Our Board & Staff

Carolyn Hyslop

Executive Director

Carolyn has been leading The Canadian Canoe Museum since 2016, when the activities related to building a new waterfront museum and leading a national capital campaign began in earnest. Working with a committed board and an inspiring team of staff, volunteers and a national community of supporters and partners, she is grateful to have the privilege of bringing the vision for a transformational cultural offering to fruition. Having begun her career with the Museum in 2002, she has held many roles, including Education Coordinator, Public Programs Manager, Director of Operations and General Manager. She earned a Bachelor of Education from Queen’s University’s Outdoor and Experiential Education program and a Bachelor of Kinesiology from McMaster University.
– Contact Carolyn –

Jeremy Ward

Curator

Jeremy’s involvement with the museum began as a volunteer. He joined the staff in 1997. Previously, he coordinated a field school for Trent University in the Nunavut community of Pangnirtung, and undertook cabinetmaking, birch bark canoe building and archaeological work in Greece. A graduate of Trent University’s Canadian Studies and Indigenous Studies programs, Jeremy’s work has included curating or producing more than ten major exhibitions, many of which are still on display or travelling. He has also researched, and been featured in, documentaries aired on the Discovery Channel and the BBC, including most recently The Nature of Things. A notable project was the research and construction of a 36-foot birch bark canoe. Working before the public at the museum along with a team of volunteers, Jeremy built an authentic, functional example of the canot du maître, the workhorse vehicle of the 18th and early 19th century fur trade in Canada. Jeremy has also acted as the Director of the Museum Small Craft Association on a volunteer basis.
– Contact Jeremy –

Emily Buss

Manager of Finance

Coming from three years in public accounting, Emily is eager to join the CCM team as Manager of Finance. Bringing a lifelong love of education and environmental charity work, she left her hometown of Sudbury to receive a Bachelor of Accounting and Financial Management at Waterloo University. From there she came to Peterborough to gain experience as an auditor and tax accountant and found herself drawn again to the non-profit sector. She loves walking all over the East City with her border collie Milo, and spends her free time reading, writing, cross stitching, and playing weekly Dungeons and Dragons.- Contact Emily

Beth Stanley

Associate Curator

Beth has been with the museum in many different capacities since 2006. After starting as seasonal staff, she worked to grow the Artisan Workshop Program and took on her current role in the Curatorial Department. Beth has had a life-long love of making things, and she found her passion for sharing history and traditional skills in a previous position at Lang Pioneer Village. She earned an Honours Degree in Arts and Science at the University of Guelph combining her interests in History and Biology into her studies.
Contact Beth

Dane Allendorf

Collections Assistant

Dane joined the museum in 2021 starting as an intern and is currently in the role of Collections Assistant. With previous work experience at Algonquin Provincial Park, a bachelor’s degree in History from Trent University, and a post-graduate diploma from Fleming College in Museum Management and Curatorship, Dane is excited to begin his career as an emerging museum professional. From Elora, Ontario, he is proud to be involved with the Museum in preparing the collection for its move and is passionate about the preservation and sharing of knowledge of different cultures at the Canadian Canoe Museum.

Contact Dane –

Diana Francis

Finance Officer

Raised in Peterborough, Diana returned to her hometown in 2018 and joined our team as Finance Officer. With diplomas in Accounting, Office Administration and Human Resources, Diana brings over twenty years of experience in payroll, employee benefits, finance and business operations. Diana’s employment history includes working for accounting firms in both Calgary and Peterborough, Office Manager for Dart Canada in Campbellford and a finance position at Ste. Anne’s Spa, in Grafton. Given her employment history, it’s evident that Diana is pleased with her role as Finance Officer with The Canadian Canoe Museum which allows her to continue in a position she enjoys and remain in Peterborough.
Contact Diana

Kate Kennington

Development Officer

Kate joined the museum in 2018 and has a varied career background including the healthcare, education and charitable sectors with over ten years’ experience in administration in Ontario and Manitoba. Most recently, Kate was the Family Support Manager at Threads of Life – the Association for Workplace Tragedy Family Support. With a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology & Sociology from Trent University, she is also a graduate of the Post-Grad Event Management Program at Fleming College and is proud to call Peterborough home.
Contact Kate

