The Clubs voluntary Board provides leadership and vision to the Club. The Board concerns itself with policy, directions, decisions, financial planning and stewardship and assigns the responsibilities for implementation and management to the Executive Director.
BGC Kawarthas Board
| President | John Hagarty |
| Vice President | Dianna Scates |
| Treasurer | Michelle Finley |
| Secretary | Brandon Clarkson |
| Past President | Catherine Miller |
| Director | Lynda Craven |
| Director | Steve Green |
| Director | Wayne Brakeboer |
| Director | Brad Waller |
| Director | Meghan Buckley |
| Director | Liam MacLeod |
| Honorary Member | Laraine Hale |
John Hagarty, President
John Hagarty joined the BGC Kawarthas Board of Directors in January 2021. John is retired Police Chief KLPS, M.O.M. (Member of the Order of Merit), Ret. John started his policing career with the Stratford Police Service in 1983. In 2005, John left Stratford as a Deputy Chief to become the Chief of the City of Kawartha Lakes Police Service. He retired in 2018 after 35 years of service. In June 2019 he became the Executive Director for Victim Services of Kawartha Haliburton. John is married to his wife Deb who is a Police Officer with the City of Kawartha Lakes Police Service. He has 3 adult children, an 11-year-old daughter , 4 Grandchildren…and counting.
Dianna Scates, Vice President
Dianna Scates joined the BGC Kawarthas Board of Directors in June 2022, previously Dianna had been a member of the BGC Kawarthas Foundation Board since April 2008 where she served as President, Vice President and Past-President of the Board, in addition to participating on the Service Quality, Executive and Investment Committees.
Dianna recently retired as Superintendent of Employee Services with the Trillium Lakelands District School Board. Dianna is also on the Executive for the Kawartha Lakes Concert Band.
Michelle Finley, Treasurer
Michelle Finley joined the BGC Kawarthas Board of Directors in July 2017 and has been an active member since 2014. Michelle currently acts as Club Board Treasurer and previously served as Secretary of the Board in addition to participating on the Risk Management and Executive Committees.
Michelle has managed the Lindsay branch of Kawartha Credit Union for the past 6 years and previous to this spent 10 years with CIBC in both advisory as well as management positions.
Catherine Miller, Past President
Catherine Miller joined the BGC Kawarthas Board of Directors in March 2018. Catherine currently holds the position of President of the Board in addition to participating on the Risk Management, Service Quality and Executive Committees. Catherine retired from a 33 year career with the Ministry of Children & Youth Services and the Ministry of Community & Social Services. Her role included community development, management of contracts with non-profit agencies and providing oversight to a broad system of human services that supports children, youth and families.
Meghan Buckley, Director
Meghan Buckley joined the BGC Kawarthas of Directors in June 2024. Meghan and her family have resided and contributed to the Kawartha Lakes community for many generations. She had the opportunity to participate in various club programs that were offered 30+ years ago, and describes the club as being a supportive organization that positively impacted her growth from a child to adulthood. Meghan has been a first responder for 20 years and is an advocate for mental health awareness. She has implemented numerous mental health, peer support, and youth diversion programs within her organization. She has also been a volunteer with multiple organizations including; Community Care COPE, Girls Incorporated Inc. and Schizophrenic Society of Ontario.
Meghan has her own large family, who currently attend the club for multiple after school activities and camps. She is excited for the opportunity to give back to children and youth in her community as a Board Member, as she believes she would not be as successful as she is today if it was not for the support of the club when she was a child.
Brandon Clarkson, Secretary
Brandon Clarkson joined the BGC Kawarthas Board of Directors in January 2021 and currently serves as the Chair of the Service Quality Committee. Additionally, he has recently taken on the role of Secretary of the Board. His journey with the Club began in 2009, shortly after settling in the City of Kawartha Lakes. Over the years, as a former employee, he contributed to various departments, delivering programs and services to children, youth, and families across the City.
His time at the Club ignited a passion for recreation and its profound impact on communities, inspiring him to pursue formal education in the field. Brandon earned his Recreation and Leisure Studies Diploma from Fleming College and his Bachelor of Recreation and Leisure Services from Brock University.
Brandon now works for the City of Kawartha Lakes as Customer Service Lead, keeping his connection to the City of Kawartha Lakes strong. It’s where he’s raising his young family and where his passion for community involvement thrives. Serving on the BGC Kawarthas board allows Brandon to continue his meaningful contribution to the community, supporting the children, youth, and families who benefit from our programs and services.
