TRAFALGAR CASTLE SCHOOL - BOARD OF GOVERNORS

CHRIS BEGY

Chris has been a member of the Trafalgar community since 1995, through the attendance of his two daughters at the school and his participation on the Board from 1996-2002.   He strongly believes that the staff and students of the school have been instrumental in the intellectual and personal growth of his daughters and has returned to the Board in 2007 to contribute to the school's perpetuation.

A Chartered Accountant by profession, Chris is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants.  He is a Senior Vice President of the Bank of Montreal.

Chris and Christina and their family are long-time Whitby residents.

CHIARA CAMPITELLI-THOMPSON

Chiara is thrilled to once again be a part of the Trafalgar Community.  Many years after her graduation in 1997 as Head Girl and Valedictorian, her love for the School remains strong.  She has since achieved a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and a Bachelor of Social Work from the University of Western Ontario. Chiara then completed a Masters of Social Work from the University of Toronto.  Her leisure activities continue to include dancing.

Chiara recently spent two years living and working in London, England, while thoroughly enjoying her time off travelling throughout Europe and around the world.  Chiara is delighted to participate on the Board and is looking forward to becoming more involved in the School that contributed so greatly to the person she is today.  Chiara is a member of the Marketing & Development Committee. 

JO-ANN DUDAR

Jo-Ann is a proud supporter of Trafalgar Castle School. An alumna from the Class of 1964, Jo-Ann’s passion for the School spans four decades as an active member of the Alumnae Association of Ontario Ladies’ College & Trafalgar Castle School. Jo-Ann is entering her eighth year as President of the Alumnae Association and strongly believes in its revitalization. Jo-Ann is also entering her eighth year as a Board member and is a dynamic member of the Marketing & Development Committee.

In addition to her work with Trafalgar, Jo-Ann is also a dedicated community member, having volunteered with the Cancer Society, the March of Dimes, Elections Canada and served as President of the Parents’ Association at her own children’s public school.

Jo-Ann holds a Business Certificate, a Medical Secretarial Certificate, a Hairdressing Certificate and a Teaching Certificate with the Department of Labour.

Jo-Ann has been happily married for 38 years, with two daughters and two beautiful granddaughters. Her interests include dressmaking, designing, crafts, fishing and the outdoors.

AMBERLEA EISENHUT

Amber attended Trafalgar Castle School as a “lifer,” graduating in 2000 after six years at the Castle. She went on to graduate in 2004 from Queen’s University with an honours BA in arts pursuing an undergraduate degree in sociology and psychology. After taking time to travel abroad and attempt to master the game of golf, she settled as an executive with HSBC in 2005.  Amber joined the Board in June 2006 and was appointed Chair of the Marketing & Development Committee in March 2007. Amber was then appointed to Chair of the Human Resources Committee in September 2007.

ALAN GARBE

Alan Garbe's daughter graduated from Trafalgar Castle School in June 2006.  Alan was the Parents' Guild President for two years and was elected to the Trafalgar Board of Governors in 2004.  In March 2007, he was elected as Vice-Chair.  He is pleased to be part of this dedicated group of individuals working to ensure that Trafalgar Castle School continues to provide the highest quality education for its students.

Alan is a lawyer specializing in corporate law and commercial litigation, practicing in Markham. He is also a Vice-chair of the Licence Appeal Tribunal.

An active member of the Eldad United Church, Alan sings in the Church choir and is a director of the Oshawa Presbyterian Church Extension Council.

Alan is an avid skier and sailor, racing out of the Whitby Yacht Club.

LAURA HAMMER

Laura Hammer has a Bachelor of Arts Degree from York University and twenty years of business experience in the hospitality, franchise and training sectors.  Laura is the President of TRAINinc, a corporate training and development company.  She is very involved in the local business community and is a past President of the Whitby Chamber of Commerce. Laura has brought her human resources background to the Trafalgar Board and has a daughter in Grade 10 at the School.  Laura was elected as Secretary/Treasurer of the Board in March 2007.

REV. DAVID JONES

David first gained experience with independent schools at Appleby College where he was a student from 1961-1967. He received a BA in history from the University of Toronto, an LLB from Osgoode Hall Law, and an MDiv from Emmanuel College. He has been an ordained minister in the United Church of Canada since 1981 and minister at the Pickering Village United Church since 1994. He is also chair of the Board of Trustees of Old Hay Bay Church which was established in 1792 and is a National Historic Site of Canada. Previously, David served on Trafalgar Castle School’s Board from 1995-2003.

