Janice Stem

President

Jan has been a friend of Community Living Newmarket /Aurora District for over 20 years. She has been an active volunteer and is involved with the Quality Assurance Committee.  Jan is currently an enthusiastic member of The People Ensuring Quality Group supporting self advocates to identify and achieve their own goals and to be responsive to their concerns .  Jan enjoys all aspects of music and is the accompanist for The Voices Of Joy Community Choir, a choir for people of all abilities. She is a business partner with Dynamic Greens Wheatgrass and has 4 adult children and 7 grandchildren.

Darryl Wolk

1st Vice President

Darryl Wolk has lived in Newmarket for 26 years.  He holds an MBA from the University of Windsor and currently works in government relations.  In the past he has worked in New Business Development for a leading software company and did his MBA internship at World Wrestling Entertainment Canada. Darryl is active in the community and is a past President with the Newmarket Rotary Club.  He also enjoys supporting community events and organizations where time permits. Darryl is passionate about Community Living because of the terrific experience his uncle has had with Community Living in Windsor.  Darryl’s mother Lynn also works with special needs students at Cardinal Carter High School in Aurora and serves on the Special Olympics committee.  Darryl is active in politics at all levels of government and has experience dealing with the media and social media.  He hopes to use his experience, skills and passion to assist Community Living Newmarket /Aurora District as a member of the Board of Directors and Executive Committee.

Elaine Adam

2nd Vice President 

Elaine Adam has been involved as a volunteer with Community Living Newmarket / Aurora District for the past six years. She has lived in Newmarket since 1982 and retired from teaching in 2007, having been involved in Guidance and Special Education. She and her husband Fred have two sons, Thom and  Andrew. She enjoys palling around with her friend Jess, from Community Living Newmarket / Aurora District.

Rod Allen

Comptroller

Rod Allen works in the private sector as VP Finance where he is focused on addressing all strategic, operational, and organizational aspects of the company to drive superior performance throughout the corporation.  He has been actively involved with other volunteer organizations and at the board level with the Therapeutic Riding Association for Challenged Kids.  Rod has an MBA from IVEY and CMA designation and has lived in Newmarket since 1985. 

Brett Barager

Past President

Brett Barager MSW, RSW, entered the social field 20 years ago with a Community Living association in Bracebridge. In 1988 he moved to York Region and has been active in Children's Mental Health since then. In 2001, Brett returned to his roots by joining the Community Living Newmarket/Aurora District's Board of Directors. Brett has been actively involved with Quality Assurance as well as offering some in-house presentations to the Management Team as well as the Board. Brett currently has his Master of Social Work Degree and is a Registered Social Worker.

John J. Dowson

Director

Mr. Dowson is the Executive Director and founder of LifeTRUST Planning, an organization that specializes in Life Planning for parents of people who have a disability since 1989. He is a long standing member of Community Living Newmarket/ Aurora District. He chairs the Community Development and Fund Raising committee.  He is the author of “Lifetime Security Planning Kit” a practical planning guide on preparing a future life plan for a person with a disability, and “Just Imagine” the Four Essentials necessary in preparing a future life plan. Mr. Dowson has spoken on Life Planning issues to over 300 associations in Canada and a keynote speaker at provincial and national conferences for families of people with a disability.  His insights on Life Planning for people with a disability have been featured in major Canadian newspapers and publications.

Gerry Hedican

Director

Gerry Hedican has been a close friend of many members of the Association for the past 15 years. He has served as a volunteer on a committee and as an advocate and   support person for various members. He has been a member of the Voices of Joy Choir since its beginning in 1998.  Married and father of 2 daughters, he has been a resident of Newmarket for over 30 years. His varied career includes 20 years as a teacher and over 20 years in an executive capacity on the boards of several mining companies.

Andrea Sager

Director

Andrea was born in Calgary, Alberta and moved to Ontario with her family in 1987.  She lived in the country near Schomberg before relocating to Newmarket. Andrea received residential supports through Community Living in 2001 and now lives with a roommate, only receiving occasional supports.

Andrea is an active member of Community Living Newmarket/Aurora District.  During her days you can often find her answering phones and keeping people organized at the Destinations building.  In her spare time she is actively involved with the People Ensuring Quality group and at one time served as their president.  Andrea believes that being an advocate for herself and others is important and she is now able to bring her experience and expertise to her new role as a member of the Community Living Board of Directors.  Andrea’s hobbies and pastimes include singing with the Voices of Joy choir, spending time with friends and collecting postcards.

Janet Lorimer

Executive Director

Janet joined Community Living Newmarket/Aurora District in April 2009 in the newly created Deputy Executive Director position, and later assumed the position of Executive Director. Janet comes from Mississauga where she lives with her husband and a son and daughter. Prior to joining Community Living Newmarket/Aurora District, Janet was with another Community Living organization for 30 years where she held a variety of positions.