History   |  Board of Directors   |   Staff

Current Board of Directors

Former Directors

Former Directors' Biographies
 

As non-profit organizations, Wigwamen Incorporated and Wigwamen Non-Profit Residential Corp. are jointly managed by a volunteer Board of Directors. The members of this Board are highly experienced and committed to providing decent, affordable housing for individuals and families of Aboriginal ancestry.

Biographies for the current Board of Directors of Wigwamen are below, followed by a list of former Directors and the years they served.

President: Bill Kinoshameg

Bill Kinoshameg joined Wigwamen Incorporated’s Board of Directors in 1977 and has been President of the corporation since 1995. His other volunteer experience includes: a 25-year membership (including having served for some time as President) with the Toronto Indian Club; having been a Director of Habitat for Humanity; and involvement with various seniors and other charitable organizations. Bill spent most of his working life in the field of maintenance and construction and in October 2000 he retired as Supervisor of Operations at Trent University in Peterborough. Born in Wikwemikong on Manitoulin Island, Bill spent much of his childhood at Garnier College Residential School. He currently lives in Sudbury and enjoys golfing, sailing and reading in his spare time.

Vice-President: Donna Niven

Vice-President Donna Niven has served on the Wigwamen Incorporated Board of Directors since April 1976. She has given her volunteer time to the community in many ways, having served as a Director on the Board at the Native Canadian Centre of Toronto for five years, served as the Secretary-Treasurer of the North American Indian Club for twelve years, and was once voted Native Big Sister of the year. Donna enjoys theatre, music and creating native crafts. She enjoys selling her crafts at community powwows, and meeting and talking with the people attending them. With years of volunteering in the community, Donna brings diverse experience to Wigwamen.

Secretary-Treasurer: Valerie Kendall

A Certified Management Accountant with experience in the property management field, Valerie works as a Controller for a real estate investment company. She has been a member of Wigwamen’s Board of Directors since August 1996. In her spare time, she works towards her goal of becoming an accomplished roller-blader, and enjoys bird watching.

Director: John Arciuch

John Arciuch has worked for a number of years in the area of Aboriginal relations at Ontario Power Generation, and prior to that, in the environmental and forestry services field. He joined Wigwamen’s Board in February 2000. John has worked with many groups in the Toronto area to develop co-housing project proposals and holds an MBA degree from York University.

Director: Tabatha Bull

Tabatha Bull joined Wigwamen Incorporated's Board of Directors in early 2006.  A graduate of the University of Waterloo's Electrical Engineering program, Tabatha spent five years in engineering consulting before joining the Market Analysis Group at the Independent Electricity System of Ontario.  A past Director on the Professional Aboriginal Women's Society, she now spends most of her time with her new family.  Her other interests include reading, photography, and training for duathalons.

Director: Delma Cooper

Another longtime Board member, Delma Cooper joined Wigwamen in April 1976. Now retired from the Victorian Order of Nurses, she volunteers at St. Michael’s Hospital, and is as a very active member of the Native Peoples’ Parish of Toronto. Past volunteer experience includes having served as the Executive Secretary for the Friendship Centre and as a Big Sister with Ahbinoojyak, a former Native children’s program in the city. Delma is originally from Wikwemikong on Manitoulin Island, but has lived in Toronto since the 1960s. Her interests include theatre, critically-acclaimed movies and books, Scrabble and playing the keyboard.

 

Director: Glen Jennings

A member of Wigwamen's Board of Directors since 2006, Glen Jennings is a solicitor with Hunt Partners LLP.  In addition to his volunteer work with Wigwamen, Glen serves on the Board of Frontiers Foundation, and is an active member of the Rotary Club.

Director: Arnold May

Until his recent retirement, Arnold May was the Senior Analyst of Aboriginal Relations at Ontario Power Generation.  He has been with Wigwamen’s Board since February 1996. Residing on the Nipissing First Nation near North Bay, he currently serves on the Nipissing First Nation Land Claim Settlement Trust Board, as well as being a member of the Housing and Education Committees. Arnold is also certified in Alternative Dispute Resolution, and brings to Wigwamen facilitation and negotiation skills. In his spare time, he enjoys Oldtimer hockey, mountain biking and reading.

Former Wigwamen Directors:

Nona Bedwell (1972-1973)
Elise Bergasse (1983-1986)
Clare Brant (1972-1994)
Harvey Brant (1973-1983)
Robert Brant (1974-1976)
Diana Lewis Campbell (1994-1997)
Eric Carlson (1974-2006)
Thomas Charles (1972-1974)
Philomena Chechock (1987-1994)
Margaret Cozry (1972-1976)
Mel Dokis (1976-1987)
Ted Dowbiggin (1987-1993, 1994)
James Hopkins (1998-2001)
Bernard Jacobs (1972-1973)
Basil Johnston (1973-1975, 1981-1983)
Verna Johnston (1972-1974)
Larry Leong (1978-1996)
Glen Maracle (1976-1977)
Bella Marshall (1976-1977)
Peter Mishibinijima (1972-1976)
Kristine Pinter (1994-1999)
Mildred Redmond (1972-1973)
Marie Rogers (1996-2006)
Travis Seymour (1994-1996)
Norm Smith (1983-1987)
James Turner (1972-1980)
Lavinia Whetung (1973-1976)
Anna Williams (1996-1998)

Former Wigwamen Director Biographies:

Marie Rogers 1996-2006

Marie Rogers is originally from Wikwemikong on Manitoulin Island but has been living and working in Toronto since the early 1970s. She is currently employed with the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce as an Administrative Assistant in Retail and Small Business Credit. Marie has served as a Director for Wigwamen since 1996 and beyond her involvement with the corporation, she volunteers with the Native Peoples' Parish. In the past she has assisted in a number of fundraising campaigns for groups such as the United Way and Toronto Sick Children's Hospital. Her interests include figure skating and country music.

Eric Carlson 1974-2006

Wigwamen’s longest serving Director Eric Carlson joined the Board in September 1974. He is a retired employee of the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, having worked there for 30 years. Prior to that, he taught French and Latin at a variety of Ontario high schools, and worked with the South Saskatchewan River Development Commission. An active volunteer in the City of Toronto, Eric is also a driver for Meals-on-Wheels and the Canadian Cancer Society, and is a Board member with Frontiers Foundation. For many, this kind of community involvement would leave little time for hobbies, but Eric also manages to squeeze in some international travel and hiking.

 

 

	Wigwamen Incorporated 25 Imperial St., Suite 310, Toronto, M5P 1B9 Tel:(416) 481-4451    FAX: (416) 481-5002
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