Mark Reesor – President
Mark is a Detective Constable with Peterborough Police Services. He is currently working in the Criminal Investigations Unit in the Major Crime Unit. Prior to that, Mark worked in the Sex Offenses Unit. Mark is also responsible for the Elder Abuse files. Mark’s values align closely with those of Alternatives and he brings broad experiences in working with vulnerable citizens through the Police Services to our Board of Directors.
Ray Walt – Past President
In his roles as the former Head of Special Education at St. Peter’s Secondary School and as the former Volunteer Chair of the Program Advisory Committee of the Community Integration through Co-operative Education ( CICE) program at Fleming College, Ray has had extensive experience working with students with developmental and intellectual disabilities, autism spectrum disorder and brain injury. He is recently retired after 4 years as the Employment Liaison at Fleming College, with the CICE Program. With a B.A. from Trent University and a B.Ed. from Queens’s, he possesses over 31 years teaching experience. He has been actively involved with Peterborough Special Olympics for 35 years and also sits on the Board of Tri County.
Pat Peeling- Treasurer
Pat has lived in the Peterborough area for most of her life, working in retail for Eaton’s and Sears. Pat recently retired from Community Futures Peterborough after 18 years of service. Although she held many positions, the last eight years she was the Administrator of the Eastern Ontario Development Program. Pat was one of the recipients to receive the Peterborough-Kawartha Women’s Leadership Award in 2018. Pat started volunteering for Alternatives Fundraising Committee in 2018 and joined the Board in 2019.
Carrie Wakeford – Director
Carrie Wakeford has worked as a project manager, counsellor, trainer and researcher in a career spanning over 30 years. Her experience has included leadership roles where she managed a team of counsellors, facilitators and case managers. Carrie has managed her own consulting business, as well as non-profit and government funded career and training centres and a private computer training organization. Carrie has held various roles on boards and committees, including Director of Communications, Project Manager and Business Mentor with the Women’s Business Network. Carrie recently joined Alternatives Board of Directors, Fall 2020.
Anne Driscoll – Director
Anne brings over 40 years of experience in the not for profit sector supporting families and caregivers, fundraising and community outreach with organizations in the communities of Peterborough, Kawartha Lakes, Haliburton and Northumberland. Anne is an active member of the Greater Peterborough Chamber of Commerce, Peterborough’s Women’s Business Network, Peterborough Area Fundraisers Network and Ennismore Horticultural Society. Volunteer experience includes Coordinator of Ennismore Community Food Hamper, Victim Crisis and Referral Service, Special Olympics, Canadian Cancer Society – Relay for Life and Peer to Peer Support, Heart and Stroke Foundation, Easter Seals Festival of Trees, Victim Services Board of Directors Peterborough and Northumberland. Anne recently joined Alternatives Board of Directors, Fall 2020.
Todd Shearer – Director
Todd has 30 years of experience in the areas of marketing, finance, communications and public relations. Todd runs his family business of 40 year, National Sanitation. Through his business it has given him the opportunity to meet many community/business members that are liked minded and want to provide opportunities to give back and support community initiatives. Todd has volunteer experience working with the City of Peterborough basketball division as a coach, which then lead him to volunteer with the Peterborough Special Olympics basketball, track and field, softball and golf. In 2018 Todd became the chair of Special Olympics basketball. Todd joined Alternatives Board of Directors in the spring of 2022.
Denise Stone – Director
Denise worked at Community Services in Peterborough as an Adult Protective Services worker providing advocacy for 10 years. She was the Executive Director for St. Catherine’s YWCA and Fort Erie Brain Injury, from there Denise went on to be the Reginal Director at the Canadian Red Cross Niagara Branch for 10 years. Denise final 10 years of her career were spent as an Emergency Management and Business Continuity Specialist with St. Catherine’s Fire Services and Niagara Region. Denise joined Alternatives Board of Directors in the Spring of 2021.
