Board Member Biographies

Andrea is a Chartered Professional Accountant who has worked in public accounting for the past 14 years.

A native of Chester, Nova Scotia, Andrea graduated with a degree in Business Administration from Mount Saint Vincent University in 2003 before moving to Ontario to pursue her career in public accounting.

Andrea is a Manager of Accounting and Assurance with BDO Canada in Barrie. Her focus is on financial statement audits for clients in the not-for-profit sector, with a focus on health-care organizations. She also currently serves on the Barrie Terry Fox Run Committee.

Bernard has 25 years as a HR professional and manager with Ontario Hydro/Ontario Power Generation. As part of the senior management team, with over 4000 employees, he was involved in strategic planning and management, while providing insight on the effect corporate challenges have on employees.

Bernard subsequently established a successful consulting business providing services to organizations, national and international, private and public over a period of 10 years. He has worked with organizations in developing and implementing HR best practices and organizational change, while minimizing any adverse impact on people and performance.

Bernard has a solid theoretical background gained through completion of bachelor and master’s degrees in business administration as well as certification from the Rothman School of Business Executive Development Program. With his focus of studies in both accounting and human resources management, he was able to uncover the synergies gained from aligning human and business objectives.

Bernard has been involved with Helping Hands as a volunteer transportation driver and joined the Board of Directors September, 2014. He has been on the Board of Directors for a child care centre as well as a rural community centre.

Danielle is a Registered Kinesiologist and Coordinator for the VON Exercise and Falls Prevention/SMART program in Orillia. She graduated with an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree in Kinesiology & Physical Education from Wilfrid Laurier University. She has been working with seniors since 2009 and is passionate about helping to improve seniors’ wellness.

Prior to working with seniors, Danielle spent many years working in the customer service industry. She worked over 2 years on cruise ships as a Youth Staff in the kids’ camp, and 2 years in Cardiff, Wales with Sales & Service in the insurance division of the Royal Bank of Scotland.

Prior to becoming a Director with the Board of Helping Hands in September 2014, Danielle volunteered as a coach in rhythmic gymnastics and track & field with Special Olympics Ontario.  She also currently sits on the Community Support Collaborative Council as a board representative for Helping Hands.

Joe is retired and leads an active lifestyle in the community.

His over 3 decades of work in social services occurred in BC, NWT and ON. His practice fields include mental health, native communities, juvenile corrections, child welfare, social assistance, day care, nursing homes, family violence and developmental disabilities. His work experiences ranged from front line, management, community development, senior administration and board governance.

He has a BSc from UBC and a MSW from U of T. He has leadership experience in social work with his professional membership organization and the provincial regulatory college.

He has municipal council experience in Orillia. Currently, he sits on the board of the Orillia Public Library and the city’s Committee of Adjustment.

His lifestyle includes winter activities of curling and skiing and summer activities of motorcycling and sailing. He is Vice President of the Orillia Curling Club and Vice Commodore of the Champlain Sailing Club. He has run for fun since 1972, just slower now.

His HH affiliation began in 2015 with Transportation.

Physiotherapist
Integrated Regional Falls Program
Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital

Melissa Lang is a registered physiotherapist; she holds a Master of Science, Physiotherapy from Queen’s University and a Bachelor of Science, Kinesiology from the University of Waterloo. She is on the team that conceived and delivers an Integrated Regional Falls Program for the North-Simcoe Region which reaches from Innisfil to Huntsville, through to Collingwood and Penetanguishene. As one of only two physiotherapists practicing in this regional falls prevention program she works closely with geriatric patients to reduce the incidence of dangerous falls. She also has a background in senior acute care and outpatient rehab at Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital.

As a volunteer at the local, regional, provincial and national levels in physiotherapy and geriatrics, Melissa brings a breadth of experience of working in teams to improve the health of older adults in the Orillia area. She volunteers on the executive of the Seniors’ Health Division, a national division of the Canadian Physiotherapy Association dedicated to the advancement of seniors’ health through physiotherapy. Melissa also serves on the Board of Directors for the Ontario Physiotherapy Association as well as Co-Chairs the Knowledge-Translation/Exchange Pillar of the Simcoe-Muskoka Integrated Falls Strategy.

Patricia is a strategic marketing and communications professional with over 20+ years of experience across diverse industries.  Most recently she worked in the telecommunications industry holding progressively senior positions in communications, marketing and government relations.  Previous experience includes working for the Canadian Red Cross, Toronto Region and for a Toronto-based public relations agency developing and implementing communications strategies for health/pharmaceutical, government and corporate clients.

Prior to joining Helping Hands, Patricia served on the Board of Directors of the Swedish-Canadian Chamber of Commerce.

Patricia graduated with an Honours Bachelors of Arts degree from Wilfrid Laurier University, holds a Post-Graduate Certificate in Public Relations from Humber College and has studied Strategic Business Marketing at The Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

Ray is a veteran of the Wealth Management industry, most recently as Director & Head of Wealth Management at a subsidiary of one of Canada’s big banks.  

Ray is an Investment Advisor and Financial Planner at BMO Nesbitt Burns in Orillia and serves as Assistant Branch Manager for offices in Orillia, Barrie and Newmarket.

A resident of Oro Medonte for 20 years, Ray is also a proud husband and father and an active member of his church and community.  

“Helping Hands is operated with a high degree of professionalism. I am excited about the opportunity to join the Board and contribute to the ongoing success of the organization.”

Richard has over 15 years experience in Business Development with Canada’s largest Communications company, BCE.
Approximately 10 years ago Richard and his family decided they wanted to live in a more rural setting.
Part of the move was to make a difference within their community.
As an active volunteer in his local community he felt he needed to increase his volunteer time even further.
Richard decided Helping Hands was an obvious means of making a more direct impact on people’s lives.