Foundation directors
JANINE GRIFFORE
CHAIR
Janine is a native of Grande Point and attended secondary school in Pain Court. She had a lengthy career in education–she taught secondary school and served as Principal of Ecole secondaire de Pain Court. She went on to serve as an Education Officer with the Ministry of Education, a Superintendent with the London-Middlesex Roman Catholic Separate School Board and le Conseil scolaire catholique Providence. From 2004 t0 2012, Janine assumed the position of Director of Education of the Conseil scolaire catholique Providence. In December 2012, Janine took on the role of Assistant Deputy Minister for the French Language, Aboriginal Leaning and Research Division of the Ministry of Education.
In retirement, Janine completed a review of the National Standards Curriculum for the Government of Jamaica and has worked with a variety of educational partners in the area of French-language education and First Nations, Metis and Inuit student achievement. She is currently the Chair of the Tripartite Committee working with pan-Canadian education and community partners to implement the Federal Strategic Plan for French-language Education.
Irene Moore
past chair
Dr. Moore graduated from the Ontario Veterinary College in 1986 and was in a mixed practice for 8 years. Since 1994, she has been an instructor and an administrator at the University of Guelph, Ridgetown Campus. As well as being a noted speaker at conferences in Canada and the US, she has contributed to several publications. Irene has served as President of several veterinary related organizations and is currently Chair of the Veterinary Technical National Examination Committee, which is the credentialing examination for veterinary technicians in North America. Irene has received several awards, the most recent of which was the Outstanding Veterinary Award which she received in January, 2017.
Irene joined the Foundation in 2016 and serves on several committees. She joined the Foundation because she appreciates, “the positive impact of the grants on various charitable groups in the community.”
KATHRYN BIONDI
vice chair
Kathryn is a long-time resident of Chatham-Kent and has raised her family here. Retired after almost 40 years with the Ontario Public Service, she held various executive positions, including Director of Centralia and Ridgetown Colleges, Director of Agri-food Continuing Education at the University of Guelph, Director of Ontario Correctional Services College, and lastly, Director of Management and Operational Support, Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services.
She has volunteered on local boards, including Chatham-Kent Health Alliance, Erie St. Clair CCAC, Association of CCACs, CK Women United, Chatham-Kent Police Services Board and Chatham-Kent Community Strategic Planning Committee. Most recently, she was on the Council of Ontario College of Optometrists, where she chaired their Governance Committee.
Kathryn holds a Bachelor’s Degree in home economics and a Master’s in Education and is a graduate of Queen’s University Executive Leadership Programme. She is a professional agrologist and has much experience in rural community development.
russ weir
treasurer
Russ is a resident of Pain Court. He graduated from the University of Waterloo with a Bachelor of Mathematics. He is a CPA, CA. Currently Russ is the President of Weir Mediation Services helping families and businesses in Southern Ontario. He retired from BDO Canada LLP after 41 years of service. During that time, he was in charge of various offices and was the COO for 6 years. Russ has vast experience on Not-for-Profit Boards.
Currently Russ is the Treasurer of the Chatham Kent Community foundation and the Chatham Kent Health Alliance
Chris Pegg
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Chris was born and raised in Chatham-Kent in the Rondeau-Blenheim area, and lives in Blenheim with his wife and two sons. He holds a BA in English Language and Literature from the University of Western Ontario. Chris has been with the Foundation since 2019, and he has enjoyed the challenges of the Executive Director position, and working with everyone involved in making a positive contribution to the Chatham-Kent community.
Barbara Baker
Barbara is a lifelong resident of Chatham-Kent and has raised her family here. A graduate of the University of Windsor, Barbara was inspired to pursue a career in Pharmaceutical Sales.
An employee of Pfizer Canada for 24 years, Barbara is currently a “Health and Science Representative” responsible for commercial brand promotion in the Ontario West territory
Previous volunteer experience includes membership on the Heart and Stroke and Chatham-Kent Health Alliance Foundation Boards.
Barbara holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree as well as other Pharmaceutical Industry Certifications.
Dave Harwood
Raised in Nova Scotia, Dave attended the Dalhousie University studying Biology. Upon completing his undergraduate degree, he attended the University of Guelph studying plant breeding completing an MSc., specializing in corn genetic improvement. Since that time, he has served in various plant breeding and business roles in the seed industry. He currently is the Technical Services Manager with Corteva Agriscience where he has worked since 1968.
Dave began his career in the seed industry in 1984 working in the Chatham area. Since then he has also been based near Guelph and in Des Moines, IA. For the bulk of his career, however, Chatham has been his base.
Throughout his career Dave has been involved in industry trade associations serving in various capacities including: with the Canadian Seed Trade Association as committee chairs and board member, Canadian Plant Technology Agency as board member, and Canadian Biofuels Network as board member.