PETER LEBEL, CHAIR

Peter is the Director of the Community and Marketing Services Department with the Town of Whitby. His area of responsibility includes the Parks and Recreation Division, Economic Development Division, Advertising/Sponsorship Division and Marketing/IT Division, including all Town facilities, corporate communications, food service operations, tourism and special events and Mayor's Task Forces. Peter has been employed with the Town of Whitby for 13 years. Prior to joining the municipality, Peter spent 16 years in the private sector working in a variety of senior marketing positions for a number of internationally based consumer products companies, such as General Mills, Quaker Oats and Warner Lambert. Peter has a Bachelor of Science in Geology and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Dalhousie University and a Masters Business Administration from Queen's University. He is currently a Vice-President with the Whitby Chamber of Commerce, Director of the Greater Toronto Economic Development Partnership and Past Vice-Chair of Durham Region Quality Council, Past Director of the Durham Region Manufacturers’ Association, Past Board Advisor to Whitby Arts and Past Director of the Advisory Board of Durham Region Export Development Programs. In his spare time, Peter likes to golf, sail, ski and travel.  Peter was elected Chair of the Board of Governors in March 2007.

JOEL PARKE

Joel Parke was born and raised in Toronto. He is a graduate of George Brown College, having completed his Diploma as Construction Technician in 1973. He began his career as an estimator in the construction industry and climbed steadily up the corporate ladder with various high profile construction firms. He joined Vanbots Construction Corporation in 1996 as the Senior Estimator and was responsible for the success of many multi-million dollar projects. In 2000, Mr. Parke was promoted to the position of Vice President Client Services for Vanbots, Canada’s fifth largest construction company and is responsible for marketing of the firm.

Some noteworthy projects in which Mr. Parke was involved are:

• State Street Financial Centre, 30 Adelaide St. E., Toronto, $63 million
• Community Safety Village for York Region, $2.5 million
• Royal Ontario Museum, $211 million
• York University, Shulich School of Business, $130 million
• York Region Administrative Centre, Newmarket, $60 million
• General Motors Autoplex, Oshawa, $130 million
• Original Casino Rama as well as the Expansion, Hotel & Entertainment Centre projects, $340 million

Mr. Parke has been a resident of Durham Region for over 30 years.  He is the proud parent of two grown daughters, Alison and Stacey, who also live and work in Durham.

JOANNA PESARO

Joanna Pesaro brings twenty years of management experience in the post secondary education sector, eighteen years of which were honed at York University.   With a career spanning international and domestic student recruitment and marketing, academic advising, policy and admissions, Joanna is now in private practice focusing on strategic development and policy work for both the university and college sectors.   She has fond recollections of the Castle through visiting the graduating students as a University representative and as a proud community member during her Whitby years.  Joanna is looking forward to supporting the School in realizing its vision and mission.

GREG PILON

Greg and his family have been part of the Trafalgar Castle School community since 1999.  Married with three daughters, one of whom recently graduated from Trafalgar Castle School and another currently enrolled in Grade 11, he and his wife Anne are actively involved in supporting the School. This year, Greg has been elected Chair of the Marketing & Development Committee. 

Greg is President of Thomson Nelson, Canada’s leading academic publisher. He has a strong commitment and passion for supporting the teaching and learning experiences of students and teachers.

Greg serves as the co-chair for the Canadian Copyright Licensing Agency and is the past president of the Canadian Educational Resources Council.

Greg and his family are Whitby residents, and he has been involved in coaching and supporting local sports team.

JENNIFER THOMSON

Jennifer has been a member of the Trafalgar Board of Governors  since late 2003.  Her daughter, Laura, graduated from Trafalgar in 2003. Throughout that period Jennifer observed exciting and considerable growth and improvement in the School and, by the time Laura graduated, was convinced that Trafalgar was a fundamental cornerstone of her daughter’s success.  It was a debt of gratitude for that invaluable gift that led Jennifer to accept an invitation to serve on the Board of Governors of Trafalgar.  Jennifer has found her work on the Trafalgar Board to be interesting and gratifying and has enjoyed working with the other Board members to support the mission and goals of such a prestigious institution.

Jennifer is a lawyer practicing in Whitby in the areas of corporate and commercial law, commercial and residential real estate and financing, trade-marks, wills and powers of attorney, employment and a wide variety of contracts.  She takes pride in representing a number of prominent local businesses, municipalities and banks and enjoys the challenges and opportunities that their legal requirements present.

Jennifer’s volunteer work has included serving on the Board of Directors of Whitby Arts Incorporated (for several years as President) and she is currently a member and President of the Board of Directors of Durham Mental Health Services.  Jennifer has also participated as a volunteer speaker in seminars on planned giving for Canadian National Institute for the Blind and has occasionally given speeches on various legal topics to other community groups.

Jennifer’s leisure activities include reading, fitness classes, skiing, and travel.  Jennifer and her husband John are both “Maritimers” who live in Whitby with their four children – Laura and her three brothers.

SHAWN YPES

Shawn Ypes is the proud parent of Nicole Ypes, a Grade 12 student at Trafalgar. An active parent for the last four years, she is currently directing her energy to giving back to the school, as President of this year’s Parents’ Guild.

Having a great appreciation for the school and all that is offered, Shawn was married at the Castle in September 2006 and became a step Mom to her new husband’s three daughters.

Shawn graduated from Seneca College with Honours in Business Administration and has worked in the Durham area for the last six years as a National Accounts Representative for Sure Fit Home Furnishings.