, except July and August, beginning at 5:00pm.
The following individuals comprise the KHCAS Board of Directors for 2022/23:
Sandra Robinson, Chair
Sandra is the Manager of Children’s Services at the City of Peterborough. As the designated service system manager for child care and early years for the City and County of Peterborough, Sandra’s portfolio includes the administration and management of the new $10 a day Child Care initiative, the Child Care Fee Subsidy program, Special Needs Resource funding, Operating grants for licensed child care and EarlyOn Child and Family Centers. As well, Sandra collaborates with community partners to develop local service plans that support an integrated approach for the delivery of services for children and their families.
Sandra is a Registered Early Childhood Educator with 30+ years’ experience in the child care and early years sector. Sandra has extensive leadership experience gained through both work related and volunteer opportunities and is deeply committed to the provision of high-quality services for children and families.
Lynne Buehler, Vice-Chair
Lynne was born in Peterborough and is a KHCAS adoptee. Growing up, she lived in Peterborough, Trenton and Montreal, returning to Peterborough to attend Trent University where she earned a Bachelor of Arts (Psychology). She began her career as a child care worker in a residential care center for developmentally challenged youth, and later at a detention centre and group home. In 1985 Lynne was one of the first five women hired by the Peterborough Police Service. During her 34-year career she had many opportunities to support youth in the community. She worked in partnership with KHCAS to provide training for staff and foster parents and developed a CAS-police protocol. Lynne worked in schools – both elementary and secondary and later led the Community Services Section. In 2015 Lynne earned a Master’s degree in Public Administration (Management) from Dalhousie University. Lynne retired in 2019 as the Inspector of Support Services; only the second woman to achieve that rank.
Lynne has volunteered for a number of Boards and committees in support of not-for-profit agencies. These have included the Police Fitness Personnel of Ontario, where she served as President of the Board and led the Board through incorporation, a transition to web-based membership and partnership with the Province. Lynne served as President of the Board with the Kawartha Sexual Assault Centre where she led the board through the Centre’s first strategic plan, the transition to gender inclusive services and through the hiring of a new Executive Director. She recently served on the Board for the Youth Emergency Shelter.
Noel Bennett, Secretary/Treasurer
Noel works for the Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) as Associate Vice President, Emergency, Critical Care, Collaborative Practice, Patient Flow and Emergency Preparedness.
Noel earned his Diploma in Nursing from the St. Lawrence College in Kingston. He then pursued a Specialty in Emergency Nursing Program from the British Columbia Institute of Technology. From there he received his Bachelor’s in Health Science in Nursing from the Southern Cross University in Australia. Lastly, he achieved his Master of Health Management from McMaster University.
Noel is an active community member with a background in healthcare and hospital administration. Noel brings to the Board a vast knowledge in change management principles and experience with public reporting, performance indicator reporting as well as an understanding of public sector organizations, sound business acumen and strategic planning.
Outside of work, Noel volunteers his time with the Peterborough Girls Hockey Association.
Arnold Taylor
Arnold has been a Councillor for Curve Lake First Nations for fifteen years. Arnold holds different portfolios and has been on the Kawartha-Haliburton Children’s Aid Society Board of Directors for the last ten years on behalf of Curve Lake.
Arnold is a residential school and sixties scoop survivor.
Jessica Slade
Jessica was born in Peterborough and raised in Haliburton where her interests for creating lasting community impact through youth engagement, social entrepreneurship and innovation began.
Since 2017, Jessica has worked for the Government of Canada advancing initiatives such as the Social Innovation and Social Finance Strategy, innovative solutions to homelessness, and the recently concluded $350M Emergency Community Support Fund, which was delivered by United Way Centraide Canada, the Canadian Red Cross and Community Foundations Canada. She has been awarded the Deputy Minister’s Award for Advancing COVID-19 Supports for Charities and NonProfits (2020), the Deputy Minister’s Award for Policy Design (2019), and the Assistant Deputy Minister’s Award for Program Implementation (2019).
