Directors

DIRECTORS

Keith Watson

Founder Guardsman Insurance Services Inc.

Keith Watson was born in Ompah and moved to Kingston in 1954 at the age of 12.

In 1969 he founded Guardsman Insurance Services in Kingston and now has three offices in eastern Ontario.

Learn More About Keith

Keith is a strong supporter of the Canadian Justice system and demonstrates this support with his active participation. He has been a member of the OPP Auxiliary Police, he organized the acquisition of the OPP rollover vehicle simulator to demonstrate seat belt safety, organized and chaired the International Law Enforcement committee and is a founding board member and supporter of the OPP Youth Foundation.

Keith believes that a positive environment will impact the attitudes of our youth and assist them to develop to their full potential.

Amongst his many awards Keith has received the OPP Commissioner's Citation, the Governor General's caring Canadian award and was the first Canadian to receive the New York State Police Superintendent' citation. He is also the recipient of an Honorary Degree at St. Lawrence College for his community support along with being a Rotary Paul Harris recipient.

Keith is married to Bernice and they have two grown children and three grandchildren.



Rommel G. Masse

The Honourable Mr. Justice but you can call me Mel

The Honourable Mr. Justice Rommel G. Masse is a Justice of the Ontario Court of Justice at Kingston, presiding over Criminal matters and Youth Justice Court in Kingston, and family matters elsewhere in the province. He was aappointed the Local Administrative Justice for Kingston, Napanee, Bancroft, Belleville, Picton, Sharbot Lake, and Trenton as of October 30, 2001.

Learn More About Rommel

Mel was born and raised and educated in Windsor where he first obtained his Professional Engineer designation before returning to the University of Windsor to graduate in 1976 with his Bachelor of Laws degree. Mel was called to the bar in April 1978 and was a partner in the firm of Baker & Masse in Hamilton.

In 1981 he was appointed the full time Crown Attorney for the United Counties of Prescott and Russell where he established the Court Ordered Community Services Programme.

Mel was appointed Judge of the Provincial Court of Ontario (Criminal Division) in 1989 with chambers in Ottawa. In 1993 he moved to the Brockville courts and since 1998 has presided over criminal matters, and Youth Justice Court matters in Kingston, and over both criminal and family matters in other parts of the province with Chambers in Kingston.

Mel has been a leader and strong supporter of a number of community groups & Ontario Heart and Stroke Foundation, Board of Directors on the Hawkesbury General Hospital, Community Foundation of Greater Kingston, Part President of the Ontario Conference of Judges and member of the Rotary Club of Cataraqui-Kingston. He has for many years supported the fundraising efforts in the Kingston area for the OPP Youth Summer Camp. Mel is a founding member of the Board of Directors for the OPP Youth Foundation.

Mel and Linda have been married for 30 years and are the proud parents of two mature children.



R. J. Eamer Bob

O.P.P. Chief Superintendent (retired)

Bob Eamer was raised in Cornwall, Ontario. He enjoyed a 36 year career with the Ontario Provincial Police serving in Long Sault, Timmins, Belleville, Peterborough, Kingston and Smiths Falls.

Learn More About Bob

In retirement Bob became a senior associate with Consulting Matrix Inc. and has led projects to provide strategic planning and project development support to clients in the technology and public safety sectors, including the Canadian Police College, Research in Motion (RIM), the Ontario Securities Commission, Xwave Solutions and ClearNeed Information Systems.

Bob concluded his 36 year police career as Chief Superintendent and Regional Commander of the Eastern Region of the Ontario Provincial Police. In that position, he was responsible for the leadership of 1,100 police officers and support staff. In 1997 he provided the executive sponsorship for the development of the Ontario Provincial Police Youth Summer Camp and continues to support the camp through fundraising efforts with a group of Kingston area supporters. He is currently a member of the Board of Directors for the newly established OPP Youth Foundation, established to provide assist in fundraising activities, provide appropriate accountability processes and allow the OPP to explore additional opportunities to assist youth in need of assistance to meet their potential.

He has been a Rotarian for over 20 years and is still an active member of the Napanee Rotary Club. He enjoys fishing, curling and struggles with golf.

Bob and Rose have been married for 40 years and they have three grown children and one grandchild.



Dave Lee

O.P.P. Inspector (retired)

Dave Lee who currently serves as the Director of Campus Community Police at the University of Guelph was raised in Mississauga, Ontario where his interest and passion for community involvement first took shape.

Learn More About Dave

Retired from the Ontario Provincial Police after a 30-year career which included serving as an Inspector, Deputy Director and Instructor at the Police Academy. Dave has lived in Orillia, London, and Collingwood, and has always been actively involved in community events, activities and programs, both in a professionally and personally capacity. Specifically, Dave has worked to improve community relations with local highschools and non profit organizations and is passionate about supporting local events that encourage community participation and engagement.

