Meet the Board

Peter Deane is a retired health services planning executive and health services planning consultant, with expertise in the areas of health service integration, needs assessment, and program development.  Mr. Deane holds a Bachelor of Arts (Economics) from the University of Western Ontario as well as a Masters in Health Service Administration (Master of Public Health), University of Michigan.

Throughout his career, Mr. Deane was the lead consultant for Deane Consulting, focusing on health service planning and facilitation.  Prior to that he was the Executive Director of three different District Health Councils in Ontario and also held the position of Executive Assistant to the Treasurer of Ontario.

He has extensive board governance-related experience including a position with the Premier's Council on Health with the Ontario Government, the Needs Impact Based Planning Committee with the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care and the United Way Board.  

After joining the MAHC Board of Directors in 2017 as a Community Representative, he served as a member on the Resources & Audit Committee as well as the Capital Plan Development Task Force.  He was appointed to the Board of Directors in June 2018 and was elected Vice-Chair in 2019 as well as Chair of the Quality & Patient Safety Committee.

Mr. Deane and his wife Mary Ellen have lived in Muskoka for over 25 years where they raised three sons who have moved on to professional careers, two in the health field. Mary Ellen is a retired Public Health Dietitian. In his free time, he enjoys woodworking, woodcarving, and boat building.

Brenda Gefucia is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CGA) and an accredited Executive Coach (CEC).  Ms. Gefucia spent 30 years of her professional career with Canadian Tire Corporation, retiring in 2010 as a financial executive.  In 2011 she became associated with Forrest & Company and began what is now her second career as a Business Consultant and Executive Coach.

Since joining the MAHC Board of Directors in June of 2014, Ms. Gefucia has served as Treasurer and Chair of the Resources & Audit Committee, as well as a member of the Strategic Planning Committee and the Master Program/Master Plan Ad Hoc Steering Committee and is currently a member of the Resources & Audit Committee.

For four years she served on the Board of Directors of Community and Home Assistance to Seniors (CHATS) in York Region as Vice Chair of the Board and on the Finance & Audit Committee, Business Development Committee and Planning Committee.

Born and raised in Bracebridge, and after spending 30 years in the GTA, Ms. Gefucia has returned to her roots and now makes her home in Bracebridge.

• Board of Directors, The Boulevard Club, multi-sports club with 3000 members 1976-1985, President 1984 and 1985 Led development of a Strategic Plan for the Club.
• Board of Directors, Royal St. Georges College, private school with 500 students 1987-1996, Chair 1994-1996. Developed long range plan; recruited new headmaster; heavily involved in the negotiation process to purchase the school property from Anglican Church.
• Board of Directors, Institute of Chartered Accountants (CPA) of Ontario 1993-1995.
• Board of Directors, South Muskoka Curling & Golf Club 2000-2004, Chair 2004. Developed a long range plan; initiated the development of a Master Plan for the golf course.
• Board of Directors, South Muskoka Hospital Foundation 2001-2007, Vice Chair 2006-2007. Was slated to be Chair but could not meet position requirements due to Florida commitments for the winter.
• Member of the Strategic Plan Review Team, South Muskoka Memorial Hospital 2001-2002.
• Board of Directors, Leonard Lake Stakeholders Association 2005-2014. Developed a Lake Plan; developed By-Laws and other key processes.
• Board of Directors, Sandpiper Village Condo Association in Florida 2009-2017, President 2015- 2017. Strengthened processes requiring Board approval; developed a plan to ensure that the reserves would be in compliance with Florida Condo Law.

Michael Walters is a self-employed Mental Health Consultant working in the Ontario Mental Health and Addictions sector. He is a highly skilled, results-oriented leader who has developed high impact and effective teams throughout his career in the social service community as well as in public sector. Michael has a steadfast commitment to the promotion of diversity, inclusion, integrity and ethical behaviour in social service and business workplaces. 

Mr. Roy Stewart earned his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Toronto in 1975, a Masters of Business Administration from York University in 1977 and a Bachelor of Laws from Dalhousie University in 1984. Mr. Stewart spent the first portion of his professional career from 1986 to 2000 in private practice with Fraser & Beatty (now Dentons LLP) with a commercial practice in their Financial Services Group, leaving as a partner. From 2000 until his retirement in 2013, he was General Counsel and Corporate Secretary with the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO), a provincial agency responsible for maintaining the reliability of the high-voltage transmission system and operating the wholesale electricity-related markets.

As Corporate Secretary with the IESO, he was intensely involved with the Board of Directors and its Standing Committees preparing for, attending and taking minutes of hundreds of meetings. He also worked closely with the Board and Committee Chairs in researching and adopting best practices appropriate for a company such as the IESO. As General Counsel, he was a member of the Senior Management Team responsible for the achievement of the IESO’s legislated mandate.

