Roberta L. Jamieson, president of the National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation and, for 10 years, Ontario Ombudsman was elected a public member, filling a vacancy left when Robert G. Elgie was appointed Chair.

Christina Spencer, editor of the Kingston Whig-Standard, was elected at the Council’s annual meeting in October 2006, succeeding Janet Davison, who had left the Niagara Falls Review for a position with the CBC.

David Estok, editor-in-chief of the Hamilton Spectator, and Mike Burke-Gaffney, managing editor of the Toronto Sun, were elected professional members in early 2007. Estok succeeded Dana Robbins, his predecessor, who resigned from Council when he was named publisher of the Waterloo Region Record. Burke-Gaffney replaced Alison Downie, also of the Sun, after she left the newspaper.

Public members re-elected to two-year terms were Thomas (Tim) Armstrong of Toronto, Janice Visneskie of Killaloe, Jane Collins of Dunnville and Blake Bexon of Ailsa Craig.

Professional members re-elected for two-year terms were Paul Berton of the London Free Press, Rick Laiken of the Toronto Star, Daryl Smith of the Sarnia Observer and Darren Murphy of the Peterborough Examiner.

Biographical sketches of members follow (year appointment effective bracketed after each name).

Robert G. Elgie (2006), Keswick, lawyer, neurosurgeon and former politician. Born in Toronto Jan. 22, 1929, he studied at the University of Ottawa faculty of medicine, Osgoode Law School, Toronto, University of Western Ontario, London, and University of Toronto. Elected Progressive Conservative member of the legislature in 1977, he served as minister of labour, consumer and commercial relations and community and social services. Chaired Ontario Workers Compensation Board 1986-91.

PUBLIC MEMBERS

Thomas (Tim) Armstrong (2001), Toronto, counsel to the McCarthy Tétrault law firm since 1993. Born in Toronto Dec. 3, 1931, he was chair of the Ontario Labour Relations Board 1974-76, deputy labour minister 1976-86, agent general for Ontario in Tokyo 1986-90, deputy minister of industry 1991-92 and consultant and adviser to the premier on economic development 1992-95. He is chief representative for Canada of the Japan Bank for International Co-operation and serves on the boards of Algoma Steel, Interlink Freight Systems and the Design Exchange.

Rabbi Bernard Baskin (2004) Hamilton, rabbi emeritus of Anshe Sholom Synagogue.

Born in New Brunswick, N.J., March 9, 1920, he earned a Master of Hebrew Literature degree from the Jewish Institute of Religion and a Doctor of Divinity degree from Hebrew Union College in New York. He is a former member of the board of governors of McMaster University, which awarded him an honorary degree of doctor of laws in 1969.

Blake Bexon (2005) Ailsa Craig, principal of Bexon Consulting, which executed a marketing strategy for small and mid-sized enterprises in Southwestern Ontario. Born in London, Ont., Sept.11,1950, he earned an honours BA from McMaster University, Hamilton, and has taken courses at Queen’s University, Kingston, and the University of Western Ontario, London. He farmed in the Tillsonburg area from 1978 to 1987 and was resources manager at Cuddy Farms, Strathroy from 1987 to1995.

 Janice Visneskie (2000), Killaloe, reeve of Hagarty & Richards town council. Born in Pembroke Jan. 26, 1956, she has been a council member for 16 years, the last 13 as reeve; also chairs the Renfrew County Health and Social Services Committee and is a member of the Board of Health.

Jane Collins (2003), Dunnville, part-time faculty member at Mohawk College. Born in Hamilton July 29, 1955, earned an honours BA in business administration at the University of Western Ontario and became a chartered accountant in 1981. Employed as an auditor and financial officer until 1976, now a self-employed consultant and internal auditor.

Tam Goossen (2004), Toronto, research associate in the Asian Institute at the University of Toronto’s Munk Centre for International Studies; former public school trustee on the Toronto Board of Education and chair of its Race Relations Committee, and former president of the Urban Alliance on Race Relations. Born in Hong Kong May 27, 1947, she earned BA and MA degrees in Japanese and Chinese studies at the University of Toronto.

Irene Harris (2001), Picton, executive vice-president of the Ontario Federation of Labour. Born in Toronto in 1951, she has been active in the labour movement for more than 25 years, beginning with the Labour Council of Metro Toronto and York Region. She was part of the team that developed Labour Community Services and has been national representative of the Canadian Union of Public Employees.

Roberta Jamieson (2006), a member of the Or der of Canada, is CEO and president of the National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation, was formerly Indian Commissioner of Ontario and, for 10 years, Ontario Ombudsman. Born Oct. 10, 1952, she is a lifetime resident of the Six Nations of Grand River Territory where she was the first woman elected chief. She earned an LL.B. degree in 1976 from the University of Western Ontario, the first woman from a First Nation in Canada to graduate from law school.