Dave has been a strong advocate for safety and community awareness around safe driving, child car safety, bicycle safety and Drivewise programs. Dave's two daughters have also inspired him to support education around school bullying and programs such Block Parents and Neighbourhood Watch.

In his spare time Dave enjoys spending time outdoors with his wife Tammy their family.



Chris Seeley

Chris Seeley started his working career with the Picton Parks and Recreation Dept. then moved on to a 34 year career as a teacher and administrator working primarily with children and youth with special needs. Chris developed curriculum resource materials and programmes for this field of education.

Learn More About Chris

Chris has an extensive history of community work, serving as President of the Lennox and Addington Association for Community Living, Napanee Special Olympics, Community Advisory Board for the Kingston Psychiatric Hospital, Beechgrove Children's Mental Health Centre in Kingston and Chair of Napanee Legion Youth Education Committee, Lennox and Addington Housing Authority amongst many other undertakings.

His public service also includes 9 years of Napanee Municipal Government as Councillor, Deputy-Reeve and Mayor, serving on many committees and projects including the Napanee Police Committee.

Since retiring Chris has continued his community service by volunteering his expertise to the position of Executive Director of the Napanee District Community Foundation over the last 3 years. He has been a member of the Rotary Club and Royal Canadian Legion.

Chris is a Life-long Learner and a student of Genealogy and Russian history. Pre-revolution and Russian culture are his current interests.

Chris is married to Rosaleen Cutler. They are parents to 4 children, aged 16 to 24 years and presently live between Cobourg and Napanee.



Kevin Lehman

Mr. Kevin Lehman has been a life-long volunteer on youth issues, starting when he formed a youth club when he was in his teens. He has spent time coaching and managing soccer, baseball and hockey teams. He is a father of 2, step-father of 1 and the grandfather of 6. Kevin retired in 1994 after a career in General Management, CAO or CFO with different Canadian corporations. He started working with computers in 1973 and since 2004 has volunteered with the OPP to create Internet Safety, Cyberbullying and Sexting presention with the Crime Prevention Section.




Bradley Walton

Is the founder of Walton Financial Group Inc.

Bradley was born in Barrie Ontario. He has been in the financial service industry for over 13 years, helping families in the Simcoe County area. Bradley has extensive expertise in taxation, estate planning, portfolio design and advance case work. He enjoys cooking, skiing and spending quality time with his wife Dana and his son Mason.

Learn More About Bradley
Bradley supports the following charities and organizations:
  • Women's and Children's Shelter Barrie
  • Barrie Minor Hockey
  • Big Brothers and Sisters (Former Big Brother)
  • Minesing Baseball
  • Oro Minor Hockey
  • World Vision
  • Crones and Colitis Foundation
  • Children's Wish Foundation


Bridget Higgins

Bridget retired after 36 years service with the Ontario Provincial Police. She started at Headquarters in Toronto and then moved to Orillia. Her career was spent in the Transport Branch, now the transport Bureau.

Learn More About Bridget

While in Orillia, Bridget volunteered for 10 years with the O.P.P. Summer Camp program. She and another volunteer oversaw the purchasing of equipment and clothing for the camp that was based at Headquarters. Her memory of the benefit to the youth who attended those camps gives her a continuing interest in the camp program.



Joanne Smith

Tim Horton Franchisee

Joanne Smith was born is Shelburne Ontario in 1969 but was raised in the hamlet of Terra Nova where her parents owned the Terra Nova General Store. From a very early age Joanne learned to deal with the public and how to overcome the obstacles associated with customer service.

Learn More About Joanne

In 1988 Joanne married her husband Brian, and took up residence of Wasaga Beach. Shortly after they entered the world of being entrepreneurs and have never looked back. After the birth of their two daughters a business opportunity presented itself in Ottawa so they packed their things and set off on a new adventure. While in Ottawa they built their business to be the proud owners of 5 Tim Hortons locations and huge supporters of the Tim Hortons Children Foundation. In 2005 they had the opportunity to move back to Wasaga Beach and currently own two Tim Hortons locations in the Midland/Penetanguishene area.

Joanne has been nominated twice for Business Woman Of The Year and in 2013 Joanne and her husband Brian were nominated for a philanthropy award in the town of Midland.

Joanne and her family are very involved in the Tim Hortons Children Foundation due to a deep passion for disadvantaged kids and the desire to help these children get the most out of life and aim for a positive future.

A Foundation camp experience exposes economically disadvantaged children to new growth opportunities and challenges with the goal being each participant leaving camp a more caring, responsible and motivated person.