Prior to joining the Federal Government, Jessica occupied a number of executive positions within charitable organizations, providing leadership and mentoring including in rural Colombia where she completed an assignment working with children receiving support for substance abuse.
Jessica holds a Masters of Philanthropy and NonProfit Leadership degree from Carleton University and an Honours Bachelor’s degree in Global Studies and Political Science from Wilfrid Laurier University.
Mimi Lee
Mimi Lee is a lawyer, practicing Family Law at LLF Lawyers LLP. Prior to joining LLF, she was an associate at a boutique family law firm in Toronto where she also completed her Articles. During law school, Mimi was a law clerk at the Prosecutor’s Office in Detroit, Michigan in the Child Abuse Unit. Her legal career has predominately been focused on family and children, with valuable experience working with legislation that impacts families and the child welfare sector.
Marnie Sicker
Marnie works for the City of Peterborough as a Financial Analyst. Prior to that Marnie worked for the Canadian Mental Health Association, Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge branch as the Manager of Financial Services.
Marnie has served as the Treasurer for Norwood Minor Sports as well as St. Paul’s Norwood School Council. Marnie has strong financial skills and experience in non-profit and government sector.
Marnie received her Business Administration diploma and Chartered Professional Accountant designation and has also attended various leadership development and management courses throughout her career.
Lesley Kirton
Lesley works for the City of Peterborough as a Client Service Manager; she also works casually at PRHC as a Registered Practical Nurse. Previous to this, Lesley was a Human Trafficking Client Care Coordinator and Program and Volunteer Coordinator at the Victim Services of Peterborough and Northumberland. She has been recognized as one of the most influential people in Peterborough for her work with Human Trafficking and has also been featured on CBC radio.
Lesley has a long list of education as well as certificates she has earned. Lesley has a Practical Nursing Certificate, Drug and Alcohol Counselor, Non-Violent Crisis Intervention Certificate, A.S.I.S.T. Certified, Crisis Training and Mental Health First Certificate, just to name a few.
Alison Bevaart
Alison works as a physiotherapist (resident) at Five Counties Children’s Centre. She has also previously worked as a physiotherapist in the United Kingdom, at a major trauma hospital. Before becoming a physiotherapist, she has experience working at Bayshore/Lifemark Seniors Wellness as a Kinesiologist, a Community Relations Manager and as a Regional Operations Manager. Throughout her career, she has obtained a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology and a Master of Science in Physiotherapy.
Alison has also volunteered in various programs working with children and adolescents. She is passionate about children’s rights and their equal access to support and protection. In working at Five Counties Children’s Centre, she has a great understanding of the healthcare system and the policies and pathways as they relate to children. Furthermore, her position at Five Counties Children’s Centre means she understands the barriers/gaps that exist in the community. With this knowledge she can strongly support strategic decision making for the future.
Gary Payne
Gary recently retired after a distinguished forty-four (44) year career in the private sector. Now retired, Gary focuses on his family and giving back to organizations and services that are important to him, his family and the community he lives in, by sharing the valuable knowledge and experience he acquired over his career.
During Gary’s career he worked in many industries and organizations ranging from start-up companies to multi-nationals. Gary’s key roles included global and national IT leadership positions in manufacturing, distribution and professional services as well as executive positions in banking and wealth management. Gary has a Bachelor of Arts in Business and Economics from the University of Toronto and an Officers, Partners and Directors certificate from Investment Funds Institute of Canada (IFSE).
Gary also has a great deal of experience on various Boards and Committees including the PWC Global Technology Advisory Board, PWC Canadian Crisis Committee, PWC Global Outsourcing Task Force, Canadian Credit Union Technology and the Causeway Road Association.
Gary has significant experience including technology, wealth management, compliance, risk management, operational efficiency and metrics, governance, privacy and change management.
Download Board of Directors Candidate Application
Download Board Member Information Sheet
