The Lieutenant Governor in Council appoints Members to the Assessment Review Board. For more information on appointments, please visit the Public Appointments Secretariat website at www.pas.gov.on.ca.

Chair

Richard F. (Rick) Stephenson was appointed to the ARB on April 7, 1993 serving both as a Member and as Duty Vice-Chair until his appointment to Chair on May 21, 2004. While practising as a corporate and commercial lawyer in Toronto, he also served for seven years as a Vice-Chair of the Commercial Registration Appeal Tribunal, the predecessor to the License Appeal Tribunal. Mr. Stephenson is a graduate in economics from McMaster University and is a lawyer with an LLB degree from Osgoode Hall.

Vice-Chairs

Marcelle Bourassa was appointed a full-time Vice-Chair of the Assessment Review Board on February 21, 2007, having served as a member since April 11, 2006. She served on the Immigration and Refugee Board for 11 years. She was appointed Deputy Chairperson of the Immigration Appeal Division (IAD) on September 1, 2002. She managed the IAD’s Alternative Dispute Resolution Program that was an honored recipient of a 2003 Head of Public Service Award under the Collaborative Working Relationships category. Prior to joining the Board, she was a Team Leader, Mediation Services, with the Dispute Resolution Services Branch at the Financial Services Commission of Ontario. Ms. Bourassa holds a B.Sc. Degree from the University of Toronto (St. Michael’s College) and an LL.B. from the Université de Moncton. She was called to the Ontario Bar in 1985. Following her call to the Bar, she clerked for the Honourable Mr. Justice Gregory T. Evans, Chief Justice of the High Court of Ontario. She was also in private practice.

Robert D. Butterworth was appointed a full-time Vice-Chair of the ARB on April 15, 2002, having served as a Member since November 19, 1997. He was called to the Bar in 1972 and appointed a Queen’s Counsel in 1984. Mr. Butterworth practised law in the Town of Perth from 1972 until 2002. He has served as a Councillor of the Township of North Elmsley, member and Chair of the Town of Perth Planning Board, Chair of the Committee of Adjustment for the Township of North Elmsley, Governor and Chair of the Board of Governors of Algonquin College and Chair of the Rideau Valley District Health Council. He currently serves as a director of the Society of Ontario Adjudicators and Regulators (SOAR) and on the Board of Governors at Trent University. He received a bachelor of commerce degree from St. Patrick’s College and an LLB from the University of British Columbia.

Susan F. Mather was appointed to the ARB on November 19, 1997 and as a full-time Vice-Chair of the ARB on March 10, 2005. Prior to joining the Board, she was the Chair of the Crop Insurance Arbitration Board and in private practice. She earned an honours bachelor of commerce from Queen's University in 1976 and a law degree from the University of Western Ontario in 1979.

Members

Peter Andrews was appointed to the ARB on May 18, 2005. He is a Real Estate Consultant with Johnson Andrews and Associates Inc. He was the former Vice-President of Business Development and Segregated Portfolio Management at Sun Life Financial Realty Advisors Inc. Mr. Andrews was an Advisory Board Member at Ryerson University, School of Applied Geography and was a volunteer with the Out of the Cold Program. He is currently involved with PACT Restorative Youth Justice Program.

David Bachly was appointed to the ARB on November 26, 1970. He is a self-employed builder and has been subdividing land in the Greater Toronto Area for over 45 years. Mr. Bachly has served on many community and service boards. He was a member of the York Region Police Commission for six years.

Mignonne Belanger was appointed to the ARB on January 11,1984. Prior to joining the Board, she trained census commissioners and quality control technicians for the areas of Gogama to Long Lac. Previously, Ms. Belanger was the Census Commissioner for the City of Timmins as well as an Enumeration Instructor and Supervisor for the District of Cochrane Assessment Office. She is bilingual and was educated in Timmins, Ontario.

Ian A. Birnie was appointed to the ARB on June 15, 1999. He has served as a Deputy Small Claims Court Judge and as President of the Norfolk Law Association, the Waterford Lions Club and the Waterford Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Birnie was called to the Bar in 1970, was appointed a Queen's Counsel in 1982, and has been in general practice in Waterford for over thirty years. He is a graduate of the University of Glasgow.