"You never stand so tall as when you stoop to help a child" Abraham Lincoln



Dave Osborne

O.P.P. Inspector (retired)

Dave Osborne was born and raised in Toronto, Ontario. He enjoyed a 30-year career with the Ontario Provincial Police serving in Nipigon, Nakina, Owen Sound, Peterborough, Millbrook, Thunder Bay and Orillia. He retired with the rank of Inspector in 2011.

Learn More About Dave

Because of his strong interest in history, Dave has contributed to several projects and publications related to the history of the OPP and its members. In 2015, he received his BA degree in History from Laurentian University.

He has researched and wrote several papers related to the historical perspective of people and events related to Simcoe County, and won a research award from the Simcoe County Historical Association. In the years ahead he hopes to assist others in writing stories of their time in the OPP.

Since his retirement Dave has volunteered with several organizations, many with the OPP. He was the President of the Friends of The OPP Museum (FOPPM) from 2014 to 2017. He was the chair of their major fundraiser, the Pedal for the Past, for five years.

Dave was the lead for the OPPYF Pathway of Memories for five years. He also co-chaired the OPP Canine Calendar fundraiser, with proceeds of those sales split between the OPPYF and the FOPPM. As he steps away as a lead for these projects, he hopes to dedicate more of his time to providing peer support for OPP retirees.

Dave is the chair of the OPP Veteran's Association Chapter 18 (Orillia). He is also a member of the History Committee of the Orillia Museum of Art and History.

Dave and his wife Cyndie have three adult children. He volunteered with the OPP Youth Camps when they first started, and is happy to be a part of the OPPYF board over a decade later.



Grant Arnold

O.P.P. (retired)

After retiring from the OPP, after 30 years, I joined OPP Veteran's Association (OPPVA), 16 Chapter in 1995, and have held the position of Director, member of the Telephone Committee, and Vice-Chair.

Learn More About Grant

In 2006, I became Chair of 16 Chapter OPPVA, and have continued in that capacity to the present day. I have been Director on the OPPVA Provincial Board for 7 years, and am Liaison for both 16 and 17 Chapters located in the North West Region OPP, which covers a Geographical area of nearly one-half of this vast province.

I am also the OPPVA Director on the OPP Youth Foundation and am Vice-Chair of the Youth Development Selection Committee. At present, I am revising the Policy and Procedures Manual for the OPP Veteran's Association.

Also, I attend all the virtual, and/or physical meetings of the Board of Directors when allowed, and make decisions, especially during this past year plus, dealing with the effects of Covid -19, and the new norm.

Residing with my spouse Marilyn, in the countryside near Kakabeka Falls, we have two sons, their spouses, and 4 grandchildren, and Canadian Grandparents to a former student from the continent of Africa.



Sandy Poredos

O.P.P. (Retired)

Sandy retired after 34 years of service. During her career with the O.P.P. she worked at Central Region Headquarters, Office of the Provincial Commanders and Provincial Operations Intelligence Bureau.

Learn More About Sandy

She was Treasurer with the O.P.P. Youth Summer Camp Program. In addition, during camp, Sandy assisted the campers on day trips where she was able to see firsthand the impact the program made on so many youths.

Sandy is currently co-chair and registrar for the OPP Canine Calendar fundraiser, that sees proceeds shared between the OPP Youth Foundation and Friends of The OPP Museum. She is lead for OPPYF social media and co-chair of our Pathway of Memories.

During her career, Sandy co-chaired the inaugural O.P.P. Inclusion Council for General Headquarters, received an Accolade Award with her team in Intelligence Bureau and a Commissioner’s Award in Central Region. For many years she led the Spring Daffodil Campaign for the Canadian Cancer Society for O.P.P GHQ, supported the United Way as Treasurer for the O.P.P. Provincial Campaign and was local Bureau fundraiser lead.

She is also Treasurer of Chapter 18 - OPP Veterans’ Association. She enjoys helping others, is an avid quilter and enjoys the outdoors.

Sandy has two adult children, daughter Bailey and son Blair.



Frank Ryder

O.P.P. (Retired)

Frank Ryder was born and raised in London, Ontario. M.F. (Frank) Ryder OOM is a 32-year retired veteran of the Ontario Provincial Police. During his tenure with the OPP he was appointed to the position of Commander of Operational Policy and Support Bureau and of Investigation Support Bureau; his last appointment was Commander of Investigation Bureau.

Learn More About Frank

Following his retirement he was employed as a Corporate Investigator for the Alcohol and Gaming Commission for nine years.

He is a recipient of the Police Exemplary Service Medal, the Queens Golden Jubilee Medal and in June 2005 was named an Officer of the Order of Merit of the Police Forces (OOM).