John Meisel (2002) Tichborne, former chairman of the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission. Born in Vienna Oct. 23, 1923, he graduated from the University of Toronto in 1948, earned an MA and PhD from the London School of Political Science and served as head of political studies at Queen’s University, Kingston. An adviser at times to Ontario and federal governments, he served on a number of royal commissions and inquiries including biculturalism and bilingualism, national unity, the status of women and bias in newscasting.

Christiane Sadeler (2003), Waterloo, co-ordinator of the Community Safety & Crime Prevention Council for Waterloo Region. Born April 6, 1960, earned an MA in psychology from Wilfrid Laurier University and BA in psychology and sociology from University of Auckland. Co-ordinator of family violence prevention program in Woolwich Township and community program supervisor at St. Monica House before joining the crime prevention council.

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERS

Paul Berton (2005), editor-in-chief of the London Free Press. Born in Toronto in 1958, he earned a BA from the University of Western Ontario in 1980 and a journalism degree from Carleton University, Ottawa, in 1981. Between 1980 and 1987 he worked as a reporter/copy editor at the Richmond Hill Liberal and Kitchener-Waterloo Record, was a reporter for the Toronto Star and the Free Press and freelance writer for Maclean’s and Toronto Life. He rejoined the Free Press in 1987 and moved up from reporter to copy editor/columnist, city editor and assistant managing editor before becoming editor-in-chief in 2001.

Joanne Burghardt (2004), Oshawa, editor-in-chief of 10 community newspapers in the Durham/Northumberland Division of Metroland Printing, Publishing and Distributing. Born in Oshawa March 29, 1961, she worked as a reporter, community editor, city editor, news editor and managing editor in Metroland’s Durham Division before becoming editorial director. She is founding editor of Peterborough This Week, Northumberland News, Clarington This Week and Port Perry This Week

Mike Burke-Gaffney (2007), managing editor of the Toronto Sun. Born in Winnipeg in 1949, he spent two years as information officer for Public Works Canada, worked for the Inverell Times in Australia, the Canadian NATO forces in West Germany ands the Catholic Register before joining the Sun in 1980. He was news editor, assistant managing editor, Sunday editor and associate managing editor before being appointed managing editor in February 2007.

David Estok (2007), editor-in-chief of the Hamilton Spectator. Born in Hamilton March 6, 1956, he earned a master’s degree in journalism from Carleton University and an Honours BA in English and history from the University of Western Ontario. A former associate vice-president of communications and public affairs at Western, he was associate business editor for Maclean’s magazine, and worked as a reporter and editor at several publications including The Financial Post and the Spectator.

Drew Gragg (2006), deputy editor of the Ottawa Citizen. Born Nov. 21, 1954, in Windsor, he studied photography at Sheridan College, Oakville, worked at the Woodstock-Ingersoll Daily Sentinel-Review before moving to Ottawa as a freelance photographer; joined the Citizen in 1981 first as staff photographer then director of photography business editor and executive editor before becoming deputy editor in the fall of 2005.

Rick Laiken (2003), editor responsible for layout at the Toronto Star. Born in Kitchener July 17, 1953, he earned an honours BA in journalism in 1976 from the University of Western Ontario where he was co-editor of The Gazette. He joined the Ottawa Citizen in1977 as a general assignment reporter and served as education reporter, assistant city editor and night city editor and city editor.

Darren Murphy (2006), group publisher of Osprey’s Northumberland newspaper group --dailies in Port Hope and Cobourg and the weekly Colborne Chronicle. Born in Barrie April 25, 1975, he earned a BA at Trent University, Peterborough, obtained a diploma in advertising media sales from Humber College, was account manager for the Peterborough Examiner and CanWest Media Sales, Toronto, later director of advertising at the Examiner before becoming a group publisher in 2004.

Daryl C. Smith (2006), publisher of the Sarnia Observer, Wallaceburg News and Petrolia Topic. Born in Simcoe Oct. 3, 1955, he obtained a BA from the University of Western Ontario and an MBA from Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo. Before becoming a publisher in 1993, he was production supervisor at George White Farm Equipment, London, and held various production and marketing positions with Hartz Canada, St. Thomas, Club House Foods, London, and Best Foods Canada, Etobicoke.

Paul Taylor (2000) health editor of The Globe and Mail since 1998. Born in Toronto Feb. 23, 1955, he studied political science and economics at the University of Toronto, earning a BA in 1977. He received a BAA in journalism at Ryerson Polytechnical Institute in 1979. After a brief stint at The Financial Post, he joined The Globe and Mail as a business reporter and held a variety of reporting jobs including city hall bureau chief and medical reporter.

