Leadership

Craig is currently the Chief of the Owen Sound Police Service. He grew up and lived in rural Waterloo region and worked through the ranks of the Waterloo Regional Police Service during his 29 years prior to moving to Owen Sound in 2019. Craig’s wife is originally from Owen Sound and recently retired. Together, they have raised three remarkable grown women which two have started careers of their own and their youngest is finishing University.

Brittany was born and raised in Montreal Quebec. She received a Master of Arts degree in 2019 from the University of Guelph. Brittany currently works as a sales manager. Currently, her and her partner live in Port Elgin with their extremely active dog. She loves to read, do research, enjoys baking and going out with friends.

Ellen recently retired after working for more than 40 years with children and families. Ellen has a master’s degree in clinical psychology which has allowed her to work in the fields of education, mental health and child welfare. She relocated to the Grey Bruce area after living in Northern Ontario for 30 years. Ellen chose this area as her family has had ties to Grey Bruce going back more than a century! This is Ellen’s first experience sitting on a board of directors and she looks forward to supporting an organization that is vital to this community.

Alison lives in Southampton, Ontario with her husband and daughter. She currently works in the Nuclear Industry with a specific focus on Indigenous Relations, Procurement and Partnerships. Alison holds a degree in Social Work and Psychology and worked in Child Protection for many years prior to transitioning her career into the Nuclear Industry. Alison is honored to be a member of the Board of Directors of the Bruce Grey Child & Family Services as she has an innate passion for engagement, collaboration and empowerment with children and families within our community along with supporting the frontline workers of BGCFS.

Graduating from the University of Windsor with both a degree in Law (2000) and a Masters in Business Administration (2002), Selwyn was called to the Bar in 2003. Following graduation, Selwyn worked in the Legal department at the Children’s Aid Society in Windsor and at a boutique Toronto law firm specializing in international business law and intellectual property.

A partner at Hicks & Hicks – a small law practice in Hanover, Ontario, – Selwyn practices primarily in the areas of real estate and wills/estate planning. Selwyn has developed expertise defending clients who have been charged with Smoke Free Ontario Act violations. Helping to shape the law, Selwyn has a number of reported decisions, including at the Ontario Divisional Court and the Court of Appeal for Ontario.

A lover of politics, Selwyn was first elected to Hanover Council in 2006 where he served two terms as a Councilor and a further two terms as Deputy Mayor. In 2019, Selwyn was elected Warden of the County of Grey and served three terms in that position. He is the first visible minority person to hold that position.

In 2017, Selwyn was appointed by Minister Coteau to serve on a working group to implement the new Child, Youth & Family Services Act, 2017. Selwyn has served on numerous boards and committees over the years. He also played an instrumental role in establishing a gymnastics program in the town of Hanover. In 1992, Selwyn was announced Citizen of the Year for Metropolitan Toronto. He also received a Canada 125 medallion and a Lincoln Alexander distinguished service award. Recently, Selwyn received the Law Society of Ontario – 2023 Lincoln Alexander Award for long-standing public service.

James was born and raised in the Kincardine area. James is a former Crown Ward of Bruce Grey Child and Family Services. James attended the University of Guelph where he graduated with an Honours degree in Criminal Justice and Public Policy. While at the University of Guelph, James served on the Board of Directors for Bruce Grey Child and Family Services and was the Undergraduate Governor at the University. James then attended Law School at the University of Windsor. James became a lawyer after working as a judicial clerk for the Supreme Court of the Northwest Territories based out of Yellowknife, NWT. While working for the Court, James participated in court circuits in Canada’s far North including north of the arctic circle. James ran for Member of Parliament in Huron-Bruce in the 2021 Federal election, finishing second.

He has done competitive cheerleading for a total of ten years, competing at the Cheerleading World Championships in the Spring of 2022. James is now an Assistant Crown Attorney for the County of Grey and the Bruce Peninsula in Ontario’s Ministry of the Attorney General. James and his wife live in Saugeen Shores with their two daughters. James is excited to return to serving on the Board of Directors for Bruce Grey Child and Family Services.

George was born in Spain where he obtained his undergraduate education. He studied medicine at Loma Linda University in Southern California, completed his pediatrics residency at Ohio University, and established his practice in Owen Sound. George provided medical services to children and youth in the care of the Society and provided expert testimony in court on numerous occasions. After his retirement in 2001, he spent three years as a Missionary in East Central Africa as Director of the Health Department for the Seventh-day Adventist Church, where he supervised a couple dozen hospitals and numerous medical clinics covering 32 countries and provided education to the membership.

Linda is an energetic business owner and volunteer, mother of six, and grandmother of seven. She graduated from Georgian College with a Legal Office Administration diploma in 1986 and worked in this field for several years before shifting to agriculture with her husband Fred. They raised a busy family and became foster parents when their children were teenagers, through which they cared for several children and did respite foster care. Linda is currently Secretary/Treasurer of Arranhills Farms Inc., a family beef farm which includes cash cropping and a gravel pit in Bruce County. She owns and manages two short term rental properties. She served on the Board of Timothy Christian School for many years including two terms as Treasurer and one term as Chairperson. She was also a member of the Kiwanis Music Festival Board for four years. In her free time, she sings in the Georgian Bay Concert Choir and enjoys conducting a choir at the Christian Reformed Church.

Susanne recently retired from community nursing at Care Partners Grey Bruce, where she was a manager, as well as her role as program manager of the Women and Child Care and Surgical Units at Grey Bruce Health Services. Susanne retirement from health services was short, as she is now working in labour and delivery on the Women and Child Care Unit and Brightshores Health System. Susanne has been involved in both volunteer and committee work including host parent for the international exchange students; a member of the nursing liaison committee; member of the contingency committee and Grey Bruce Health Services as well as past member of the Maternal Newborn Child & Youth Network in southwestern Ontario. Susanne is currently on the executive of the auxiliary at Brightshores Health System, supporting the hospital gift shop.

John has practiced law for 30 years in Grey-Bruce and has a solid and intimate understanding of the social support and other needs of the region. John has served on numerous boards and committees over the years, including serving as Owen Sound city councilor. John has spent years on employment and general litigation matters involving First Nations Communities and therefore has knowledge of their historic and present-day issues and how they impact child protection and family service needs locally. John has first-hand knowledge of child welfare as his parents had fostered many children in Middlesex County over the years.

Selena is a mother of four and became part of the Grey Bruce Community in 2009. Selena comes with experience working with some of the busiest law firms in Ontario to opening up her own practice in 2018. Selena became licensed with the Law Society of Upper Canada in 2017. Selena believes in the work of Bruce Grey Child and Family Services and her wish is to contribute to the positive narrative of the programs that assist vulnerable children and youth so that they may have a meaningful and stable life.

Chris is a retired environmental consultant. He completed his Ph.D. in Environmental Sciences at the University of Guelph and spent over 35 years providing consulting services to industry and government with a focus on environmental pollution and fisheries science in Canada and internationally. Chris previously spent six years on the Board of Directors for a large engineering firm in Guelph, and was Chairman of the Board for three years. Chris and his wife, Lisa, have lived near Markdale for the past 18 years. They are former foster parents and now adoptive parents. Chris has three children and three granddaughters. Lisa was also a volunteer instructor with BGCFS to foster parents in the PRIDE training program. Chris was also a member of the Accommodation Review Committee (ARC) for Beaver Crest Community School in Markdale when they successfully challenged the Bluewater District School Board recommendation to close the school.