Doug Brown was appointed to the ARB on June 20, 2000. Prior to joining the Board, Mr. Brown served the City of Burlington in various capacities including General Manager for Corporate Services, Solicitor, Corporation Council's Executive Director of Corporate Services, as well as acting chief administrative officer. He has also worked for two private law firms and has been a lecturer of economics at Dalhousie University and University of King's College in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

John Brownlie was appointed to the ARB on May 27,1998. He was formerly a partner in Blake, Cassels and Graydon and has appeared before all levels of provincial and federal courts, including the Supreme Court of Canada. Mr. Brownlie was appointed a Queen's Counsel in 1982 and has also participated on panels and as a lecturer at seminars of the Canadian Bar Association. He attended Trinity College as well as the University of Toronto Law School and Osgoode Hall.

André Castel was appointed to the ARB on November 19, 1997. Prior to joining the Board, he worked for the Ministry of the Environment for twenty-seven years and retired as Assistant Deputy Minister responsible for Corporate Management. He also served the United Nations Secretariat and the UN Conference on Trade and Development as an International Civil Servant. Mr. Castel is a bilingual Certified Management Accountant.

Richard Corcelli was appointed to the ARB on January 15, 2007.

Bernard Cowan was appointed to the ARB on December 19, 1997. He is a chartered accountant who, in addition to his public accounting background, has served in the public sector as Controller, Rental Housing Division of the Ontario Housing Corporation, and extensively in the private sector as Vice-President of Operations and Vice-President of Finance for Toronto area developers, builders, property managers and realty sales. A member of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Institute of Ontario, he has been trained in mediation and is a Roster Adjudicator for the Builder's Arbitration Forum of the Ontario New Home Warranty Plan.

Kenneth Russell Craigie was appointed to the ARB on January 15, 2007.

Charles Cupido was appointed to the ARB on October 1, 1980. Mr. Cupido has been self-employed through Cupido Realty Inc. for more than 40 years and has residential and commercial realty experience. He is a member of the Hamilton-Burlington & District Real Estate Board, and he served a term as Alderman in the City of Hamilton and as Councillor for Hamilton-Wentworth Region.

Sandra Driesel was appointed to the ARB on March 16, 2000. Prior to joining the Board, she was a business consultant for a computer training school. Ms. Driesel has extensive experience in accounting, records management and computer training, and as a small business consultant for over 25 years. She served as a marketing consultant as well as manager of finance, insurance, and operations for various automobile dealerships in Toronto and Peterborough. She has also served as Executive Director of the Independent Auto Repairers Association.

Nancy Ferguson is an Ontario lawyer who was appointed to the ARB on April 11, 2006. Her work experience includes conducting investigations and mediations, and managing complaints processes for organizations involved in the regulation of healthcare professionals, lawyers and teachers and for the Information and Privacy Commissioner/Ontario. She is currently an Analyst at the Ontario College of Teachers.

Jennifer Griffith was appointed to the ARB on September 17, 2004. Prior to joining the Board, she worked for 10 years in the financial industry, with HSBC Securities, and The Toronto Dominion Bank, and spent 15 years in the hospitality industry with Delta Hotel & Resort. In both the financial and hospitality industry, she held key managerial positions in areas of human resources, corporate compliance, firewalls and insider affairs. Ms. Griffith has volunteered on many committees and assisted in the co-ordination of community activities including: People in Motion Trade Show, March of Dimes, Access ability Day for People with Disability, teaching high school students the economics of staying in school, Women of Distinction and Disaster Relief for Grenada. She attended Ryerson Polytechnic University and earned a certificate in human resources management.

Vern Inglis was appointed to the ARB on May 27, 1998. Prior to joining the Board, he was a real estate salesman for four years. Mr. Inglis was also employed by one of Canada's chartered banks for 13 years and was the Chief Executive Officer of a regional insurance company for 25 years. Mr. Inglis served 11 years as a public representative on the Appeal Committee of the Institute of Chartered Accountants and also served on a financial review committee for the Mutual Insurance Industry of Ontario.

Edith Justin was appointed to the ARB on November 17, 1970. Prior to joining the Board, she was involved in real estate and land acquisitions. Ms. Justin has been a Member of the ARB for 35 years and has conducted all types of hearings throughout the province. She was born and educated in England.

Barbara Kowarsky (Kelman) was appointed to the ARB on May 18, 2005. She is a retired secondary school teacher. She was a member of the Discipline Committee of the Registered Insurance Brokers of Ontario and a member of the Ontario Film Review Board. She has been involved in the community with the Beth Tzedec Synagogue and the local Ratepayers and Block Parent programs.

