Name: Alexander Reford
Role: President
Born: Ottawa, ON
Why did you join and what is your vision for HLSL:
I am interested in promoting the history of the region and helping to create an organization that would meet that need. I have remained involved, for better or worse, because the mandate of the organization continues to grow and is meeting even wider needs as the community evolves and volunteer organizations can no longer meet all of the communities’ needs.
Something we don’t know about you:
I like to take care of stray cats, but rest assured bird lovers, he has moved on to rodents. Birds tax his portly dexterity.
Name: Kathy Dodson
Role: Vice President
Born: Halifax, NS
Why did you join and what is your vision for HLSL:
I see Heritage Lower Saint Lawrence not only as a reflection of the unique past of this tiny anglophone community but also as a doorway to its future within the larger “community”. Organizations like Heritage Lower Saint Lawrence encourage community involvement, which is the key to community survival, especially for small communities.
Something we don’t know about you:
I am an avid sports fan; my favourite teams are the Toronto Maple Leafts (NHL) and the Toronto Blue Jays (MLB)
Name: Mélanie Leblanc
Role: Secretary-Treasurer
Born: Jonquière, QC
Why did you join and what is your vision for HLSL:
I grew up in a bilingual family and studied in English in a francophone region. For some people, I was considered a linguistic minority, and at times it wasn’t easy, so I understand how it can feel. I already supported Heritage Lower Saint Lawrence’s youth and literacy initiatives and when I found out more about the organization’s mission, I wanted to get involved.
Something we don’t know about you:
I absolutely love birds and sometimes I like to pick wild mushrooms.
Name: Louyze Caro
Role: Director
Born: Montreal, QC
Why did you join and what is your vision for HLSL:
I strongly see this community as one. I don’t want to see a francophone community and an anglophone community; we have to work together as one. We all have to network in the same direction. We have so much culture together, let’s embrace that; that’s why I joined.
Something we don’t know about you:
I am a classically trained dancer so today I walk like a penguin …or a duck!
Name: Janis Gillan
Role: Director
Born: Toronto, ON
Why did you join and what is your vision for HLSL:
An important part of Heritage Lower Saint Lawrence’s mandate is to build a bridge between the anglophone and francophone communities. Anything I can do to reduce the sense of “us and them” and foster a greater feeling of community is worthwhile.
Something we don’t know about you:
I’m on book 5 of Louise Penny’s series set in the fictional Quebec village of Three Pines …speaking of community!
Name: June Smith
Role: Director
Born: Métis-sur-Mer, QC
Why did you join and what is your vision for HLSL:
I am proud of my heritage as an English Canadian and I believe in Heritage Lower Saint Lawrence’s mission statement. We are in the process of developing a new strategic plan and we have a lot of work to do on that. I think we need HLSL more than ever given the present political situation in Quebec.
Something we don’t know about you:
I sometimes call my daughter by her sister’s name. I get that from my mother who would sometimes go through all 7 of us before hitting the right name.
