Gisele worked in social services for over 30 years within the Simcoe County and Toronto regions. She attended the University of Waterloo and completed a BA in Social Development Studies; She also completed her Masters of Education through Nipissing University.

She worked at Catulpa Community Support Services as a children’s case coordinator and manager of children services for 15 years. During her time there she had an opportunity to network and partner with Simcoe County agencies to create programs and services for children, youth and families. Presently, she is the Director of Complex Special Needs Programs at Lumenus Community Services in Toronto.

She has been a Board member of Simcoe Muskoka Family Connexions for 2.5 years and currently serve as Vice Chair.

Steve was a Paramedic with Muskoka Ambulance Service for 35 years and a Bracebridge and District of Muskoka councillor for 16 years. He also was with Family Youth Child Services of Muskoka for 3 years and with Simcoe Muskoka Child Youth and Family Services for 10 years.

He currently volunteers on a variety of community committees.

Alison joined the Simcoe Muskoka Family Connexions Board of Directors in 2022.

She was previously the President of the Board of Directors of McMurrich Sprouts Daycare in Toronto, supporting the daycare’s management team during the COVID-19 pandemic and shutdowns.

Alison has over fifteen years of progressive experience in various government roles, including those in policy development, data and analytics, strategic planning, labour relations, criminal justice and policing, and stakeholder relations. As a lifelong learner, she is currently pursuing her second Masters Degree in Social Work through Wilfrid Laurier University, while continuing to work in policy development and raise her young family. Inspired by her late mother, who was a celebrated teacher for the Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board, she has a vested interest in the well-being of vulnerable children in Simcoe-Muskoka, and is proud to be a member of the Board of Directors.

Hans appreciates the service that SMFC brings to the wellbeing and success of our shared community here in Simcoe Muskoka. It is the goodness of services like these that shape strong and healthy communities. He desires to see all children prosper and find meaning in their souls, families and communities.

As a husband, father, grandfather and engineer, he brings wisdom, experience, and skills to the SMFC Board.

Hans has served dozens of Ontario municipalities and several developing countries with leadership, performance management, organizational and operational capacity building. He was corporate administrator of a multinational federation of community development organizations focused on education health and welfare.

Gwen Lindsay is known as a woman who loves children. Her life’s experiences have included teaching music in a private school, privately teaching piano to all ages, being a Specialized Treatment Foster Parent in 3 OPR’s for 40 years. Her husband and her have been Pastors for several years caring for people of all ages with a special heart for the wounded. It was in the year 2000 that she learned that she was Metis, even though she lived the life in Northern Quebec.

Today, she is Senator of the Georgian Bay Metis Council, and for the last few years was Senator in the Project Advisory Group, for the Metis Nation of Ontario as we move forward in our own MNO Alternative Care program. She is pleased to represent the Metis community, and to be a member of the Board of Directors for Simcoe Muskoka Family Connexions.

Lynda is currently in the role as an Indigenous Early Intervention Services Coordinator where she supports and advocates for Early Intervention supports, and creates frameworks that are family centered and assists children in reaching developmental milestones while gaining access to meaningful services. She currently supports First Nations and Urban Indigenous communities throughout the County of Simcoe.

Prior to moving into this role, she worked within Indigenous organizations as well as mainstream organizations for the last 9 years and continues to work in the field of Early Intervention. She worked with Clh Developmental Support Services as a Resource Consultant, and as a Resource Consultant Supervisor. She worked for an Indigenous organization as a Cultural Preschool Program Coordinator. Spending time with the children and working with families within the Community has always been positive and fulfilling. However, there came a time when she wanted to provide extended supports to Indigenous families who were navigating the Early Intervention system and to support families and fellow service providers when addressing barriers.

In addition to having achieved her Early Childhood Education Diploma and registry with the College of Early Childhood Educators, she also attended the University of Guelph-Humber and completed her B.A. of Applied Science honours program in Early Childhood Studies. In September 2024, she will begin her graduate studies working towards a Master of Education in Early Childhood Studies.