Municipal Representatives (4)
Dennis Kefalas – Municipal Representative (Group 1 – Northern Bruce Peninsula, South Bruce Peninsula, Owen Sound, Georgian Bluffs)
Dennis joined the City of Owen Sound staff in June 2018 as the city’s new Director of Public Works and Engineering, a vital role within the city’s Senior Management team that oversees engineering services, public works, water and wastewater divisions. Dennis is a Professional Engineer, he spent the last 16 years in municipal government with the City of Yellowknife, he is looking forward to working with the committee and surrounding municipalities.
Mitch Twolan – Municipal Representative (Group 2 – Huron-Kinloss, Kincardine, Saugeen Shores, Howick, Morris-Turnberry, South Bruce)
Mitch Twolan has been Mayor of the Township of Huron-Kinloss since 2004. He serves on Bruce County Council and holds the position of Warden of Bruce County. 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.
John Fruin – Municipal Representative (Group 3 – Arran-Elderslie, Brockton, Hanover, Minto, Southgate, Wellington North)
Born and raised in Walkerton Ontario. 27 of his 37 working career years were spent as a licensed operator in Water/Waste Water Treatment. John has worked for the Town of Walkerton, Ontario Clean Water Agency, Veolia Water Canada, Municipality of South Bruce and the Town of Hanover. He held positions from operator to chief operator of Water/Waste Water Treatment.
Jim Uram – Municipal Representative (Group 4 – Chatsworth, West Grey, Grey Highlands, Meaford, Blue Mountains)
Currently a councilor in the Town of The Blue Mountains, Jim is a retired Professional Planner with over 40 years of experience who has worked extensively in the Grey and Simcoe County areas in both municipal and private practice.
Agricultural Representatives (3)
Stan Eby – Agricultural Representative (Farmer – Kincardine)
Stan is a past president of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association, Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance, and was an active member of the Drinking Water Source Protection Agriculture and Rural Sector Working Group that provided input for Source Protection Plan policy development. Stan has also owned and operated a pasturing and cash crop farm in the Kincardine area since 1971.
Robert Emerson – Agricultural Representative (Farmer – Huron-Kinloss)
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
Les Nichols – Agricultural Representative
Les Nichols works in agri-business and is a resident of the Municipality of South Bruce. As well, he serves on the board of the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association and is Vice-chair of the Bruce County Library Board.
Commercial/Industrial Representative (1)
Gord Timmerman – Commercial/Industrial Representative
Gord has almost 20 years of municipal experience within areas of zoning, official plans, and development, along with another 16 years of experience with a municipal water and wastewater operation. This experience involved working closely with the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change and related directly to the types of threats and activities that are regulated under the Drinking Water Source Protection program.
Other Interests (4)
Angela Newman – Health Representative
Angela Newman has 16 years of public health experience working with municipal drinking water systems, regulated small drinking water systems, and private residential well owners. She has worked extensively with the Grey Bruce Health Unit, Ministry of Environment, and municipalities in various areas of drinking water safety throughout Grey Bruce. She is looking forward to contributing her public health knowledge and local experience in providing safe drinking water and safeguarding drinking water sources.
Dan Orr – Public/Environment Representative (Grey County resident)
Dan Orr has worked with the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks for over 35 years with a range of experience and responsibilities under the Environmental Monitoring & Reporting Branch and Central Region Office. At the Ministry, he was involved in numerous Environmental Assessment (EA) reviews, Class EAs and Permits to Take Water. Dan more recently worked for York Region on managing and developing solutions for water management issues, such as for major sewer and highway development projects.
Richard (Dick) Hibma – Public/Environment Representative (Owen Sound resident)
Dick has spent 20+ years representing the Grey Sauble Conservation Board of Directors as Chair and Board Member locally and was also involved at the provincial level serving on the Conservation Ontario Board, serving for 12 years as Chair. His professional career involved work with Bruce Power and his interest in the natural world was ignited as a child growing up in the Leith area. He brings to the Committee a passion for ensuring that the lessons of Walkerton water contamination in May of 2000 are not forgotten.