Jacques Laflamme was appointed to the ARB on August 25, 2004. Prior to joining the Board, he served in various positions including Senior Valuation Manager in the field of municipal assessment. During his career, he developed extensive experience in property valuation and assessment of all property types. Mr. Laflamme graduated from St. Lawrence College in 1970 with a diploma in Assessment Administration.

Anthony Frank LaRegina was appointed to the ARB on January 15, 2007.

Joanne Laws was appointed to the ARB on February 10, 2006. She has been an adjudicator and mediator with the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing and the Ombudsman for the University of Waterloo. She has served as a Board Member and Mediator with Community Justice Initiatives and is currently a Board Member with the Elizabeth Fry Society of Waterloo Region.

Romeo Levasseur was appointed to the ARB on May 18, 2005. He has been a Councillor for the City of Pembroke since 1985. He holds a masters degree in education and retired after 34 years as an educator spending several years as a high school principal. He has extensive experience in the municipal sector and has held positions on several Boards of Directors, both locally and provincially.

Richard Limoges was appointed to the ARB on January 15, 2007.

Ann MacKay was appointed to the ARB on August 25, 2004. She owns and manages a fitness centre and banquet facility. She has served many years in municipal and county government as an elected representative. She has tribunal experience as a Member of the Canada Pension Plan Old Age Security and Disability Review Tribunal. She is currently involved in regional fundraising projects and sits as a Board Member of the Public Education Foundation of Grey Bruce. She graduated with a BA from McMaster University in 1978.

Ana Cristina Marques was appointed to the ARB on May 18, 2005. She is the co-owner of Dreamcoast Homes Inc. and Trio Roofing Systems Inc. She has been involved in the community with the General Arts and Science Department at Humber College and the Federation of Portuguese Canadian Business and Professionals Association.

Garry Minnie was appointed to the ARB on March 1, 2006. Mr. Minnie is a former secondary school teacher and has extensive experience in collective bargaining and contract maintenance. He also served in the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation. He has a bachelor of arts from St. Patrick’s College, Ottawa, and holds an honours English degree through the University of Toronto.

Gilles Morin was appointed to the ARB on September 30, 2004. Prior to joining the Board, Mr. Morin had an extensive political career and was first elected to the Provincial Legislature in 1985. He served as Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Community and Social Services and to the Minister of Colleges and Universities. In 1989, Mr. Morin was appointed Minister for Senior Citizen Affairs. From 1976-1985, Mr. Morin was the Director of rural, agriculture and municipal services for the first Ombudsman of Ontario and was responsible for the establishment and management of all Ombudsman offices that now operate in Ontario. A veteran of the Korean War, Mr. Morin served in the Canadian Armed Forces from 1951 to 1959.

Les Nalezinski was appointed to the ARB on March 1, 2006. Prior to joining the Board, he was a Manager in the Real Estate Services Division of a Municipal Government. Mr. Nalezinski has over 35 years of experience in the acquisition, management and disposal of real property with provincial, regional and municipal governments. He was a member of the Appraisal Institute of Canada, and holds a professional designation with the International Right-of-Way Association and served as its Regional Chair for Eastern Canada. Mr. Nalezinski has also served as Chair of Communications for the Heart and Stroke Foundation in Eastern Ontario.

Evangelista (Ivan) Oliveira was appointed to the ARB on May 17, 1999. A licensed real estate agent, he was President of the Brampton Real Estate Board and has been involved in conflict resolution and ethics of organized real estate since 1980. Mr. Oliveira teaches Portuguese to secondary school students and supervises and implements curriculum at a community-based Portuguese language school, under the auspices of the Portuguese government. He is a recipient of several awards including the 2002 Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal and was recently appointed a Commissioner to the Ontario Human Rights Commission.

Nicoll Plumstead was appointed to the ARB on May 18, 2005. She is an income tax preparer with H&R Block and teaches the basic course in income tax preparation. She had been an elected official in Temagami for 12 years and also owned and operated a tourist lodge and marina. Ms. Plumstead has been involved in the community with the Library Board, the Committee of Adjustment, the Non-Profit Housing Corporation and the Home for the Aged.