He served as the OPP Executive Sponsor of the OPP Youth Camp for two years, where he observed first hand the value of this initiative which was clearly exhibited on the faces of all the young campers and on the faces of civilian and police volunteers who bonded with the children.

Frank Ryder chairs the OPPYF Youth Development Fund Committee and his wife Ruby provides administrative support for this committee. Frank and Ruby have been married for 47 years and have two grown children and four beautiful grandchildren. Frank and Ruby are also involved in volunteer service for the Canadian Red Cross Meals on Wheels program.



Cathy Phillion

O.P.P. (Retired)

Cathy recently retired after working as a call taker and dispatcher in the Provincial Communications Centre, Orillia for over 20 years. Cathy was born, raised and resides in Barrie. She has joined the OPP Youth Foundation as Administrative Assistant.

Learn More About Cathy

Cathy has three adult sons and 2 grandchildren. Cathy enjoys cooking and entertaining. She would love to travel almost everywhere in the world.

Cathy is a meditation teacher and practices meditation daily.

She believes meditation is important to a full and healthy life and hope to bring that awareness to the first responder community.



Sherri DeGroot

O.P.P.A. Credit Union

Sherri deGroot is the Director of Brand and Business Development for the Ontario Provincial Police Association Credit Union. Sherri holds a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing and Business Administration from the University of Western Sydney Australia, as well as graduating with honors from the Marketing and Business Administration program at Georgian College.

Learn More About Sherri

Through her previous work experiences Sherri has been involved in planning numerous charity events including the Bell Walk for Kids Help Phone and the Canadian Cancer Societies Relay for Life. Personally, she has volunteered for many community events as well as being a Big Sister and with the Junior Achievement Program.

Since joining the team at the OPPA Credit Union in 2016, Sherri has been involved with many OPP related events and initiatives, as a Director with the Friends of the OPP Museum, on the Pathway of Memories committee, OPP Family Day and with the OPP Veterans Association.

Sherri & her husband Jeff reside outside of Barrie, with their young son. On her own time, Sherri enjoys time with her family, social time with friends, cooking, baking, paddle boarding, and travelling.



HONORARY DIRECTORS

James W. McMahon

Chief of Staff International Association of Chiefs of Police

James McMahon came to the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) in November, 2006. In his capacity as Chief of Staff, Jim oversees the day to day operations of the IACP staff.

Learn More About James

Prior to the IACP, Jim served as the Director of the Office of Homeland Security (OHS) for the state of New York. Jim oversaw the OHS's efforts to coordinate and enhance New York's anti-terrorist efforts, specifically developing a comprehensive statewide strategy to detect, protect against, respond to, and prevent terrorism.

Jim served with the New York State Police for 37 years. During his last nine years with the New York State Police, Jim served as the eleventh Superintendent in the history of the Division of State Police. He joined the State Police as a Trooper in 1966 and became Superintendent on April 4, 1994. As Superintendent, he commanded a full-service statewide law enforcement agency: the eighth largest in the country, with more than 6,000 sworn members and civilian staff support. During his tenure as Superintendent, Jim was a strong supporter of the New York State Police Youth Camp, held annually at the Police Academy in Albany New York. Jim provided invaluable assistance to the OPP in the development of the OPP Youth Summer Camp program.

A lifelong resident of New York, Jim now resides in Alexandria, Virginia with his wife, Joan



Guy Thibault

Assistant Chief of the Land Staff Major-General

Major-General Guy Thibault joined the Canadian Forces in 1978 and completed a BSc in Mathematics and Physics at the Royal Military College. Upon completion of Army Signal Officer training in Kingston, he served in various operational capacities within the Special Service Force Brigade in Petawawa, 4 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group and Canadian Forces Europe in Lahr, West Germany.

Learn More About Guy

He has served in various operational, policy and project appointments in both National Defence Headquarters and Army Headquarters. He was the Base Commander, Canadian Forces Base Kingston from 2002 through January 2004, prior to deploying with the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan.

Upon return from mission, he attended full time postgraduate studies and completed a Master's degree of Public Administration (Management) from Dalhousie University. He is a graduate of the Land Forces Command and Staff College, the Canadian Forces Staff College and the National Security Studies Programme. Promoted to Brigadier-General in September 2005 he was named Command of Land Force Central Area, Joint Task Force Central under the newly formed Canada Command. Upon his promotion on 18 June 2007, Major-General Thibault was appointed Assistant Chief of the Land Staff.



PAST DIRECTORS

Edward G. Clinton

Carmen Marrier-Fitzpatrick

Mark Allen

Terry Harkins B.A., M.Ed, M.A.

Linda Buckland

Leslie Craig (Deceased 2016)

Robyn MacEachern

Greggory Weatherill

Kim Williams

Thomas Randall

Alex Ivanov