Who We Are

Staff

Marlaine Koehler, Executive Director

Marlaine has over 17 years experience in waterfront regeneration. She began her career with the Royal Commission on the Future of the Toronto Waterfront, managing production of that organization’s prolific publications and events program. When the Waterfront Regeneration Trust was established as the implementation agency in 1992, she led the Trust’s work to launch the Waterfront Trail and Greenway. This multi-faceted program included sponsorship, major events, publications, and an identity program.

In 1998 Marlaine served on the senior management team that transformed the government-funded agency into an independent not-for-profit charity where she developed and secured partners for such projects as Lake Ontario Waterfront Investment Program and the Collaborative Communications and Promotion Program. Through these programs over $33 million of public and private investment have been focused on the Lake Ontario waterfront and over 650 km of trail has been signed.

Marlaine also serves as a volunteer with the Canadian Merit Scholarship Foundation, an organization that grants scholarships to young people demonstrating leadership, service and character.

Vicki Barron, Director of Administration and Regeneration Initiatives

Vicki is a Certified General Accountant, with 32 years of experience in the environmental field, including 16 years as General Manager of Credit Valley Conservation.

Highly respected and well known in the field, Vicki has worked at many levels. At the provincial and local levels she was an advocate for greater leadership in water management, and worked with individuals and communities to promote change in their use and respect for water. At the Great Lakes level, she was part of a small team of experts that developed an integrated plan for the management of the north shore of Lake Ontario. Vicki participated in water protection projects in Brazil and Great Britain.

A member of the Continuing Education faculty at Sheridan College, Vicki teaches part time in the Business Program. She is on the Board of Directors of the Canadian Environmental Law Association, a member of the Environmental Commissioner of Ontario's Multi-Stakeholder Advisory Committee, and the 2001 recipient of the Canadian Water Resources - Ontario Chapter Distinguished Service Award.

Petrina Tulissi, Promotions and Event Manager

Petrina Tulissi brings media and sport promotions experience to the
Waterfront Regeneration Trust team. As Promotions and Events Manager her
goal is to encourage the public to think of the Waterfront Trail as a
vacation destination and to more fully understand the importance of the
regeneration of Lake Ontario's waterfront. An avid cyclist and runner,
Petrina looks forward to seeing you out on the trail.

David Arcus, Project Coordinator

David Arcus is a recently graduated from the University of Toronto where he studied Music and Science. He began working with the Waterfront Trust as a logistical coordinator for the 2005 cycling tour and has continued to work for the Trust ever since. In his current position of project coordinator, David’s main responsibility is the coordination of the $32 million Lake Ontario Waterfront Investment Program, which involves 53 improvement projects along the Waterfront Trail in 27 municipalities.

David is an avid cyclist and Waterfront Trail user.

Board of Directors

Hon. David Crombie, Founding Chair

David Crombie has led the work of the Royal Commission on the Future of the Toronto Waterfront and the Trust over the past 10 years. He is a former Mayor of Toronto and Member of Parliament. He has also served as Federal Cabinet Minister and as Chancellor of Ryerson Polytechnic University in Toronto. A member of many community organizations, he is President and CEO of the Canadian Urban Institute, President of David Crombie & Associates Inc. and Chair of the Toronto Heritage and Culture Foundation.

D. Keith Laushway, Chair of the Board

Keith Laushway is a tax lawyer with over 20 years' experience in private practice, including 6 years with a major international accounting firm. His areas of expertise include: corporate mergers, acquisitions, divestitures and reorganizations, public offerings, corporate, personal and estate tax planning and tax appeals. He has extensive experience in providing advice to businesses in a wide range of industries and to numerous registered charities.

Hon. Pauline Browes

Pauline Browes was a Member of Parliament between 1984 - 1993 and Federal Cabinet Minister responsible for Indian affairs, employment and immigration, and the environment. She was Special Advisor to the 1995 Ontario Provincial Election Campaign for Premier Mike Harris and is currently Vice Chair of the Ontario Environmental Review Tribunal.

Ann Mulvale

Ann Mulvale has been active in municipal politics for over 18 years and has been Mayor of the Town of Oakville since 1988. She is an active volunteer in many organizations and a successful community fundraiser. Ann Mulvale served as Executive Director of the Oakville United Way from 1986-89, and is currently serving a two-year term as President of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario.