Back row: Peter Peeters, Mike Douglas, Margaret Walton, Collette Aeschlimann, Megan Mills, Melanie Williams, Krista Kapitan.
Front row: Mark Reusser, Bethanee Jensen.
(Absent from photo: Judy Coward, Matt Colley, Sara Epp, Marsha Paley.)
If you are interested in joining our Board of Directors, please contact us.
Margaret Walton
Chair
Margaret is a partner in PLANSCAPE, a planning firm that specializes in planning for rural and recreational lands and small communities. Margaret is considered a leading expert in agricultural planning, with over 30 years of practice in developing planning policies to support the agricultural sector, specifically in areas subject to urban growth pressures. Margaret has worked for all of the Regions, and a number of municipalities, in the GGH developing policies to sustain their agricultural communities. She is a proponent of a comprehensive systems-based approach to planning for agriculture that recognizes the need for flexibility and economic success for the sector to flourish. She is a member of the Canadian Institute of Planners (CIP) and Ontario Professional Planners Institute (OPPI).
Peter Peeters
Vice Chair
Peter owns and operates his family beef farm in Omemee. His cattle, Pinzgauers, are a novelty in the area with their distinctive markings and docile nature. Peter is also a Board Director of the Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario, and serves on the Victoria Soil and Crop Improvement Association, Victoria Beef Producers, and Peterborough ALUS.
Megan Mills
Secretary, Chair of the Land Securement & Stewardship Committee
With a background in ecology and as a member of the Law Society of Ontario, Megan has practiced law with a focus on property and boundary issues and has also worked as a policy advisory to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. She joined the OFT board in 2017 and has enjoyed working on a range of projects from land stewardship to governance. Currently, Megan is based out of Guelph Ontario where she works as a legal researcher and writer and is an avid hiker and gardener.
Bethanee Jensen
Treasurer, Chair of the Finance Committee
Bethanee is an accountant and a semi-retired sheep farmer near Brussels. She grew up in a farming family and always knew she wanted to be a farmer. She is a breeder of purebred Dorsets, sells freezer lamb, sheep skins and wool blankets, and also raises egg and meat hens. She is also on the board of the Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario and the Huron District Christian Farmers Association.
Sara Epp
Director
Sara is the Assistant Professor in Rural Planning & Development at the University of Guelph and a long-time supporter of OFT. Sara has a PhD in Rural Studies focused in Land Use Planning from the University of Guelph. Skilled in Rural Development, Sustainability, Data Analysis, Agriculture, and Research, she brings a wealth of knowledge to the board. Sara has participated in past Farmland Forums as a panelist, as well as an emcee and facilitator.
Judy Coward
Director
Judy has an extensive background in policy and economic development. Having recently retired, Judy had a successful career as the Agriculture and Rural Economic Development Advisor for OMAFRA in the Peterborough area. Combining her experiences growing up on a farm in Lindsay Ontario, with her vast knowledge of municipal planning, zoning policies, rural economic development, and her experiences working with municipalities, the province, various agricultural and horticultural societies, rural businesses and farming communities, Judy has an astute way of seeing all sides on the topic of farmland protection.
Matthew Colley
Director, Chair of the Policy and Education Committee
Matthew is a Development Planner with the Region of Waterloo. His passions are focused on community planning while ensuring the long-term protection of our agricultural resources. Matthew has been volunteering with OFT in varying capacities over the past several years.
Collette Aeschlimann
Director
Collette and her family immigrated to Canada to pursue dairy farming, so agriculture has been a fortunate constant in her life. She feels that naturally, those limbs branch out to growing an appreciation for nature and conservation. She is an avid hiker and enjoys the outdoors. Somedays, if the weather permits, Collette enjoys the smells and winds of the countryside on two wheels. When she’s done having fun, she enjoys working as a realtor, and living in a City deeply rooted with a conservation mentality.
Mike Douglas
Director
Mike manages a small farm in Ramara Township, Simcoe County and is actively involved with many environmentally minded groups and organizations. He has experience in the nuclear industry as a shift control technician with Ontario Power Generation, teaching and training adults with Georgian College, geophysical survey work in remote locations with MPH Consulting, chemical industry with Domtar Chemicals and alloy steel industry with Kubota Metal Corp, formerly Fahramet in Orillia.
Mark Reusser
Director
Mark is a farmer in Wilmot Township in Waterloo Region where he grows turkey, grains and hay. He is currently the Vice-President of the Waterloo Federation of Agriculture, and a Director with the Ontario Federation of Agriculture. Mark is passionate about how good urban and rural planning can help preserve both farmland and the natural landscape. In his spare time, Mark tends a large garden where he grows heritage tomatoes, watermelon and other assorted vegetables and also finds time to collect glass and porcelain insulators.
Melanie Williams
Director
Melanie is a professional planner with experience in land use planning, policy and program development for Agricultural and Natural Heritage Systems. In her professional role, Melanie supports agricultural advisory groups in achieving their agricultural action plans and in their delivery of agri-environmental stewardship programs. Melanie is a graduate of the Advanced Agricultural Leadership Program and also a volunteer with her local Community Kitchen and 4-H Association.
Krista Kapitan
Director
Krista is passionate about rural and agricultural economic development and sustainability. As a Consultant with Wilton Consulting Group, she enjoys working with a range of municipal, provincial, and national clients to provide research, insights and strategic planning services to support the growth of the agriculture sector and rural communities. Krista holds her master’s degree in Economic Development and Innovation from the University of Waterloo, as well as a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science with a major in economics and policy from the University of Guelph.
Marsha Paley
Director
Marsha is a Principal Planner at Peel Region with knowledge of agriculture, aggregates, economic development, natural heritage and water resources. She grew up valuing the soil rather than the dirt, getting up with the birds, a solid day’s work, helping your neighbours and doing a job you believe in. Her career started with Environment Canada, conservation authorities, then moved into municipal planning and senior management positions in central and south-western Ontario and now back into land use planning. Marsha is certified as a Municipal Officer, a Personal Property Appraiser, and a Registered Professional Planner. She has an Honours Bachelor of Science in Geography, an Honours Bachelor of Science in Agriculture-Resource Management, a Masters in Environmental Studies-Resource Management, and a Masters in Public Administration, as well as certificates in business, entrepreneurship and water engineering. She has been a long-term volunteer for a number of non-profit organizations and municipal committees in education and professional development, environmental stewardship, heritage preservation, governance, legislation, policy, soil and water conservation and policy. Marsha remains a long-term mentor in planning and municipal work.