Mr. Stewart and his wife love being at their cottage in Algonquin Park and spend almost all summer there and much of the shoulder seasons. They also enjoy travelling and two winters ago spent four weeks in South Africa and Botswana, including nine days in various safari camps enjoying the wonderful wildlife experiences. To escape Canada’s cold and snow, a portion of their winters is spent in Florida.

As an avid outdoorsman, Mr. Stewart stays fit by running and biking in the summer, and running and cross-country skiing in the winter. He has been on six extended canoe trips in northern Canada paddling down the Nahanni (twice), the Snake, the lower Stikine, the Coppermine and the Mountain Rivers to experience the breathtaking scenery and make many wonderful memories.

Mr. Stewart was elected to the MAHC Board of Directors in June 2019 and is currently a member of the Governance Committee.

Mr. Dave Uffelmann graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in business administration from Laurier. He subsequently qualified as a Chartered Accountant.

Dave is currently Vice-President Sales at Krug, a manufacturer of contract furniture.

He brings extensive volunteer experience having served in board leadership roles with United Way at the local, provincial and national levels, and Community Foundations locally, nationally and as the Canadian representative to the US leadership team. He has also served on the boards of Conestoga College and Waterloo North Hydro.

Most recently, Dave sat on the board of Grand River Hospital. There he served as chair of the Resources Committee. He also participated on the Quality and Patient Safety, Audit and Executive Committees.

Dave and his wife, Kitty, have cottaged on Lake of Bays for over 30 years. At the beginning of 2018, they moved from Waterloo to make Lake of Bays their home. They have five children and two grandchildren (and counting).  One of their daughters and family lives in Bracebridge.

Kathy Newby

Kathy Newby holds an Honours B.A. from the University of Guelph and a Bachelor of Education from OTEC in Hamilton. Kathy's 37 year teaching career includes both lead teacher designation and vice-principal positions. She has specialized in networking initiatives that integrate child care, community outreach, and mental health expertise.

In Kathy's role as school administrator, she was responsible for developing and monitoring Risk Assessment including Health and Safety, Security, and Emergency Response plans. She also has a passion for supporting mental health and well-being initiatives.

Kathy and her family have been seasonal residents in Muskoka for 47 years and since retirement in 2010 reside at Lake of Bays. Kathy has varied experience on boards and committee of not-for-profit organizations, most recently the Lake of Bays Heritage Foundation board of directors. She also serves as Chair of the Outreach and Education Committee. Kathy enjoys boating, gardening, live music events, theatre and travel. She and her husband have three adult children, one a resident of Gravenhurst, one a resident of Lake of Bays, and one residing in Ottawa.

Kathy  joined the MAHC Board in 2017 and currently is the Chair of the Governance Committee as well as the Chair of the Nominations Committee.

John Sisson is a skilled municipal leader with over 30 years senior management experience with the Town of Bracebridge and the City of Barrie. John retired from the Town in June 2020 after serving as Chief Administrative Officer since June 2007. As the CAO for the Town, he was responsible for the general, financial and human resource management of the Town’s operations including planning and development; public works; engineering; culture and recreation; finance and administration; economic development; and fire services.
Sisson joined the Town after an eighteen-year career with the City of Barrie where he served in a variety of positions including Assistant Director of Personnel, Executive Assistant to the Chief Administrative Officer, Deputy City Clerk and City Clerk.

John graduated from Queen’s University with a Masters Degree in Public Administration. He received an Honours Bachelor of Arts Degree from Wilfrid Laurier University with a major in Political Science and Urban Studies. He holds the Certified Human Resource Professional (CHRP) designation from the Human Resources Professionals Association of Ontario and the Certified Municipal Officer (CMO) designation from the Association of Municipal Managers, clerks and Treasurers of Ontario.

John has also completed advanced training in not-for-profit governance essentials through the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto.

Sisson has been an active volunteer with Hospice Muskoka for over 10 years. He has been active in the United Church of Canada and was previously a volunteer with the Hospice Simcoe Capital Campaign Team. John resides in Bracebridge with his partner Robin Hiltz.

He joined MAHC as a Director in August 2020 and currently serves on the Quality & Patient Safety Committee.

Mr. Tim Ellis completed a Bachelor of Business Administration at Brock University in St. Catharines, Ontario. He subsequent achieved Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) credentials as a CMA in 2010. Tim is currently serving as the Superintendent of Business and Chief Financial Officer for the Trillium Lakelands District School Board.

A very active family of five with deep sporting roots, he and his wife Crystal are proud of their three children aged 19, 12 and 9 who are all avid lacrosse players. This commitment keeps the family busy with travel to the United States including visits to Baltimore, upstate New York, Michigan and Pennsylvania. When not shuttling children here and there, hiking, biking and paddling are things they enjoy in their down time. The family is also members of the Muskoka Paddle club.

Tim joined the Board of Directors in August of 2020 and is currently serving as a member on the Resources & Audit Committee.