STANDING COMMITTEES

Executive Committee (also serves as Finance and Nominating Committees): Robert G. Elgie, Council Chair; Tim Armstrong, Vice-Chair; Jane Collins, Christiane Sadeler, Daryl Smith, Paul Taylor.

Inquiry Committee: Appointed on an ad hoc basis.

EXECUTIVE SECRETARY

Mel Sufrin, born Toronto March 24, 1925, joined The Canadian Press as messenger 1941 and, after service in RCAF, served in CP bureaus in Halifax, Winnipeg, Edmonton, Vancouver, Toronto, Windsor, New York and Ottawa. From 1956 at Toronto head office as, successively, general day news editor, newsfeatures editor, chief of picture service, general sports editor and general news editor before becoming vice-president editorial in 1982. Took early retirement 1986. Joined Press Council 1987.

FORMER COUNCIL MEMBERS
(terms bracketed)

Chairs

Davidson Dunton (1972-81) Ottawa, died 1987.
J. Allyn Taylor (1982-89) London, died 2006
Hon. Willard Z. Estey (1990-97) Toronto, died 2002
Doris Anderson (1998-2005) Toronto, died 2007

Public Members

Hon. Lincoln Alexander, Hamilton (1996-2003)
Doris Anderson (1978-84) Toronto
Marianne Barrie (1972-8) St. Thomas
Lita-Rose Betcherman (1972-77) Toronto
David Black (1972-80) Wendover
Raye-Anne Briscoe (1990-97) Renfrew County
William Broadhurst (1993-2000) Toronto
Rt. Rev. Arthur Brown (1987) Toronto
George Connell (1996-2002) Toronto
Harvey Davis (1972-79) Dobbinton, died 1979
Julie Davis (1993-2000) Toronto
William A. Dimma (1987-92) Toronto
Elizabeth Dreger (1972-79) Breslau, died 1979
Susan Eng (1985-86) Toronto
Elvine Gignac-Pharand (1988-95) Sudbury
J. Peter Gordon (1987-94) Mississauga
Naomi Griffiths (1988-95) Ottawa
Susan Hare (1997-2004) West Bay First Nation
William Harris (1977-78) Toronto
Grace Hartman (1985-92) Toronto, died 1993
Wilson Head (1985-93) Toronto, died 1993
Barbara Hill (1994-2001) Kingston
Gordon Hill (1980-87) Varna
Jennifer Hosten-Craig (1981-84) Osgoode
Bishop Colin Johnson, Toronto (1996-2003)
Rev. Dr. G. Dean Johnston (1972-78) Brantford, died 1978
Mary O'Connor Kaiser (1988) Kingston
Goyce Kakegamic (1987) Dryden
Valerie Kasurak (1979-85) Windsor
William Kelly (1990-93) Nepean
Lorraine Lapointe (1998-99) Martintown
Barbara Livesey (1996) Toronto, died 2000
Donald C. MacDonald (1983-84) Toronto
Peter Mason (1979-86) St. Agatha
Rev. Brad Massman (1979-86) Toronto
Archdeacon Peter B. Moore (1988-95) Guelph
Mary Munro (1982-89) Burlington
Dorothy Nixon (1979-85) St. George
Edward G. Pleva (1982-89) London
Lou Sage(1995-2002 Thornbury
Homer Seguin (1972-84) Sudbury
J. Herbert Smith (1972-78) Toronto
Anthony Soda (1972-77) Windsor
Grace Stalker (1985-87) Bath
Ronald Tipler (1972-80) Townsend
Hon. Robert Welch (1995-2000) Niagara-on-the-Lake, died 2000
Carl Williams (1990-94) London, died 1994
Richard Yao (1994) Toronto