MaryJane Proulx

Exhibits Project Coordinator

MaryJane is a nishinaabeg-scottish kwe who has joined the team as the Exhibits Project Coordinator. Prior to this role, she volunteered, interned and worked at the museum in different capacities since 2016. MaryJane holds a Bachelor with Honours in History and Environmental Resource Studies, a diploma in Ecosystem Management Technology and a certificate in Museum Management & Curatorship. She has worked as an Artisan Interpreter and Tour Guide at the museum teaching visitors about Indigenous-settler histories through the story of the canoe. She has also worked for Dalhousie University as a researcher, exploring Indigenous knowledge systems and partnerships in ocean stewardship. MaryJane’s ultimate goal in both her personal and academic career is to bridge cultures through ecological problem solving and storytelling
Contact MaryJane

Selfie of person in black coat smiling. Snowy background.

Megan McShane

Marketing and Communications Associate

Megan joined the CCM team at the end of 2022 as a Marketing and Communications Associate. As someone who remembers many visits to The Canadian Canoe Museum while growing up in Peterborough, she is thrilled to be a part of an organization she loves. After completing a film degree at Toronto Metropolitan University, Megan pursued a career in social media and marketing and gained experience working with and creating all kinds of content. Megan is passionate about sharing stories and loves inspiring others to get excited about Canadian heritage and the great outdoors.

Contact Megan –

Nicholas VanExan

Collections Assistant

Nicholas joined the museum in January 2022 as a Collections Assistant. Since then, he has been busy preparing the entire collection for the move to the new location, including cleaning, stabilizing, cataloguing each canoe and installing it onto its own customized cradle for both transport and long-term housing. Nicholas has worked with a number of museum collections in various capacities. This has included assisting in cataloguing Farmtown Park’s collection, preparing the archival collection of the Community Archives of Belleville and Hastings County for a move to a new location and the complete design and installation of a special exhibit for the Belleville Fire Department in conjuncture with Glanmore National Historic Site. He has a strong interest in rural Canadian history which he caters to with his hobbies of merging the old ways of doing things with modern understanding. Nicholas has a Bachelor of Science majoring in Zoology and History, as well as a Master of History focusing on early Irish culture and literature, both from the University of Guelph. He also holds a Post Graduate Diploma from Fleming College in Cultural Heritage Conservation Management.

Contact Nicholas –

Peter Vooys

Programs Manager

Peter joined the Museum staff in 2022, bringing his experience in outdoor education and wilderness travel to his role as Programs Manager. He has worked as a backcountry guide, outdoor centre instructor, summer camp director, and an occasional secondary school teacher.  

In 2013, Peter was part of a team that paddled a 26’ north canoe over 5000km across Canada. Over 120 days, they retraced the paddle strokes and portage paths of the of the North West Company from Rocky Mountain House, AB to Lachine, QC. You can read about their Paddle Across Canada Tour here. 

Peter has earned a B.PHE, B.Hist and B.Ed(Outdoor & Experiential Education), from Queen’s University, and an M.Ed from Queen’s focusing on canoe expedition pedagogy. 

Contact Peter –

Rachelia Giardino

Marketing and Communications Manager

Rachelia is passionate about storytelling and relationship building. She enjoys bringing alive the countless stories held within the 650 canoes and kayaks in our collection, and the people and places they connect us to. Rachelia joined the museum in 2018 as Interim Volunteer Manager before taking on the role of Marketing and Social Media Specialist in 2019. She has more than ten years of experience in program development and community organizing and comes to the museum from the Kawartha World Issues Centre. Rachelia holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree in History with a minor in Gender Studies from Trent University
Contact Rachelia –

Museum Board of Directors

 

Kevin Malone, Chair

Kevin Malone has been with BMO Financial Group for over 30 years in senior leadership roles with two business groups, BMO Wealth Management and BMO Capital Markets.

He has an MBA from the Ivey Business School, University of Western Ontario, a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) from Queen’s University, and a certificate from the Sauder School of Business Family Enterprise Advisor Program, University of British Columbia.

Kevin is active in the community; in addition to his Chair role at the Canadian Canoe Museum, he is a Trustee of Lakefield College School, a Director and past President of Duke of Edinburgh Award Programme’s National Board, and has served on the fundraising committees for a number of not-for-profit organizations including Nature Conservancy of Canada, Stratford Express and Dixon Hall.  Kevin is a recipient of Her Majesty the Queen Golden Jubilee Medal (2002), Diamond Jubilee Medal (2012) and recipient of the Commemorative Coin in Honour of the Duke of Edinburgh for Volunteer Service (2021).

Kevin and his wife Mona are proud parents to 3 children and as a family are actively involved in amateur sports, travel, the arts and numerous charitable organizations.

He joined CCM’s board in 2018, was the Finance & Audit Committee Chair from 2019 to 2022 and is currently the Fundraising Cabinet Chair.

Margaret (Meg) Beckel

Meg Beckel is an accomplished leader in the education, post-secondary and arts & culture sectors. Her skills and experience include senior administration, fundraising, finance and operations, brand framing, strategic planning, board governance and change management as well as oversight of major construction projects.

Meg has championed and led transformational challenges in the national organizations she has served and with her success, earned a reputation for being direct, transparent, committed, honest, tenacious, and fair.  She has also managed to maintain a sense of humour.

Having a great deal of experience working with organizations similar to The Canadian Canoe Museum, Meg has thrived in many roles at a variety of organizations. This includes President & CEO at the Canadian Museum of Nature, Vice President of External Relations at the University of Waterloo, Chief Operating Officer at the Royal Ontario Museum, President and Executive Director of the ROM Foundation, and President of the University of Victoria Foundation.

Meg holds a BA in Political Science from Queen’s University, a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Western Ontario, and attended the Rotman School of Management, Institute of Corporate Directors, Directors Education Program.

Jocelyn Brown

Jocelyn found her love of canoes and canoe tripping as a camper and then staff member with Camp Wapomeo, a Taylor Statten Camp in Algonquin Park. She is an experienced Customer Success and Sales Executive and has worked at several successful Canadian startups. Jocelyn lives in Toronto, spends her summers on the shores of Lake Huron and her winters skiing in the Rockies.

Meredith Brown

Meredith Brown, a champion for freshwater protection, is widely known throughout the vast Ottawa River Watershed as the founding Riverkeeper and former leader of the charitable organization Ottawa Riverkeeper, a licensed member of Waterkeeper Alliance.

Meredith holds degrees in biology, environmental engineering and resource and environmental management. Meredith is a Fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society and was awarded the Nature Inspiration Award from the Canadian Museum of Nature.

Over 15 years as a Riverkeeper, Meredith significantly raised the profile of the Ottawa River and brought together community organizations, municipal, provincial, federal governments, First Nation leaders, industry and civil society to work collaboratively to protect and restore the ecological health and resilience of the watershed. Under Meredith’s leadership, Ottawa Riverkeeper brought annual paddling events back to the Ottawa River, created a large network of dedicated citizen scientists and was a founding affiliate of the Waterkeeper Swim Guide.

Connecting Canadians to their local lakes, rivers and oceans is Meredith’s passion and she is continuing her work in this field through several exciting projects, always with a focus on water protection and restoration.

Bryan Buttigieg 

Bryan is a partner at Miller Thomson LLP. He is a certified specialist in Environmental Law and considered by his peers to be one of the leading environmental lawyers in Canada. He is a former Chair of the Rouge River Watershed Task Force that developed a multi-jurisdictional watershed plan for the Rouge River Watershed. He served for 8 years as a board member of the Durham Children’s Aid Society and was President for three of those years. Bryan emigrated to Canada as a teenager and fell in love with canoeing and its importance to understanding Canadian geography, history and cultures. With his wife and later their children, he has travelled to numerous local and remote rivers and hopes to continue to do so for many years to come.

Kate Farnell

Kate Farnell is the Senior Director Finance, Corporate Service at University Health Network in Toronto. She has twenty years of professional experience in finance and accounting, including prior roles with the Peterborough Regional Health Centre and Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment. Kate began her career at Ernst & Young LLP and became a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CA) in 2007.  She completed a Bachelor of Science at Queen’s University before going on to earn a Master’s of Management and Professional Accounting at the Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto.  Kate and her husband Steve enjoy spending time lakeside with their four young children at their cottage north of Kingston.