Patricia Mcfarlane
Patricia was born in Chatham and has lived most of her life in Chatham-Kent. She is retired from a public service career of 35 years in workforce development and post secondary education. She retired from the position of Principal, Thames Campus, St. Clair College of Applied Arts and Technology, having held senior positions in student services, academic leadership, and college administration, including Chair, Associate Dean, and Dean of Academic Quality.
A lifelong learner, Patricia has engaged in many continuous learning initiatives at Laval University, the University of Windsor and numerous international, federal provincial and local training and education activities. She holds a Bachelor of Arts, from Western University and a Master of Arts with concentration in post-secondary administration from Central Michigan University.
Her community service has included participation and leadership in a wide range of provincial, municipal and charitable committees and organizations serving community interests in business, industry, health, and education, often with a focus on youth and marginalized communities. She is a Rotary Paul Harris Fellow.
Nancy Snobelen
Nancy Snobelen is a native of Orford Township and currently lives on a farm in Harwich with her husband, Dan. Nancy holds a Doctor of Health Administration (2016) from Central Michigan, Mt. Pleasant, Michigan, a Master of Business Administration (2000) from University of Windsor and a Bachelor of Science in Communication Disorders (1981) from Western University. She has several years of experience in the Ontario healthcare system. Nancy was formerly Special Advisor to the Restorative Care Programme, Hotel Dieu Grace Healthcare in Windsor, and Director of Regional Partnerships and System Integration and Director of Rehabilitation and Complex Continuing Care Programmes at Chatham-Kent Health Alliance.
She received the Chatham-Kent Chamber of Commerce-Business Professional Award (2009) and the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance President’s Award for Excellence (2009) and Central Michigan University Outstanding Dissertation Award (2016).
Nancy’s community work has involved being a front-line volunteer with the Brain Injury Association of Chatham-Kent and a former Director on the local Heart and Stroke Foundation Board, St. Andrew’s Residence Board and the Board of Chatham-Kent Hospice (Chair Finance committee).
She loves having fun with her large extended and growing family.
Jonathan sinopoli
Jonathan Sinopoli is a solicitor with the Legal Services department at the Municipality of Chatham-Kent. A native of King City, Ontario, Jonathan completed his education at York University and the University of Windsor. Prior to joining the Municipality, Jonathan spent the first six years of his career serving the Chatham-Kent and Leamington area as a general practice lawyer. Jonathan joined the Foundation in 2024 and looks forward to becoming further involved in the CK community.
Stephen Denys
Stephen was raised on a grain and vegetable crop farm in Raleigh Township and continues to operate the family farm based in Chatham Township today. Stephen earned his Bachelor of Science at the University of Guelph and his Masters of Business Administration at the University of Windsor. He has spent his career working in agriculture, initially in crop protection and consulting and for the last 20 plus years as a leader in the seed industry. He currently is Director of Market and Product Development with Maizex Seeds. He is a Past President and Board member of the Canadian Seed Trade Association and has served on several national seed committees as well as government consultative committees. He has also been involved as a board member or chair for several provincial and district agricultural groups. For his efforts he was inducted into the Kent Agriculture Hall of Fame in 2024.
Outside of agriculture, Stephen coached travel basketball for the Chatham Wildcats in addition to coaching local baseball and soccer teams. He also chaired the final phases of the restoration at St. Joseph’s Church Chatham and was involved with other parish committees related to buildings, finance and youth ministries.
Libby Passmore
Libby Passmore is a Rondeau Bay native.
After graduating from Queen’s University, School of Business, she worked with Sheraton Hotels in Toronto and New York City and, later, for the U.S. Tea Association, the trade association for the tea industry.
Upon returning to Canada, and Chatham-Kent, she worked for Union Gas (now Enbridge) in areas such as gas supply procurement and managing large commercial/industrial accounts including the power generation sector. During this time, she attended and graduated from the Duke University Executive Leadership program in Durham, North Carolina.
She has volunteered on Board of Directors within Chatham-Kent including the Women’s Centre and Women United and continues to give back to the community by planting and maintaining public gardens in the Rondeau area.
Libby has joined the Foundation to support the valuable work that community groups do across Chatham-Kent.
2025 Directors
Barbara Baker
Kathryn Biondi, Vice Chair
Stephen Denys
Dave Harwood
Janine Griffore, Chair
Patricia McFarlane
Irene Moore, Past Chair
Libby Passmore
Jonathan Sinopoli
Nancy Snobelen
Russ Weir–Treasurer
Administration
Chris Pegg, Executive Director
Founding Director
John Bradley
Directors at Large
Dave Baute
Dean Bradley
Cindy Brewer
Janette Carroll
Carlo Corsini
Rosa Corsini
Josette deBrouwer
Scott Geddes
Francis Glenn
Ruth Hook
Peter Jamieson
Paul Mayrand
Diane McGuigan
Rob McKinlay
Rick North
Jann Parry-Wickett
Shannon Prince
Kristen Stevens
Bill Weaver
Jim Wickett
Neil Wood
