Barb Bridgeman – Chair – Steering Committee, Champions Committee, Programs Committee

Barb has a B. Comm and MBA. Her business career entailed government, owning a life insurance brokerage, and teaching at Sheridan College. Now, she is on a new path, as a Councillor in the Township of Muskoka Lakes.  Her volunteer experience began with the Canadian Cancer Society. Over the years it has included: President of Mansfield Ski Club, the executive of the University Women’s Club of Brampton, Board member of Heart House Hospice, Golf Committee fundraising on Brampton-Caledon East Community Living, fundraising and a volunteer for Wellspring. Currently, she volunteers at Wellspring in Oakville and Hospice Muskoka.
Barb has been a resident of Muskoka for 55 years. While campaigning for Councillor she became aware of the level of poverty in Muskoka, and determined to put effort into educating others in our community to this challenge.

Kelly Callachan – Creative and Marketing Consultant

Kelly has an MBA and her business career has included various roles in the finance industry related to operations, sales, marketing, business development, and management.  She currently works in downtown Toronto and spends the summers in Muskoka with her family. Her volunteer experience has been centred around fundraising for several other Canadian organizations.
Kelly has been a seasonal resident of Muskoka for over 35 years. When approached by RAMP she was delighted to work with the team to raise awareness and drive support for reducing poverty in Muskoka.

Laurie Campbell – Steering Committee

Laurie has a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Toronto, with a major in Psychology.  She pursued a Bachelor of Education Degree from York University, and then spent the first years of her career teaching with both the Peel Board of Education and then with Trillium Lakelands District School Board.  When she left teaching to start her family with her husband Tom, she joined him in the family building business.  She has spent many years volunteering in various capacities, including serving as District School Council Chair for Trillium Lakelands, President of the Port Carling Skating Club, and has served on various committees with the Township of Muskoka Lakes, including the Budget Review Committee, Grants Committee, and the Economic Development Committee. Laurie has been a permanent resident of Muskoka for 32 years after having been a seasonal resident for the first 23 years of her life.  She is keen to work alongside members of the RAMP organization to raise awareness and support programs that work to lift people up and out of poverty.

Susan Daglish – Steering Committee

Susan is the fifth generation of her family to cottage at the same place in Muskoka. Her background includes 35 years serving as Executive Director of a not-for-profit patient advocacy organization, the Allergy/Asthma Information Association. As a recognized food and allergy expert, Susan was asked to serve on many boards, including as Chair of Second Harvest. Susan retired to Muskoka and has continued to serve on various boards (about 30 all told) including twice serving as president of the local CFUW chapter and as Partner-in-Service Chair of the Lion’s affordable senior’s apartment project, a part of the Brock and Willa Health Centre.

Jordan Detmers – Steering Committee

Jordan is a recent arrival to Muskoka, calling Bala home since December 2021. Before moving to Bala, Jordan was active in the city of London, ON, serving on a variety of committees and boards serving organizations like the City of London, ReForest London, and the Downtown London BIA. His career has primarily been in technology, spanning roles in consulting, product marketing, and business development. He currently works as a Director at Riiid Labs, an artificial intelligence company focused on enhancing education outcomes across the globe. In his spare time you can find him outside exploring the many forests and lakes Muskoka has to offer, or relaxing inside with a good book or board game. Jordan holds a B.Sc. in Ecology and a Master’s in Environment & Sustainability from Western University.

Patti Hnatiw – Steering Committee, Chair – Champions Committee

Patti is a dedicated community builder. She obtained both her BPHE and Bachelor of ED from the University of Toronto and then taught high school in the Peel Board before retiring to raise her 4 children. She has worked alongside her husband in the family’s restaurant business for 49 years. Patti is a seasoned volunteer, having served on numerous Parent’s Associations, the Board of Governors for the Stratford Festival (where she remains a Senator), the Board of Appleby College,  President of the May Court Club of Oakville and President of the Association of May Court Clubs of Canada. She has led multiple successful fundraising campaigns, including Chairing the Stratford Festival Express Train, Chairing the biannual Appleby College Gala, Chairing several May Court fundraisers and contributing to the capital campaign and yearly fundraiser for Wellspring, a community cancer support agency.

Kelly Jones – Steering Committee

Kelly brings exceptional facilitation and public speaking skills to YWCA’s poverty reduction programs: Getting Ahead, Circles Muskoka and Bridges out of Poverty. Her personal experience growing up in generarional poverty gives Kelly a unique ability to bridge gaps with people of low-income and the community resources needed to help transform lives. To date, Kelly has successfully facilitated Bridges out of Poverty workshops for hundreds of community leaders across The District of Muskoka, including local politicians, OPP, health professionals, business owners and service clubs such as RAMP and various others. Kelly’s focus is to help others believe in their value and purpose and to help the community seek value in human connection through the intentional friendships Circles Muskoka creates.

Michaele Robertson – Steering Committee,  Co-Chair – Articles and Blogs Committee, Programs Committee

Michaele has an MA (T) from McMaster University and a diploma in conflict resolution from OISE.  She has spent 50 years committed to excellent learning, during which she has held leadership positions at Hillfield-Strathallan College, Hamilton, Upper Canada College, Toronto and University of Toronto Schools, where she was Principal.  She was Board Chair of St. Peter’s Hospital Board in Hamilton and is a past board member of YWCA Muskoka and the Canadian Accredited Independent Schools (CAIS).  She is a co-founder of Skillpod, an organization helping young people develop critical skills for living and working in the digital age. 

Barry Wansbrough – Steering Committee, Co-Chair – Articles and Blogs Committee

Barry is an experienced educator, having taught and coached at Upper Canada College, and having been Head of Hillfield Strathallan College in Hamilton for 26 years. Professionally, he is a visionary educational reformer who founded the peer tutoring program, Licensed to Learn, now operating nationally in over 100 schools with some 3500 students participating annually. He has a master’s degree in school reform and served on the Clinical Ethics and Business committees at McMaster University, He has consulted locally and internationally. His focus has been in preparing youth for the coming digital era: building technological systems into strong interpersonal  learning communities.