Board of Trustees

Jurisdiction

City of Pembroke

• Champlain Discovery P.S.

• Highview P.S.

• Fellowes H.S.

About Leo

Leo moved to Pembroke in the mid-80's to work for the Pembroke General Hospital Ambulance Service and quickly realized that this community would be his "forever home". Leo became involved with the JackRabbit ski program, Toastmasters and found his true calling once his eldest child started at a cooperative nursery school and he became a permanent volunteer. Leo enjoys looking for rare birds, taking digital photos and playing "old dude" hockey.

His spouse and daughter put up with the assorted equipment to support his hobbies and try to restrain his sock and tie choices.

Phone Number: 613-735-7117
Email: bolandl2@rcdsb.on.ca

Jurisdiction

Whitewater Region; Admaston Bromley

• Cobden P.S.

• Beachburg P.S.

• Admaston P.S.

• Fellowes H.S.

• Opeongo H.S.

About Dave

Born and raised on a dairy farm just outside of Cobden, Dave is a graduate of Opeongo High School who has spent most of his life committed to teaching and coaching excellence.

Dave received his Bachelor of Arts from Carleton University and a Bachelor of Education from the University of Toronto. Shortly after graduation, Dave moved to the Oshawa area where he worked for 28 years as a high school teacher and volleyball coach at the Durham Board of Education and the Pine Ridge Kawartha Board of Education.

Through his time working in public education, Dave has been the twice recipient of the 3M Award for Coaching Excellent in Canada; inducted into the Durham College Hall of Fame for his work as the founder of the school's volleyball program; and was a nominee for the Governor General Award for Teaching Excellence in Canada. Dave was also a coach for the Canadian Olympic Men’s Volleyball team during their exhibition game against Russia.

Since moving back to the area, Dave has committed his time to coaching volleyball teams at Opeongo High School, volunteering for local community service organizations, and is a local bus driver.

Dave looks forward to serving his constituents as an RCDSB trustee, and has a special interest in mentoring and leadership programs to assist all students with life-long success.

Email: dobsond@rcdsb.on.ca

Jurisdiction

Arnprior; McNab-Braeside

• A.J. Charbonneau P.S.
• Walter Zadow P.S.
• McNab P.S.
• Arnprior District H.S.

About Kim

Kim is the proud mother of two kids attending RCDSB schools, which was hugely influential in her decision to run for the position of trustee.

Following her graduation from Carleton University with a BA in Law, Kim moved to Calgary where she began her career as a social worker. For many years, Kim worked with at-risk youth in group homes, youth shelters, and children in the foster care system.

Since moving back to Arnprior to be closer to her family, Kim is a stay-at-home mom who volunteers locally at community service clubs, youth activity clubs, and in the classroom/library at her children’s school.

Kim believes her experience advocating for at-risk youth will be an asset in her role as trustee, and she looks forward to serving RCDSB students and school communities this term.

Email: doughertyk@rcdsb.on.ca

Jurisdiction

Laurentian Valley; North Algona Wilberforce

• Champlain Discovery P.S.

• Rockwood P.S.

• Cobden P.S.

• Fellowes H.S.

• Opeongo H.S.

About Mike

Mike retired in June 2017 after 33 years as a School Support Counsellor with the RCDSB, most of his career spent at Fellowes High School. He also spent several years in the elementary system at the former Hillcrest and Westmeath, and at the Cobden District Public School. 

Mike and his family enjoy getting together at the cottage, and he especially enjoys hunting, fishing, boating and spending quality time relaxing at the beach with a great campfire. 

Phone Number: 613-732-4767
Email: guenettem@rcdsb.on.ca

Jurisdiction

Bonnechere Valley; Killaloe, Hagarty and Richards; Madawaska Valley; Brudenell, Lyndoch and Raglan; South Algonquin

• Killaloe P.S.

• Palmer Rapids P.S.

• Sherwood P.S.

• Whitney P.S.

• Eganville and District P.S.

• Madawaska Valley District H.S.

• Opeongo H.S.

About David

A graduate of Fellowes High School, David attended Mount Allison University in Sackville, New Brunswick. Currently he works at Sysco Food Services Ontario Inc. as an Account Specialist.  

David has been a trustee since 2000 and has served as Board Chairperson for two complete terms. He is married with three daughters and five grandchildren.  His hobbies are playing golf in the summer and hockey with his grandsons in winter. He can also be found cheering on the Ottawa Senators, Toronto Blue Jays and New England Patriots! As a Trustee his goals are to help support the best public education opportunities for students. 

