CORCAN Farm Advisory Panel Members

Bridget Doherty

Ms. Bridget Doherty is with the Sisters of Providence of St. Vincent de Paul, a religious charity that promotes justice and peace by empowering vulnerable people through compassionate service, advocacy and networking. Through their Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation team, they support the efforts of the Save Our Prison Farms coalition. Their administrative headquarters, the Motherhouse, remains in Kingston.

Dianne Dowling

Ms. Dianne Dowling farms with her family on a certified organic dairy and beef farm and a vegetable community shared agriculture business in the Kingston region. She is president of Local 316 (Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox-Addington) of the National Farmers Union (NFU) - Ontario, a member of the Food Policy Council for Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox-Addington, and a director of the Kingston Area Seed System Initiative. She has been actively involved in NFU local farm and food projects in the Kingston region for 15 years. She is also involved in the campaign to restore prison farms and exploration of a food hub for Kingston. She is a member of the Save Our Prison Farms coalition organizing committee, whose goal is to reinstate Canada’s prison farms, as well as a member of the Board of Directors of the Pen Farm Herd Co-operative.

Catherine Latimer

Ms. Catherine Latimer has been the Executive Director of the John Howard Society of Canada since 2011, a charity committed to just, effective and humane responses to crime. The John Howard Society of Canada is governed by a volunteer board of directors elected to the national board by the provincial or territorial member where they reside. Previously, Ms. Latimer was a policy lawyer for the federal government, providing analysis and policy advice both at the Privy Council Office and later as the Director General of Youth Justice Policy at the Department of Justice. In the latter position, she was responsible for the development and implementation of the Youth Criminal Justice Act. Ms. Latimer has a law degree from Queen’s University, Kingston, and a Masters in Criminology from Cambridge University. She is a Broadbent Fellow.

Jeff Peters

Mr. Jeff Peters is a local beef farmer from Inverary, Ontario and a member of the Cattlemen’s Association. He is a director of Local 316 of the National Farmers Union (NFU) - Ontario (Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox-Addington) and a member of the Save Our Prison Farms coalition organizing committee. He has also been the Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Pen Farm Herd Co-operative since 2010.

Alec Ross

Mr. Alec Ross is the Executive Director of Red Squirrel Conservation Services located in Kingston, ON. He has more than 25 years’ experience in journalism, consulting, and academic and non-profit corporate communications. Alec is also a Kingston writer, editor, and the Limestone District School Board Trustee for Kingscourt-Rideau and King’s Town District. He also serves as Vice-President on the Board of Directors of KEYS Job Centre, which helps to connect individuals with local employment opportunities.

Tony Straathof

Mr. Tony Straathof has farmed in Eastern Ontario’s Whitewater Region for 25 years. He manages a
multi-enterprise operation, which focuses on crops, livestock, and forestry, as well as a purebred dairy herd, veal calves and seasonal maple syrup. Mr. Straathof joined the National Farmers Union (NFU) - Ontario for its grassroots democracy and support of family farms. He is the past president of local 330, Renfrew County and a member of the Board of Directors of the NFU-Ontario.

Bruce Vandenberg      

Mr. Bruce Vandenberg is the owner of a goat and sheep dairy farm as well as a cheese plant located in Lindsay, Ontario. He has a diploma in Agri- Business from Kemptville College, located in Kemptville, Ontario.