Bernice Rade was appointed to the ARB on August 25, 2004. Prior to joining the Board, she served on the Canada Pension Disability Tribunal and the Rent Review Hearing Board. She was previously a Member of the ARB from 1987 to 1989. Ms. Rade served on municipal councils for 12 years and was actively involved in the management of four family businesses. She has served on numerous boards and committees, including sitting on the Board of Directors of the Chamber of Commerce.

George Romas was appointed to the ARB on August 25, 2004. Prior to joining the Board, Mr. Romas spent 15 years working within the criminal justice sector in various roles including Acting Director and Assistant Director of open custody facilities in Toronto, Sudbury and Ottawa and Chair of the Temporary Absence Committee. He is currently the Chair of Public Relations and a Board Member of the Kiwanis Club of Rideau. Mr. Romas has a master's degree in criminal justice.

Fausto Saponara was appointed to the ARB on May 18, 2005. He is currently a Management Consultant. He was previously Vice-President of Corporate Management Business Development with the Ontario Hospital Association, Vice-President of Business Development with the Ontario Clean Water Agency and Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer with the Ontario Development Corporation. Mr. Saponara was also Director, Financial and Capital Management Branch with the Ministry of Environment and a Financial Manager, Toronto Provincial Court Offices with the Ministry of the Attorney General.

Marilyn Sharma was appointed to the ARB on January 15, 2007.

Barry A. Smith, Q.C, LLB was appointed to the ARB on November 26, 1970. He maintains an active law practice in Toronto. Mr. Smith graduated from Osgoode Hall Law School and was called to the Ontario Bar in 1962.

Paul M. Stillman was appointed to the ARB on March 26,1975. He currently lectures about business law at McMaster University at both the undergraduate and graduate levels and presides as a Deputy Judge in the Small Claims Court. Mr. Stillman is also a partner in the law firm of Wyatt, Purcell & Stillman in Brantford. He is a graduate of Osgoode Hall Law School, holds a master of laws degree in mediation and arbitration, and a bachelor of science degree in mathematics.

William (Bill) J.B. Sutton was appointed to the ARB on September 17, 2004. Prior to joining the Board, he worked in the insurance field for 26 years and most recently spent 10 years as a business consultant. He has sat on numerous boards and agencies and has also served on both city and regional council in Sudbury, including five years as Vice-Chairman of the region. He has a degree in geography and economics from Laurentian University, graduate courses from the University of British Columbia and a Charter Life underwriter designation.

Robert Tchegus was appointed to the ARB on February 10, 2006. He is a Partner in the law firm Cunningham, Swan, Carty, Little & Bonham LLP in Kingston, Ontario. Mr. Tchegus specializes in real property issues and handles all types of residential, commercial and industrial land transactions, commercial leasing and financing. He has also taught the Real Property Law program for the Ontario Real Estate Association and the Residential Real Estate Bar Admissions Course for the Law Society of Upper Canada. Mr. Tchegus is a former President and Treasurer for the Kingston Family YMCA and is a Member of the Salvation Army Advisory Board for Kingston.

Bryan R. Tennant was appointed to the ARB on March 31, 2000. Currently, he is also Vice-Chair of the Community Business and Development Corporation in Parry Sound. Mr. Tennant moved to Parry Sound in 1981 and has since been involved with real estate. Prior to that, he spent 24 years in the insurance industry in Toronto, the latter years as a partner in a large insurance agency.

Joe Tersigni was appointed to the ARB on May 30, 2001. He is a member of the Society of Management Accountants of Ontario and holds a Registered Industrial Accountant (RIA) designation. Since 1987, Mr. Tersigni has been president / broker of JDF Realty Ltd. and prior to that he was cost manager for Massey Ferguson and Inglis Ltd.

Janet Lea Walker was appointed to the ARB on September 4, 2007.

Donald Whitehurst was appointed to the ARB on May 18, 2005. Prior to joining the Board, he was a part-time Investigator with the Special Investigations Unit. He was also a Liaison Officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and a Commanding Officer RCMP (Inspector) in Northern Ontario. Mr. Whitehurst has been a member of the Board of Sault Ste. Marie St. John Ambulance since 1998.

Joseph Wyger was appointed to the ARB on May 27, 1998. Prior to joining the Board, Mr. Wyger practised real estate law and management and also served as a leasing officer for Public Works Canada. He received his bachelor of arts degree from the University of Toronto, his bachelor of laws degree from the University of Western Ontario, and was called to the Bar in 1984. He has also completed the Canadian Securities Course.