Lynda Craven, Director
Lynda Craven joined the BGC Kawarthas of Directors in June 2019 and participates as a member of the Service Quality Committee. Lynda has a teen age daughter and has lived in Lindsay for almost twenty years. Moving from southwestern Ontario where I grew up on a farm in a family of seven.
Lynda’s work keeps her close by, selling in the medical industry allows her to be active and aware of what’s happening in the community of Kawartha Lakes.
She volunteers with Lindsay Kids of Steel as a board member, local equine 4H and as a team parent for her daughters rep. Volleyball club here in Lindsay.
Lynda is looking forward to learning more of what great things happen here at BGC Club.
Steve Green, Director
Steve Green joined the BGC Kawarthas Board of Directors in June 2019 and serves as a member of the Service Quality Committee. Steve was a member of the Club under Ron Kennedy’s dream from 1969 to 1971, to this day it is one of the most memorable experiences he was involved in and now with some free time Steve wants to give back to the community and BGC Kawarthas was a perfect fit.
Steve grew up right here in Lindsay. Having owned, operated, cooked for, and made famous, the Durham Cafe for 25 years; Steve was interested in mastering something new. In 2015 Steve joined Stewart Morrison Insurance, successfully completed his RIBO license winning the Don Lambie award for receiving the highest mark in Ontario for that year! Steve continues to give back to his community as Vice Chair of the Kawartha-Haliburton Victim Services, Media Relations for The Lindsay & District Toastmasters Club and is a Board Member of the Kawartha Haliburton Crime Stoppers. Steve often volunteers his chef’s talent at fundraisers such as Fightin’ Fillies, and coaching little league sports.
Wayne Brakeboer, Director
Wayne Brakeboer joined the BGC Kawarthas of Directors in June 2024. He worked at Royal Bank for over 38 years in a number of leadership roles, in a number of communities in Ontario. This allowed him many opportunities to work with a variety of not for profit and charitable groups in various capacities including board and executive roles. Wayne enjoys the ability to make a contribution to the community he lives in and has learned that serving people is the most rewarding endeavor one can undertake. Married to Laurie, father of 3 boys and now grandparent of 5 grandchildren, has reinforced the idea that it takes a community to raise a child.
Brad Waller, Director
Brad Waller joined the BGC Kawarthas Board of Directors in June 2023.
Brad was born in Montreal, grew up in Oshawa and moved to the Kawartha’s eighteen years ago with his wife Amy to raise a family outside of the 905-area code. Brad has been working in the community for 10 years as a Manager of IT at The Commonwell Mutual Insurance Group. When Brad is not working, he enjoys hiking and providing a taxi service for his son for sporting events and school.
Brad is really looking forward to the wonderful opportunity of joining a fine organization like the BGC Kawarthas.
Liam MacLeod, Director
Liam MacLeod joined the BGC Kawarthas Board of Directors in June 2023. Liam is a chiropractor who provides evidence-based care to those in the Kawartha Lakes at two multidisciplinary clinics within Lindsay.
After growing up in the Vancouver Island region of British Columbia, Liam’s studies took him to Halifax and Toronto. While in Toronto, Liam met his eventual wife, with whom he has settled with in Lindsay. Liam has always felt a strong responsibility towards children and youth. While in High School he began volunteering with children at his local Parks and Recreation department. Throughout University he helped mentor and coach young children at several athletic clubs. During the summers in between his studies he worked at an overnight camp in Pennsylvania. Upon arriving in Lindsay Liam immediately searched for opportunities to help the youth in his new community, which is when he began volunteering at the Warehouse Youth Centre.
Liam loves to be active and take part in the almost unlimited amount of recreational activities and sports within the Kawartha Lakes. He is incredibly grateful to be involved with BGC Kawarthas and will try his absolute best to give the children and youth of this community the best possible chance to succeed.
Laraine Hale, Honorary Member
Laraine Hale joined the BGC Kawarthas Board of Directors in October 26, 2020 and served until June 26, 2023 when she was appointed as an Honorary Member.
Laraine is a woman of mixed ancestry (English, Irish, Haudenosaunee and Cherokee), a mother, daughter, sister, auntie and friend. She possesses both undergraduate and graduate degrees in Social Work. Her professional pursuits span over 30 years and encompass the roles of clinician, researcher, educator and consultant. These experiences inform and inspire her investment in the lives of individuals, families, groups and First Nation, Metis, and Inuit communities where she continues to listen, share and learn. She is invested in advancing Reconciliation efforts personally and professionally and remains a passionate advocate for fostering anti oppressive spaces and interfaces.