Phone Number: 613-628-5428 or (mobile) 613-635-2137
Email: kaiserd@rcdsb.on.ca

Jurisdiction

Town of Petawawa; Garrison Petawawa

• Herman Street P.S.

• Pine View P.S.

• Valour JK-12 School

About Bryon

A proud graduate of General Panet High School, Bryon has degrees from Queen’s University (2), University of Toronto, McMaster University, and University of Ottawa. Bryon is retired after a career as a secondary teacher and vice-principal.

Bryon served as the trustee for Petawawa on the Renfrew County Board of Education from 1976 to 1991, returning in 2014 as the Petawawa Trustee on the Renfrew County District School Board. Bryon is married with five children and four grandchildren, all of whom keep him very busy. His hobby is reading and when he disappears he can usually be found in his library, his special hiding place in the house.

Bryon has served on all major committees as Trustee over the years. He is committed to seeing that all students strive to be the best they can be, that an equitable and inclusive environment is provided for our students, and that there be a strong parental voice in education. 

Our job truly is to inspire students and empower them with the necessary guidance, skills and knowledge to achieve whatever it is they seek.

Phone Number: 613-687-6468 or 613-401-1096 (mobile)
Email: morrisb@rcdsb.on.ca

Jurisdiction

Deep River; Town of Laurentian Hills; Head, Clara and Maria

• Mackenzie Community School

About Jodie

Jodie Primeau is a lawyer, mother, triathlete, and owner of the first feminist firm in Renfrew County. After practicing in private practice in Ottawa and Kingston, then working for Queen's University, Jodie returned to the Valley to provide accessible legal services in rural communities.

In 2019, she founded Primeau Law Professional Corporation – Deep River's first female-run firm. In 2020, during the height of the pandemic, she bought her first commercial building and gave birth to her daughter, whom she is proudly single-parenting. By 2021, she tripled her firm size while creating learning opportunities and student jobs for high school, post-secondary, and law school students.

Outside of her career, she is an avid volunteer and community member. She competed for Canada as an age-group triathlete in the 2017 World Triathlon Championships and created local not-for-profit coaching and training groups for novice runners and triathletes. Jodie enjoys community theatre, playing with her band at local venues, teaching spin classes and writing articles for the local community newspaper.

Email: primeaujj@rcdsb.on.ca

Jurisdiction

Renfrew County District School Board (All Schools)

About Christina

As a proud Algonquin woman of the Algonquins of Pikwakanagan First Nation, Christina has spent her career working to empower Indigenous youth through education, art, and role modeling.  She has worked in grass roots movements such as Friendship Centres, in post-secondary institutions such as Georgian College in Barrie, Ontario, with Lakehead University, and in partnership with the Ontario Ministry of Education. Since returning to the Ottawa Valley in 2012, she has become a passionate advocate for reconciliation in the National Capital Region.

Christina’s dedication to the preservation of Indigenous culture has resulted in many successful events and projects. Through empowering Indigenous youth to celebrate their identity, language, and culture made visible in their daily lives, she embodies the tradition of passing on culture and the skills needed to preserve it to the younger generations.

Email: ruddyc1@rcdsb.on.ca 

About Ava

Ava is a grade 12 student at Madawaska Valley District Highschool in Barry’s Bay.

She is an active advocate for social justice, women’s rights, and inclusion within her own school and community. Ava is a member of her school's activities council and looks forward to working with others for change.

In her spare time, Ava works at a local Pharmacy, babysits, educates herself on global issues,
and helps others with school. 

She thoroughly enjoys reading, sports, volunteering, and spending time with loved ones.

Being quite the fan of math and sciences, Ava hopes to head into the medical field after
high school.

Email: beggsa@student.rcdsb.on.ca 

About Grace

Grace is a grade 11 student at Mackenzie Community School in Deep River. 

In grade 7, Grace taught herself to sew her own clothing. Her love for fashion led her to join and run her high school’s costume department in the Theatre Arts Company. In her second year of theatre, she took on additional leadership roles as an Executive Director and Producer. During these two years, Grace also served as the Co-President of her school’s Gender Sexuality Alliance (GSA), where she discovered her passion for social activism and equality. 

Throughout her term as a Student Trustee, she plans to promote youth equity and well-being to create a more united community.

Email: dingg@student.rcdsb.on.ca