After a comprehensive search and selection process, a new Board of Directors has been chosen for Kemptville Campus. The new Board – consisting of six new members headed by recently appointed Board Chair Karen Cooper – will be formally elected at the Campus AGM on June 22.  

The new Board members succeed Mayor Nancy Peckford, now past Campus Chair, Deputy Mayor Jim McManaman and Stéphane Vachon, of the Conseil des écoles publiques de l’Est de l’Ontario (CEPEO), who have served as Board members for the last two years.

“We are so pleased to extend a warm welcome to these talented individuals who are well-equipped to assume responsibility for this important community asset,“ said Mayor Nancy Peckford.

“These individuals bring some impressive qualifications to the Campus,” added Board Chair Karen Cooper. “I am confident these new board members will provide the skills and passion required to help the Campus achieve its wonderful potential over the coming years.”

“This community is very near and dear to my heart”, said new Board Member Dermid O’Farrell. “I look forward to contributing to the growth of the Kemptville Campus, as it strives to meet the needs of North Grenville and the region.”

The new board members are largely from the North Grenville area and were selected based on their skills, experience and capabilities.

Karen Cooper – Board Chair
Ms. Cooper practices charity and not-for-profit law with an emphasis on corporate and tax issues with Drache Aptowitzer LLP.  Ms. Cooper also served as Chair of the Board of the Kemptville District Hospital and the Centre for Land Conservation. She has lived in North Grenville for over 20 years and is fluent in both French and English.

Dermid O’Farrell
Dermid O’Farrell and his wife, Donna Lee, have been proud members of the North Grenville community for the past 35 years. Dermid is currently the Managing Partner of O’Farrell Financial Services, founded in1996. Dermid is a member of the Knights of Columbus, and has served as Grand Knight. He is also a Past President of the Kemptville District Hospital Foundation.

Tara Dinsmore
Tara Dinsmore is a Vice President with Canada Lands Company, a federal Crown corporation responsible for the reintegration of former Government of Canada properties into local communities. Tara has served on several boards including the Kemptville Area Family Resource Centre, of which four years she served as Chair. Tara has been part of the North Grenville community since the late 1970s.

Dana Farcasiu
Dana holds a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Civil Engineering and has over 20 years of experience in the building and energy efficiency industries. She also brings 10 years of experience volunteering in the community. Dana is a first-generation immigrant and is very proud to call Canada and North Grenville her home.

Tim Rennie
Dr. Tim Rennie obtained a PhD in Bioresource Engineering from McGill University. From 2007 to 2015, Tim was a professor at the Kemptville Campus. He is currently a policy analyst at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. Tim is originally from a dairy farm in southwestern Quebec.

Katherine Parker
Katherine is a seasoned federal government Executive who brings a wealth of experience from public, private and non-profit sectors, including Human Resources, and Organizational Development. Katherine has a degree in psychology and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration.

Brian Mc Kee
Hailing from Belfast Ireland, Brian has lived in the National Capital Region for almost 40 years, and worked as an Executive in the Federal Public Service at DND and Canadian Heritage. Currently Brian is a Board member of the North Grenville Historical Society and sits on the Patient and Family Advisory Committee for the Kemptville District Hospital.

Complete bios and more information may be found on the Campus website.

Kemptville Campus Education and Community Centre is an educational and multi-use facility serving the community of North Grenville and surrounding area. The Campus includes 630 acres and 17 main buildings, as well as woodlands, cropland, wetland, greenspace, green houses, an agroforestry centre and maple bush, trails, and other buildings - sports facilities, residence, and catering facilities. A recent Master Plan was completed with significant community input, and can be found on the Regeneration page of the website. 

Contact:
Campus Communications: Tom Graham, TD Graham + Associates
Ph: 613-258-3885 E: tdgraham@tdgraham.com