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Board Members & Staff

Calder Schweitzer

Calder Schweitzer

Executive Director, Staff Member

Calder began working for TIWLT in 2019 as a Field Biologist, and has now moved into the position of Executive Director. He holds a B.Sc. in Wildlife Biology and Conservation from the University of Guelph, which he attended as a McCall MacBain Loran Scholar. Calder has formerly volunteered for the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society and Western Australia's Department of Conservation, Biodiversity, and Attractions.

Email: calder@tiwlt.ca

Maggie Stevenson

Property Manager and Wildlife Biologist, Staff Member

Maggie worked for TIWLT as a summer Wildlife Biologist in 2021 and returned in 2022, being hired on as the Property Manager. She graduated from Sir Sandford Fleming College with a Fish & Wildlife Technician Advanced Diploma. Maggie has previously worked for other environmental organizations including Ontario Parks, MNRF, and Nature Conservancy of Canada. She enjoys spending time in nature and has a particular interest in plant identification.

Rachel Zylstra

Communications Coordinator and Assistant Biologist, Staff Member

Rachel joined TIWLT in 2023 as an Assistant Wildlife Biologist before taking on the role of Communications Coordinator later that year. She graduated from Fleming College with a Fish & Wildlife Technician Diploma and has additional education in Aquaculture and Indigenous Perspectives. She completed a medical internship at a wildlife rescue and remains involved in local wildlife conservation.

Email: communications@tiwlt.ca

Don Ross

Don Ross

President, Board of Directors

Don has a Biology Degree from Western University and started his career as Chief Park Naturalist at Point Pelee National Park. When he moved to the Thousand Islands he found home. He was partner in Dave Jones Sports and Executive Director of the Frontenac Arch Biosphere. He is a founding member of TIWLT, helped write the nomination papers for the UNESCO Frontenac Arch Biosphere and with Dave Warner, facilitated the transfer of properties to the National Park.

Email: don@tiwlt.ca

Vicki

Vicki Leakey

Treasurer, Board of Directors

Vicki joined the board in Spring 2020 and lives adjacent to one of the Trust properties on Deer Ridge Drive. Vicki brings over 30 years experience in accounting and financial reporting for various public sector organizations. As a CGA, CPA she brings her professional experience to many community organizations while serving as a volunteer in TLTI and the Town of Gananoque.

Robert Burtch

Secretary, Board of Directors

Robert recently retired from a 30 year elementary teaching career. He has a passion for all things outdoorsy including gardening, hiking, kayaking, swimming and birding. His love of the natural world as well as local history makes his involvement with TIWLT a perfect fit. He is looking forward to being able to share his love of nature and history with the wider community.

Dave Warner

Dave Warner

Director, Board of Directors

Dave was Park Superintendent of St. Lawrence Islands National Park. He is a founding member of the Canadian Thousand Islands Heritage Conservancy, which later became TIWLT. He helped write the nomination papers for the Frontenac Arch Biosphere and continues to work diligently to help TIWLT and his neighbours.

John Ambrose

John Ambrose

Director, Board of Directors

John has a Master’s degree (forest management) from MacDonald College (McGill University). His career in environmental and resource management has taken him on assignments to 35 countries throughout Africa, Asia and Eastern Europe with CIDA, the World Bank and the private sector.

Marnie Ross

Marnie Ross

Director, Board of Directors

Marnie was a Reading Recovery teacher and since retiring has found her passion in preserving nature and helping others achieve their conservation dreams. Helping others create a legacy is the most rewarding work. Marnie and Don were the recipients of the Ontario Land Trust Alliance Vision Award in 2010.

Email: marnie@tiwlt.ca

Dave Paul

Director, Board of Directors

Dave brings TIWLT learnings from a grateful career in economic development with both the Province and his hometown Brockville. The experience with investment attraction, securing project financing and fostering business relationships to shepherd growth and prosperity represent the activities of his discipline.
Dave's present commitment is grounded in environmental stewardship and advocacy for the mission of this great watershed.

Anne Henderson

Director, Board of Directors

Anne is a bilingual documentary filmmaker and writer with over thirty years of experience making international documentaries for television. She has traveled extensively and worked with people from cultures and languages different from her own. Anne is currently writing a book about the first Tibetan refugees accepted into Canada. She is an enthusiastic supporter of the mission and values embodied at the Thousand Islands Watershed Land Trust.

John Earle

Director, Board of Directors

John was born in Montreal and attended Queens University where he graduated with a degree in medicine in 1969. After surgical training for 6 years in the University of Toronto Urology program he established a surgical practice as a urologist in Brockville. He dedicated 45 years of his life to his practice before retiring in 2018. He and his wife Cathy have a charitable foundation focused on land preservation and the welfare of animals and wildlife. He enjoys gardening and restoring buildings, as well as cross-country skiing, running marathons, playing hockey, and fly fishing.

Shaun Thompson

Shaun Thompson

Advisor & Volunteer

Shaun is a retired MNR Biologist and author of protocols for Species at Risk. Shaun continues making Ontario nature thrive in his volunteering work with numerous groups. He is a tireless volunteer for TIWLT.

Delilah

Director of Community Relations, Staff Member

As the Director of Community Relations, Delilah spends most of her days sniffing out new opportunities to make friends and build bridges. Born in 2019, she is one of our youngest team members at TIWLT but what she lacks in experience she more than makes up for in enthusiasm. A real people pleaser, when she’s not wagging her tail and greeting everyone with a friendly bark, you can find her curled up under her desk dreaming up new ways to make the world a better place. As a Certified Good Girl, her many qualifications include sit, stay, and fetch. If you ever have any concerns or just want to say hi, make an appointment with Delilah - we promise it will brighten up your day!

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