Professional Members

Elizabeth Rice Aben (1994-95) Huntsville Forester
Caroline Andrews (2004-05) Transcontinental Weeklies, Ottawa
Bruce Annan (1989-90) Newmarket-Aurora Era-Banner
Susan Holly Armstrong (1994-2001) Ottawa Citizen
Rob Austin (1992-96) Hamilton Spectator
K. A. Baird (1977-84) Kitchener-Waterloo Record
Jean Baker-Pearce (1978-83) Alliston Herald
Brian Bannon (1980-84) Windsor Star
Dave Beattie (2001-2004) Niagara Falls Review
Alex Beer (1982-83) Hamilton Spectator, Owen Sound Sun Times
Martha Blackburn (1991-92) London Free Press, died 1992
Christie Blatchford (1985-92) Toronto Sun, National Post
Richard Brennan (1994-99) Windsor Star, Kitchener-Waterloo Record, Toronto Star
A. John Briglia (1979-86) London Free Press
Colin Bruce (1993-94) Orillia Packet and Times, Thunder Bay Chronicle-Journal
Les Buhasz (1987-91) Globe and Mail
Gordon Bullock (1972-76) Hamilton Spectator
Kevin Cavanagh (1997-2004) Hamilton Spectator
Alan Christie (2000-03) Toronto Star
Ian Carman (1987) Globe and Mail
Lou Clancy (1989-90) Toronto Star, Toronto Sun
Pamela Claridge (1986-87) Orangeville Citizen
Thomas M. Claridge (2000-01) Shelburne Free Press & Economist
Thomas D. Curzon (1980-82) Toronto Star, CBC
Morris Dalla Costa (2001-05) London Free Press
Luisa D’Amato (2000-05) The Record, Kitchener-Waterloo
Janet Davison (2006) St. Catharines Standard
Frances Denney (1972-77) Kitchener-Waterloo Record
J. G. Doherty (1989-90) Owen Sound Sun Times, Kingston Whig-Standard, Hamilton Spectator
Alastair Dow (1972-77) Toronto Star
Alison Downie (2005-06) Toronto Sun
R. Lorne Eedy (1996-97) St. Marys Journal Argus
Flor-Anne Faulkner (1986-93) Thunder Bay Chronicle-Journal
Charles G. Fenn (1972-77) London Free Press
Orland French (1976-78) Ottawa Citizen, Globe and Mail
Earle B. Gill (1992-2000) Globe and Mail
Susan Glasgow (1984-85) Barrie Examiner
Gary Hall (1977-79) Hamilton Spectator
Kate Harries (1987) Barrie Banner-Advance, Toronto Star
William C. Heine (1972-78) London Free Press, died 1991
Bert Hill (1979-80) Ottawa Citizen
Beland H. Honderich (1972-76) Toronto Star, died 2006
Robert Hull (1972-78) Owen Sound Sun Times, North Bay Nugget
Heather D. Junke (1985-91) St. Catharines Standard
David Kendall (1993-96) Toronto Sun
Walter Kleer (1988-89) Port Colborne News
J. Peter Kohl (1985-86) Guelph Mercury
Rick Laiken (1981-86) Ottawa Citizen
Brenda Larson (1996-2003) Newmarket-Aurora Era-Banner
Susan MacArthur (1978-81) Hamilton Spectator
Tom McCarthy (1991-92) Brabant Newspapers
Phil McLeod 1999-2000) Brockville Recorder and Times
Gerry McNaughton (1980-83) Owen Sound Sun Times, Brantford Expositor, died 1986
John Miller (1982-86) Toronto Star, Ryerson Polytechnical University
Doug Millroy (1978-85) Sault Ste. Marie Star
Russell Mills (1987-88) Ottawa Citizen
Carl Morgan (1988-92) Windsor Star
Jane Muller (1992-95) Milton Canadian Champion
Ken Nugent (2002-03) Brampton Guardian
Tom Nunn (1992-1998) Kitchener-Waterloo Record
Amber Ogilvie (2005-06) Stratford Beacon Herald
Peter O’Leary (2002-05) Ottawa Citizen
Patricia Pappas (1998-99) Markham Economist and Sun
C. Stuart Paterson (1984-91) Brockville Recorder and Times
Michael Pearce (1997-98) Brantford Expositor
R.M. Pearson (1976-79) Windsor Star
Richard Powers (1972-78) Brantford Expositor, Brockville Recorder and Times
Neil Reynolds (1986-91) Kingston Whig-Standard, Saint John Telegraph-Journal and Times-Globe, Ottawa Citizen
Stephen Rhodes (1995-96) Guelph Mercury
Dana Robbins (2005-06) Hamilton Spectator
Gillian Sadinsky (1992-94) Kingston Whig-Standard
Mary Deanne Shears (1996-99) Toronto Star
Haroon Siddiqui (1991-95) Toronto Star
R. W. Southam (1972-75) Ottawa Citizen
Borden Spears (1977-80) Toronto Star, died 1983
Richard Spicer (1972-75) Windsor Star
Ken Strachan (1979-84) Brantford Expositor
Mike Strobel (1997-2001) Toronto Sun
Kelley Teahen (1999-2000) London Free Press
Mike Therien (2002-04) Toronto Sun
Ray Timson (1987-89) Toronto Star, died 2000
Ian Urquhart (1986-87) Toronto Star
Barry Wenger (1984-85) Wingham Advance-Times
Clyde Wicks (2001) St. Catharines Standard
Paul Willcocks (1993) Peterborough Examiner

Executive Secretary
Fraser MacDougall (1972-87) Ottawa, died 2000

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