Who We Are

Marlaine Koehler, Executive Director

Marlaine Koehler is the Executive Director of the Waterfront Regeneration Trust. She has spent the past 15 years developing and managing the innovative partnership that has made a dramatic contribution towards the regeneration of  the Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River waterfront.

In 1993, she led the Waterfront Regeneration Trust’s work to launch the Waterfront Trail and Greenway, the organization’s signature project, with a multi-faceted program that included sponsorship, major events, publications, and a collaborative branding program. By 2002, she evolved that program into a collaborative communications and promotion program that pooled community partners’ promotional resources to implement a modest but effective and consistent Trail-wide awareness campaign.

From 2003 to 2008, she directed the Lake Ontario Waterfront Investment Program, which delivered over $27 million of public and private investment to the Lake Ontario waterfront. The program included projects from brownfield remediation to habitat restoration and trail construction. By 2008 the Waterfront Trail was 720 km from Niagara to Quebec where it seamlessly connects to La Route verte.

In 2008, Marlaine launched the Great Waterfront Trail Adventure, a ground-breaking public engagement program that is raising the profile of the 720 km Waterfront Trail and promoting 41 waterfront community partners and encouraging active transportation. In 2011, Marlaine secured funding and Provincial support for a Lake Erie Cycling Route. This route will be part of the multi-themed trail network that is being spear-headed by Carolinian Canada Coalition.

Marlaine volunteers with the Loran Scholarship, a national program that awards full university scholarships and the Etobicoke Dolphins Girls Hockey Association. Both her daughters are avid Trail users.

To reach Marlaine email: mk [at] wrtrust.com

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.

She is a member of the Environmental Commissioner of Ontario's Multi-Stakeholder Advisory Committee, the 2001 recipient of the Canadian Water Resources - Ontario Chapter Distinguished Service Awar, .and honoured in 2010 with the Conservation Pioneer Award by the A.D. Latornell Symposium .

To reach Vicki email: vb at wrtrust.com

Petrina Tulissi, Tour Director, Great Waterfront Trail Adventure

Petrina is a dedicated cyclist, competitor and trainer who loves to explore by bike. She is the Tour Director for the Great Waterfront Trail Adventure-an annual, 8-day fully supported recreational bike ride of the entire Waterfront Trail, and the cornerstone of the Trust's public engagement program. She works with 41community partners, corporations and service and bike clubs to deliver a safe tour brimming with WOW experiences of the Waterfront Trail. Petrina is also responsible for developing the Trust's volunteer program. Trained in communications and media, Petrina has successfully incorporated social media into the public engagement program.

She has extensive work experience in sport, media, tourism and project management.

To reach Petrina: email tourdirector at wrtrust.com

Peter Lipscombe, Project Coordinator

Prior to joining the Trust, Peter worked for several years as a Program Manager at Transportation Options and the Bike Train Initiative. He worked with 3 different rail companies across Ontario to expand cycle tourism options and intermodal transportation alternatives. He consulted with communities and worked on product development in various regions. The Bike Train garnered several awards during his work there including the Tourism Industry Association of Ontario's Tourism Innovator of the Year, and Best Marketing Partnership.

He joins the Trust as a Program Coordinator. His work will include helping to expand the Waterfront Trail to 27 new communities along Lake Erie, and consulting with communities to enhance the existing trail. He is a volunteer with Cycle Toronto and an advocate for safe cycling infrastructure in the City of Toronto.

To reach Peter email: pl [at] wrtrust.com

Hon. David Crombie, Founding Chair

D. Keith Laushway, Chair of the Board

Hon. Pauline Browes

Pauline Browes is one of five Canadian representatives appointed by Environment Minister Peter Kent to the Joint Public Advisory Committee for the Council of Environmental Co-operation. This commission was established in 1993 when the NAFTA was signed to deal with North American Environmental issues. She 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. Pauline sits on the Save the Rouge Park Alliance Board and has been a passionate champion of protecting and restoring the sensitive ecosystems along the Rouge River.

Ann Mulvale