Vicki Grant, Past Chair

Vicki Grant is from the Loon Clan, Teme-Augama Anishnabai Qway, (Deep Water Woman) whose Traditional Territory is the Temagami area in Northern Ontario. She is a status Indian registered as a member of the Temagami First Nation, a status given to her through Canada’s Indian Act. She would describe her most important roles in her life is that of being a wife, mother, and grandmother. Throughout her career, always with a passionate voice, in her work and in her volunteer activities has always been and continues to be an advocate for more robust Indigenous engagement. Vicki has served on board of directors for a number of Foundations, locally, provincially and nationally, including as Chair of the Board of Directors for Community Foundations of Canada. 

Brian Groves

Brian Groves is an avid paddler and outdoor enthusiast originally from Temagami, Ontario, who lives in Whitehorse, Yukon. He is a graduate of both Trent University and Fleming College and had his first job in the museum sector welcoming visitors to the Kanawa Canoe Museum – Temagami Collection. He has been working in the museum and heritage sector for close to 20 years.

Brian is currently the Manager, Museums and Heritage for the Department of Tourism and Culture, Government of Yukon. He is responsible for managing a broad range of programs and technical services in support of Yukon museums, interpretive centres and First Nation cultural/heritage centres and oversees the management Yukon’s archaeology, palaeontology and place names programs.

Brian has served on the executive of the Alliance of Natural History Museums of Canada, including as President from 2014 to 2016. Brian has worked with other cultural heritage institutions, including the Yukon Beringia Interpretive Centre as Manager.

Dr. Jenny Ingram

Dr. Jenny Ingram is a specialist in Internal and Geriatric Medicine, practicing in Peterborough, Ontario. She is the Founder and Principal Investigator at the Kawartha Centre ~ Redefining Healthy Aging, a specialist geriatric clinic and clinical research site for dementia. Jenny is also the founding Chair of both the Peterborough Council on Aging and the Peterborough chapter of Osteoporosis Canada. Her pivotal role in supporting primary care management of complex seniors led to the development of the Geriatric Assessment and Intervention Network (GAIN) and the Seniors Care Network. She is the recipient of countless awards and accolades, including the Irma M. Parhad Award for Excellence from the Consortium of Canadian Centers for Clinical Cognitive Research, the Glenn Sawyer Service Award from the Ontario Medical Association for outstanding contributions to the medical profession and the community, Trent University’s Community Leaders Award, and the Senior’s Care Excellence Visionary Award from the Seniors Care Network.

Deborah Jacobs

Deborah Jacobs is a Councillor with Curve Lake First Nation and an active member of her community. Having lived in Curve Lake all her life, Deborah worked for many years at the Curve Lake Day Care Centre and also taught early childhood education classes for the Anishinabek Education Institute in North Bay. Her parents, Aileen and Amos Irons, are full-blooded Ojibway, both from Curve Lake. Deborah’s family is her “pride and joy.” She has been married for 46 years and has three sons and 10 grandchildren. She has always enjoyed the water; fishing, boating and canoeing at her family cabin on Dead Horse Island have played a significant part in her life.

Raif Richardson

Mr. Richardson is Co-CEO of PSI Engineering, which manufactures and integrates automation solutions for high volume warehouse and distribution centers. Mr. Richardson has a Master of Business Administration degree from the Asper School of Business at the University of Manitoba and a Bachelor of Arts degree of Economics from Queen’s University. He currently serves as a Governor of the Banff Center for Arts and Creativity, as a Director of the Richardson Foundation and the Siobhan Richardson Foundation.

John Ronson, Past Chair

John Ronson is a retired telecommunications executive and a lawyer by training.  He previously held the position of Chief of Staff to Ontario’s Minister of Health and Long-Term Care. John has served on the Waterfront Toronto Board, and on both provincial and national boards for the Canadian Cancer Society. He lives in Mill Bay on Vancouver Island and is an avid canoeist and camper.

