Kayla Kalalian - Kayla has a passion for the Environment – she studied Environmental Science and complimented it with a graduate diploma in Science Communication. With that background she knew she wanted to be able to serve her community by joining a group of like-minded people in an effort to improve the environment. After passively looking for an organization to join she serendipitously heard about Transition Towns at an Awakening the Dreamer symposium. A couple of months later she was a proud member of the steering committee.

Stephen P. Foster - Stephen is a resident of the City of Barrie, and has been so for the past six years. He is a partner in an electronics instrumentation firm that is a local employer working in the field of airborne measurement specializing in atmospheric data acquisition, with diverse application areas ranging from aerial application of pesticides (drift minimization) and remote sensing to research in atmospheric sciences (climate change, air-quality, cloud physics, etc.) and wildfire management. Stephen is keenly interested in exploring workable solutions to our impending energy dilemma by drawing on his background in science and engineering . He is 44 years old and married with two children.

Tim McCauley - Tim works for an independent, local elevator company in the construction and maintenance service sectors. He has educational background and interest in environmental/climate/energy issues, and previously was a member of Barrie’s Green Communities Initiative, from 1994 to 1997, working on promoting and achieving community goals of residential water use reduction, energy efficiency improvements, and recycling and compost program education and uptake.

Marina Gavrilov - Marina came to Canada in 1993. She is originally from Russia where she earned her degree in math with major in the theory of probability. Marina has been working in IT for over 20 years and is currently employed by HMV Canada in a role of a Senior IT Manager responsible for the company’s Supply Chain Relations. She has broad interests in the environment, natural resources, science, philosophy, and art.

Adon Irani - Adon teaches Technology and Environmental courses for both Laurentian@Georgian and the Georgian degree programs. He also works for the Centre for Teaching and Learning at Georgian College as an Instructional Technologist. Adon holds a Masters of Environmental Studies from York University, where his research was situated around a spatial critique of contemporary capitalism, exploring the social role of the entrepreneur. He has extensive experience working with Internet and media technologies and takes particular interest in the production and experience of social space.

Dave Collacutt - Dave has been an engineer, a mathematics and computer science teacher, and a software developer. For 30 years, he and his partner, Bonnie, lived on a small family farm, where they raised three wonderful daughters, along with cows, goats, ducks, a pony and a horse, and many vegetables. He currently is “not working for money”. In addition to helping initiate and develop Transition Barrie, he is an Awakening the Dreamer” facilitator, and an active participant in other related organizations.

Bonnie Collacutt - Bonnie lives in the country, on Lake Simcoe, just south of Barrie with her partner Dave. She taught elementary school and outdoor science, while growing food, and raising a family. Subsequently, she and Dave founded a software company, developing significant educational software for schools and colleges. Bonnie has volunteered for the Canadian Cancer Society, Barrie Rowing Club and the Barrie Literacy Centre. Her current activities involve Gaia Centre, Ecologos Institute, the Pachamama Alliance, Grandmothers to Grandmothers, and Transition Barrie.

Ruth Blaicher - Ruth is a long time community activist. Growing up on the shores of Lake Ontario in the 1960s provided a front row seat to pollution and the destruction of wildlife caused by oil spills from the lake freighters and quality of air issues from living near 2 oil refineries and the Lakeview coal fired generating station. Interested in how to initiate change at the community level she has been a Board member of Living Green Barrie for 12 years. In 2009 Ruth promoted the founding of a Transition Towns concept in Barrie, and supported the development of the Barrie Free Clothing Centre and Barrie Community Garden. A Permacuture enthusiast, she hopes next, to create in Barrie, a training program for this sustainable lifestyle model. Ruth has also been an active member of the Barrie and District Real Estate Board for over 25 years.

Mike Fox - Mike has been a resident of Barrie since 1987 and has spent a large part of his life in the area. A graduate of Georgian College, School of Business, Mike’s professional career has included everything from executive positions with a few multinational corporations, to running his own business. Mike is currently living and working in the Downtown Barrie area with his wife Karen, where he is actively interested in building a resilient, sustainable community. In addition to teaching part time at Georgian College, Mike sits on the board of Living Green Barrie and the steering committee for the Barrie Downtown Neighbourhood Association of which he is a founding member. Passionate about the outdoors, Mike is interested in reducing our consumption of resources and eliminating our dependence on fossil fuels and imported foods.

Karen Fox - Karen Fox has lived in Barrie since 1969. She attended Georgian College in the Art and Interior design program, raised 3 great children and has been a local Realtor since 1987.  She currently works at Re/Max as well as chairs the Real Estate board Ethics committee.  Photography is her hobby and her volunteer work includes delivering meal on wheels for the past 10 years to local seniors, being an active member of the Barrie Downtown Neighbourhood Association and sits on the board of Living Green Barrie.