Tim Rutherford

Tim Rutherford, CPA, CMA, is the CFO and Associate Head of School, at Lakefield College School. Lakefield College was established in 1879 and is a co-ed boarding high school that currently welcomes students from over 40 countries around the world. In addition to the financial duties for the School and Foundation, Tim is responsible for major capital projects and year-round operations. Tim previously held senior finance and management roles at GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy Canada and PepsiCo Foods (Quaker Oats Company). Tim resides in Peterborough and has been involved locally as a Board member (Finance Chair) at Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development (GPAEDC) and the Peterborough Hockey Association (coach and manager)

Doris Stamml

Doris Stamml is a Certified Corporate Director (ICD.D) and a seasoned professional and executive with more than 30 years of experience working in a leading professional and consulting services organization. Doris has been a long-standing member of Ernst & Young LLP’s Executive Committee and its Chief Legal Counsel with deep expertise in governance, risk management, ethics and compliance, strategy and business planning and execution, and talent management.

She is deeply passionate about diversity, equity and inclusion and has been recognized for her long track record of championing the next generation of female leaders. Doris is a past member of Cabinet of the United Way of Toronto and York Region where she co-chaired its Women United Initiative.

Doris is an avid canoeist and camper who has for many years, together with her husband and family, enjoyed canoe camping in Algonquin Park and paddling at her family cottage in Haliburton.

Garth Wallbridge

Garth Wallbridge is a Metis man born in the Red River Settlement, who has lived in Yellowknife, NWT for over 40 years.

He is the proud father of a daughter who is a family physician in Fort Smith, NWT who has three children, making him a Mushem, the Michif word for grandfather, a role which makes him exceptionally happy (Michif is his mother’s language, the language of the Metis). His son is a CPA who lives and works in Montreal. The Hudson Bay Archives show that seven of his forefathers were canoemen and two of them had the added job description as Cree interpreters. Garth likes to joke that he, as a lawyer, hopes that the added job duty entitled them to extra pay.

Garth has lived in Nunavut and the NWT since he was a young man, driving his sled dog team on Hudson Bay and racing on Great Slave Lake. He is a dog sled and snowshoe builder as well as a wooden canoe rebuilder. His wife Pat, also Metis from Manitoba, is lovingly known as the Director of Finance – she does have an MBA, has gently urged him to stop acquiring old wooden canoes until he gets more of his sizeable inventory rebuilt.

His law practice today, part time as he heads towards retirement, is becoming more and more focused on wills and estates for Indigenous people and serving on Boards of Directors.

Phyllis Williams

Phyllis Williams is currently the Manager of Health and Social Services at Alderville First Nation. She has many years of experience in this field having worked for Curve Lake First Nation in the same capacity and for Hiawatha First Nation as the Assistant Manager.

She served 7 years as the former elected Chief of Curve Lake First Nation and as a Council member for 16 years.

Phyllis’ extensive career spans work in various fields, including economic and employment development, post-secondary administration, arts and culture, community development, governance, and public health. These rich and fulfilling experiences, inclusive of volunteer and committee opportunities over many, many years, has enabled her to have direct contact with clients, agencies, leaders, elders, provincial and federal connections. Through these experiences, she learned the political landscape while challenging herself to achieve higher levels of leadership.

Phyllis is an advocate for her community. She has spoken out about the need for clean drinking water for Curve Lake. While Chief, she served as an advisory ambassador and assisted fundraising efforts for The Canadian Canoe Museum. She also accomplished with four Michi Saagiig Chiefs the Treaty 20 settlement of the Flooded Land Claim, and was one of six Michi Saagiig and Chippewa Chiefs who settled the Williams Treaty 23 negotiated claim with the Federal and Provincial Governments.

She was Curve Lake First Nation’s representative for Peterborough Public Health Board of Directors and served on the board as the chair, deputy chair, and committee chairs. Phyllis was influential in the Peterborough Regional Health Centre’s strategic planning, served on the board of directors, providing the Indigenous voice, and met with the CEO regularly to assure quality and culturally sensitive services for the Indigenous population.

Phyllis loves the beauty of Peterborough County, Mother Nature’s gifts of the lakes and waters, animals, and wildlife this region offers. She continues to appreciate the history and contributions of First Nations in this country, and the teachings shared by Indigenous Leaders, Elders, and Knowledge Keepers. Miigwetch.

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